Hi Debbie,

Thanks for your question.

I really cannot say whether there was an injury or not. I can say that any dog that has arthritis or previous back pain could become painful again simply by moving their body in the wrong direction or sleeping in a position too long. I can’t say whether the visit to the groomer caused these symptoms. I’ve seen symptoms like this occur from a run in the park.

My recommendation is that you have your veterinarian thoroughly examine and palpate the spine and the limbs to evaluate for pain or inflammation. Radiographs would be a good next step and I would also suggest performing bloodwork and a urinalysis to assess liver and kidney function. Many medications used to treat musculoskeletal conditions can effect liver and kidney function so it is always advisable to get a sense of their function prior to considering and medical treatment.

I hope this helps.

Dr. Clayton Greenway