CockersOnline Forum
Cocker Specific Discussion => Health => Topic started by: Coalman1959 on September 15, 2021, 04:18:32 PM
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Hi everybody! Our 14 yr old Cocker, Archie, has developed an annoying ( for him ) 'phantom itch' that he scratches every 20 seconds or so. Even when he is asleep, his rear legs attempt to rub the side of his rib cage, despite him not having an itch. If I touch his lower spine near to his hips when he is standing, he will air-scratch himself as if he's starting up a motorbike! Also if I stroke his front chest area , this will also bring on an air-scratching bout. But! His feet do not actually touch his skin, it is as if he has a twitch or tick whereby his muscles in both left and right thigh, twitch and make him 'scratch'. It looks very much like this ( this is springomyelia in King Charles Spaniels ) ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fDjxvgfUVRU , please view video from 2.04- 2.34min .
Apart from this problem he is as healthy as can be, but this twitch is depriving him of sleep and he is a little unhappy. He is eating and walking ok without any pain.
Any ideas of the cause would be greatly appreciated.
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Hi! I think there must be some points which trigger this reaction when touched or tickled, my dog does it when I‘m trying to brush the coat and get the tangles out, it drives me balmy as its like he‘s trying to kick me! I actually got quite cross until I realized he couldn‘t help it.
Not really sure what you can do about Archie doing it in his sleep, I can only imagine that he‘s somehow lying on the nerve? Might be worth having a word with the vet though?
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Yup! That was what I was thinking, a nerve problem, thank you. This idea is possibly borne out by touching his chest to start a 'kick' reflex. I was just wondering if anyone else has had this problem.
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I’d suggest he has a back problem from your description. Cockers are really good at hiding pain.
You may want to have him checked by a Vet who can refer to a canine Chiropractor.
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Thank you for that. It is particularly bad this evening. I took him for his nightly walk and basically stayed in one area as he was having to scratch every 2 seconds which inhibited his ability to walk at all. We did finally get home, but it is causing him distress now as he is panting far more than usually despite the chilly night.
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I would definitely be at the vet to get that checked out, it could be nothing, but you need to fine out.
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Thank you for that. It is particularly bad this evening. I took him for his nightly walk and basically stayed in one area as he was having to scratch every 2 seconds which inhibited his ability to walk at all. We did finally get home, but it is causing him distress now as he is panting far more than usually despite the chilly night.
Sorry, didn’t see this yesterday but please, do go to your vet! , my boy (6) is currently in the clinic with 2 prolapsed discs which just appeared from one minute to the next.(and after I‘d replied to your post the other day) Its probably nothing but I‘d hate you to go through what we‘re currently going through! Best of luck! :luv: :luv:
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# UPDATE #
So! Archie had seen a vet 4 weeks ago about a different complaint but we had mentioned this occasional ( at the time ) air scratching. I rang the vets and told them that I needed to see the vet again because the problem had increased ten fold. Or, if they could prescribe a drug to give him some peace and quite for a while instead of him keep having these back-leg spasms. The vet gave him 16mg tabs ( 1/2 a tab twice a day for three days and then 1/2 tab for 10 days ) of Apoquel . Apparently they are in his system within 4hrs. after taking them. If we say he was 'scratching' 100 times a day ( probably 4x that amount! ) 4 days later. he is now down to 3 to 4 times a day! A MASSIVE difference! If I 'tickle' his sweet-spot, he will 'scratch' but apart from that he is back to normal !
This drug is for irritation and allergies, but whatever, it has worked a treat on old Archie!! I just thought that I would let you all know. Thank you.
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So glad to read that Archie is on something to help
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That‘s great news! (Sorry if I panicked you! :shades:) So glad its nothing more serious! :luv:
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That is great news, and a big relief. Glad to hear that.
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Well, Archie has been relatively free from his 'air scratching' and we are coming to the last of his tablets, Apoquel. He will have the last tomorrow morning, Saturday. It will be interesting to see if he starts again by Sunday...... which he may. I will then contact Vets4Pets and possibly ask for just a written prescription for these tabs and then buy them off a reputable distributer on line. They are £1.55 per tablet ( we get two days from 1 tablet ). I will ask Vets4Pets how much they would charge.....
I will update asap.
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It would be good to hear how you get on, I will keep an eye out for an update.
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##UPDATE##
So! After a chat with the Vets4Pets fellow, it was agreed that they would offer 4 months supply ( 28 x 16mg tabs ) on the prescription but only give me 1 prescription for 1 month at a time. That was Ok. The cost for the whole 4 months 'written' prescriptions was the agreed, £17 for ALL the 4 months.
However, we are now three weeks past his last Apoquel tablet and so far , so good.... very, very little air-scratching and no distress at all. I have had no need to appraoch the Vet for any tablets due to Archie's wellbeing, but we know that he has that remedy 'in the bank' if we ever need it again. He had his 14th birthday at the end of September and is really well and still RUNS us to the first tree to have a sniff when we take him out. All good!! 😁
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That update makes me very happy, so pleased for you.
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That sounds great, very happy for you and Archie
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##UPDATE##
So! For no apparent reason ( weather, warmth, cold, hayfever etc. ) Archie started to have his air-scratching episodes once more. No where near the worst, but enough for me to get more tablets from the vet. I gave him 1/2 x 16mg ( 8mg) yesterday tea-time and another one this morning and we have seen an improvement. He has barely scratched at all today, so it looks like these Apoquel tablets work from minute 1. He has possibly slept a little bit more, but he is 14! I will give him 8mg for next couple of days now and se how he is at the weekend.
He is still a Happy Chappie :D
Thanks for your interest.
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It's good you have found a fix for this, that reacts quickly, that's a good result. He is an amazing boy, a wee extra long snooze is allowed. :luv:
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👍👍👍
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I wouldnt dash into using apoquel too easily, it is a nasty tablet and can cause some serious issues side issues I would try to find the cause of your dogs issues rather than just treat the symptoms