I took Mosby to his rehab vet on Thursday, and she once again ID'd pain in his lower back, but also in his neck. I told her that he has been lying with his front legs splayed wide, and apparently that is a symptom of neck pain. She x-rayed his spine, and the good news is that she did not see any metastasis to his spine (which was our main concern). The bad news is that his disks are compressed in his lower back and his neck. This is probably not a new thing, but the stress of having to adjust to having 3 limbs has not helped it. Not only does this explain his wide-legged position, but also explains why he prefers to eat lying down - we have a high, raised feeder, since he's a tall dog, but he does have to bend at the neck, right at the bad spot, to eat from it. It also explains why he prefers spoon feeding, which doesn't involve moving his neck at all. 

Treatment options aren't many. We've raised his gabapentin dose again (he was and is still on the low end of therapeutic doses), and are keeping him on the robaxin. And we've added a fancy new therapy, because I am a sucker for anything that might help. He now uses an Assisi Loop 2 times a day. These do some kind of hoodoo ... electromagnetic pulses or something. But at any rate, it's actually an FDA approved pain reliever and is often given to dogs who can't take normal pain killers due to kidney failure or the like. The loop goes around his neck and each treatment is 15 min. It's very easy. Supposedly it can provide relief in a few days. He relaxes with it on, so at least it isn't doing any harm! His rehab vet actually uses on herself on her hip, so she is a true believer. Anyway, hopefully this is another way we can help Mosby find relief. But generally he's still happy, plucky, and eating well.