Hello, I have a purebred miniature dachshund. He is about 5 years old. A few nights ago I heard him barking at an animal (probably a stray cat) from the patio, but heard no signs of struggle or fighting. I went out to tell him to stop and shoo him inside. Now for the past few days he is having trouble jumping through the doggy-door and occasionally wheezes when he breathes. He seems tender on his 6th or 7th left rib, an inch or two down from his spine. About 10% of the time that I pick him up he yelps in pain, the other 90% he seems fine. Today when I picked him up I felt one of his ribs crack. (very tiny subtle little crack like a joint subtly popping). Right now I suspect one of his ribs may have been, or still is, partially dislocated. I do not think it is a disc issue, as he does not react when I flex or extend his spine, and palpating along the spinal column's intervertebral spaces had no reaction. The only time he yelps is occasionally when I pick him up, or I press that spot on his rib. I am not able to go to a vet until Tuesday, any thoughts or suggestions? I did the best I could to massage and soften up the muscles on his back and rib cage, and they definitely aren't spasming like they were before, and he seemed to walk a little easier when I was done.
