My poorly baby

[gail2]

Hi
My 7yr old GS went off her hind legs Friday just gone, we rushed her to vets an after assessment an xray they sent her home with pain relief but no diagnosis as of yet apart from may be spinal shock ( she had been chasing pigeons in garden). We have stayed with her 24 hrs a day (splitting shifts with family) an taking her by lead to go to the toilet. We had to take her back to vets after a few days due to meds giving her diarrhea an they changed her medication. The vets said she has got spondolysis but has probably had it for a while an she was also diagnosed with hip displacia a couple of years ago. The vet phoned today an said he wants to see her again Friday an may refer her for a myelogram. I am now fearing the worst thinking it could be Degenerative Myelopathy because after doing loads of research the last few days she does seem to have all symptoms. Hind legs swaying, going from under her, losing balance but seems OK now within herself, apart from being knocked out when she has her meds (tramadol). Can anyone give us advice with regards to this please. Thanks

[Mary Beth]

I would try to take it one step at a time and not borrow trouble. Wait until you get a diagnosis, it may not be as bad you are afraid of. Right now your dog is doing better - that is a positive sign.

[Nigel]

I agree with Mary Beth, wait for the diagnosis. Reading up is good, but it may also cause unnecessary worry.

[JeanKBBMMMAAN]

Have they done blood work?

I hope someone sees this about the Myelogram - I am wondering if there are other steps before that happens....back things can happen, crate rest can help.

Dodger's List was started for Doxies, but you can check it out, they welcome all. Dodgerslist: canine back problems home page

Thank you for taking good care of her!

[gail2]

Hi
They have done blood tests and have said that nothing untoward as shown up. The vet asked if she has been dragging her back paws, she has been doing that intermittantly since before being diagnosed with hip displacia.
I know that I shouldn't be googling and I hope with all my heart that this is nothing.
There is another thing that she has started doing alot, every time she goes to sleep she is doing an awful lot of kicking her legs, I know she does this occassionally whilst dreaming but what she is doing at the moment is very violent, I have put this down to her medication sending her into a deeper sleep than normal.
I am going to be asking alot of questions on Friday when I go to the vets that's for sure, don't like the idea of a myelogram, can't this have adverse health implications?

Thank you so much for your time xx

[jocoyn]

My Grim had a disc compression injury (we think) and slowly showed improvement on crate rest. She could have also had a spinal stroke. The fact she was running one day and down the next is not typical for DM and the suddenes points to a stroke or injury typically. Back injuries are common in GSDs so it is a path to explore. There is a genetic test for DM the vet can send in (or you can through OFFA.org) mine did not use it as "the" answer but it was part of the picture. We did not do the myelogram because he was showing slow steady improvement and it does carry some risks we did not want to take at the time.

Did they put her on prednisone? Are you seeing a specialist? I have a whole thread here on my dog's back injury may help you. not really interesting until post 27. Other folks have posted on back issues as well and you can do searches on this forum.

Rough Year for Grim. Sigh

Oh SPECIALISTS have really impressed me with regards to specific issues with my dogs. General vets, consistently, not so much. I appreciated a conservative approach of crate rest, steroids (to reduce swelling and pressure on nerves - we had NOTHING show up on x-rays BTW but my vet did not even DO x-rays as she said the specialist would want to do his own anyway so she got me in on emergency referral). I was grateful that vet immediately passed it on!

[RebelGSD]

I would not do a myelogram on my dog. It can cause serious problems and I heard dogs ending up paralyzed after that. MRI is much more informative and also safer, although more expensive.

It sounds like you have barely started treating and diagnosing this, you will have to be patient. Many dogs develop similar problem and recover fully with conservative treatment.

[gail2]

Hi
We have thought about buying a crate but have decided against it, think she would be traumatised because she has never been in one, it would scare her and I think she would do herself harm by trying to escape. We have got stairgates to stop her going up stairs.
They put her on Rimadyl at the start but gave her diarrhoea so she's on Tramadol at the moment and the vet mentioned about giving her Paracetomol and codiene mixture too.
When this first happened on Friday she was keeping her front legs very straight and stiff and her back was hunched in the middle,that's why the vet thought it may be a shock to the spine. Her front legs are now fine but she is still very hunched whilst walking.
The vet will be talking about sending her for specialist referral on friday if she is no better. Fingers crossed though that she is better and this won't be needed. xx

[gail2]

Hi
RebelGSD

The vet did mention complications re myelogram and now you have said it too I am going to push for a MRI, we are insured so this should be covered under the insurance. My Imme is terrified of the vets as it is an I don't want to chance causing her any further issue's.
I am hopefully just jumping the gun and she will be fine, I just have to be prepared for every eventuality.

[jocoyn]

The issue with the MRI is that if they don't have it localized she may spend hours in the machine as it is very slow ........ They use the myelogram to narrow down the area to scan with the MRI.

No prednisone? I thought that was pretty SOP for back issues. Gabapentin for pain due to nerve issues? I would ask about these.