What's wrong with him!? Please help.

LoveLost · 07-15-2007, 02:25 AM

....he's feeling better!

DogsforMe · 07-15-2007, 02:44 AM

I sorry about your dogs condition & don't know what it could be, only to say my 14 y/o Border Collie does the same thing with her legs, she doesn't seem to know where they are, twists around, looses her balance & falls over. She's also lost all the muscles she used to have in her back end. My dog's old & arthritic, on painkillers, cartrophin injections & Sasha's Blend. I would have thought that arthritis would show up on x-rays.

LoveLost · 07-15-2007, 02:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DogsforMe

I sorry about your dogs condition & don't know what it could be, only to say my 14 y/o Border Collie does the same thing with her legs, she doesn't seem to know where they are, twists around, looses her balance & falls over. She's also lost all the muscles she used to have in her back end. My dog's old & arthritic, on painkillers, cartrophin injections & Sasha's Blend. I would have thought that arthritis would show up on x-rays.

That is what I thought as well. They said as bad as he is, if it was arthritis is would have shown at least a little on all the x-rays they have done. They've pretty much x-rayed all his joints. As well as the fact that he shows none, to little, pain at all.

I think my vet may be feeling just as confused as I am. I don't know where to go from here, but I know I don't want to stop looking. Especially since things are getting much worse very fast lately. These past few weeks he keeps getting much worse each day.

Renoman · 07-15-2007, 06:24 AM

While reading your post I was thinking it sounded just like Tessa. She had DM. Have your vet do a thorough exam to include the spine. Medications can sometimes help with the symptoms.

TheChinClique · 07-15-2007, 08:04 AM

I think your vet could be right about the diagnosis of DM, but he should also look into Wobbler Syndrome. I doubt it's Wobbler, because he probably would have been a lot worse a lot more quickly, but you never know. Whatever it is, I hope your vet figures it out soon and your pup will be feeling better soon as well

Ginny01OT · 07-15-2007, 08:56 AM

I am sorry that you and your dog are going thru this. Some questions you can ask your vet: Is this a neurological condition, are there certain neurological conditions that dogs get that could lead to obviously decreased sensitivity in the legs (he doesn't feel pain) and muscle atrophy. Is there any specific testing that can be done (muscle biopsy, spinal tap?) -OR-
Could this be a muscular problem---meaning perhaps there is a protein or something missing that is causing the mitochondria to not produce effectively or that is causing the muscle to atrophy--(in humans like muscular dystrophy). Again, would a muscle biopsy or spinal tap show anything?

Also, I am assuming they tested the dog for Lyme disease.....If not, I would do that as well Good luck.

LoveLost · 07-15-2007, 02:11 PM

Thank you for you're help! I'll ask my vet about DM during the appointment and test for it! Thanks!

cshellenberger · 07-15-2007, 02:30 PM

Honestly, I think I'd get my dog to an orthpedic specialist. There are several things this could be and a specialist may be needed to diagnose that problem.

macy louise · 07-15-2007, 08:42 PM

this may sound ridiculous, but have you ever checked his foot, i mean... in between the pads? my labrador retriever had foot problems and it was an infection between his toes! my vet never could tell me what was wrong, and it wasnt visible at a glance but i finally looked hard enough and boom! there it was, i think he may have stepped in cat pee or something on his walk, and possibly had alittle cut before hand and it got infected. anyway... he could not stand on his right rear leg and it kept sliding out from under him when he tried to stand on the tile floor. i got a 14$ bottle of betadine solution and soaked his foot every day for two weeks. i hope its something as simple as garth's foot problem. best of luck to you

lovemygreys · 07-15-2007, 09:38 PM

I'd have the vet check for this: http://home.comcast.net/~greyhndz/lumbosacral.htm

We have a dog that has managed quite well with the depo-medrol shots.

LoveLost · 07-20-2007, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by macy louise

this may sound ridiculous, but have you ever checked his foot, i mean... in between the pads? my labrador retriever had foot problems and it was an infection between his toes! my vet never could tell me what was wrong, and it wasnt visible at a glance but i finally looked hard enough and boom! there it was, i think he may have stepped in cat pee or something on his walk, and possibly had alittle cut before hand and it got infected. anyway... he could not stand on his right rear leg and it kept sliding out from under him when he tried to stand on the tile floor. i got a 14$ bottle of betadine solution and soaked his foot every day for two weeks. i hope its something as simple as garth's foot problem. best of luck to you

Believe me, it's not his foot

Quote:

Originally Posted by cshellenberger

Honestly, I think I'd get my dog to an orthpedic specialist. There are several things this could be and a specialist may be needed to diagnose that problem.

My vet strongly uggested I go to one of the University Vet Hospitals they have, which is a long ways out for me. I'm going to try and call one of the hospitals now and see if I can do something with them. My vet is going to send a referal when I figure out what I'm gonna do.

Inga · 07-20-2007, 06:59 PM

I am sorry I can do nothing more then say a prayer for your dog. That I will surely do. Good Luck.