Dog with back pain - Answered by Dr. Van Lienden
Hi guys,
Last May my friend's Husky was limping, she brought him to the vet and nothing was found and with rest it seemed to cure itself. She had noticed intermittently since then a slight limp that went away when the dog was up and moving around. Over this holiday season, her dog started "crying" and would not or had great trouble moving around. This happened very suddenly, the dog was fine in the morning when she went to work and seemed normal when she returned, walking and playing as usual. After about 2 hours the crying started she took her to the vet. They did x-rays and everything looks normal but when the vet put pressure on the lumbar region, the dog was very vocal! The vet told her to get a crate and keep the dog quiet for 10 days and that she suspects Intravertabre disc disorder. This is a youg dog (3 years) with no obvious symptoms except the sudden onset of pain (the husky was playing vigoriously with my dog only 3 days before!) I told her to get a second opinion and suspect maybe a pinched nerve or slipped disc which wouldn't show on an x-ray. She decided to bring the dog home and crate it things improve with rest. I'm hoping one of you have come across somthing like this before. Rogue |
Do what the vet said and crate her for the 10 days, maybe go even 2 weeks.
Do consult with another vet if it will make you feel more comfortable. Just reread your post too, the Husky played very hard with your dog 3 days ago...not good. Please keep in contact with the vet and adhere to any recomendations. |
Radiographs (x-rays) are a low yield diagnostic tool for soft tissue. To diagnosis slipped disc/disc damage/spinal cord disease we employ myleograms (contrast agent in the spinal space and radiographs), MRI/ CT scans, spinal fluid analysis.
A structural defect such as disc disease will show up readily with MRI, my favorite tool. Myleograms are too invasive and do not give the same detail as MRI, and also have a degree of risk. If there is muscle trauma (lower back), then this may show up with MRI, but not with myleograms or radiographs, and probably not with CT imaging. There are certain spinal cord disease that cause pain, but have no structural derangements: these are usually infectious or of some type of diffuse vascular damage. Cage rest will help lower back muscle spasm, might help mild disc disease and not really help vascular type/infectious problems. Further investagation is indicated before a diagnosis can be made. Dr. Van Lienden Dr. Raymond Van Lienden DVM The Animal Clinic of Clifton 12702 Chapel Road, Clifton Virginia, U.S.A. 20124 703-802-0490 |
Hi Rogue,
We hope you are still checking this site because our husky today had the exact same symptoms and crying that you wrote about years ago. Did you ever find out anything more? Our husky dug out one night ago under the fence and seemed fine yesterday, but today he cried out and didn't want to get up. The vet found the sensitive place in the lumbar region and so far has just suggested painkillers and anti-inflammatory medicine for a few days. We wonder if your dog got over the condition or if it developed into something else? Here's hoping for insight . . Thanks [QUOTE=rogue;82323]Hi guys, Last May my friend's Husky was limping, she brought him to the vet and nothing was found and with rest it seemed to cure itself. She had noticed intermittently since then a slight limp that went away when the dog was up and moving around. Over this holiday season, her dog started "crying" and would not or had great trouble moving around. This happened very suddenly, the dog was fine in the morning when she went to work and seemed normal when she returned, walking and playing as usual. After about 2 hours the crying started she took her to the vet. They did x-rays and everything looks normal but when the vet put pressure on the lumbar region, the dog was very vocal! The vet told her to get a crate and keep the dog quiet for 10 days and that she suspects Intravertabre disc disorder. This is a youg dog (3 years) with no obvious symptoms except the sudden onset of pain (the husky was playing vigoriously with my dog only 3 days before!) I told her to get a second opinion and suspect maybe a pinched nerve or slipped disc which wouldn't show on an x-ray. She decided to bring the dog home and crate it things improve with rest. I'm hoping one of you have come across somthing like this before. Rogue[/QUOTE] |
Any answers here?
I'm reading this and finding it to be the closest to what my dog is experiencing and wondering if you found out any answers?
1 yr ago/first week in June, I was riding the bike so my newly adopted 9 mo old Gmn Shepherd mix could get some excercise. It was in the evening so it was cool out but suddenly he stopped immediately, layed down, & wouldn't get up. He had his tail between his legs & was totally freaked out; he kept looking behind him. We got home, no limping or anything, just totally freaked out & didn't want to move. Once he got inside he ran with his tail betw his legs to the family rm & backed up against the couch and stayed there. If he moved it would only be to run to his cage. We thought he lost it & the next day took him to the emergency vet. Nothing ended up being wrong with him physically although they & our regular vet suggested hip displasia. After less than a week, it went away. Now it is happening again; he's been to the vet twice, xrayed, blood tests, etc. Nothing is wrong; nothing hurts him. Just when he goes outside, if we can get him to, he jumps w/ his tail betw his legs & runs back inside. The X-rays ruled out hip displasia - hips look good. Knees are tight. Vet pressed hard on his back, legs...no reaction. Checked his anal area, one gland seemed a bit large, but nothing was infected. Checked his paws, nothing..no bug bites either. Did a blood test & urinalysis. Urinalysis came back w/ some blood in the urine and bacteria, so we have him on antibiotics. His temperature also was at 103, but he's literally been inside this whole time b/c he won't go outside so we don't think he got too hot. We're stumped. Is it possibly a slight pinched nerve? |
Lindsaygirl, the original post in this thread is over four years old. It may not help you, perhaps you should start your own thread? Is your dog better now?
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I am seein the same symptoms in my Labrador
My Labrador is experiencing the same symptoms. We've done x-rays with nothing being found. We've tried anti-inflammatory drugs and now steroids. Her behavior has changed and she rarely leaves her crate anymore; this from a dog who loved to get the paper in the morning, run through the woods and play fetch. She won’t even sleep with me anymore. Should I take her to a specialist instead of her general vet? I’d appreciate any feedback on your experience with this condition. Thanks!
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A specialist is probably a good idea at this point. Your vet can give you a referral to someone at a veterinary teaching hospital if there's one near you.
As Longblades pointed out to Lindsaygirl, this really is a very old thread--if you start your own with a descriptive title, you may get more input. Good luck with your Lab! :goodvibes: |
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