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Post by Aida on Jan 21, 2024 14:35:46 GMT -7
[Original subject line: Potential diagnosis ] Hello all, I found the website through Reddit and I’m hoping to get some advice on my dog, Aida. She’s a 5 year old husky-border collie mix who is pretty active (at least until Nov-23) hiking 15-20kms a day on weekends and walking 7-8kms a day in the city during the week. In Nov-23, she was playing off leash with a larger dog when she was tackled by the other dog, and a day later she started crying while lying down and limping when walking.
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
weight? 5 y.o.
11/23 tackled by a dog. limps, cries in pain
11/23 meds Rx's by ortho for IVDD L6-7 disc?
meds Rx'd by neuro for diagnosis IVDD] An x-ray showed an ostéophyte in her L6-L7 vertebrae and a recommendation to see an orthopedist was made who suggested it could be IVDD and recommended 4-6 weeks of rest.
While her symptoms of pain and limping have stopped. Today [1/20/24] she still has the below symptoms still She is still looking a little stiff while walking, licking her genitalia a lot more than normal, and slipping on the wooden flooring inside the home (but walking very confidently when outside /on rough flooring). Further, she sometimes takes up to a second to stand up from a lying position and her bones make this popping sound when she stretches. And her stretching has increased significantly (maybe 18-20 times a day, mostly only at home, not when we’re outside) An appointment was made with a neurologist who found no neurological deficits, but suggested an mri to make sure of the diagnosis (he believes it could be IVDD or spondylosis deformans or disco spondylitis, or meningo encephalitis (in that order) Aida is a very nervous dog at the vet, and I’d like to avoid stressing her out by injecting her with sedatives, further anaesthesia, etc., Does anyone have any suggestions?
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,555
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 22, 2024 9:51:18 GMT -7
Aida, welcome to the Forum. You have been given the same #1 diagnosis from two different specialists: that of an IVDD episode brought on by being tackled by another dog. A dog born with IVDD has prematurely aging discs. Anything simple like a sharp turn, jumping can be the last straw for the early aging disc to bulge out of shape (or worse of tearing open) and invade the spinal cord area (a disc episode). This disc material pressure will disrupt the nerve signals traveling up and down the spinal cord. Loss of neuro functions damage progresses from weak legs slipping on smooth floors, wobbly legs to> paralyzed leg> loss of bladder control> loss of abilility to sense deep pain sensations (the last neuro function).
 It takes 8 weeks of strict rest to allow the damaged disc to heal with strong scar tissue. The usual meds are an anti-inflammatory such as a steroid (prednisone) and several pain meds to provide comfort til all the painful spinal cord swelling fully resolves. Nerve healing often takes longer than the 8 weeks for the disc to heal in. For nerve healing think more in terms of months rather than days/weeks. Slipping on smooth flooring is the neuro damage Aida has. With time it could well self repair. In the mean time check out these things to provide improved traction for Aida: 🚩https://dodgerslist.com/202 Stiffness can be lots of things. Spine Universe writes: Arthritis” is an umbrella term for more than 100 conditions that cause painful joints, and in the case of spondylosis, the spine is full of joints that can be affected. Osteoarthritis—which is what spondylosis is—is the most common type. Often with arthritis just getting moving helps.
You can do some more reading and then discuss with your vet if there is a need for a more aggressive approach than "just get moving" in your dog's case. There is a new class of NSAID that works differently than other NSAIDs, the reason this new class would not work well for a disc episode. Galliprant selectively treats inflammation due to arthritis.Analgesics give comfort. Combined with a NSAID--- both drugs produces greater results than one would expect. -- Tramadol -- Amantadine for chronic pain -- gabapentin for chronic pain ADEQUAN Canine® subcutaneous injections at home www.adequancanine.com/Index vcahospitals.com/know-your-pet/giving-injections-to-dogs at home or at the clinic "Adequan Canine® is an injectable cartilage component called polysulfated glycosaminoglycan (mostly chondroitin sulfate). Adequan is derived from the windpipe cartilage of cattle. Adequan has numerous beneficial effects for the arthritis including the inhibition of harmful enzymes involving joint cartilage destruction, stimulation of cartilage repair, and increasing joint lubrication. Assisi Loop (Pulsed electromagnetic fields) $279 with Rx from vet for home use. www.assisianimalhealth.com/product/loop/ Acupuncture Therapy. There are mobile vets who could come to your house if that would be less stress for Aida. |
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