AEB

For what it's worth, my dog developed stones on Allopurinol and when he went in for surgery he went into anaphylactic shock before they even started the operation. As a result my husband searched high and low something that would help dissolve the stones. He found an herb called Chanca Piedra (colloquially known in South America as "the stone breaker") and we started giving it to him and crossed our fingers (we extrapolated dosage based upon body weight). Within months the stones were gone. Our vet was astonished. And we shared the information with a group whose dogs also had crystals or stones. The people who tried it reported the stones to have gone away. It's all anecdotal, but I thoughtI would share. Of course, if he has a blockage he cannot wait for the herb to work.

So Kevin went to the vet last Tuesday and received laser and acupuncture. Since then we also started CBD oil. He does seem to be doing better. I'm not sure which things are helping (the danger of starting multiple treatments around the same time). But we intend to keep doing the laser and a few more rounds of acupuncture (it is expensive at $125 per session). Will keep you all updated.

Thank you Smurfette. We will see how it goes with the vet tomorrow.

Smurfette, I would be interested to know how you perform the laser acupuncture and what kind of laser you bought. We bought our own laser too. It's obviously not anywhere near as good as the one at the vet's, but it seems to help (just takes much longer sessions). Cleptogrey, I am so sorry about Felix. You're clearly doing everything that you can for him. Kevin is still managing ok, but I have noticed a more rapid progression recently and more blatant issues. I am trying to head-off whatever I can at the pass and prepare. Our first Greyhound, Sadie, had what I believe was LS. So we have some experience with it. The vet hasn't Dx'd anything yet, but the symptoms seem to fit. Last night he was playful and happy, so hopefully we can buy him time and he will continue to have a good quality of life.

Ia appreciate all of the suggestions. Thank you EllenEveBaz, I printed the article from the link for our vet. We will get him a harness- and we have both of the ones suggested here for Gamo, who was much smaller than Kevin is. Gamo did not like the Help em Up Harness. His situation was far more complicated. I'm not sure what would be best for Kevin.

Thank you for your reply. I have thought about amputating the toe, but I do worry that it might make things worse given all the other front foot issues. We can discuss with the vet Tuesday. I think the only harnesses we have are too small. We have some things that will work in a pinch. So far he is still able to get around without too much assistance. But we might have to order something for him soon. We bought a pair of booties for him and maybe we can get some gauze to stay between the toes with the booties and maybe that will help some with his front feet. I just don't know what to do for him and it's really disheartening.

All, Kevin just turned 11 in December. He is having mobility issues that are worsening in recent months, particularly the last several weeks. It think he may have Lumbosacral stenosis. His current symptoms are an increasingly sinking/weak back end when standing still (such as when eating), difficulty rising, difficulty managing his rear legs when getting off of the sofa, shakiness on soft surfaces, knuckling under on occasion (which he is still able to correct), occasionally dragging a rear leg a little, general stiff movement, stiffness in his rear end (trying to turn around he can become somewhat unstable and catch a rear foot). He has complicating factors in the form of front foot issues. Years ago he broke two toes- on on each foot, weight bearing toes- in separate incidents. We learned a lot from the first and the second healed beautifully. He then split the webbing on each front foot at different times. He then developed a corn on one foot about 2 years ago that we have been managing with hulling. But the first broken toe has become very enlarged and arthritic over the past year or two. It is pressing into the adjacent non weight bearing toe and causing a sore that we can never really get to stay completely healed. So figuring out his mobility issues is complicated by the front feet issues. About 3-4 years ago he had issues with urine leakage in the evening. Eventually we threw out the non-supportive beds he loved and made him use supportive beds and that seemed to resolve the issue. In the past six months to year or so, he had occasionally been pooping in the house right after pooping outside. We blamed it on supplements that had aloe or held water and removed them. While that helped, it didn't resolve it. A few months ago we put him on a daily NSAID as he was having the front feet issues and the vet suggested that if his back hurt, maybe he couldn't completely empty when pooping. I also wondered if he was starting to lose his marbles a little. The NSAID seemed to help, along with monitoring him to make sure he poops outside fully before coming in. We are keeping him lean. And we bought him a twin size memory foam mattress so that he has the best support when sleeping at night. In addition to the NSAID already mentioned, Kevin has been getting cold laser treatments over the past few months, usually once a week, and they do seem to help some. He feels better after. We also added Gabapentin this week. We start acupuncture on Tuesday. I feel that he is starting to decline more rapidly and I am concerned about the speed of the decline and the practical aspects of managing a 90lb boy once his mobility becomes truly limited. What other options have you all found to be effective with symptoms like this?

I just sent you a PM.

Has anyone been through a nerve and muscle biopsy with their hound? If so could you tell me about the experience?

I am so sorry for your loss Emma. I wish you had more time together.

Thank you Cindy.

Gamo has been admitted to Tufts and it is suspected he has Coonhound paralysis. It seems the understanding of the disease is evolving. They say it is autoimmune. But what causes the switch to flip is unknown, although there are several believed causes. THey were also looking at MG but his tests last night are indicating CP and we may have diagnosis this morning. It has been hell.

Does anyone have experience with Coonhound Paralysis?

Anyone ever do a consult (I know many have)? The price is fine but I don't know when they would get back to me or how it works. The site isn't really explanatory.

I think he is in PA next week. But I will try the email. Thank you!

Gamo is at Tufts with what seems to be a neuromuscular condition, maybe Coonhound Paralysis. Does anyone have the best way to contact Dr. Cuoto and ask for a consult?

Several people have said cramp. And I remember my stoic Sadie would cry when she got cramps in her front legs. She would cut herself and not cry but charlie horses made her cry. So that's certainly possible. But this was more of a scream- a death scream. It reminded me of an incident Sadie had a few months before we lost her. She screamed like that and could not get up. It could have been a really bad cramp but I thought she was dying in front of me. DH rushed home from work and by then (20 minutes maybe) she had quieted. We never determined what happened. Stroke, seizure, possibly just a cramp. But this reminded me of that. It's the most heart-wrenching sound and I hope I never experience it again. We did comfort him. And we can't be sure he was sleeping. His eyes were open by the time we got the light on. I hope it was a nightmare or a cramp. I have just never heard him cry like that. Even when he was attacked by a buck several months ago. And he couldn't move for minutes. We thought his back was broken. He didn't cry. That's why I think maybe it was a night terror. Because he is quiet when in pain. Here he was absolutely screaming and looked terrified. It's comforting to know that your pups have gone through that. Thank you.

I am not sure if this belongs here or in H&M. Last night Gamo woke us up screaming. He never makes noise (except barking). He also never shows he is in pain. We turned on the light and he was screaming with his mouth wide open looking terrified for a few seconds and then he stood up and kept screaming and laid back down and eventually quieted in a few more seconds. We don't know if this was physical pain or if he was having a nightmare and took time to come out of it. He seems fine today though. It did not seem like a seizure to me but that would be my other guess. Has anyone experienced this before? He probably had some experiences in Spain to have nightmares about.

No changes at all Jen. Kristin, his prostate looks normal on the ultrasound. Though it looked a bit enlarged on the x ray 10 days prior when he was on antibiotics. I might try the adjustment and if it doesn't work or the accidents get worse again I will ask for Zeniquin. No signs of infection.

Thank you for this information.I talked to my vet about this. And even though both he and I don't have experience with it we agree it's worth a try. Our options now are to do nothing and belly band or try this. He is going to talk to the agility people he knows. I guess there someone that several of them love that works on people and animals. I also found a holistic vet that does chiropractic. We'll make an appointment - maybe next week after we do our homework.

I have no idea. i will ask today. I am afraid of chiropractors but if the vet knows of one that has helped patients I might give it a go.

Thank Denise. It's discouraging. He is not even 6 yet. Kisses to Miss Izzy.

Update: Kevin is still leaking urine. Another blood panel and ultrasound and no answers. Everything is normal on the tests. But he is leaking urine. I am supposed to get a call from the vet tomorrow after she confers with her partner. Over 1K in vet bills in a few months and absolutely no idea what's happening. They mentioned some meds but said they are not as effective in males. It was mentioned that it may be neurologic. Anyone have ideas? Any thoughts on the meds available. Next steps?

Just to clarify I have used all the various forms of Traumeel as has DH, DM, and a good friend. I was skeptical, but it often helps more than ibuprofen for me.

I have used it for myself.