Disk Issue Or Other Neurological Problem?

[Guest Fasave]

Sorry, but this is a long story. About two months ago, my 8.5 year old male greyhound had a really scary episode after a 7 hour car ride. During the ride we stopped a few times for short walks & water. It was a warm day and after arriving at my destination, I took him for a short walk and he had a yucky bowel movement. About 10 minutes later, we were standing around talking to friends and I looked over and he looked to be struggling to stay on his feet. He was having problems moving all four legs. I immediately thought heat stroke and threw a bottle of water over his head, took him to an air conditioned room and threw cool wet towels over him. The issue resolved itself within minutes.

 

Zoom forward four weeks, and he comes in from a wild run in the yard. This is a guy who LOVES to run and is a very active greyhound, especially for his age. I notice later that night he is having problems laying down and when he goes into the "sphyx" position, he is leaning towards the left side. It almost looks like he may have pulled his groin muscle. That night he wakes up screaming. I throw on clothes ready to drag him to the e-vet, call a friend and within 10 minutes he's sound asleep. I give him a previcox in the am and he's fine for the day. The next day I take him to a greyhound event, and he has another "episode" similar the one a month ago, within 15 minutes of arriving. This time there was no long car ride and no major heat. I rush him to the car where he settles immediately and I take him home.

 

He was due for his annual exam at this point so I take him in. The vet thinks there is some tension in his lower back and puts him on Previcox for five days. Runs blood work which is "execellent". Even his kidney levels, which were elevated a year ago, are fine. His ears were clear so no signs of vestibular issues.

 

Zoom forward another three weeks, after attending the Greyhound Adoption Expo in MA where he spent some time at Wonderland (Friday) laying on a hard floor and then getting a massage at Raynham the following day (Saturday), the massage therapist picks up a sensitive spot in his lower back. The next day (Sunday), he has another "episode" on a walk in the rain in the woods. There is no option to get him settled anywhere so we have to encourage him to walk out of the woods which he does. The issue seemed to resolve itself within 3-5 minutes. A friend noted that right before it happened, it looked like he was going to poop. His tail went up and then he arched his back, and it spread to his front legs. He is very alert during these episodes and responds to his name and the word "cookie". His front gait gets very wide spread and he walks as if he's trying to step over something.

 

The next day we visit my vet and he refers us to a neurologist. She suspects a disk issue or tumor (unlikely due to the amount of time that has passed and lack of significant symptoms) but the only way she can tell is to do an MRI at the cost of $2,000 - $2,400. While I'm not opposed to this, she was not clear as to what the actual benefit would be. If it were a disk and we decided to treat it conservatively and things got worse, she would need to re-do the MRI because of the change in status. If it's a tumor, only surgery would be used to remove part of the tumor and then radiation treatment would be given. Prognosis would only be 6-12 months. I'm not sure I would treat, if this were the case so I'm not sure what the benefit of doing the MRI is at this point. We left it that I would take a conservative approach and start acupuncture treatments and give him Previcox (anti-inflamatory) if needed.

 

On Friday he had his first acupuncture treatment. Interestingly , he screamed when she put a needle in his lower back (this was probably the fifth needle she inserted) and she said it was unusual. She said he would be mellow the following day and in some cases, dogs are worse but it's rare. Well, he had another "episode" on Saturday. He slept most of the day and when I took him out for a walk, he didn't even make it to the end of the driveway. 15 minutes later, he was throwing stuffies around the family room. An hour later, we took that walk and he was fine.

 

While he's had various limps in various legs throughout the last few months, these "episodes" are the most noteworthy. It's interesting that it resolves itself so quickly and most of the time he's my crazy, goofy boy with no cares in the world. Does any of this sound familiar to anyone? Are there other issues or concerns that I should be raising with my vets? Any information or insights would be greatly appreciated.

[iluvgreys]

Have there been any x-rays taken of his spine? I'd do that first before an MRI. BTW, the quoted cost for an MRI seems really high. You might want to check around for pricing at other clinics... The acupuncture treatment seems like a good thing to try. Holding your boy in my prayers and sending wishes his way.

[GeorgeofNE]

I would have an x-ray done before I'd even discuss an MRI.

 

Am I correct that each one of these episodes involved a ride in the car? I wonder if he's tweaking something getting into or out of your vehicle. Seems odd that it never happens at home.

[zimsmom]

Is it possible this is something in his central nervous system. Maybe strokes (or TIA in humans). Does not sound like seizures if he is awake & alert thoughout these. Do dogs get neuropathy? Maybe try Neurontin next? These are just guesses I may add.

Keep up updated.

[Guest GentleHugs]

I'd have exrays done from the beginning of the neck down to the base of the tail first. Sometimes a compressed disc in the neck can cause symptoms in the hind legs and in the front legs, too. Arching of the back or hunching indicates pain. If nothing obvious shows up in the exrays (compressed discs, tumors, etc) then do an MRI.

 

My boy, Heisman (RB Oct 07) was diagnosed with Wobbler's just 2 months before he turned 9. No real noticable symptoms until he just collapsed one day in my arms after playing in the back yard for a bit. Back then, surgery was very risky so we chose the management route. Finally, at age 12 1/2, we sadly let him go. He was into end stage Wobbler's. We let him go before he became paralyzed totally from the neck on down. Every time Heisman rode in the car, he was worse afterwards. He had to go on bed rest for 10 days, put on pred, no steps, no running or jumping and was leashwalked during that time, too. Our vet explained that the vibration of the car caused the compressed disc to rub the spinal cord nerve and inflame it. It made total sense because I have 2 herniated discs in my neck and every time I ride in a car, I'm in total pain afterward.

 

Prayers for your boy from here.

 

[Guest Fasave]

Update: As the week progressed, we had another set back. Sorry, parts of this story are gross in nature. On Tuesday, after a morning walk with two normal bowel movements, we went for an afternoon walk. He appeared to be straining a little to poop and only managing a small amount with clear mucus mixed in. After returning home, he was having trouble settling. After curling up with me on the couch, I noticed he was leaking mucus from his anus. Got him right in the see the vet (fourth vet in a 1.5 weeks) who suspects colitis. So my question now is, has anyone seen this behavior from intestinal cramps? He's been on a bland diet for the last 48 hours and flagyl. He's still in great spirits, eating, drinking and sleeping well. We will have our second acupuncture visit tomorrow. Any additional thoughts out there?

[greyhndz]

If you haven't already, I'd stop the Previcox. It may be a factor in his developing colitis.

 

Are you in MA, fasave? If so, I know of a great neuro at Angell if you'd like another opinion. I'm bringing Dandi down to see him in July for neck issues.

 

 

 

 

[Hubcitypam]

My Rex was the colitis boy. I came home one Easter to a kitchen filled with bloody runs. He had a standing script for flagyl. Rex was also diagnosed with LS at 4 years old and the depro shots helped him a lot. In the end (6 years old) he was in tremendous pain and lame in both fronts. Trips to the specialists -- both neuro and ortho yielded two possible dignosis. GME or a smorles (sp) nodule which is where the disc ruptures into the spine and is inoperable. The neuro vet offered me an immediate MRI for a special price as they had an opening...if I didn't do it then the wait would be over a month to schedule one and did I want my dog to suffer that long or help him now. Feeling like I was in a bad dream at a used car lot I left and called my vet. He sid the prognosis in either case was very grim so why spend $1,200. We let Rex go to the bridge.

Prayers for you and your boy

[Guest Fasave]

If you haven't already, I'd stop the Previcox. It may be a factor in his developing colitis.

 

Are you in MA, fasave? If so, I know of a great neuro at Angell if you'd like another opinion. I'm bringing Dandi down to see him in July for neck issues.

 

 

I am. Are you talking about Dr. Siscon (sp?)? I wish I had gone to him first but my other grey, this guys littermate, has been through two surgeries for soft tissue sarcoma in the last six weeks and I think my boss is running out of patience for all these vet visits. Instead I took him to see a neurologist at Mass Vet Referral because it was easier than driving into the city. I'm kicking myslef now. If I chooe to pursuit the neuro route, I plan to go to Angell has I don't feel I was given useful info at MVR. Is this who you were referring too?

[greyhndz]

I am. Are you talking about Dr. Siscon (sp?)? I wish I had gone to him first but my other grey, this guys littermate, has been through two surgeries for soft tissue sarcoma in the last six weeks and I think my boss is running out of patience for all these vet visits. Instead I took him to see a neurologist at Mass Vet Referral because it was easier than driving into the city. I'm kicking myslef now. If I chooe to pursuit the neuro route, I plan to go to Angell has I don't feel I was given useful info at MVR. Is this who you were referring too?

 

Yes! Dr. Allen Sisson. He's a God in my eyes. Actually, I had made an appt. with one of the female neuro's at the referral hosp (not Dr. Silver, the other one), cause, coming from NH, I really wanted to avoid Boston. But I thought I might be dealing with a GME dog (iggy Lexi) and everyone on the GME board urged me to go directly to Dr. Sisson as he's the authority on GME.

 

If you e-mail me at greyhndz at comcast dot net I can give you the whole poop!! (and his phone number, etc.)

 

Jordan (and Lexi, who says "Dr. Sisson is my hero!")

 

ETA: Dr Sisson has Saturday hours! I'm going down 7/26.

Edited June 27, 2008 by houndznigz