Guest Hokiebuck Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 My parent's German Shepherd is going to a Ortho Surgeon to see what they can find out about his hind end. He's 11 years old and has back end weakness. Its probably just old age, but we want to make sure. He's in great spirits and plays and chases as much as he's able. In fact he'll occasionally just be running, then his back end flops over like he was shot, then get back up and run some more. Anyway, I wanted them to see a specialist since their regular vet is pretty old and basically runs a small mom and pop vet clinic. So the person they were referred to is a Juan Marti in Chesapeake Va. I did find a hearing about him in March 13 by the Department of Health Professions Board of Veterinary Medicine, but it was closed so the subject was confidential. His practice is in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake. Anyone have experience with him? Also, is there another Ortho Specialist in the Va Beach/Norfolk/Chesapeake area that you would recommend? Also any Alternative specialist in the area (Acupuncture/Chiropractor/etc)? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hokiebuck Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Bumping since the Vet visit is today... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lizmego Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 (edited) I'd try acupuncture and chiropractic. It could be Lumbosacral Stenosis (LS) or some sort of pinched nerve with your parents GS. Here's an article by Dr. Stack: Lumbosacral Stenosis by Suzanne Stack, DVM http://greythealth.com/lumbosacral.htm As our greyhounds age, quite a few of them, especially the males, become weak, wobbly, and/or painful in the rear end. Many of these are affected by lumbosacral stenosis (LS), a narrowing of the last part of the spinal canal, which causes compression of the nerve roots. Signs are rear end pain, lameness, weakness, "shuffling," knuckling over, foot dragging, and muscle wasting. Both urinary and fecal incontinence are possible and carry a worse prognosis. Greyhounds may even lose their appetite from the pain and "waste away." The difficulty in diagnosing LS is twofold. Many veterinarians simply do not recognize the signs. LS looks neurologic, and technically, it is. But a rare and obscure neurological disease, it is not. Beware a diagnosis of "hip dysplasia" in a greyhound - greyhound hips are by and large excellent. The second problem is that unless your greyhound is "lucky" enough to have visible arthritis on lumbosacral x-rays, the only techniques to confirm LS are pretty high tech - CT, MRI, discography, etc. Not only can LS be difficult to "nail down," the other problem is that oral medications such as Rimadyl, Etogesic, glucosamine, aspirin, prednisone, etc. do little for LS since it is not arthritis, but rather, "doggy sciatica" i.e., pinching of the nerve roots.. It presents a sad problem. The "cure" is referral spinal surgery to free up the trapped nerve roots, not something many owners will consider in a geriatric greyhound. Many if not most greyhounds simply get worse and worse until euthanasia becomes necessary. The good news is that there is a simple palpation technique to detect LS and a way to inject Depo-Medrol intralesionally to help it, similar to what is done in humans. It was taught to me by Dr. Mike Herron, a professor of small animal orthopedic surgery at Texas A & M for 32 years, owner of racing greyhounds, and all around "greyhound guru." You may want to clip this out for your vet to see should one of your greyhounds begin showing signs of LS. This is an easy procedure that you do with the dog standing up, basically an intramuscular injection into the lumbosacral area. There is absolutely no danger of hitting the spinal cord or any important structures. The worst thing that can happen is that it doesn't help the dog. A footnote worth mentioning for LS is Ultram, a human "combination" drug with both a narcotic-like and an antianxiety component. Used sometimes for bone cancer in dogs - another very painful condition - I have tried it with good results on two LS dogs when Depo-Medrol injections were not enough. A greyhound dose is 50 mg Ultram as needed for pain, given up to twice daily. *********************************************************************************** This is a list of licensed veterinary acupuncturists in Virginia from the American Academy of Veterinary Acupuncture: (off to look for the chiropractors...to do a search yourself for acunpuncturists, go HERE Harold Alterman, VMD Harold P. Alterman, VMD 3509 Sterling Ave Alexandria, VA 22304 (703) 823-5646 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Bridget Bierly, DVM Bridget N. Bierly DVM 60 Red Gate Ln Fairfield, VA 24435 (540) 291-1153 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Associate (Membership Type) Toni Connell, DVM Independant Hill Veterinary Clinic 13444 Dumfries Road Manassas, VA 20112 703-791-2083 (Work Ph) (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Pamela Grasso, DVM Ashburn Farm Animal Hospital 43330 Junction Plaza Blvd. #172 Ashburn, VA 20147 (703) 726-8784 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) AV, SA, EX (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Michele Kelly, DVM Falls Church Animal Hospital 1249 W Broad Street Falls Church, VA 22046 703-532-6121 (Work Ph) www.fallschurchanimalhospital.com (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Associate (Membership Type) Marilyn Khoury, VMD Fairfax, VA 20817 703-752-9105 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Associate (Membership Type) Jordan Kocen, DVM SouthPaws Veterinary Specialists and Emergency Ctr 8500 Arlington Blvd Fairfax, VA 22031 703-752-9105 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) William Kruesi, DVM Cold River Veterinary Center 87 E Clarendon Rd North Clarendon, VT 5759 (802) 747-4076 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Lodi Kysor, DVM Animal Integrative Medicine Manakin-Sabot, VA 23103 804-784-0594 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Marjorie Lewter, DVM Marjorie M. Lewter, DVM New Castle, VA 24127 (540) 544-6971 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) EQ, FA, SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Josephine Magurn, DVM Virginia Beach, VA 23456-4009 (757) 426-8435 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) EQ, Ltd. SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Janet McKim, DVM Middleburg Animal Hospital PO Box 368 Middleburg, VA 20118 (540) 687-6144 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Anne Mixson, DVM Del Ray Animal Hospital 524 E Mount Ida Ave Alexandria, VA 22301 (703) 739-0000 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Jane Morse, DVM Lithia Springs Holistic Veterinary Care 3223 Lithia Road Buchanan, VA 24066 540-254-3121 (Work Ph) (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Jane Morse, VMD Ballston Animal Hospital 5232 Wilson Blvd. Arlington, VA 22205 (703) 528-2776 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Carole Nicholson, DVM HOme Veterinary Care of Stafford PO Box 121 Ruby, VA 22545 (540) 752-1745 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Associate (Membership Type) Constance Pozniak, DVM Boulevard Veterinary Hospital for Integrative Therapy 6636 Virginia Beach Blvd Norfolk, VA 23502 (757) 461-4416 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Janice Raab, DVM Charlottesville Veterinary Hospital 865 Rio East Ct Charlottesville, VA 229410 434-973-4341 (Work Ph) www.charlottesvilleveterinaryhospital.com (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Regina Schwabe, Pamplin, VA 23958 (434) 248-5597 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Rieko Tran, BVSc Dale City Animal Hospital 2980 Dale Blvd. Woodbridge, VA 22193 703-670-6181 (Work Ph) www.dalecityanimalhospital.com (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Associate (Membership Type) Rebecca Verna, DVM VCA Healthy PAWS Medical Center 14840 Washington St Haymarket, VA 20169 (703) 754-4146 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA, EX (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Anita Walton, DVM Locust Grove, VA 22508 (540) 972-3869 (Work Ph) n.a. (Web Page) SA (Type of Work) Active (Membership Type) Here is a list of Chiropractors from the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association and a LINK Daniel Slovis DVM Goochland VA Regina Schwabe DVM Pamplin VA 434-248-5597 Joyce Harman DVM Flint Hill VA 540-229-1855 Wallace Palmer DVM Blacksburg VA 540-231-9042 Bridget (Nellie) Bierly DVM Natural Bridge VA 540-291-1153 Tabitha Moore DVM Raphine VA 540-460-5702 Jana Froeling DVM Amissville VA 540-937-1754 DRJANA1@aol.com Stephen Dill DVM Barboursville VA 540-937-6682 Anita Walton DVM Locust Grove VA 540-972-3869 Rebecca Verna DVM Haymarket VA 703-754-4146 www.HealthyPawsVet.com Paul Rowan DVM Virginia Beach VA 757-417-7730 www.animal-chiropractic.com Constance Pozniak DVM Norfolk VA 757-461-4416 www.blvdvet.com Denise Gorondy DVM Goochland VA 804-556-2795 dgorondy@threeoaksequine.com Margaret Washburn DVM Maidens VA 804-556-5566 Edited December 30, 2008 by lizmego Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaisyDoodle Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 Sorry, I don't know anything about the surgeon. I'd suggest a doggie neurologist or rheumatologist. Since this is a GSD, it may be something called Degenerative Myelopathy. Many vets consider this to be doggie MS, and it is primarily found in GSDs. MS is an auto-immune disorder rather than an orthopedic problem. I'd suggest contacting Dr. Roger Clemmons at the U. of Florida Vet School. He's done a lot of research on DM. Quote DonnaMolly the Border Collie & Poquita the American-born Podenga Bridge Babies: Daisy (Positive Delta) 8/7/2000 - 4/6/2115, Agnes--angel Sage's baby (Regall Rosario) 11/12/01 - 12/18/13, Lucky the mix (Found, w 10 puppies 8/96-Bridge 7/28/11, app. age 16) & CoCo (Cosmo Comet) 12/28/89-5/4/04 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hokiebuck Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 WOW Great information. Thanks so much! I will pass this along to my parents. The vet said after a quick once over it could be spinal degeration because he some some wearing of the nails that means he's dragging one foot. They are going to do further tests and xrays today. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lizmego Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 WOW Great information. Thanks so much! I will pass this along to my parents. The vet said after a quick once over it could be spinal degeration because he some some wearing of the nails that means he's dragging one foot. They are going to do further tests and xrays today. I'd think some acupuncture might help then. If you do go to a chiropractic or acupuncturist vet, be sure to let them know that you have xrays, for they will probably want to see them. Power (age 11) was not using his hind end recently, we called our holistic/chiropractic/acupuncturist vet and she wanted xrays done before we brought him to see her. So we took Power to our traditional vet to have xrays done. We went ahead and had the vet take xrays of Power's entire body - spine, neck, hips, all 4 legs, shoulders...so at least we could also have a baseline if Power every started experiencing other symptoms. Thankfully the xrays revealed that Power has no bone cancer - Hooray! and he's seems healthy x-ray-wise (we think our trad. vet really enjoyed being told, "take xrays of everything!" for he took a lot of xrays and didn't charge us for all of them - I think they may have used the time for training of techs). Our holisitic vet did see some issue in the lumbrosacral area and that's what we've been addressing with his acupuncture treatments. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GreyKarma Posted December 30, 2008 Share Posted December 30, 2008 My parent's German Shepherd is going to a Ortho Surgeon to see what they can find out about his hind end. He's 11 years old and has back end weakness. Its probably just old age, but we want to make sure. He's in great spirits and plays and chases as much as he's able. In fact he'll occasionally just be running, then his back end flops over like he was shot, then get back up and run some more. Anyway, I wanted them to see a specialist since their regular vet is pretty old and basically runs a small mom and pop vet clinic. So the person they were referred to is a Juan Marti in Chesapeake Va. I did find a hearing about him in March 13 by the Department of Health Professions Board of Veterinary Medicine, but it was closed so the subject was confidential. His practice is in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake. Anyone have experience with him? Also, is there another Ortho Specialist in the Va Beach/Norfolk/Chesapeake area that you would recommend? Also any Alternative specialist in the area (Acupuncture/Chiropractor/etc)? Thanks! I can say that Dr. Marti is a well respected surgeon in our area. Our receptionist used him for her GSD and loved him and his bedside manner and the way he treated her dog. (she is picky) Every one of our clients we have sent to him have been pleased as well. The building he is in also houses the other Specialists, they have ultrasound etc. I can get you their numbers if you would like. Quote CAROL & Molleigh (Queen Molly)My Angel Girl (Slippy's Molly) ~ Thank you for sending me your namesake ~ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Hokiebuck Posted December 31, 2008 Share Posted December 31, 2008 My parent's German Shepherd is going to a Ortho Surgeon to see what they can find out about his hind end. He's 11 years old and has back end weakness. Its probably just old age, but we want to make sure. He's in great spirits and plays and chases as much as he's able. In fact he'll occasionally just be running, then his back end flops over like he was shot, then get back up and run some more. Anyway, I wanted them to see a specialist since their regular vet is pretty old and basically runs a small mom and pop vet clinic. So the person they were referred to is a Juan Marti in Chesapeake Va. I did find a hearing about him in March 13 by the Department of Health Professions Board of Veterinary Medicine, but it was closed so the subject was confidential. His practice is in the Greenbrier area of Chesapeake. Anyone have experience with him? Also, is there another Ortho Specialist in the Va Beach/Norfolk/Chesapeake area that you would recommend? Also any Alternative specialist in the area (Acupuncture/Chiropractor/etc)? Thanks! I can say that Dr. Marti is a well respected surgeon in our area. Our receptionist used him for her GSD and loved him and his bedside manner and the way he treated her dog. (she is picky) Every one of our clients we have sent to him have been pleased as well. The building he is in also houses the other Specialists, they have ultrasound etc. I can get you their numbers if you would like. THanks, my parents just called and were likewise impressed. My dad used to run Chesapeake General, so he is very sensitive to medical care and expertise. The preliminary diagnosis after xrays is Degenerative Myopathy. He also suspects some knee problems...he drained some fluid and is running some tests. Does anyone have experience with this condition? Any recommendations for treatment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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