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Wizard Again


Guest SusanP

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Guest SusanP

yesterday I had Wizard at the vet because of high stepping with a front leg. He hardly did it there, and the vet recommended a chiro appt for a tender spot below his shoulders on his back. Today he seemed to be doing it a little less, but after going outside and running a little, he came in and was holding up the leg slightly, slight trembling of leg, then he backed up and his entire hind end seemed to go down, legs sort of splayed. Stood that way staring at us for several moments, then went and lay down.

 

Got up soon after, stretched with his butt in the air and seemed fine.

 

Vet's office is closed. Does this sound like a wait and see or an emergency?

 

Tell me about greyhound back problems and what I'd be looking for.

 

Please?

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Guest FreddyGirl

The hind end dropping happened to bobbi, turns out, she had 3 compressed discs in her neck. If this is the case with Wizard, do NOT let him run of jump. By the way, is your dog's race name Bohemian Wizard?

Edited by FreddyGirl
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Guest SusanP

No, he was Twilite Merlin--his kennel name was "Wizard", so we kept it. I think I'll do potty trips on leash from now on until we resolve this. He also has to go up and down stairs to get to the back door to our yard.

 

He actually just went outside again and acted fine except for a bit of the front leg high-step, but even that was only a couple of times. It's possible he was just backing away from me because he saw I was coming to check his front leg (he can be quite skittish at times about being handled) and sort of "froze" that way, waiting for me to make a move. But the position looked strange and awkward.

 

The vet didn't suggest xrays, but would that be a sensible next step? What is the other greyhound back problem I hear so much about but can't remember the name of now?

Edited by SusanP
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Guest FreddyGirl

Just saw your other post, ignore race name question. Bobbi's pup is Bohemian Wizard, can not be your 10 year old. Bobbi's disc problem was found via xrays. she gets accupuncture and chiroracrtic adjustments. BUT, she also was in the hospital for IV sgteroids, pain meds, then Tramodol and Deramax. See thread Bobbi's Rear end Weakness. I personally was NOT comfortable going for holistic treatment without xrays.

Edited by FreddyGirl
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Guest FreddyGirl

Lumbosacral stenosis. Only 100% diagnosed through an MRI. However, my regular vet manipulated Bobbi's spine by the hind end and she did not react, meaning, her rear end did not automatically drop. A good sign. It is possible that she is at the beginnings of LS. But,the treatment for the current problems wojuld be the same. I give her Deramx daily anf Tramodol as needed. Not really needed at this point. However, I have not walked her on leash with the pack in about 3 weeks. Vet told me to walk her on grass, with all the snow, where do I find grass? I did walk her for 5 minutes at the beach today. Otherwise, she just pottys in the back yard. I did leash walk her for over a week in the backyard nd prohibited her up the full staircase. Now, she does the 3 steps on the deck to the backhyard and I allt, just allow her up the stairs once a day. I walk behind her and hold her as she comes down.

 

Edited to add:

One more thing, no jumping in and out of car. I lift her hind end in and carry

her out, only 62 pounds. btw, 11 years old this past January 1st.

Edited by FreddyGirl
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That's an odd one. Suspect shoulder or foot but I would probably want x-rays of that leg, shoulder, back just to be on the safe side. And yeah, leash-walking, avoid jumping/stairs if at all possible.

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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I hope Wizard is feeling a little better.

 

BTW Dr. Mulch was not in the office today, so, it's possible that he will be working next Saturday. I'd give them a call on Monday and see if he'll be there and if they have anything available.

 

I was just there this morning with Sutra - his shoulder hurts again. He seems to be doing better this evening though. Deramaxx helps a lot :nod

Kristin in Moline, IL USA with Ozzie (MRL Crusin Clem), Clarice (Clarice McBones), Latte and Sage the IGs, and the kitties: Violet and Rose
Lovingly Remembered: Sutra (Fliowa Sutra) 12/02/97-10/12/10, Pinky (Pick Me) 04/20/03-11/19/12, Fritz (Fritz Fire) 02/05/01 - 05/20/13, Ace (Fantastic Ace) 02/05/01 - 07/05/13, and Carrie (Takin the Crumbs) 05/08/99 - 09/04/13.

A cure for cancer can't come soon enough.--

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Guest SusanP

Since that espisode, he seems mostly fine when walking, just a little high-stepping with the one leg. But when we leash walk 4 doors down the street and back, he is dragging behind me by the time we turn around--very unWizardlike. He hasn't gotten up yet this morning, but he's awake, so I'll have an idea how he is today very soon.

 

What I'm wondering, since our vet didn't seem to find much, is if I should get him to the emergency and specialty clinic in a nearby city--what could they do that our vet didn't do? Would they xray? Probably they don't have an MRI machine, right? I'm wondering if we should have things diagnosed before we let a chiropractor move things around--what if there is a tumor or a crushed disc or ??

 

Wizard isn't showing signs of real pain, no trembling, crying, panting. But I wonder if he is hurting? I have Tramadol if needed, but the vet thought on Fri we shouldn't, since he didn't seem to be hurting. And I forgot to ask about the muscle relaxant!

 

Kristin, thanks for the tip on Dr. M and next Sat.

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I would at least get x-rays before I saw a chiropractor.

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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Guest SusanP

That's what I'm thinking, Batmom. Thanks. Back xray, probably, or leg, too?

 

BTW, he woke up and is walking just fine so far this morning. But it seems to come and go. It is generally less pronounced than it was that first day. I'm hoping that's a good sign.

 

And except for that one incident, I guess the hind end isn't really involved (thinking of LS). Wizard can get frightened if he thinks someone is coming after him to examine him. He's a little funny about being touched sometimes when he's standing. --he'll back up quickly, and I think his front end simply moved faster than his hind end. I think on rare occasion I've seen him do something like this while backing up, but because of the front leg problem and the length of time he held the odd position (He looked a bit like he was about to poop), I got scared.

 

I'll keep him resting as much as I can today and regroup on Monday.

 

What would I do without GT on the weekends when the vet's office is closed?!

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I'd probably want leg, shoulder, back ... but ought to be able to get that in 2 views.

 

Yeah, this stuff always happens when vet is closed .... Mine used to be open Sunday morning for a couple hours but they stopped that :( .

Star aka Starz Ovation (Ronco x Oneco Maggie*, litter #48538), Coco aka Low Key (Kiowa Mon Manny x Party Hardy, litter # 59881), and mom in Illinois
We miss Reko Batman (Trouper Zeke x Marque Louisiana), 11/15/95-6/29/06, Rocco the thistledown whippet, 04/29/93-10/14/08, Reko Zema (Mo Kick x Reko Princess), 8/16/98-4/18/10, the most beautiful girl in the whole USA, my good egg Joseph aka Won by a Nose (Oneco Cufflink x Buy Back), 09/22/2003-03/01/2013, and our gentle sweet Gidget (Digitizer, Dodgem by Design x Sobe Mulberry), 1/29/2006-11/22/2014, gone much too soon. Never forgetting CJC's Buckshot, 1/2/07-10/25/10.

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Guest FreddyGirl

As you know, these dogs are very stoic and seldom give signals of being in pain until it is excruciating. Bobbi did not cry out until she could not even walk 2 houses down the street. Then, she would cry out just getting up from her bed. Just keep this in mind. Agree with xrays before doing anything. Knowing what is causing the behavior is essengtial before moving forwar.

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Guest SusanP

Wizard is pretty wimpy, not stoic at all, so most of the time I"m pretty sure he's not in bad pain, but yes, the slowing down on walks is worrying me. He is no longer doing the high-step thing, and there has been no other sign of hind-end problems.

 

Now all I am seeing is slowing down after a short time on walks and the fact that he's opted to sleep on a bed in a corner of the living room instead of our bedroom where all the dogs normally sleep at night for the past two nights.

 

I"m off work tomorrow and will call the vet to see if she'd do xrays.

 

Thanks, Guys!

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Guest SusanP

Ok, he did the collapsing hind end thing when he backed up again. This is the 3rd time I've seen it in the last 4 days. Then I walked the dogs 4 doors down, and he was dragging behind by the time we turned back. The front leg is no longer doing anything strange. What could be the connection between front and hind legs?

 

I'm getting scared again.

 

Calling vet again today. Would this require a specialist?

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Guest SusanP

Vet didn't know, thought maybe pinched nerve. When the hind end trouble began, she worried it might be neurological, something like myesthenia gravis or ??? Suggested we see an orthopedist in a city nearby, but they recommended a neurologist in the next state. As I mulled this over, he began peeing indoors repeatedly, so I quick scheduled him for a urine/blood check at our regular vet's in the morning, hoping all of this will somehow help someone figure out what is wrong.

 

Could kidney disease be causing all these leg related issues? Sounds from one of the earlier posts like that could be one idea...

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