Let's Talk L S

[Meandmy]

Pretty Girl has been exhibiting signs of LS for quite some time now - uneven gait, knuckling under in the back, sinking hind end, etc. She is on both Metacam and Tramadol. They help, but don't always fully get rid of her pain. I spoke to my vet about it and showed him the article from Suzanne Stack. My vet is open to new ideas, but wants to have a lot of information about them first. He went to a vet-only discussion board and found very few that had tried Stack's method and those that had in general didn't seem to think it worked.

 

We've been trying Adequan shots to see if it was more of an arthritis issue, but they haven't been successful, so now we're on to the next step. If it is LS, are Depo-Medrol shots the best form of treatment? My vet said he'll do it, but he would be more comfortable with oral steroids. I don't want to do that because of the side effects. Pretty Girl is 13 1/2 and has bladder issues already. I don't know what we'd do if she had to go out more often than she already does She also has a sensitive stomach sometimes and I don't want to irritate that further.

 

I would love to hear your thoughts on some possible next steps. My little old lady has a lot of spunk in her yet, and I don't want that to go away because of the pain she has.

[Hubcitypam]

I can only tell you that the Depo shots did wonders for Rex. The change in him was amazing. Watching Dr. Herron diagnose him with the thumb test was pretty amazing too.

 

They never affected his peeing in any way like oral steroids. It may be one of those ithings that work for some dogs and not for others but it is worth a shot to try it once I'd think...

 

 

[kikibean]

I had a foster that had LS. We tried the Adequan shots, etc and they didn't work. I finally talked my vet into trying the Depo shots and they made a HUGE difference. He got shots off and on for about 2 yrs before the family that adopted him finally had to let him go. I think he was 13 at the time, so the shots did give him 2 yrs of quality life.

 

If someone asks me about them, I usually tell them to give the shots a try. It will either work or it won't. We haven't ever had a dog have a bad reaction to them, so I don't see any harm in trying them.

 

I had a specialist refuse to give the shots because he swore it wouldn't do any good (this was for the foster dog). I talked my vet into doing it even though he was skeptical as well. He was amazed at the improvement and now has many clients who get them.

Edited June 29, 2011 by kikibean

[Guest Swifthounds]

If the Depo doesn't work, it may not actually be LS.

[turbotaina]

From my email conversations with Dr. Stack, there shouldn't be any side effects and it'll work or it won't - it doesn't hurt to try. The only contraindication is if your dog has a history of pancreatitis. If she does, don't do it because D-M may trigger an attack.

Edited June 29, 2011 by turbotaina

[Chicocat]

Depo doesn't work for every dog but it does for many. An effective alternative is Dermaxx and Tramadol, which I've used for Alpo for about a year and a half. You have a lot of room to increase the Tramadol over time. My vet didn't want to use Depo (although he knows it effective most of the time) because his experience has been that it leads to a loss of the ability to hold urine. If the combo used on Alpo wasn't effective, we would have gone to Depo in a heartbeat.

Edited June 29, 2011 by Chicocat

[Meandmy]

My vet didn't want to use Depo (although he knows it effective most of the time) because his experience has been that it leads to a loss of the ability to hold urine.

 

I've read that it is a possibility, which is also worrisome to me. Has anyone gotten the Depo shots for their dog and noticed that as a side effect?

Edited June 29, 2011 by Meandmy

[Guest Swifthounds]

My vet didn't want to use Depo (although he knows it effective most of the time) because his experience has been that it leads to a loss of the ability to hold urine.

 

 

I've read that it is a possibility, which is also worrisome to me. Has anyone gotten the Depo shots for their dog and noticed that as a side effect?

 

Interesting thought, but given that it's a side effect of LS as well...

Edited June 29, 2011 by Swifthounds

[kikibean]

My foster that had LS did have some issues with holding urine the last 6 months or so. His mom's solution was to make bellybands that fit a Depends pad and he wore those. The Depends would keep him dry even if he urinated a large amount. He was perfectly happy wearing them and never minded putting his "pants" on. She would just wipe him down with a baby wipe when she changed his pad.

[joejoesmom]

I know you asked about depo-medrol, but I wanted to throw in another possibility. Have you tried adding gabapentin to your pain medications? It helps "nerve" pain. OSU has recommended it for LS in addition to cancer. It is a drug that a lot of vets don't seem to remember and doesn't appear to have much in the way of side effects.

 

Fortunately, I don't know anything about depo-medrol. My Joe has very mild LS made somewhat worse by a leg amputation for osteo. Thankfully he hasn't needed anything more than the occasional tramadol.

 

Jane

[Guest Cara_Lea]

Depo worked wonders for Quinn for almost 2 years.. yes, as the LS progressed he had incontinence issues.. but that is part of LS as well as a possible side effect of Depo.. so who knows what actually caused it. Honestly, for the relief it gave him.. and the extra years of life it gave him.. dealing with the incontinence was very minor.

[Guest MorganKonaAlex]

My Vet wasn't familiar with Dr. Stack's test or the Depo shots but was willing to give them a try. It didn't help Morgan at all but no noticeable side effects either. We used Gabapentin on Morgan.