Tracey Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 (edited) Chase went to bed his usual hell on wheels self Monday and woke up moving in slo-mo Tuesday morning. Some research since then led me to think LS. He has trouble getting up from lying down and trouble climbing up stairs and onto beds and sofas. It looks a bit like he's dragging his left rear foot at times. Soonest appointment I could get him was tomorrow at 2. I'm giving him tramadol in the meantime. He's very sad, very subdued. As I mentioned, until Tuesday he was a lunatic. Beat me up at meal time and every time I walked in the door. Now he just lies on a dog bed and trembles. He's 7 until December 26 and a big boy who raced at 85. He's still around racing weight; because of his size I worried about added pounds stressing his frame too much. I'll hopefully know more after the vet tomorrow, but any thoughts about what's going on with him in the meantime would be appreciated. I hate seeing him so sad. He's like a shell of himself. Edited December 7, 2012 by Tracey Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GeorgeofNE Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Sounds like a POSSIBLE back problem. Maybe he tweaked something? Particulary if you know he was acting like a nut just prior. Try not to worry just yet! He probably needs some rest and NSAIDs and then he'll be right as rain! Quote Susan, Hamish, Mister Bigglesworth and Nikita Stanislav. Missing Ming, George, and Buck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Valencia Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 Maybe he has a pinched nerve? Quote Shannon, mom to Shae, Jesse James and Linus the Chinese Cresteds,and bridge angels Sydney Sue and Stewart. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest lanielovesgreys Posted December 6, 2012 Share Posted December 6, 2012 I always thought LS was gradual. But I'm new to this. Vivie showed all of those signs, they just got louder over time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted December 6, 2012 Author Share Posted December 6, 2012 Sounds like a POSSIBLE back problem. Maybe he tweaked something? Particulary if you know he was acting like a nut just prior. Try not to worry just yet! He probably needs some rest and NSAIDs and then he'll be right as rain! What was so weird is he slept with us, so I know there wasn't some major event in the middle of the night. He went to bed feeling just fine, had a quiet night's sleep and woke up not himself. I do hope it's something minor that will resolve with rest, but so far he seems to be a bit worse than he was at first. Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheFullHouse Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Tracey, you may want to have his back x-rayed for possible disc problems. For it to come on so suddenly it makes me think he tweaked something, maybe by just moving wrong. Quote Judy, mom to Darth Vader, Bandita, And Angel Forever in our hearts, DeeYoGee, Dani, Emmy, Andy, Heart, Saint, Valentino, Arrow, Gee, Bebe, Jilly Bean, Bullitt, Pistol, Junior, Sammie, Joey, Gizmo, Do Bee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Ever awakened with a stiff neck? (What we used to call "a crick" in your neck?) That doesn't go away quickly--you can be stiff all day--and all you did was have a normal night's sleep. This may not be Chase's problem, but I just wanted to point out that soreness and moving funny doesn't require an actual injury event. I've got an elderly boy with spinal arthritis and a slightly herniated disk. Different parts of his back bother him different days. He's on meloxicam, gabapentin, tramadol, and methocarbamol. The latter is a muscle relaxer (aka Robaxin), because when his back bothers him, he tenses his muscles and moves very badly and with a lot of pain. (Yelping when he stands up and lies down.) Those are a lot of pills, but he's not groggy or eternally sleepy. (That is, he doesn't sleep any more than my younger greyhound.) And these days, when Sam sleeps, sometimes he sleeps flat out on the floor; other times he sleeps like this: I'm sure that can't be comfortable, but it works for Sam. But I've gotten a good sense of when he's uncomfortable, and I can adjust his meds. Sam doesn't do stairs anymore, doesn't get on beds or sofas. But some days are worse than others--he manages to "tweak" his back without any sort of recognizable injury. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hubcitypam Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 In my experience, LS is not really overnight, but I'm no expert. With Rex I could easily see when the depo shot was wearing off, but it was graded...sort of like "I need to get him in next week"...not tomorrow. I am beating myself up right now because in retrospect I didn't pay enough attention to the creeping up signs with Buddy. Agree with the others that Chase may have a pinched nerve or a disc problem. Keep us posted. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RobinM Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 LS dogs usually stand with their back legs a bit bent and their backs slope downward. Quote ROBIN ~ Mom to: Beau Think It Aint, Chloe JC Allthewayhome, Teddy ICU Drunk Sailor, Elsie N Fracine , Ollie RG's Travertine, Ponch A's Jupiter~ Yoshi, Zoobie & Belle, the kitties. Waiting at the bridge Angel Polli Bohemian Ocean , Rocky, Blue,Sasha & Zoobie & Bobbi Greyhound Angels Adoption (GAA) The Lexus Project Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 Thought I'd update in case this sheds any light. We were gone for 9 hours last night, during which time Chase did not move. I know this because if we leave him for more than two hours and with no belly band, he pees on stuff. ALWAYS. And when we got home last night not a thing had been marked. Anyway, Chase got up, greeted us tail wagging. He was so happy, almost seemed like he wanted to jump on us but didn't. Soon after, as he started moving - went outside, had dinner, etc - he quickly got worse. By bedtime he was as bad as ever, practically dragging his left rear foot. So I gave him tramadol and hope he'll just rest till his appointment as the complete lack of movement seemed to help. Does this information point more towards any one conclusion? Thanks for any thoughts. Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KF_in_Georgia Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 This seems more like a tweaked back, less like LS to me. When he pees in the house, does he lift his leg? Even that might be painful if his back is bothering him. And just standing up and lying down could be painful with back problems. Does he start to shake--a water-in-his-coat kind of shake--and then stop abruptly? That's another sign of back pain. Quote Kathy and Q (CRT Qadeer from Fuzzy's Cannon and CRT Bonnie) and Jane (WW's Aunt Jane from Trent Lee and Aunt M); photos to come. Missing Silver (5.19.2005-10.27.2016), Tigger (4.5.2007-3.18.2016), darling Sam (5.10.2000-8.8.2013), Jacey-Kasey (5.19.2003-8.22.2011), and Oreo (1997-3.30.2006) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 No, he hasn't done the shake you describe. Would something in his back make him drag his left foot to where it sometimes curls under? Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_daerr Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Would something in his back make him drag his left foot to where it sometimes curls under? Yes, spinal cord disease or injury could cause this. Have you ever had any neurological issues with Chase? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
krissn333 Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 I'd be headed for the acupuncturist and getting him started on prednisone. Carrie injured her lower back in May and had a pinched nerve. Prednisone, acupuncture, tramadol, and robaxin were our saviors. Quote 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.-- Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted December 7, 2012 Author Share Posted December 7, 2012 (edited) Would something in his back make him drag his left foot to where it sometimes curls under? Yes, spinal cord disease or injury could cause this. Have you ever had any neurological issues with Chase? Nothing like this. He had one weird episode three years ago where he got up off the couch, appeared not to see where he was and walked across the room into the wall. Our vet at the time thought that was heart-related, though. In the 3 years since he's been perfectly healthy. Edited December 7, 2012 by Tracey Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_daerr Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 Hmmm... the paw-dragging (knuckling over) is the one thing that's making me think spinal/disc problem. That being said, it could be a million things ranging from the serious to not-very-serious. Let us know what you come up with after the vet appointment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mangos_mom Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 If they do xrays, can I suggest considering xraying the leg he is limping on as well as the spine? I don't want to scare you, and Ruger was actually limping, not dragging, his leg, but what my vet at first thought was compressed discs turned out to be a tumor in his knee joint. My gut said xray his leg on the first visit and I didn't listen so it took 2 more weeks and a trip to a specialist to find the tumor. Good luck and hoping for a "good" diagnosis this afternoon for you. Quote Kate, with Nedra and HollyMissing Greyhound Angels Mango, Takoda, Ruger, Delta, and Shiloh, kitty Angel Hoot, cat-tester extraordinaire, and Rocky, the stray cat who came to stay for a little while and then moved on.Greyhounds Unlimited Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NeylasMom Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 This doesn't sound like LS to me, especially with him greeting you happily one moment, then being in noticeable pain the next. The difficulty with stairs, getting on furniture, etc. could point to LS developing, as could the knuckle dragging, but the sudden onset doesn't. As Robin said, a dog with LS usually always stands with the rear legs bent and down a bit. Of course, it's possible there's more than one thing going on - or a more recent injury is exacerbating LS that was developing. Definitely would see the vet and look at getting a consult with an ortho and/or a neurologist. Probably a neuro who's in a practice where he can also consult with an ortho would be ideal. Quote Jen, CPDT-KA with Zuri, lab in a greyhound suit, Violet, formerly known as Faith, Skye, the permanent puppy, Cisco, resident cat, and my baby girl Neyla, forever in my heart "The great thing about science is that you're free to disagree with it, but you'll be wrong." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest grey_dreams Posted December 7, 2012 Share Posted December 7, 2012 It would be useful to also get a full blood panel so they can evaluate kidney liver etc. There are some metabolic disorders that could also cause the back end weakness or knuckling under (e.g., diabetes). I hope that the vet will be able to diagnose the problem quickly so you can get some treatment started and he will be on the way to recovery. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracey Posted December 8, 2012 Author Share Posted December 8, 2012 We're still in the midst of the exam. They're doing xrays and blood work. Quote ...............Chase (FTH Smooth Talker), Morgan (Cata), Reggie (Gable Caney), Rufus (Reward RJ). Fosters check in, but they don't check out. Forever loved -- Cosmo (System Br Mynoel), March 11, 2002 - October 8, 2009.Miss Cosmo was a lady. And a lady always knows when to leave. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EllenEveBaz Posted December 8, 2012 Share Posted December 8, 2012 Just sending some cyberhugs for both of you. Quote Ellen, with brindle Milo and the blonde ballerina, Gelsey remembering Eve, Baz, Scout, Romie, Nutmeg, and Jeter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
a_daerr Posted December 10, 2012 Share Posted December 10, 2012 Any update? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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