Jump to content

Sweep Limp Update And Harness Question


Recommended Posts

Yesterday Sweep had her second round of acupuncture and second chiro adjustment for her mystery limp (background here and here). In January she had been doing well on Previcox every other day, but the limp resumed when we tried stopping it completely...and then the big snow came. Between snow zoomies and several days of maneuvering through 8 inches of snow (not something hounds or humans are used to in these parts) for potty breaks, she regressed and not even daily Previcox was keeping the limp totally at bay. So, two steps forward, one step back.

 

The chiropractor said overall she is in good shape and only needed some minor adjustments in her neck, which he thinks might be the culprit for her limping. She did not show improvement in the first week, but that coincided with going cold turkey off Previcox, so I'm not surprised by that. The acupuncture vet had warned us we probably wouldn't see improvement until the second or third treatment, and if she doesn't show improvement in six treatments, we'll move on to something else. We've also been prescribed Chinese herbs, but they apparently take a while to have any anti-inflammatory effect (that's the one component I'm somewhat skeptical about, but I'll try anything at this point). She's still on daily joint supplements and fish oil as well. I bought Duralactin but haven't tried it yet since I'm tossing so many other new things at her.

 

I'm hopeful and glad to be pursuing a different course of action, but also wondering where we go from here if it doesn't work. The most frustrating thing has been that my regular vet (and the other three vets at the practice that he showed our video to), the acupuncture vet, and the chiro all think she's limping on her right front leg, while the orthopedic specialist and DH and I feel certain it's her left front. So we're somewhat limited on treatment options until we all get on the same page. We keep hearing phrases like "mystery dog" and "unusual presentation." :headwall I'm thinking of contacting Dr. Couto but will wait to see how we do with the acupuncture first...and probably should get a new set of x-rays since the last ones were done in late December.

 

Anyway, now to my question: bc this is possibly a neck issue, the chiro also recommended switching to a harness, so we ordered the Freedom No-Pull from 2Hounds Design. But I'm not sure which is the best place to attach the leash--at the chest or the back? She's a bit pully but not terribly so; the bigger issue is that she is leash reactive and lunges at other dogs. Would attaching at the front give me better control? She's not spooky at all and has never tried backing out of anything, so that's not a concern.

 

Thanks for making it through another long chapter in the Sweep Saga. :)

Edited by ramonaghan

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to an acupuncturist a while ago and as part of the treatment I was given Chinese herbs. Granted it was for a different reason but MAN did those things help! They tasted horrible and I called it "tree branch tea" because it was just a bunch of sticks and what looked like dirt but it was amazing! I have faith they'll work for Sweep :beatheart

Missing my bridge greys Opal and Eden and cat Bailey. Mom to Missy the Super Mutt and recent foster failure of Miley to mini-mutt.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I went to an acupuncturist a while ago and as part of the treatment I was given Chinese herbs. Granted it was for a different reason but MAN did those things help! They tasted horrible and I called it "tree branch tea" because it was just a bunch of sticks and what looked like dirt but it was amazing! I have faith they'll work for Sweep :beatheart

 

That's encouraging--thank you! Fortunately Sweep will eat anything covered in canned cat food, so she takes the capsules easily. :lol

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Down with the sound" - Watch Sweep walk, and with whichever front leg she lowers her head during a stride, that would be the leg that is *good* (sound). We use the 2Hounds harness with the double leash . One attaches to the back, the other to the martingale collar. For Sweep, if you have only a single leash clip I would probably attach it to the back piece.

 

Interesting about the Chinese herbs!

Old Dogs are the Best Dogs. :heartThank you, campers. Current enrollees:  Punkin. AnnIE Oooh M

Angels: Pal :heart. Segugio. Sorella (TPGIT). LadyBug. Zeke-aroni. MiMi Sizzle Pants. Gracie. Seamie :heart:brokenheart. (Foster)Sweet. Andy. PaddyALVIN!Mayhem. Bosco. Bruno. Dottie B. Trevor Double-Heart. Bea. Cletus, KLTO. Aiden 1-4.

:paw Upon reflection, our lives are often referenced in parts defined by the all-too-short lives of our dogs.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

"Down with the sound" - Watch Sweep walk, and with whichever front leg she lowers her head during a stride, that would be the leg that is *good* (sound). We use the 2Hounds harness with the double leash . One attaches to the back, the other to the martingale collar. For Sweep, if you have only a single leash clip I would probably attach it to the back piece.

 

Interesting about the Chinese herbs!

 

"Down is sound" is exactly what the specialist told us, and how we (and he) concluded it's the left front leg. Also, when she had an acute issue after Christmas which was obviously her right front (since she had an impressive goose egg on that elbow), she limped opposite of how she does with the chronic limp. I don't understand how there's any debate, especially from vets I really respect and who have tons of greyhound experience. :unsure

 

Thanks for the harness tip!

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So here's a random thought. I reread your previous thread where I asked about TBDs and your question about can soft tissue injuries take such a long time to heal and someone else's suggestion that it could be the back rear leg that is the underlying issue and you're seeing the limp in the front left because of compensation made me think of Neyla. She slipped while playing on a friend's kitchen floor while they were watching her and sprained her iliopsoas. It took going to see Dr. Radcliffe, the track vet out in Wheeling to diagnosis it and much longer to heal (I think 8 months total). It's not uncommon in greyhounds, but not so common in your average dog so it's often misdiagnosed. With Neyla there was obvious limping in her hind leg initially so if you never saw that this is probably very unlikely, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

 

Having said all of that, I really think your best bet is serious rest for a LONG time. Whatever the underlying damage, it clearly has been reinjured and needs a lot of time to heal. I would keep her on the NSAIDs and rest her. With Neyla, that meant leash walks only and I had to set up obstacles throughout my condo so she couldn't run and play inside. :( It sucked, but it did eventually heal and she returned to normal activity. If you can identify the location of the injury, I highly recommend cold laser therapy. Acupuncture certainly can't hurt and might help as well.

 

Did you ever run a tick panel?

 

ETA: Oh, I meant to post this link: http://teamunruly.com/?p=459

 

And this link to possibly ease your mind about concerns over longer term use of NSAIDs: http://speakingforspot.com/blog/2015/07/19/long-term-use-of-nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-medication-for-treatment-of-canine-arthritis/

Edited by NeylasMom

gallery_12662_3351_862.jpg

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

Just wanted to mention that I know of two ghs that had iliposoas strains-one of them being my boy. He strained it chasing a groundhog-he was on rimadyl for 3 months and rested a lot longer than that-often they will relapse taking even longer to heal. Many clinicians don't even consider such an injury and it can lead to misdiagnosis.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

So here's a random thought. I reread your previous thread where I asked about TBDs and your question about can soft tissue injuries take such a long time to heal and someone else's suggestion that it could be the back rear leg that is the underlying issue and you're seeing the limp in the front left because of compensation made me think of Neyla. She slipped while playing on a friend's kitchen floor while they were watching her and sprained her iliopsoas. It took going to see Dr. Radcliffe, the track vet out in Wheeling to diagnosis it and much longer to heal (I think 8 months total). It's not uncommon in greyhounds, but not so common in your average dog so it's often misdiagnosed. With Neyla there was obvious limping in her hind leg initially so if you never saw that this is probably very unlikely, but I thought I'd throw it out there.

 

Having said all of that, I really think your best bet is serious rest for a LONG time. Whatever the underlying damage, it clearly has been reinjured and needs a lot of time to heal. I would keep her on the NSAIDs and rest her. With Neyla, that meant leash walks only and I had to set up obstacles throughout my condo so she couldn't run and play inside. :( It sucked, but it did eventually heal and she returned to normal activity. If you can identify the location of the injury, I highly recommend cold laser therapy. Acupuncture certainly can't hurt and might help as well.

 

Did you ever run a tick panel?

 

ETA: Oh, I meant to post this link: http://teamunruly.com/?p=459

 

And this link to possibly ease your mind about concerns over longer term use of NSAIDs: http://speakingforspot.com/blog/2015/07/19/long-term-use-of-nonsteroidal-anti-inflammatory-medication-for-treatment-of-canine-arthritis/

 

Thank you. My gut says you're right about soft tissue and extended rest. I was so encouraged when we were down to Previcox every other day, and then the snow set us back so much (kicking myself for that). She's not reluctant to jump in the car or use the stairs (which are carpeted and only one round-trip daily); would that be something we'd likely see if it were iliopsoas? We haven't observed any lameness in the back, and she doesn't react to any manipulation of her back legs. She does react sometimes in her front legs and feet. But then she also screamed when they weighed her yesterday, so she is a bit of a drama queen away from home, which is less than helpful diagnostically. The chiro said based on the video alone he would have said arthritis in her shoulder, but the x-rays don't show it. Vet says lumbosacral region, hips, and shoulders look great, so at least we're advancing in the process of elimination...

 

We have not had a tick panel run yet, but I'll ask at her acupuncture appointment next week (the practice does both traditional medicine and alternative therapies). FWIW I have never seen a tick on her and she's always leash-walked on sidewalks except for occasional zoomies in our small fenced yard, so she's not really exposed to tick-populated areas. I did ask the orthopedic tech at the specialist clinic about TBD in December and they didn't feel it was likely given that her only symptom is lameness (no fever or swelling, appetite and mood always good), but if it's another thing to rule out, I'm all for the test.

 

Thanks for the links, especially the one about NSAIDs. It has been a concern but I feel better reading that. Before we started down the acu/chiro path, my regular vet had suggested adding Gabapentin or Tramadol since the Previcox alone wasn't cutting it after the snow, so that may be where we end up.

Edited by ramonaghan

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just wanted to mention that I know of two ghs that had iliposoas strains-one of them being my boy. He strained it chasing a groundhog-he was on rimadyl for 3 months and rested a lot longer than that-often they will relapse taking even longer to heal. Many clinicians don't even consider such an injury and it can lead to misdiagnosis.

We were posting at the same time. Smart minds. ;)

 

 

To the OP, I think the TBD thing is highly unlikely too, especially given her history so I probably wouldn't spend the money.

gallery_12662_3351_862.jpg

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

Just wanted to add, Rimadyl and other NSAIDs didn't help Conner's limp much (some, but not a lot) and he can't take Tramadol, but Gabapentin has been a big help and his chiro Dr said it was actually a better choice since it targeted nerve pain, which is part of his problem. He is also on the Chinese herb mix Body Sore, which takes a while to kick in, but has started to help. These mystery limps are so frustrating!

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Just wanted to add, Rimadyl and other NSAIDs didn't help Conner's limp much (some, but not a lot) and he can't take Tramadol, but Gabapentin has been a big help and his chiro Dr said it was actually a better choice since it targeted nerve pain, which is part of his problem. He is also on the Chinese herb mix Body Sore, which takes a while to kick in, but has started to help. These mystery limps are so frustrating!

 

That's good to know re: Gabapentin. She was on Tramadol for her recent acute issue and it really knocked her out (sleepy at 50mg, zombie at 100mg) so I'm not keen on that as a long-term option. And yes, this is crazy frustrating (for the vets too, I'm sure)! But I do realize how lucky we are for multiple clear x-rays and for the fact that she really doesn't seem to be hurting. She still goes nuts for walks and car rides and TREATS.

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Annie needed to start using a harness last spring. She slipped out of 3 different brands until I tried the harness lead. One of escapes was at the Brimfield antique show...nothing like a greyhound who had been on crate rest for 6 weeks barreling down rt. 20 at top speed.

 

Getting to the crate rest,soft tissue injury to the muscle that goes from her shoulder to just below her neck due to calcification of her shoulder from an old injury.tramadol, gabapentin and metacam and NO off lead movement for 6 weeks. Then after 8 weeks I started to build her up 1/4 mile every 5days.

 

Then came the weaning after 10 weeks. The gabapentin is fast,tramadol a couple of days and metacam slowly. Your vet knows,she was on the gab/tram 3xs daily.

 

Dr. Couto examined her atGIG,then my ortho man sent xrays and a report. Crate rest and antinflammatories. Yes,a second opinion is with while,personally I respond better to a chiropractor for joint,nerve osin. All over healing acupuncture is the best.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Guest Scouts_mom

Re the leash position on the harness. I got a harness for one of my greys who pulls hard on the leash and I didn't want her to hurt her neck or pull me over (I was having walking issues). I found that she would still pull hard when I clipped the leash to the ring on her back. That position was easier on her neck, but not on me. However when I clip the leash to the ring on her chest, she turns into a different dog--no pulling at all. I think it is because the leash directs her chest and the rest of her just follows along. I'm not sure which way woul be best for Sweep--maybe try both.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Annie needed to start using a harness last spring. She slipped out of 3 different brands until I tried the harness lead. One of escapes was at the Brimfield antique show...nothing like a greyhound who had been on crate rest for 6 weeks barreling down rt. 20 at top speed.

 

Getting to the crate rest,soft tissue injury to the muscle that goes from her shoulder to just below her neck due to calcification of her shoulder from an old injury.tramadol, gabapentin and metacam and NO off lead movement for 6 weeks. Then after 8 weeks I started to build her up 1/4 mile every 5days.

 

Then came the weaning after 10 weeks. The gabapentin is fast,tramadol a couple of days and metacam slowly. Your vet knows,she was on the gab/tram 3xs daily.

 

Dr. Couto examined her atGIG,then my ortho man sent xrays and a report. Crate rest and antinflammatories. Yes,a second opinion is with while,personally I respond better to a chiropractor for joint,nerve osin. All over healing acupuncture is the best.

 

 

Re the leash position on the harness. I got a harness for one of my greys who pulls hard on the leash and I didn't want her to hurt her neck or pull me over (I was having walking issues). I found that she would still pull hard when I clipped the leash to the ring on her back. That position was easier on her neck, but not on me. However when I clip the leash to the ring on her chest, she turns into a different dog--no pulling at all. I think it is because the leash directs her chest and the rest of her just follows along. I'm not sure which way woul be best for Sweep--maybe try both.

 

Thank you both for your input!

52596614938_aefa4e9757_o.jpg

Rachel with littermates Doolin and Willa, boss cat Tootie, and feline squatters Crumpet and Fezziwig.
Missing gentlemen kitties MudHenry, and Richard and our beautiful, feisty, silly
 Sweep:heart

Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

×
×
  • Create New...