Sick dog....

[Beagled1]

Beagled1...honestly......have you ever seen a dog recover from this with just meds and be ok? The vet tried telling me the rate of dogs that recover without surgery is 70%+, that sounded hard to believe. I have never heard of one making it and being normal. What you think?

Thanks, Randy

YES!!! I had three dogs with this in the past 13 yrs. The first slipped a disc twice in her life. It was bad. She went from a little bit of a limp to full paralysis within 24hrs With the right meds, she bounced bounced right back to normal bith times!
The second dog is 7 yrs now and was diagnosed with early signs of intervertebral disc disease a few years back. My Shepherd slammed her big, fat paw down on his back in play, and he subsequently slipped his disc. He was given great Vet care and has not had a flare up since
In both cases these dogs were given a steroid known as dexamethasone, but I think cortisone is just as good. As long as its a steroid, it should reduce the inflammation & the disc should go back in place by itself.
What happened with my bitch who recently had this was her Vet care was a DISGRACE. The first Vet I took her to told me she wasn't in pain and all we needed to do was some quack electrotherapy, or some such nonsense I caused a stink in the office so he gave me a low dose of Rimadyl, which is a crap medicine & is for osteoarthritis, anyway. Second Vet gave her a non steroidal anti inflammatory injection & told me he was going to give me something better than Rimadyl, called Novox. Went into a big speech about how this was more $$$ than Rimadyl, but so much better. Well, I come to find out this Novox is GENERIC FOR RIMADYL
Because she wasn't given the right meds, the inflammation did not go down - it worsened, and the disc ruptured. She was in so much agony, there was no other choice but to put her down.
BTW, it may be a genetic thing, but its my theory its like hip dysplasia - polygenic. Altho that is JMHO & not a proven fact. Diet, exercize, weight have much to do with it. I'm sure since this dog has gotten some great Vet care that he'll make a full recovery ... it does take a fea days for the swelling to subside and even longer for the soreness to go away. Dislocations are PAINFUL!!! Worse tahn breaking a bone. Give this dog as much raw meaty bones as his little heart desires, lol, because the raw diet DOES do wonders for dogs with skeletal problems ...
Again, please keep us posted! Am hoping for the best!

[J.C. Blair]

I had this happen about a month ago with my male. Came up draggin his back legs after an hr cast. Next day was sore in his back end, all humped up in his back, etc. Done x-rays, did not show a rupture or bulge, vet said possibly a disc may have compressed and pinched a nerve maybe. Didnt do an MRI yet. Gave him shots at first and now have him on prednisone. He drug his back legs when he would try to walk, he now is on them walking good, slight arch in his back at times. Hes done a 180 since the first few days. Keep him confined in a place he cant move around in much. Still touch and go with mine as well, good luck. If I can be of anymore help let me know.

Chad

[TC]

ok this is gonna sound a little off the wall to Some but those that have seen it Work or Tried it Sing out!!!!
Chiropractic Care!!!!
What do a lot of folks do for slipped joints or joint injuries to the back and Spine? How many on here actually See a chiropractor??
there is a fella on the boards that can tell you more about this than i as he does it and knows first hand DR ED You there?
A good friend of ours in Oregon Does massage therapy on Dogs and hourses and she takes her hounds to a chiropractor regularly.
hey its worth a try Aint it?
http://americanbeagler.huntingboards.co ... ile&u=5010

[john c.]

I had a hound that had a simlilar problem about 15 years ago. Went out to feed him and he was dragging his back end. I took him to the vet and after x-rays and tests etc. the vet said he had a disc probl;em. The options were disc surgery that was very expensive or to put him down. At the time i didnt have the money for such an expensive surgery but this dog was my favorite and it was hard to think about putting him down. It didnt look good. The vet gave me an anti -inflamatory to give him.(im not sure what it was) and said to keep an eye on him. The next morning i went out to feed him and figured for the worst. To my amazement he walked out and met me. It took him a while to fully recover but he did. He was 5 at the time and lived to be 12 without another episode like that.

[Windkist]

I have to agree with TC. If you can find a canine chiropracter go for it! Also, I am sold on gycoflex for dogs (glucosomine, chondroiton, perna mussel) you can most likely find this stuff at your local healthfood store. These are supplements and not harmful to the dog. If you have some aches and pains take some yourself ;-)

Leah

[full circle kennel]

hey randy, for what its worth, i had the same thing happen to one of my best . i used prednisone to trest him for a few weeks. left him go for 3 months with no hunting or running. he is the same now as he ever was. be patient with his recovery, it wont happen overnight. goodluck