Young dog stiff when getting up
Discussion
Looking for some vet input here please, we will see our own vet soon if necessary but just looking for thoughts.
We have a male GSD, almost 3 years old now, and he's usually fit and happy. He's pretty active, spends a fair amount of time outdoors, loves to run, loves to chase a ball - all pretty normal. I didn't put GSD in the thread title as I didn't want an instant dysplasia response!
Just over this week we have noticed that if he's been lying down for a while, he seems to be having to make a bit of an effort to get up. Pushes himself up on his front legs before standing up at the back. He's not showing any obvious sign of distress and not making any noise when he does so, although he does seem a little subdued; not massively, but slightly noticeable. However, once he's up and about he seems OK again, and he's still happily jumping up into the back of our Defender (which has a slight suspension lift, oh and a V8, this being PH
).
Twice in the past 18 months he has been hospitalized overnight, both times for gastric issues, and both times, the day he came home he was extremely unsteady on his feet, although he wasn't anaesthetized either time. It was almost like he had a dead leg. The first time, we took him back in but they couldn't find anything wrong at all, and both times it cleared up within 24 hours. We wondered whether lying in a cage/crate and not moving was the reason for this.
We've had him from a pup and he came from a reputable, long-standing breeder (he was from a 7th-generation litter). Both parents KC reg, and their hip scores were 6 and 13 respectively, so we've not been overly concerned about his hips to date. We've never wanted to have him scored because I know it's not unintrusive, and we don't plan to breed from him.
Current thoughts are to rest him for a few days, lead walks only, and see if he's better, and if not then it'll be off to the vets, but I imagine they will want to x-ray him, which will mean sedation, which we'd rather avoid if we can. If anyone has any thoughts, or possible diagnoses, would appreciate it. Thanks.
We have a male GSD, almost 3 years old now, and he's usually fit and happy. He's pretty active, spends a fair amount of time outdoors, loves to run, loves to chase a ball - all pretty normal. I didn't put GSD in the thread title as I didn't want an instant dysplasia response!
Just over this week we have noticed that if he's been lying down for a while, he seems to be having to make a bit of an effort to get up. Pushes himself up on his front legs before standing up at the back. He's not showing any obvious sign of distress and not making any noise when he does so, although he does seem a little subdued; not massively, but slightly noticeable. However, once he's up and about he seems OK again, and he's still happily jumping up into the back of our Defender (which has a slight suspension lift, oh and a V8, this being PH
).Twice in the past 18 months he has been hospitalized overnight, both times for gastric issues, and both times, the day he came home he was extremely unsteady on his feet, although he wasn't anaesthetized either time. It was almost like he had a dead leg. The first time, we took him back in but they couldn't find anything wrong at all, and both times it cleared up within 24 hours. We wondered whether lying in a cage/crate and not moving was the reason for this.
We've had him from a pup and he came from a reputable, long-standing breeder (he was from a 7th-generation litter). Both parents KC reg, and their hip scores were 6 and 13 respectively, so we've not been overly concerned about his hips to date. We've never wanted to have him scored because I know it's not unintrusive, and we don't plan to breed from him.
Current thoughts are to rest him for a few days, lead walks only, and see if he's better, and if not then it'll be off to the vets, but I imagine they will want to x-ray him, which will mean sedation, which we'd rather avoid if we can. If anyone has any thoughts, or possible diagnoses, would appreciate it. Thanks.
Thanks Ray & Bex.
Yes, I think it's vet time. I didn't see him get up this morning but we left the stair gate open and he bounded up the stairs quite happily. Had a lead walk earlier which was fine until he tried to pee. Lifted his right leg and his left leg wasn't having it, although he peed again a bit further on and it was ok. But I just had to nip out, came back and he looks like he's trying not to put weight on it now.
Not noticed him dragging his feet/toes/claws at all which is something to be thankful for, I'm aware of DM.
Yes, I think it's vet time. I didn't see him get up this morning but we left the stair gate open and he bounded up the stairs quite happily. Had a lead walk earlier which was fine until he tried to pee. Lifted his right leg and his left leg wasn't having it, although he peed again a bit further on and it was ok. But I just had to nip out, came back and he looks like he's trying not to put weight on it now.
Not noticed him dragging his feet/toes/claws at all which is something to be thankful for, I'm aware of DM.
Latest update - full set of X-rays yesterday and his skeleton is all good. Hips look great, spine too, and no issues with knees or ankles. He still has the condition though. Vet has put him on anti-inflammatories for 10 days then review after. He did say there's the possibility of a disc issue which could only be detected with MRI but that's fully treatable and if that is suspected he will refer us to Noel Fitzpatrick. He does seem a little brighter today but then he's full of drugs!
What's the treatment for panosteitis? He's on Metacam at the moment, a week's worth, had his third dose today (one dose per day by weight, he's 34kg which isn't heavy for a male GSD). The vet didn't mention that but we're taking him back in mext week after the Metacam is finished, so will mention it then. Is there a test for it? Bloods?
It's really odd. He's still having trouble getting up, but once he's up you wouldn't really know there is anything wrong. Yesterday evening he spent about an hour pestering me to play football with him (which he loves). I gave in and only kicked the ball short distances, and slowly, but he was very keen to chase. In fact both dogs went into the garden before bed and started charging around like mad, I had to call him in and stop him.
He's usually a complete wuss re pain, and quite vocal, but he's not making any noise at all when he gets up, it just takes him longer and is clearly more effort for him.
It's really odd. He's still having trouble getting up, but once he's up you wouldn't really know there is anything wrong. Yesterday evening he spent about an hour pestering me to play football with him (which he loves). I gave in and only kicked the ball short distances, and slowly, but he was very keen to chase. In fact both dogs went into the garden before bed and started charging around like mad, I had to call him in and stop him.
He's usually a complete wuss re pain, and quite vocal, but he's not making any noise at all when he gets up, it just takes him longer and is clearly more effort for him.
Thanks Bex, I'll have a read and also maybe get some Yumove. I guess no contra-indications with Metacam?
We used to give our previous GSD some joint supplmenet stuff, I recall it was in a tub and you put a scoop on her food but can't remember the name offhand. She also had regular Cartrophen jabs but that was arthritis-specific, definitely helped her though.
We used to give our previous GSD some joint supplmenet stuff, I recall it was in a tub and you put a scoop on her food but can't remember the name offhand. She also had regular Cartrophen jabs but that was arthritis-specific, definitely helped her though.
Thought I'd update on this. So far it's not good news.
The vet detected a high temperature (105 and 106 is critical??) so he treated with antibiotics and the temp came down. Otis brightened up a bit then, mid/late last week, but went downhill again over the weekend. Back to the vet today and his temperature is back up again. The vet originally diagnosed an inflamed and infected disc in the spine but he doesn't have anything to directly substantiate that.
So we have now been referred to Fitzpatrick's. They can't see us until Thursday unless an emergency condition develops.
The diagnosis will cost between £2000-£3000 (and they want 50% up front) and if he needs surgery it will increase to £6000
We're insured but it won't cover all that, not to mention what it will do to next year's premiums. Ah, he's worth it!
The vet detected a high temperature (105 and 106 is critical??) so he treated with antibiotics and the temp came down. Otis brightened up a bit then, mid/late last week, but went downhill again over the weekend. Back to the vet today and his temperature is back up again. The vet originally diagnosed an inflamed and infected disc in the spine but he doesn't have anything to directly substantiate that.
So we have now been referred to Fitzpatrick's. They can't see us until Thursday unless an emergency condition develops.
The diagnosis will cost between £2000-£3000 (and they want 50% up front) and if he needs surgery it will increase to £6000
We're insured but it won't cover all that, not to mention what it will do to next year's premiums. Ah, he's worth it!Thought an update was in order.
We went to Fitzpatrick's on Thursday. We had a one hour consultation booked, and wondered what could take an hour, but the vet we saw (Anna) was fantastic. She really did spend an entire hour examining anything and everything which she could on Otis, and asking questions and taking notes. All that she could deduce "externally" was:
- raised temperature, which we knew about
- enlarged prostate, which we didn't
- infected anal glands, which we also weren't aware of.
However, she decided that a CT scan was in order, so Otis was booked in the the night. and we left, with Lola (other dog) who was MOST upset at leaving her brother behind!
We got a call later that evening (Thursday) to day that he'd been anaesthetised and had the CT scan, plus several other samples and a lumbar puncture (he has a large bald patch now at the base of his spine). He'd come through that fine and was having something to eat, and we could collect him the next day.
The CT scan was completely clear, from snout to tail, which is good news. The only visible thing was the enlarged prostate (benign, BPH). So where we are today is that he's home, with different drugs pending the outcome of the various tests and cultures they are working on from the samples taken. She has also recommended that we try chemical castration, which should reduce the prostate size, so he'll get an implant for that next week*. He's OK-ish, still a bit subdued, still having trouble getting up, and not running much, but he's home and safe so that's good.
We went to Fitzpatrick's on Thursday. We had a one hour consultation booked, and wondered what could take an hour, but the vet we saw (Anna) was fantastic. She really did spend an entire hour examining anything and everything which she could on Otis, and asking questions and taking notes. All that she could deduce "externally" was:
- raised temperature, which we knew about
- enlarged prostate, which we didn't
- infected anal glands, which we also weren't aware of.
However, she decided that a CT scan was in order, so Otis was booked in the the night. and we left, with Lola (other dog) who was MOST upset at leaving her brother behind!
We got a call later that evening (Thursday) to day that he'd been anaesthetised and had the CT scan, plus several other samples and a lumbar puncture (he has a large bald patch now at the base of his spine). He'd come through that fine and was having something to eat, and we could collect him the next day.
The CT scan was completely clear, from snout to tail, which is good news. The only visible thing was the enlarged prostate (benign, BPH). So where we are today is that he's home, with different drugs pending the outcome of the various tests and cultures they are working on from the samples taken. She has also recommended that we try chemical castration, which should reduce the prostate size, so he'll get an implant for that next week*. He's OK-ish, still a bit subdued, still having trouble getting up, and not running much, but he's home and safe so that's good.
- re the castration. We haven't had him done yet, not because we have any intention of breeding from him, but because for every two times we ask the "should we/shouldn't we" question, we get two opposite answers. When he was younger he had very significant fear issues, culminating in him bolting from me three times and running up to 2 miles. A behaviourist we spoke to said don't castrate him, he needs all the courage he can handle. But since we got Lola (a confident little madam!) he is so much better with confidence. He can be a bit narky at first meeting now with other dogs unless introduced slowly and carefully (after which he's almost always completely fine), so the chemical option will really be the best bet for us, we can "test" how much it changes him without it being permanent - yet!
Hopefully the final update on this one! Sorry for the long delay since the last update. We had to wait and see how Otis was and lots of other things (life!) got in the way too.
Well, Otis is once again fit, well and happy! To cut a long story short, after CT & MRI scans and tests for pretty much every canine disease and condition known to man, there was nothing significant found. We stuck to the fact that it seemed related to his tail, which he couldn't hold up properly, and which was the one sole thing which he had complained about if anyone moved it too much - he had put up with every single other test without a murmur. Fitzpatrick's said that there was the slightest indication of a swollen disc in the spine near the tail, and whilst they wouldn't have thought it was significant had he not presented with any other conditions, they decided to try an epidural injection of steroid/cortisone. They knocked him out so that he didn't move during the procedure, carried it out, and sent him home, a little dopey but OK.
The next day - we had our dog back! He was up, bright, happy, lively, and most of all, he was wagging his tail! His appetite returned with a vengeance, and he was desperate to get going. We were told to limit his exercise (lead walks only) for 4 weeks, and during that time, he has put almost all his weight back on (he went from 34kg down to skin & bones at 29kg, and is now back at 33.8kg). We've just started him on off-lead walks again and he (and we) couldn't be happier. Still making sure he doesn't go mad, and still lifting him in & out of the car, but it is just lovely to have him back to normal.
Fitzpatrick put him on Gabapentin, which he finally finishes tomorrow, and have said that if he needs another epidural, he can have that. At present, no sign of needing it. At least if he does, we know that the problem is indeed around his lumbo-sacral area, so we can focus on that and if necessary look at surgical options, but we know where to look and we know there is nothing nastily disease-like lurking below.
Happy days
Well, Otis is once again fit, well and happy! To cut a long story short, after CT & MRI scans and tests for pretty much every canine disease and condition known to man, there was nothing significant found. We stuck to the fact that it seemed related to his tail, which he couldn't hold up properly, and which was the one sole thing which he had complained about if anyone moved it too much - he had put up with every single other test without a murmur. Fitzpatrick's said that there was the slightest indication of a swollen disc in the spine near the tail, and whilst they wouldn't have thought it was significant had he not presented with any other conditions, they decided to try an epidural injection of steroid/cortisone. They knocked him out so that he didn't move during the procedure, carried it out, and sent him home, a little dopey but OK.
The next day - we had our dog back! He was up, bright, happy, lively, and most of all, he was wagging his tail! His appetite returned with a vengeance, and he was desperate to get going. We were told to limit his exercise (lead walks only) for 4 weeks, and during that time, he has put almost all his weight back on (he went from 34kg down to skin & bones at 29kg, and is now back at 33.8kg). We've just started him on off-lead walks again and he (and we) couldn't be happier. Still making sure he doesn't go mad, and still lifting him in & out of the car, but it is just lovely to have him back to normal.
Fitzpatrick put him on Gabapentin, which he finally finishes tomorrow, and have said that if he needs another epidural, he can have that. At present, no sign of needing it. At least if he does, we know that the problem is indeed around his lumbo-sacral area, so we can focus on that and if necessary look at surgical options, but we know where to look and we know there is nothing nastily disease-like lurking below.
Happy days
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