Mystery illness/injury.

[jaegervulpes 0]

He's gone in for x-rays today under general anaesthetic.

 

Just spoke to them on the phone, joints are fine, as are the hips. Only irregularity is suspected in the spine where it joins the pelvis. At the minute, a possibility is 'cauda equina syndrome' which is basically one of many things from bone growth to tumours putting pressure on where the nerves go through the spine, thus causing loss of mobility of rear limbs and hips and of course a lot of pain.

 

I don't know much more at the moment, x-rays to be sent off to a specialist, waiting for a call to go pick up a pretty spaced out dog.

 

Up to around the £850 mark today now.

 

Will update later.

[spookster1 24]

I hope you get your answers soon, the vet bills do rise quickly!

Did they actually put a needle into the joints to take a sample of the synovial fluid?

That is the only way to find out if it is the autoimmune disease effecting the joints/

[jaegervulpes 0]

Had similar in my old dog,(about 7 yrs old) sounds similar, his was spondylitis in his back, vet had him on meta-cam at the time and he seemed better, but he suffered with it for years to come, on and off until he died age 11 of liver cancer,.. not saying thats whats wrong with your dog but it could be a possibility, hope your vet finds the root of the problem mate., good luck.

 

The vet mentioned that it could have stemmed from spondylitis originally, an infection between the vertebra which has now spurred on extra irregular bone growth which is pinching on the nerve.

 

Gives me a bit of hope that he will carry on for a few years yet.

 

Dog is back from vets now, pretty out of it. Now have to wait a week for specialist diagnosis from the x-rays. Reading up on this 'cauda equina syndrome' it does seem to match much of what it going on with him although I shall not seal his fate on that yet.

 

Its out of my hands, will post when I get any news. Thanks for the good words people.

[paulus 26]

all the best mate

[jaegervulpes 0]

The specialists have confirmed 'cauda equina syndrome' unfortunately.

 

Have been told to wean him off of the tramadol now but keep on with anti-inflammatories. Also has to be rested for 2 months.

 

There is a medical route that the vet has mentioned involving a course of drugs. Don't know the ins and outs of that yet. Can't see it as a solution on face value as it won't cure the issue, surely it can only slow up or stop the bone growth which is putting pressure on the nerve bundle. Also this would mean routine x-rays to monitor the situation.

 

I am more tempted to see if I can go straight down the surgery route. This will solve the main problem by releasing pressure and also won't give time for the nerves to get permanently damaged by leaving it. I know an ex-surgeon who has said it is very common in humans and he performed countless times keyhole surgery to remove the abnormal bone growth. A quick, simple procedure he says. It can't be too different in dogs. Also 100% recovery he said in humans.

 

Going in for a face to face with the vet to discuss in greater detail.

 

The surgery will run into thousands, so again, best decision ever getting him insured, although the initial outlay is crippling me, I would sell everything and run up debts to get him fixed.

 

So until the next chapter of this veritable nightmare.....