Neck Issues

[redangel]

I have had lived at my vets lately. First the old girl (blind) damaged her eye against somethingand had to have surgery. Four weeks later she has been given the all clear. Now my Rosie is unwell. She was walking like a stick insect when I got home, shaking and whimpering. So I took her immediately to the vet. He believes she may have damage along the cervical bones in her neck, she has a limited range in movement and ++ pain response. As it was a weekend, he sent her home on anti inflams and a massive pain killer, pending xrays if not muscular. If it is the joints in the neck affected he told me the healing time may be months. She is such a sorry little thing at the mo. Has anyone had problems like this before that could share? Not knowing what trauma could have caused this upsets me also.

[Erny]

It depends on what the xrays show, I guess, but if they were to show vertibrae damage (hope not) then maybe PM Mr R & NR (DOL member) - she'll let you know her recent experience with her dog's (permanent) neck injury (and maybe even past experiences) treatment.

I'm dobbing her in, so please apologise upfront on my behalf for doing so. I'm sure she'll understand and not mind.

Hopefully for your dog it is simply a matter of manipulation to put back what might have gone out of place. A good Vet/chiro is a person's whose assistance and expertise is what I'd be seeking.

My previous girl (bhcs) hurt herself by crashing in to me one day (we both tried to avoid a head on colision with each other but at the last moment both stepped in the same sideways direction, and she went off yelping - I heard the 'crunch' .... she was sore after that but a visit to the chiro had that seen to rights and we had no ongoing issues in that respect).

[perfect partners]

I have had lived at my vets lately. First the old girl (blind) damaged her eye against somethingand had to have surgery. Four weeks later she has been given the all clear. Now my Rosie is unwell. She was walking like a stick insect when I got home, shaking and whimpering. So I took her immediately to the vet. He believes she may have damage along the cervical bones in her neck, she has a limited range in movement and ++ pain response. As it was a weekend, he sent her home on anti inflams and a massive pain killer, pending xrays if not muscular. If it is the joints in the neck affected he told me the healing time may be months. She is such a sorry little thing at the mo. Has anyone had problems like this before that could share? Not knowing what trauma could have caused this upsets me also.

Sorry to hear about your poor dogs. It makes it even worse for us, not knowing what happened. I'd suggest taking Rosie to a veterinary chiropractor. Don't know where you live, but there's a very good one at Morwell/Traralgon - Kate Haines.

[dancinbcs]

One of my friends had a dog run head first into a fence and damaged her neck pretty badly. Recovery took several months but she recovered completely will no ongoing problems.

You need x-rays first to find out what the damage is and provided she hasn't broken any bones these sorts of injuries are usually something a good dog physio or chiropracter can treat.

[Dagmar]

If she was my dog, I would probably ask for the x-rays. Not all dogs have to go under, some are quite calm when held by their owners (and if she is old I would insist they don't use anaesthetics). Once you have a diagnose and know what you are dealing with, you can do the next steps.

If it has to do with bones/joints an accredited dog chiropractor could be the best option. If more muscular, therapeutic massage, best combined with acupressure can be the solution. For the time being, I would probably give her the Emergency Essence of the Australian Bush Flower Essences for the pain and emotional upset.

All the best - and keep us updated how she is going!

Dagmar

I have had lived at my vets lately. First the old girl (blind) damaged her eye against somethingand had to have surgery. Four weeks later she has been given the all clear. Now my Rosie is unwell. She was walking like a stick insect when I got home, shaking and whimpering. So I took her immediately to the vet. He believes she may have damage along the cervical bones in her neck, she has a limited range in movement and ++ pain response. As it was a weekend, he sent her home on anti inflams and a massive pain killer, pending xrays if not muscular. If it is the joints in the neck affected he told me the healing time may be months. She is such a sorry little thing at the mo. Has anyone had problems like this before that could share? Not knowing what trauma could have caused this upsets me also.

[Kimjm1]

If the issue has not resolved I would get a referal to a specialist a neck issue is not something you want to muck around with if you go for chiropractic treatment you should get some imaging done first to ensure a manipulation will no cause further damage.

[redangel]

The vet Rosie saw is a chiro/acupunturist.

Today they decided to administer valium as well to relax the muscles somewhat. After a day of cage rest with the medicine regime she now resuming a natural gait, though she is very guarded in her turns. Only allowed out to wee & eat really. She is happy crated at the moment. The slight improvement hopefully means I will sleep a bit better tonight. It was hard to do my shift today, all I was thinking about was her. She is normally a zoomies kinda gal, she might have collided with the other dog, I admit I never considered that. Thank you for the responses. Her revisit is Thurs....they will reevaluate her then. Of course they will see her earler if I think somethings amiss. Thankfully she will take all her tablets in cheese.

Thank you for the information.

[OSoSwift]

My Old Dobe snapped at a March fly one day, then hit the ground screaming with her legs stuck out and ridgid. She also could barely walk.

She had partially ruptured a disk in her neck and due to her age I decided not to go surgery, so went conservative.

She was on NSAID's and valium. She was also never walked on a collar again and was thereafter on a harness.

She did have some replases, not as severe as the first episode. They were treated with rest, valium and NSAID - which after time she was on permanently due to arthritis in other areas.

She live a painfree life - apart from the odd relapse- and ran and played, but we were very careful with her interactions with other dogs.

I would also second getting the xrays done ASAP. You will get a much better idea of what is going on.

[Miz J]

I agree with getting the X rays done. My last dobe had some symptoms not unlike the ones you mention and he was diagnosed with Wobblers

( spondolithothesis I think). Best getting films done to diagnose correctly then start appropriate treatment, wish you all the best

[Diva]

She is normally a zoomies kinda gal, she might have collided with the other dog, I admit I never considered that.

I had a dog paralyse himself from the neck down with a compression injury to his neck rec'd running full pelt into a closed weldmesh gate that he expected to be open. He had to be stretchered away by the vet but recovered after some days. Of course your dog's injuries may not be from running at all, but if they do zoom into things they can do themselves a lot of damge.