laeral Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Hi guys, I dont often post in here but am after some advice and wisdom from some GSD people. When I came home from work this afternoon, something was wrong with Mica. I let her out of the backyard as normal and she tried to run out to see me but yelped in pain. She scrurried over to me with her tail between her lags and was sort of shaking. This happened a couple of times and she was reluctant to move anywhere. She just kept rubbing up to me like she wanted me to pick her up, the big dummy. I took her inside, she lay down, then yelped again when she tried to get up. She seemed quite ditressed and far from her normal self. I felt her all over and couldnt find any obvious sore spots nore was she limping. I took her to the vet (she couldnt get into the car, though she tried, I had to lift her in) The vet immeditaley suspected something was wrong with her hips. I did explain that she was 5 and hadnt had any obvious issues with her hips before. She had put her back out before and has seen a chrio, but he didnt think she had a problemn with her hips. The vet felt her all over, she did seem sore in her front elbow, though to me it looked lower down. But otherwise there was no pain response anywhere. She said that her back legs didnt extend out far enough behind and she supsepcted HD The vet is pretty convinced she has hip problems and she is booked in for Xrays tomorrow. She was given some painkillers until then. She seems fine now, but every now and then she yelps again, she did it again while trying to stand and just before i leaned over her from behind and rubbed the front of her back legs (she likes this!) but it caused her to yelp again. I wasnt anywhere near her hips, nor putting pressure on them Does any oner here have any experience with HD and does what Ive described fit the bill? Im prepared to deal with HD if that is waht it is, but I am concerned that something else has happned and they may overlook it as they are already convinced its her hips. It seems more like an injury to me??? Oh she was fine this morning and running around like her normal loony self, no sign of any discomfort. sorry this is soo long, just trying to get all the facts down. Thanks Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 if it was me i wouldn't be doing X rays simply to decide if it has HD or not at present especially whilst saw. I would do X rays for injury elimination. I head to my Bowen/chiro first . If the dog has put back out before could easily have done similiar again which means extension will not happen especially if in pain . The shoulder may be sore but the actual point of injury could be mid back depending on the muscles. Last week i took my boy to bowen who showed signs of sorenezs in shoulders but i new the pain issues was mid back/tail . My other boy 3 weeks ago pulled a groin muscle that actually stopped him from standing up the pain is so bad,trip to bowen walking the next day with quiet time & follow up . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laeral Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 I would be really interested in looking at Bowen or something first. I just feel like it is something else, the way she randomly yelps. Would it not be good to X-ray her hips as well to rule that out though? Does anyone know of any Bowen therapists or muscle people in NE Vic? I'm near wangarratta. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Allerzeit Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Not Bowen, but David Jones in Chiltern for muscle magic. We used to use him all the time when we were living up there, he is just brilliant. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laeral Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 I have taken her to him before for her back. He was very good. He did check her hips then and said he couldn't feel anything wrong with them? I would love to take her to see a Bowen therapist and try that. I worry a little with chiro how they crunch so much. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I have taken her to him before for her back. He was very good. He did check her hips then and said he couldn't feel anything wrong with them? I would love to take her to see a Bowen therapist and try that. I worry a little with chiro how they crunch so much. I can 2nd David for any chiro issue but doubt he could tell if a dog had HD by touch. He is one of the most gentle people I have ever had work on my dogs, GSD and greyhounds. He did have to crunch my bitch last time and she did squeal a little but that was more my fault for not taking her a bit more regularly. I'd get your dog there and sorted out, and out of pain, before worrying about finding someone else. You can look for a bowen therapist once she is out of pain. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rebanne Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 oh and in answer to your question - I have had 2 GSD's with HD and neither presented like yours did. From what you write your dog has sustained an injury. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laeral Posted February 22, 2012 Author Share Posted February 22, 2012 Ok am having a rethink. I might scrap the X-ray tomorrow and give David a call. I can always X-ray at a later date if need be. I guess what worries me is that she hurt her back and then her leg, both separate incidents. Both times I took her to David, so neither injuries where backed up by X-rays etc. I am worried that now she is sore again that maybe she does have an underlying issue like HD. How much can he really tell just by feel? I guess that is why I was looking at having X-rays done this time. Maybe this is a completely unrelated incident and she is just accident prone. She does tend to run fast and throw herself around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Have the X-rays, I was told for 4 months by 3 different vets my dog just has a soft tissue injury, took his films to a specialist for an opinio as his lamp has never improved and turns out he has elbow dysplasia. Get the X-rays and have them looked at by a specialist. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 I would be really interested in looking at Bowen or something first. I just feel like it is something else, the way she randomly yelps. Would it not be good to X-ray her hips as well to rule that out though? Not whilst as sore as you say just for hip x rays to decide whether it has HD . I would sooner put the dog on pain killers & allow the dog settle first before it being placed in a position that ad to the soreness already there . I would have no issues doing it latter I would certainly x ray the front leg if that is where the issue is Does anyone know of any Bowen therapists or muscle people in NE Vic? I'm near wangarratta. I use this person when im in Melbourne & found her service excellent she may not be able to cater for your area but maybe able to suggest someone closer or maybe come to some arrangement http://www.pawsitiveanimaltherapies.com.au/myo.htm Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dancinbcs Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 If you get hip x-rays make sure you go to a vet that does lots of hip screening x-rays for breeders. Most vet are not able to do a decent hip x-ray. I would be wary of having it done while she is sore. Try a chiro first then find the right vet to do the x-rays and get them properly scored. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Sorry I have nothing to add to help but just wanted to say I hope whatever the problem is, Mica recovers fast. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dogsfevr Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 If you get hip x-rays make sure you go to a vet that does lots of hip screening x-rays for breeders. Most vet are not able to do a decent hip x-ray. I would be wary of having it done while she is sore. Try a chiro first then find the right vet to do the x-rays and get them properly scored. Totally agree with this & would consider this the most important factor in getting the right answer & not having to redo or get a bad reading due to poor placing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stormie Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 The other thing to think about is that dogs with HD can be more prone to hurting themselves like this. So you might not have had any major problems up till now, but that doesn't mean it's not hip related. I'd have the xrays - at least then you'll know the state of her hips and can work on a treatment plan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mason_Gibbs Posted February 22, 2012 Share Posted February 22, 2012 Id have xrays done by an ortho specialist Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aussielover Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Doesn't sound like a typical presentation for HD. However, if you decide to get the xrays done- go to a vet that is experienced as others have said. Poor positioning can make a dog look like it has HD or even a luxation! , Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laeral Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Thanks for everyone's replies. I have taken everything on Board and had a good think. I have decided to get her xrayed. I decided this as she has had a couple of rear end injuries, back and leg or so I thought, so want to rule out any underlying cause other than her just being clumsy and injury prone. She has some muscle wastage in her right rear thigh also. The vet is going to X-ray her lower back, hips and possibly her leg if they find nothing. I did discuss this with my vet this morning, she assures me she has experience in doing hips and is confident in doing it. Having said that she is happy to send of any X-rays to a specialist to have a look. Either way I will find out this afternoon an go from there. Again thank you for your replies and help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
laeral Posted February 23, 2012 Author Share Posted February 23, 2012 Well good news! Mica does not have HD. Apparently she has slight arthritic changes in her hips but nothing to concerning. The vet said she has better hips than she expected!! She has obviously had a fall or knocked herself during the day as there is some inflammation probably causing the pain. She was soo much better this morning. She is now on anti inflams and pain killers for a couple of days with restricted exercise. We will then see what treatment such as physio etc she needs. Thank you all for your advice and help! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kavik Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 That is great news! Must be such a relief! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bianca.a Posted February 23, 2012 Share Posted February 23, 2012 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now