ness Posted August 21, 2013 Share Posted August 21, 2013 They should be able to do that Jules - normally they book the appointments so if they need to do anything they can admit the dog on the day. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappie Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 I haven't read everything thoroughly so apologies in advance - I just saw your question about doing spinal xrays first. As someone has mentioned - xrays will show bone and MRI shows the soft tissue. The issue with IVDD is that the disc itself does not show up on xrays. A myelogram (which is an xray with contrast medium) will show the effect on a ruptured disc as an indent in the spinal cord / column of contrast media but not the disc itself. An MRI will demonstrate the lot. As for decision making: - an MRI is the least invasive and most informative way to get a diagnosis of IVDD (and other conditions), particularly before surgery. - plain spinal rads can infer a lot of information but in most cases cannot diagnose a protruding disc. It can rule in / out some causes of spinal pain such as bony neoplasia, discosponylosis and discospondylitis. A severely narrowed intervertebral space that corresponds to the suspect location (based on neurological exam) of a spinal lesion lends weight to a ruptured disc as a diagnosis. I have had the odd occasion case where a dog has had calcified discs (which does not mean IVDD!) and it has been located in the vertebral canal (which is highly suggestive of IVDD). If you are not going to proceed with surgery at all then an MRI will give you a diagnosis but perhaps not change the treatment. Spinal rads may not give you a diagnosis, but if interpreted with caution they can provide a lot of other information. Spinal rads can certainly be done in practice but there does need to be a degree of care and attention paid to the positioning of the patient to ensure that the chance of artifacts is reduced. It also requires a lot of xrays to be taken - for a CKCS I'd probably take 3 views in 2 planes - a single shot of the "spine" is not a set of spinal rads. They are better than no information, you just need to be aware of the limitations. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHA Posted August 22, 2013 Share Posted August 22, 2013 Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you, I am south of the city. My dog has spine issues which started with him not being able to put weight on his back legs and falling over, he still can't jump up onto snything and walking is difficult but we have managed to keep him free from pain with medication, chiro and supplements. Best wishes for your little one x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 (edited) Hi Rappie, thank you for your input :) I phoned the specialist today to ask about a consult and possible MRI. and how much would it all be, its going cost lots of money if he has the MRI also thats without what ever other treatment path we go down.. Of course he cant tell us much over the phone until he sees Joey. I think hubby and I will at least take Joey down for a consult, we owe him that... and go from there... They said they could do MRI same day if its warranted but if he has one he cant have his painkillers for at least 2-3 days before the MRI.. Not sure how hes going cope without anything for that long especially as hes on them for an eye procedure also he had recently (another long story!) So just have to work out when hubby can take another day off work to go there as its a fair distance away for us.. Edited August 23, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 23, 2013 Author Share Posted August 23, 2013 Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you, I am south of the city. My dog has spine issues which started with him not being able to put weight on his back legs and falling over, he still can't jump up onto snything and walking is difficult but we have managed to keep him free from pain with medication, chiro and supplements. Best wishes for your little one x Sorry to hear about all your troubles as well with your dog, its horrible isnt it watching them struggling I had another different type treatment done on Joey today similar too Bowen, and she didnt think much will get him 100 percent better, but like you are doing, she suggested just to keep doing whatever it is to keep him comfortable in the interim..*sigh* How old is your dog Char? Thank you for your kind offer of support x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rappie Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 I think hubby and I will at least take Joey down for a consult, we owe him that... and go from there... That sounds like a fine idea Jules. A specialist consult can sometimes be one of the most cost effective 'diagnostic tests' :) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RuralPug Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Is there any neighbour or someone in your vicinity who would be willing to drive you there in return for fuel money? That would save your hubby taking a day off, which he might need later. Quite often if you ask on a neighbourhood shop window or FB page, there are volunteers happy to help just for the change of scenery. I don't know your exact situation but though it might be worth a try - if you are rural the local post office usually knows just the right person for these sorts of things... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 (edited) Hi Rural Pug i know lots of people here, as i run a local fb group (and with living in a country rural town) Most of them work and busy with children or are elderly that dont' drive far. One neigbour has stopped talking to us since we rescued her dog ages ago, and the other one are old and frail.. our other neighboring houses around here are mostly holiday houses. We don't have really any family we can call on.. I also think my husband would want to be the one to take Joey as they have a very special bond and he would want to be there listening to what the specialist has to say. As it is he will need to take another day off again soon for Joey's eye specialist which is in Adelaide.. which is no where near the other specialist ..both other sides of the town to each other Hubby has already asked for another day off next week to finalize some of his Late Mum's personal stuff that can only be done during office hours. Least with us humans we do have some visiting specialists that come up here to our town, so im lucky most times if i need to see one for my health problems. We will try to see what we can work out.. Edited August 24, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
persephone Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Jules, can you explain your circumstances to the specialist/s and get app'ts on the same day ??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 24, 2013 Author Share Posted August 24, 2013 (edited) Jules, can you explain your circumstances to the specialist/s and get app'ts on the same day ??? Yeah i might to try doing that Pers... altho his eye one is on Anzac Highway which is not too bad for us but the other one is at Bellevue Heights.. We will try to work something out.. I was hoping if he had to have a MRI we could get it done on the same day, which is possible but we wont be able to afford it just atm (the MRI).. Hopefully the specialist will have a bit of an idea before requiring a MRI Edited August 24, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHA Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you, I am south of the city. My dog has spine issues which started with him not being able to put weight on his back legs and falling over, he still can't jump up onto snything and walking is difficult but we have managed to keep him free from pain with medication, chiro and supplements. Best wishes for your little one x Sorry to hear about all your troubles as well with your dog, its horrible isnt it watching them struggling I had another different type treatment done on Joey today similar too Bowen, and she didnt think much will get him 100 percent better, but like you are doing, she suggested just to keep doing whatever it is to keep him comfortable in the interim..*sigh* How old is your dog Char? Thank you for your kind offer of support x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHA Posted August 24, 2013 Share Posted August 24, 2013 Please let me know if there is anything I can do for you, I am south of the city. My dog has spine issues which started with him not being able to put weight on his back legs and falling over, he still can't jump up onto snything and walking is difficult but we have managed to keep him free from pain with medication, chiro and supplements. Best wishes for your little one x Sorry to hear about all your troubles as well with your dog, its horrible isnt it watching them struggling I had another different type treatment done on Joey today similar too Bowen, and she didnt think much will get him 100 percent better, but like you are doing, she suggested just to keep doing whatever it is to keep him comfortable in the interim..*sigh* How old is your dog Char? Thank you for your kind offer of support x The offer is genuine pls let me know if I can help. Charlie is 12 and a cav x poodle, unfortunately the drugs have affected his kidneys now, so its a day by day thing but he is doing ok. Bowen sounds interesting, might look into that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 25, 2013 Author Share Posted August 25, 2013 (edited) 12 is a good age, all you can do is make them as comfortable until the time comes *hugs* Joey's Mum (Renae) is 11 and altho she had a nasty scare several months ago, shes doing ok remarkably. She still moves perfectly for her age :) The treatment hasn't really improved Joey as much as I would have liked.. Please given Charlie a gentle pat from me x Edited August 25, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Hugs to Joey. Sigh Kenz is on truckloads of drugs which aren't really helping greatly and have had a few days of really struggling the last couple of days . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 26, 2013 Author Share Posted August 26, 2013 (edited) Im so sorry to hear that about Kenz, Ness, not good when they are still young too ! When i had this lady work on Joey the other day she said she could tell he was very confused and drugged like and hes not even on that strong painkillers yet! My husband was going try in one of breaks today to ring back specialist today and have a chat to him about it all.. and see if we can match up eye specialist appt and this specialists for the same day Joey is mostly laying down sleeping, he still wags his tail when he does get up tho.. I dread for it to get any worse.. BTW i will give Joey a hug, thank you x Edited August 26, 2013 by Jules❤3Cavs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 Just thought I'd add - Bellevue Heights is a lot closer then Anzac Highway. Bellevue Heights is just near Flinders Uni at the end of the express way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 26, 2013 Author Share Posted August 26, 2013 Ness i was getting confused where it was. Michaels made a consult appt this thurs to take him there then back to the eye specialist appt on Friday. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ness Posted August 26, 2013 Share Posted August 26, 2013 (edited) Good luck for Thursday and Friday. Will have my fingers crossed and the BC girls will have all their paws cross for Joey. Edited August 26, 2013 by ness Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
julesluvscavs Posted August 26, 2013 Author Share Posted August 26, 2013 thank you Ness and the BC girls ;) x Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stellnme Posted August 27, 2013 Share Posted August 27, 2013 Hoping for good news for Joey tomorrow, Jules. All fingers and paws crossed here for a good result. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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