Looking For Advice - Sudden Back Pain In Whippet

[BDJ]

Hi

I am looking for suggestions/recommendations on the best vet in Adelaide for a strange issue my brothers whippet has had.

He is 5 years old and never had an health/skeletal issues until the last 2 months.

About 8 weeks ago he was 'sore' - nothing concrete in his symptoms except very sooky and 'tight' (muscles tensed etc). My brother took him to a good chiropractor/manipulator. He massaged him and made some light manipulations which appeared to resolve the issue.

All good for about 8 weeks and then on Sunday all hell broke loose. He was inside and started screaming like someone was attacking him with an axe. The closest person was 10 foot away when it happened, but no one was actually looking at him - so he may have slipped, but we know he was not running around etc (and no other animals were near him). He was as stiff as a board, and had no control of his hind legs. I cant explain how he was sitting as I have never seen a dog sit like that - he was 'sitting' on the middle of his back (the part of his back that was on the ground was between his hip bones). His fronts were on the ground and he was so contorted his hind legs were sticking straight up and his feet were higher than his head.

Rushed him straight to our vet who kept him over night. He was able to start walking the next morning (prior to that he could not support himself.) Xrays were inconclusive and he came home 36 hours later with pain relief and anti-inflams etc.

An MRI/CATscan has not been done ($2200 and don't want to spend that unless we have to).

He is getting better and I would now classify him as 90% right - but he is still very quite (not sure if he is still a little sore, or if he is just still getting over what happened - he is very 'soft' so any sort of a scare or pain puts him back in his box mentally for a while). He is eating and going to the toilet as per normal.

Hopefully we wont need to use the advice - but would love suggestions on which vets in Adelaide are recommended for this type of issue. Its very frustrating as we have no idea what is the trigger - it is obviously very painful and frightening for him, but checks after the event don't show anything

All help/suggestions appreciated (and apologies for the long post :-))

[Rebanne]

Has he been back to the Chiro? I took my greyhound girl to Werribee vet hospital in Vic and yes spent over $5000 getting an MRI etc when the chiro could no longer fix her back problems.

Hard to recommend what to do but it does sound a bit like a slipped disc or pinched nerve.

[Papillon Kisses]

Jumabaar (Dr Jaime Jackson from Primal Paws) may be able to point you in the right direction if you send her a PM. She is helping me with my dog's back problem, which our GP vet wasn't able to diagnose or treat beyond their general vet work (since they're not specialists).

Edited July 20, 2016 by Papillon Kisses

[BDJ]

thanks Rebanne and Papilion Kisses.

Some good ideas to follow up

[Pjrt]

Which chiro did you see?

Dr. Matthew Condon runs Chiropet and does chiro, physio and acupuncture.

If you didn't see Matthew before I'd give him a try. He was a regular vet for years before retraining in his special areas he concentrates on now. Unlike a lot of pet therapists, because Matthew is a vet, he brings vast knowledge in other areas as well as being able to access information (such as X-rays ) from other vets and prescribe medicines.

Just search Chiropet for their website.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Gruf

[Kirislin]

no suggestions other than what's already been done, just sympathy. It sounds very serious. I hope he can be helped and doesn't live a life of pain.

[Salukifan]

My guess is it's a disc issue. I'd recommend chiropracty and Bowen therapy. Once a month for both would be ideal. For my poodle with IVDD Valium works better than anti-inflammatories.

Edited July 20, 2016 by Haredown Whippets

[ness]

A friend has been using a vet chiro up in Blackwood - Dr David Lindsay and she has been especially impressed with him.

http://www.adelaidechirovet.com/contact

[BDJ]

thanks everyone

He is going back to the vets tomorrow for a check up

He is getting better each day. I am quite sure he is not in pain, but he is still a little quiet (but that could be because he is not allowed on the bed at the moment :-)

Will look at a chiro next week

[Dogsfevr]

I use bowen keep in mind what you think may be the issue could very well not be .There is a muscle next to the tail that can make the dog wobbly or incapable of walking if pulled.My boy has down it twice,spasms like humans is painful.

Did they suggest magnesium tablets ??

Our bowen lady is fab & a dog like that would also get red light therapy but it becomes a programme not one visit to get the dog back in shape muscle wise.

The competitive horse world is the best place to find a good bowen person