Need Information on Medial Shoulder Instability

[Kazm]

Hey everyone, A really good friend of mine  had her mini schnauzer at the vet today and it looks like a diagnosis of medial shoulder instability. Have any of you dealt with this before or even heard/know about it? 
Astro is 9 years old ( actually Mollys younger brother). His owner and I became very close friends after she bought him from me. I’m always dogsitting him and have always groomed him too. A lovely, fun loving dog. 
The last 2 weeks haven’t been good for him. She noticed that on the Sunday his ears and around his neck were a bit swollen. He seemed very quiet. On the Monday all swelling had gone down but he still didn’t seem himself so she took him to the vet. They guessed he may have been bitten by a bug and had an allergic reaction. They went home. He wasn’t interested in his dinner that night and vomited twice but then he seemed more normal  the next day. Last Friday I had him over night and she picked him up Saturday afternoon but I could tell he just wasn’t right. Very quiet. Not overly interested in food, ( usually gulps everything down so quick) and he was limping. This Monday she was back with him at the vet and she checked him over and noticed he flinched when she touched near his left shoulder. He was booked in today for an X-ray as she was concerned about bone cancer. She apparently couldn’t see anything related to cancer but a specialist is going to look at the X-rays anyway. Will get his opinion by Monday.  She diagnosed him as having MSI. My friend had an appointment to speak with the vet properly this afternoon to see what happens from here. I haven’t heard from her yet. She’s very upset as Astro is her shadow and best mate. He usually follows her everywhere. Since Monday he just seems to have gone downhill so quickly. He will not jump on anything or use steps. He is off his food, will eat but very slowly. He looks sad, his tail is down, obviously still limping and walks really slow and just wants to sleep. It’s so hard to see him like this. I just want to help her get through this. She did spend this morning with me while he was at the vet. Any information I can give to her would be great. 

[Kazm]

An update - at the appointment this afternoon apparently they didn’t give my friend  much information at all. They basically said they were going to wait for the specialists opinion before going a head with any course of action. At present Astro is being given meloxicam, gaberpentin and Panadol. He’s been on these since Monday and we can’t see that any is helping him. He is obviously in pain and not well. 

[Deeds]

When one of my Giants had Osteosarcoma the Vet gave him Tramadol which seemed to help with the pain.

[Kazm]

Mollys mum, Zena was on tramadol. She had hermangiosarcoma. I’m thinking it did help her. I just wish my friend had been given something stronger than Panadol for Astro but I guess the vet should know what she’s doing ?? Hopefully she hears from the specialist real soon.

[Rebanne]

ring the vet back and ask if the dose of gabapentin can be increased if he's not already on the max

[Deeds]

Can your friend go direct to the Specialist.  

[Kazm]

Good idea Deeds. I’m just not sure. I’d have to talk to her. She did say they were sending the X-rays to the specialist so not sure where he actually is. 

[Deeds]

Is his coat dull and flat?  

[Deeds]

@Kazm Did they do bloods for Astro?

[Kazm]

Deeds, his coat is fine. Same as usual. Yes, they did a blood test. It showed his liver levels as being quite high.  The blood test was done when his neck and ears were swollen the week before. The vet though that might be an indication of an allergic reaction to being bitten by a bug. Which she’s assuming is why he was swollen. 

[Deeds]

Thanks Kazm.  I wondered if he might have pancreatitis because of the lethargy and vomiting.  Mini's are very prone to pancreatitis.  However that doesn't explain the limping etc.  Did he run into a wall or another dog where he might have hurt his shoulder?

 

There could be more than 1 thing going on making it hard to diagnose.

 

  

[Kazm]

Our very first thoughts were pancreatitis. We are aware minis are prone to it but I think the vet ruled that out. He is a goofy dog so he very well could have hurt himself doing something silly but at present they are living in a townhouse and the yard space is tiny. I’m sort of thinking it’s highly unlikely. I have a gut feeling there is more going on. His owner just messaged me half an hour ago and it seems like he is starting to improve. He is still sleeping a lot but he is using the steps again and following her everywhere and his little tail is up again. Acting a whole lot more normal.  I think the medication is finally working on him. It’ll be interesting to hear the specialists report. Fingers crossed we hear something tomorrow. 

[Deeds]

That's good news!  Hoping he continues to improve.

[Kazm]

Finally an update. 
My friend only heard back from the specialist yesterday about Astro. It seems they believe that what occurred was a slipped or bulging disc in his neck which referred pain to his left shoulder. They are starting him on a new medication which he’ll be on for 8 weeks. If he doesn’t improve or goes back to displaying the same symptoms they’ll do an MRI and likely surgery. Apparently the issue can sort itself out sometimes.  At present though Astro has been back to his usual happy dog self. My friend is relieved and fingers crossed the medication continues to work.