Back injury?

[BostonRott]

Anyone dealt with a back injury in their Rottweiler? How did it present? What was the diagnosis? How did you treat it? How was the recovery?

Froli is acting very strangely right now, hasn't been right all day. She's grumpy, decreased appetite, haunched-up rear, no power in her rear to jump into the car, very uncomfortable on the stairs, yipped as she jumped out of the car, as her rear landed, is not limping on any leg, no heat in her joints, rear muscles are quivering and tight, and no known recent causes of significant trauma.

She got a bunch of supplements this evening, no dinner and is in a crate being rested. If she's still really bad tomorrow, I'll pull from the rest of the seminar and get her to the vet, otherwise, we'll go Monday a.m.

I'm also considering Lyme's (recent deer tick exposure in November......was negative for Lyme's in July when tested) and intestinal blockage (recently had large beef bones, which sometimes she pukes up large pieces of).

I've never seen Froli in so much pain, or so reactive to it. I feel really badly for her. :(

[K-9Girl]

I am so sorry to hear about Froli! Poor girl! :( I wish that I could offer you some advice...I would think getting her to the vet would be a good idea. Please keep us posted on how she is...give her a hug for me. :( :)

Sara

[mmgy]

I wish I knew something to tell you. Has she got a supportive bed, like egg-crate foam? Might help her rest easier. Would an Ascriptin help?

[Brooke&Ryan]

How is Froli doing today??? Feeling any better? I hope so.... :)

:)
Brooke

[Judi W]

I've had students (2) with dogs who had back injuries. Pretty prompt medication with Pred was what I was told so that swelling is quickly reduced before more damage is done.

Even if she is better I would get her in tomorrow since you really don't know at all what is involved and it might be something that needs prompt attention. Could be gut, but sounds more structural to me. I'd for sure pull her from any activity. Go on your own and watch. Let us know how she's doing.

[BostonRott]

I went to the seminar today, came home and found Froli lying on the couch, not even lifting her head to look at me. Thought she was dead, she was not moving at all. Needless to say I got really worried.

Couldn't get ahold of hubby to find out if she'd pooped today or not. He finally came home said she'd gone out, done her business and was still moving with a lot of pain and favoring a back leg.

I had to wait for him to come home, because I didn't want to try to move her myself. Was getting ready to go to the emergency vet, and put a call into her chiropracter, who is also does a lot of treatment with homeopathic remedies. She came right over, said "definitely Lyme's disease," did a few clicks with the activator and left us with some remedies. SHe's acting slightly better, at least got up and took a few steps, and is moving her head around more.

She also chewed off half the pad on one toe, so that's part of her rear lameness, she doesn't want to weight-bear on that foot. I put some neosporin on it, and then vet wrapped it.

She has an apointment tomorrow, will have a Lyme test run and get antibiotics. Since Banja was also with us the weekend that Frol got all the Lyme's ticks, I am goingto have her tested also. She at this point, is asymptomatic. Ban's crashed out in her crate right now, amazing how a seminar tires 'em out. :)

Froli is crashed on the floor, not sure if she can get up the stairs tonight, or if I'm sleeping down here on the couch. I'm so happy to know that she's got something treatable, and not a career-ending injury, or a life-threatening one. She's still so young at heart and absolutely lives to work. I can't imagine having to tell her "no, you can't do that. Nope,not that either. Sorry, no frisbee, agility or SchH either." She'd be miserable.

[Jaegergirl]

oh my goodness. poor girl! how scary that must be. i'll be thinking of you guys at the vet tomorrow and hope she's feeling better soon. :)

[K-9Girl]

Poor Froli! :( Be sure and let us know how the vet visit goes tomorrow. My thoughts will be with you.....

Sara

[danyp1]

I just saw this. I`m sorry to hear that she is sick but "at least" it is treatable.. Hopefully she will be better soon.

[Judi W]

You know she is really sick taking care of herself like that. Keep us up to date on the girl.

[spidey]

I hope the chiropractor's right and it is Lyme disease. Poor girl. Let us know what the vet says.

[BostonRott]

This morning Frol continues to show progress. She's still got a lot of obvious weakness, she's walking about like a wobbly drunk. However, her attitude is much better,she's back to cat-obsessing and perking her ears at the usual phrases "Where is the kitty?" "Do you want to eat?" "Where is the bad guy??" Last night, the cat (who is Siamese and VERY loud) came down the stairs and yowled and yowled for all she was worth. Normally, Froli would have been going out of her mind. Last night, she didn't even lift her head. When Anne came over, she still wouldn't move or lift her head, she just lay on the couch alarm-barking. That in particular told me how badly she's hurting.

This morning, she's wandering slowly and wobbily around upstairs, hoping for a kitty and acting much more Froli-like. She's still in a good bit of pain, you can see it in how she maneuvers and what she is or is not willing to do.

Our vet appointment is for 9:30. I'm glad I have part of today off (someone at work needed a shift swap) so that I can get her in today. We have a big storm moving in tonight/tomorrow and I'd rather get her treated and feeling better before the treacherous footing arrives, than after.

Thank you all for your prayers, they are being answered. :)

[JBCB]

Seeing that the diagnosis might be Lyme's this might not be applicable, but since it seems not many have had a rottie with a back injury I thought I'd add a bit of info.

Kaeleigh has a compressed disc in her lower back, between L6-S1 maybe (? - I forget now), that we believe she hurt while playing. It might have been caused by a sudden turn, or when she tore the meniscus (cartilage) in her left knee -- we don't know which came first: the back injury resulting it the cartilage tear, or vice versa. The outward sign of an injury was a "toeing up" of the left hind paw, or in other words not wanting to bear weight on it, and a hesitation climbing stairs. That injury was initially diagnosed by our former vet as an ACL tear and he preformed an external to the joint repair (he didn't go into the joint), but when it didn't get better we took her to an orthopedic specialist and they noticed an intact ACL when they performed the repair to the meniscal tear. So Kaeleigh didn't have to undergo the initial surgery which did nothing.

It was only when there was no major improvement after the 2nd surgery that we went back to the orthopedic surgeon and he looked futher and noticed that it was not her knee but her back that was causing her discomfort. X-rays showed the compression.

This is a degenerative condition that will eventually result in a surgery, but as the surgery has a relatively high level of risk associated with it (from paralysis) it is only done when the pros outweigh the cons -- ie. she'd be no better/worse than if nothing were done. So far she's been pretty good, only really displaying problems (lameness) after significant exercise.

One thing that was suggested to us by the orthopedic surgeon and has done wonders for Kaeleigh, as well as a friend's westie with a back problem, is acupuncture! Kaeleigh responded wonderfully to it, showing a significant decrease in lameness, something that has continued to this day! Kaeleigh goes about every 6-8 weeks for a treatment, or sooner if she's having a problem. We look at the holistic vet care as a supplement, working in conjunction with "normal" vet medicine. It has sure helped Kaeleigh! BTW, Kaeleigh is on a low maintenance dose of prednizone (5mg on alternative days) for her lymphangectasia, which I believe doesn't hurt either. I hope this information helps. Also, please give Froli some lovin' from all of us here and I hope she's better really soon.

[BostonRott]

Thanks for the info!! :) Having a household of agility dogs, back and knee injuries are always on my mind.

[Brooke&Ryan]

Poor Froli. She'll be in my thoughts & prayers today. I'm thinking good thoughts for the girl!

:)
Brooke