
Something is wrong with Dylan
#1
Posted 09 January 2012 - 12:23 PM
He also limps intermittently on his front legs. He has done this since he was about 6 months old but from about a year old he would take off the skin on his front pads repeatedly so any limping was put down to that, but he is still limping even though his pads are now fine.
Dylan never sits unless told to. He does not even sit to scratch he ear. If he is made to sit for a long time he moves badly afterwards. When walking I sometimes hear his back claws dragging and he sticks his tongue out a lot (this is getting worse I think), like he forgets about it, however, his bottom jaw is too short so its hard to tell the cause.
Dylan also suffers with colitis triggered by food. He becomes intolerant to new foods if he has them often. Every NSAID we have tried has made him very ill with colitis and done nothing for his legs.
Dylan is due to have more x-rays done soon, what else should I ask for/about? No one I have talked to seems to have any idea what is wrong so any ideas are much appreciated!
#2
Posted 09 January 2012 - 12:39 PM
J.
I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.
~Vincent van Gogh

Julie Poudrier
New Kent, VA
Beloved, and living in memory: Willow (6/1997-5/2014, run free, my heart), Boy (3/1995-10/2010, RIP), Jill (8/1996-5/2012, RIP), Farleigh (12/1998-7/2014, RIP), Kat (4/2000-6/2015, I miss you, my sweet, funny little clown), and Twist (11/2001-11/2016, you were my once-in-a-lifetime dog and forever my BEST girl)
The current pack: Lark, Phoebe, Pipit, Birdie, Kiskadee (Kiss), Rue, Corbie, and Kite!
Willow's Rest, Tunis, Tunis mules, Leicester longwool, Teeswater, Border Leicester, and Gulf Coast Native sheep
Visit me on Facebook at Poudrier and Crowder, Set Out Specialists (P&C, SOS)
#3
Posted 09 January 2012 - 01:28 PM
#4
Posted 09 January 2012 - 02:56 PM

#5
Posted 09 January 2012 - 03:26 PM
Vicki
Border Collies: Devon, Teak, Jess, & Gus
Kitties: Merry Cat & Mr. Magoo
Chickens and Sheep
Forever in my heart: Daisy 3/6/2008 - 12/20/2015
"Live the life you love. Love the life you live."
#6
Posted 09 January 2012 - 05:46 PM
#7
Posted 10 January 2012 - 06:02 AM
I'll ask the vet for x-rays of his knees and back, and for a blood test for tick-borne diseases (I assume this is still relevant for the UK). An MRI has been mentioned so if the x-rays don't show anything we'll do that. Anything else?
I am so very glad he is insured!
#8
Posted 10 January 2012 - 08:10 AM
J.
I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.
~Vincent van Gogh

Julie Poudrier
New Kent, VA
Beloved, and living in memory: Willow (6/1997-5/2014, run free, my heart), Boy (3/1995-10/2010, RIP), Jill (8/1996-5/2012, RIP), Farleigh (12/1998-7/2014, RIP), Kat (4/2000-6/2015, I miss you, my sweet, funny little clown), and Twist (11/2001-11/2016, you were my once-in-a-lifetime dog and forever my BEST girl)
The current pack: Lark, Phoebe, Pipit, Birdie, Kiskadee (Kiss), Rue, Corbie, and Kite!
Willow's Rest, Tunis, Tunis mules, Leicester longwool, Teeswater, Border Leicester, and Gulf Coast Native sheep
Visit me on Facebook at Poudrier and Crowder, Set Out Specialists (P&C, SOS)
#9
Posted 10 January 2012 - 09:40 AM
Ticks are most prevalent in woodland, heath and moorland,
often in areas populated by deer or other livestock. British
hotspots include Thetford Forest in Norfolk, the New Forest in
Hampshire, the Lake District, the Yorkshire Moors, the Scottish
Highlands and the uplands of Wales.
Bear in mind though that they give no indication as to the actual incidence of TBDs as it will suit them to scare people into buying their products.
Anecdotal only but I can't think of any dog I know coming down with a TBD, and I live on the edge of the Lake District and there are plenty of deer in local dog walking areas. Sheep everywhere.
Of course it could be that the dog people I mix with are on the ball and do their best to prevent or remove ticks as they are aware of the potential danger.
In 13 years and 6 dogs I have only found 2 sheep ticks several weeks apart on the same dog and I don't religiously treat mine preventatively. I do, but not monthly according to manufacturer's advice.
I couldn't say whether most vets would routinely consider testing for a TBD in the case of such unexplained symptoms but I suspect not if they don't come across them very often. Could be wrong of course.
#10
Posted 10 January 2012 - 10:11 AM
I wonder what the incidence is in the UK? I guess I need to pay more attention to the locations of the people who post to Tick-L.

J.
I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.
~Vincent van Gogh

Julie Poudrier
New Kent, VA
Beloved, and living in memory: Willow (6/1997-5/2014, run free, my heart), Boy (3/1995-10/2010, RIP), Jill (8/1996-5/2012, RIP), Farleigh (12/1998-7/2014, RIP), Kat (4/2000-6/2015, I miss you, my sweet, funny little clown), and Twist (11/2001-11/2016, you were my once-in-a-lifetime dog and forever my BEST girl)
The current pack: Lark, Phoebe, Pipit, Birdie, Kiskadee (Kiss), Rue, Corbie, and Kite!
Willow's Rest, Tunis, Tunis mules, Leicester longwool, Teeswater, Border Leicester, and Gulf Coast Native sheep
Visit me on Facebook at Poudrier and Crowder, Set Out Specialists (P&C, SOS)
#11
Posted 11 January 2012 - 07:57 AM
Mum24dog, I live on the edge of the Forest of Bowland which is likely to be an ideal tick habitat according to your quote from Intervet. So I will ask the vet about TBDs but I have only ever found 1 sheep tick on Dylan and it was not yet attached.
Julie, if a TBD has even the tiniest chance of been the cause of Dylans problems I will get it checked before paying for an MRI!
Someone I met in the park today suggested an autoimmune issue because of the colitis so I will ask about that too. There is also going to be a seminar by a McTimoney Chiropractor at my local dog club. They are doing consults after so if the vet agrees I will take Dylan and see if that helps.
#12
Posted 11 January 2012 - 12:57 PM
The ticks that are most likely to transmit disease are at a growth stage where they are generally very small and therefore very difficult to detect (which is why they are most likely to transmit disease--dog owners just can't see them).
It is possible for dogs with TBDs to be misdiagnosed with an immune-mediated anemia.
J.
I know nothing with any certainty, but the sight of stars makes me dream.
~Vincent van Gogh

Julie Poudrier
New Kent, VA
Beloved, and living in memory: Willow (6/1997-5/2014, run free, my heart), Boy (3/1995-10/2010, RIP), Jill (8/1996-5/2012, RIP), Farleigh (12/1998-7/2014, RIP), Kat (4/2000-6/2015, I miss you, my sweet, funny little clown), and Twist (11/2001-11/2016, you were my once-in-a-lifetime dog and forever my BEST girl)
The current pack: Lark, Phoebe, Pipit, Birdie, Kiskadee (Kiss), Rue, Corbie, and Kite!
Willow's Rest, Tunis, Tunis mules, Leicester longwool, Teeswater, Border Leicester, and Gulf Coast Native sheep
Visit me on Facebook at Poudrier and Crowder, Set Out Specialists (P&C, SOS)
#13
Posted 11 January 2012 - 01:39 PM
#14
Posted 11 January 2012 - 01:45 PM
There are also dogs who have the wrong numbers of vertebras - too little or too much lumbar vertebras for example.
#15
Posted 11 January 2012 - 02:09 PM
Mum24dog, I live on the edge of the Forest of Bowland
Small world. I'm in Carnforth.
Who's your vet? Just being nosey.
#16
Posted 12 January 2012 - 07:04 AM
Indira I had to google Cauda equina, I will ask the vet about it. Pain seems to be the most common symptom and as Dylan is very good at hiding pain I have no idea how much pain he is in, if any. Although I do worry that he is in pain as he chews at his back legs and will start chewing at his hips if he is rubbed there.
Mum24dog, I'm in Longridge near Preston, Andrew Hutcheson was the vet who did the x-rays and is our main vet however, Paul (I think!) is the vet we are now seeing for Dylans problems at the same surgery. We got a second opinion from Oakhill Vets in Goosnargh and use them for are other animals (pet rats).
#17
Posted 12 January 2012 - 07:48 AM
Mum24dog, I'm in Longridge near Preston, Andrew Hutcheson was the vet who did the x-rays and is our main vet however, Paul (I think!) is the vet we are now seeing for Dylans problems at the same surgery. We got a second opinion from Oakhill Vets in Goosnargh and use them for are other animals (pet rats).
I thought you might be on the northern side of the Trough.
If it turns out to be a suspected orthopaedic problem I can highly recommend Simon Roch's referral practice near Milnthorpe.
http://www.kentdalevets.co.uk
He's one of the top surgeons in the country and so nice with owners and dogs. A half hour consultation can easily double as he gets really enthusiastic about explaining things. I counted myself very lucky that we had him only a few miles up the road when Ross ruptured his cruciate.
And if you need Physio or Hydrotherapy Myerscough College is the place.
Pam
#18
Posted 12 January 2012 - 08:46 AM
We took Dylan to Myerscough college open day when he was a puppy but I believe there is somewhere nearer for hydrotherapy. We will go there if Dylan needs physio as I think its the nearest place to us that does it.
#19
Posted 21 February 2012 - 12:38 PM
We saw the chiropractor at the weekend, and it has left me feeling very sad. She saw instantly that Dylan has major problems and refused to touch him (other than cuddles!) due to his level of pain. The chiropractor recommended a vet and suggested that Dylan needs pain meds.
The chiropractor watched Dylan moving and listed a number of things that are not right. I may have forgotten some but here's the list:
Short stride on back legs-hip pain
Lame on both front legs
splays toes on all four feet
Stiff shoulders
Stiff neck
Something about his wrists not been right but I can't remember what she said
The chiropractor was more concerned about his front end than his hips and back legs. While I am really glad that she saw the things that I know aren't right when vets haven't, I just wish it was my imagination!
Dylan has been prescribed Tramadol 50mg capsules, does anyone know if it is ok for Dylan to chew them? The vet said it was but the info for the drug said it isn't ok for humans to chew them but doesn't mention dogs at all.
#20
Posted 21 February 2012 - 01:18 PM
Vet took fluid from her front wrist and it was full of white blood cells - typical of poly arthritis. She was on Tramadol and prednisone and immuran. It took a while but she did get better. (She was also on about 10 days of doxy just in case of tick disease).
She seems just fine now. She runs just as hard as she can and jumps and doesn't seem bothered anywhere at all.
0 user(s) are reading this topic
0 members, 0 guests, 0 anonymous users