What non GSD problems can mask as DM? - Page 4

The vet perhaps should have told you to give him something like low dose prevacid for the stomach discomfort from the prednisone, earlier. I would not be thinking DM with what you have said. There is NEVER a regaining of any function with DM. And NO PAIN. However, there are early and fast onset types of DM, that much is true.

I would ask for Doxy, and see if there is improvement. If it is going to work, it won't take long. I would be thinking CE, if I were you, too. Not sure about the LS. Bubba will have to chime in.

You seem to be a very devoted owner, I hope for the best for your dog and you.

Jenni78 is looking like the grand prize winner.  CE and LS are essentially the same as I understand it .. the Greyhound sites sometimes call it LS others CE .. not sure if there is any real difference.  Read some of the links to Greyhound web site forums .. LS is more commonly found in older male Greyhounds.  The treatment options are few .. surgery or a few available meds .. but better than DM.  Doxy is still a good idea in that it reduces inflammation and swelling outside it's antibacterial action.  Worth a try and there is no rule that an animal can't have a TBD and LS.  Eliminate what is easy to eliminate without harm or great expense first.

https://greytarticles.wordpress.com/medical-first-aid/muscularskeletal/cauda-equina-aka-ls/

http://www.greyhoundpetsorlando.org/#!lumbosacral-stenosis/c1upb

I would save my money from the DM testing .. it is not an explanation for a greyhound and the dog can have the DM mutation and be fine ( little correlation with greyhounds ) .. the presence of the mutation is not causative for DM.  The post you presented said the dog had pain in the lumbosacral area and DM dogs seldom show pain anywhere as the nerves lose there ability to control movement or relay pain to the brain of a DM affected dog.   The standing with the rear end drooping or with the legs in a strange position indicates the dog is finding a more comfortable way to stand that does not press on the nerves in their back .. also seen in LS afflicted dogs. The OP and owner is looking right .. not DM.  The thyroid test is also a good idea as a sick dog can also have thyroid problems that contribute or arise because of other illness.

Thank you to everyone for all the input. It seems to me from my research that the difference between CE and LS is that CE is found in the sacrum and LS is found in the lumbar portion of the spine (higher up). I will ask the vet on Monday about doing a course of Doxy and I agree that it couldn't hurt. I feel strongly that his symptoms match CE and am going to hold off on the DM testing for now. CE is the first thing that has really matched his symptoms. As I read the posts here I also realized that he does chew on his back thighs, not obsessively but it is a habit. He also jumps up and runs when he farts. I know it sounds funny but I do believe it could be nerve pain related. He is already on a Chinese herbal program with acupuncture. In addition I am looking into adding cold laser treatments. I will bring CE to his vets attention. Does anyone have a recommendation of a vet that can give a second opinion on his MRI? I respect the neurologist he is seeing now, but am of the opinion that two heads are always better than one. I am in the Orange County area of Southern California but could mail a copy of the MRI for a second opinion if needed.

Thank you all again for your input and I will post updates as I have them.

In one of the links there was a set of X-rays and MRI results for a lab with either LS or CE .. the results of the images were that X-rays were not very helpful and the MRI results depended in part on how the dog was positioned while the images were taken. The MRI images that you have should be examined for CE/LS and perhaps retaken with better positioning in mind or perhaps the money can be better spent on treatment for CE/LS and just see if the animal has a positive response to treatment. CE/LS can be described as a "pinched nerve" so depending on how the dog positions it's spine the pain or loss of motor control in the body below or behind the "pinched nerve" can vary. There are some dog owners who have successfully used the services of a dog chiropractic with spinal and pinched nerve issues.

Beetree, I've missed your clever digs since you've been gone. :) Welcome back! Let's liven this place up! LOL. With regard to my "high standard," remember, I *did* go to my specialist to confirm what I thought (CE) but as he was hours away, I saw no harm in taking him to the local neurologist first, who referred him to an in-hospital dermatologist (same practice) who completed the insanity with the "food allergy" label. Yes, that was not a general practice vet, but a neurologist and a dermatologist who failed to connect the dots and saw no relation between thigh biting and proprioception deficits in the rear. The ideas ran the gamut from food allergies to OCD...never thinking he could be biting his legs because they were going numb on him. Idiots. Freaking idiots.

Chickadee- lumbosacral stenosis and Cauda Equina Syndrome are the same thing in this context, yes. There are subtle differences as to the specificity of each term, but for the sake of this discussion, either are accurate. You can read here more about the specifics. http://veterinarymedicine.dvm360.com/degenerative-lumbosacral-stenosis-dogs

I wholeheartedly agree with you; that is not DM. I would bank on some kind of lumbosacral issue. FYI- the pred. is actually what killed my dog, as well as a friend's dog who was on it for a similar issue. Be very very careful with it. I only agreed to the pred. because we had to get the swelling down to see if surgery would fix the problem. And it would have- by the 3rd day he was back to jumping the 6' fence, so relieving the pressure on his spinal cord would have cured him. Unfortunately, he only made it a week on the meds. He was on a combination of Gabapentin and pred. and he's not the only dog I know of to die on that combo with this ailment.

Thank you for trying to help this woman and her dog. I have heard nothing more. I posted off list to her and have not received anything back. Don't know if the dog is now dead.

So sorry until today I did not see any new posts. My dog is not dead. I am continuing to try and help him. His normal vet was out of town for a vet conference and has now returned. I will be discussing everything with him. In the meantime the chineese herbs have really helped with his comfort level along with the acupuncture. We are going to try adaquan shots (not sure about spelling) to see if it is helpful would seem to point to more of a lumbar sacral issue than a neurological one. I am also in the process of looking into a cold laser machine to do treatments. For now he is comfortable and happy although his backend looks a little drunk. I am not giving up, and although I do not yet have an official diagnosis I am doing everything I can to find something that will help. Jenni I appreciate the comment regarding the pred. gabapentin mix, he is no longer on pred as it did not seem to help much, and maybe only slightly at a small dose. Please understand I greatly appreciate all the information I found here and will always do my best for my boy. I will update with any new information I have but at this point we are simply trying things to see what will help, it is a process. Thank you again.

Hope the situation resolves well in due course;
wishing you & your dog the very best ! It has
been a very interesting thred, so do let us know
how it all turns out.

Just a quick update…
Cowboy saw the chiropractor yesterday and had a cold laser treatment. The chiropractor found him to be reactive much higher up the back. This is the most reactive I have seen him (too sore to adjust), but this morning he is feeling pretty good. He took the approach that it doesn't really matter what is causing the neuro disruption, but that we focus on getting things flowing again and stimulating what we do have. He also recommended a cold laser machine for home use. I have found a second radiologist to review the MRI. For now his vet and I are less concerned about a specific diagnosis as we are in finding treatments that keep him happy and moving well. We also started the adaquan shots 2x's weekly for the first month (loading dose), so fingers crossed. Hope this post finds you all well and I will update again as things move forward. Again Thanks for all the help and support.

Hello Again,
I just wanted to leave a final Update on Cowboy and THANK you all for your support and encouragement. He is now 5 weeks post op of a dorsal laminectomy with pedical screw stabilization of his LS joint. The neurology surgeon said his LS joint was the most severely overlapped he had ever seen almost a full 4mm. The problem was that not only did the overlapping cause pinching of his nerve roots, but it is suspected that with movement the pinching was worse. He is now recovering well, he no longer dips like a gsd, and in general seems much happier. He was on strict confinement for the first month and is now starting to move around, I am encouraged by the fact that he does a proper pharaoh stance again and seems to be getting stronger every few days. I am excited to see if physical therapy will bring him more strength and stability. I just wanted to take a few minutes to let those that helped me early on know, and to say Thank you! When other people made me doubt my instincts about what was going on with my dog, you all encouraged me to keep digging. I am forever grateful.