Spinal stenosis - Page 2

 Blitzen, thanks for the kind words!

You're wlecome, Radarsmom. I feel for you.

I have more experience than I would like to have... Transitional Vertebrae is congenital and is always seen with CE according to my spinal specialist in Sacramento, from what I have read and learned from having a dog with CE is that 95% of GSDs are born with some form of TVS and most GSDs diganosed with CE are young to middle-aged working or sport dogs... The family pet may develop signs at an older age. We opted for a less invasive treatment before doing surgery as my girl was 3.5 years old and I was more than happy to retire her and let her live her life out as a couch potato. Her x-rays showedobvious TVS and some spondylosis in her spine...we did a depo-medrol injection and she did great with that but than developed pano which we were able to control with Metacam. Long story short, she was taken from us a year ago, 4 months after her CE diagnosis,  from what we do not know but I suspect it was a fungal infection from a lesion on her spine, that at the time she was diagnosed with CE was believed to be spondylosis. I also believe that the steroid injection compromised her immune system and allowed whatever it was to take her from us. We spent thousands of $$ in 3 weeks but she just withered away on us and we had to let her go. Please feel free to PM or email me at majorliebe@sbcglobal.net if your have any questions.

My thoughts are with you and Radar and I too wish for a successful surgery and a speedy recovery!!

Darlene

Grass Valley, CA

Vom Herrenhaus German Shepherds

 I want to thank you all for your good thoughts and prayers for our special pup, Radar -- just got word that he's out of surgery, waking up, and the vets are "very pleased" with the way the surgery went.  My husband's birthday is this week and this is the best present he's ever received!

I've been watching this thread all day. That is the best news!! I am so happy for you and your husband and most of all, your boy, Radar.  Was he named after Radar O'Reilly?

I've been through very, very serious health issues with my first beloved GSD and I understand the anguish and how it can be a roller coaster ride to hell and back.  Buying a well bred dog isn't always a guarantee of a healthy dog. At times I thought I would never recover without therapy and after almost 7 years it still breaks my heart to relive it all. I empathisize with everyone who has gone through this horrible experience.

The upside is there are always happy endings and I supect Radar may be one. His young age and early dx sounds like a very good thing to me. Keep the faith.....

Best wishes for Radar.  I hope his recovery gives him back a high quality of life.

 Radar's name comes from the distinctive appearance of a GSD with erect, attentive ears -- and he does have lovely ear carriage!  I know how devastating it can be to lost a beloved GSD and really feel for you, Darlene and Blitzen, we lost Radar's predecessor to an aggressive colon cancer in January 2007 -- Tugboat was my first GSD, my husband's sixth --- when my husband first suggested getting a GSD  in 1998 I went along with it (1) because I love my husband and (2) because I planned to ask for my own dog, a Boykin spaniel or something, after we got the Shepherd.  But after coming to know the German Shepherd Dog I have realized that, for all the conditions to which they are predisposed, they are THE breed.  Blessings to all who love and help these noble souls!

Thanks to all for your prayers and support! 

Are spinal stenosis and caudal equina the same thing, related or different disorders?  Are there different forms of stenosis, or are they all the same?

I've heard of sport/working dogs diagnosed with an L7 injury and older dogs diagnosed with spinal stenosis, but never both.

Thanks,

-Calvin

 Calvin, it is my understanding that the stenosis is the actual narrowing of the spine, which causes compression on the cord, and that it can occur anywhere in the spine -- and that cauda equina is a condition that can cause compression in a specific area, the lower spine.  But I am new to this, so others may be able to offer more precise information.