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by EKvonEarnhardt on 09 January 2009 - 01:01
First and foremost THANK YOU to everyone who has posted. This is a great help to Nic and Rex
Are you saying he actually drags and turns his rear feet over as he steps?
From what Nic was saying is that when he walks about every five steps you can hear his nails scrap the ground (she keeps them cut pretty short ) So I would think that would be the cause.
Beyond that I don't know too much more. He was a very active 8 yr old before this happen so there is a chance it could be a injury. I know he is getting older but if you would of seen him before he was full of life and energy now he is a tried house dog . Not the Rex I know.
So I did passed this thread along to her and she is checking out the site. Hopefully she will find out what is wrong with him.
Thank you again Everyone
EK

by amysavesjacks on 09 January 2009 - 01:01
The vet should have done a test for nerve damage... (bending the foot to abnormal position and seeing if it reflexes back). Nerve damage could be caused by a number of things. Degenerative Myelopothy is certainly high on that list because its a GSD. However, it could certainly could be a number of other things like a disc, a tumor, etc. If the dog is walking, but just has trouble getting up, it certainly could be early arthitis, or even arthritis due to Lyme disease (I obviously dont know if the dog has been tested or is vaccinated).
My first course of action would be steroids and muscle relaxers (Prednisone & Methocarbomol) and rest. If that doesnt work, then you may want to have an MRI done.
by Bark and Hold on 09 January 2009 - 01:01
I had a personal experience with a dog of mine a few years back that is maybe/maybe not relevant... She literally became paralyzed overnight. Every test, scan, etc... was negative. She was eventually diagnosed with a "fibro-cartilaginous embolism" which ultimately shut off blood flow to her hind quarter nerves. She eventually regained the ability to walk again, but she lived out her final years with some minor nerve damage and toe drag. However, for a dog that was diagnosed as never being able to walk again, within two months of her diagnosis she was running to the best of her ability. The spirit of a German shepherd never ceases to amaze me. I wish all the best for this dog!

by GSDalways on 09 January 2009 - 02:01
I am sorry to hear about your friend's dog. It must be such a worry. These are different conditions that can appear similiar to CDRM: disc problems, myelitis,spinal neoplasia, spondylitis, lumbosacral stenosis (Cauda Equina Syndrome). Has he had any muscle detrophy as any of these conditions will usually cause a loss in muscle.

by Sunsilver on 09 January 2009 - 02:01
I have known two GSD's who dragged their toes until the nails were bloody. Both were nerve-related. One had degenerative myelopathy, the other had ankylosing spondylitis in the spine (fusing of the vertebrae). Both were PTS eventually.
I can't believe the vet wouldn't know about this symptom! And, as has been said above the test for it is to turn the toes under. If the dog is having neurological problems, it won't be able to feel the toes are in the wrong position, and will leave them that way for a number of seconds.
I agree...get new vet!

by Pharaoh on 09 January 2009 - 02:01
My thirteen year old Shepherd had some spondylosis that started from an old injury to his spine, it fused and then it progressed to spondylosis. I periodically had xrays to monitor.
He wasn't actually dragging his foot and if you turned it under he flipped it right back. It would just be a scrapping sound of his nails on a rear foot but not on every step. There was no hair loss on the top of his foot.
I gave him a combination of Sam-e (Italian pharmaceutical source) Ark Naturals Super Strength Joint Rescue and Deramaxx. That kept him pretty good for a long time.

by missbeeb on 09 January 2009 - 02:01
Buddy, (almost 12) did the splits with his hind legs about 1 year ago now, almost overnight he became lame, dragging one hind leg... for all the world he looked like he had DM.
He's been having McTimony... really like a dog chiroprator and he's improved quite a lot. his spine, which stood proud, is now as it should be and he walks better, 'tho he does still drag the one paw a little.

by yellowrose of Texas on 09 January 2009 - 03:01
FIND AN ORTHO VET SURGEON..THEY HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE AND THE EQUIPMENT..
uThis is Ginger after her spinal surgery in Houston.
Usually
in big cities the hospitals of vets have these surgeons on staff.
Had similiar thing with a gsd who got injured in her own back yard by a larger gsd, and she just couldnt get up,
Main vet misdiagnosed her and gave her a shot and tried to say she had bad hips..She was OFA good and no hips..they rushed her over to the Houston Orthopedic Animal Hospital on the Gulf Frwy and 2,500.00 later after surgery she had a spinal injury but the meds the first vet injected caused her to bleed internally in the spinal area..It took her three years to walk again and finally pts.
Yr

by Rezkat5 on 09 January 2009 - 03:01
Sounds like some sort of spinal injury or problem, ie: DM. Get to a specialist where they can do the thorough exam and testing.
DM is high on the list for a GSD, but there are other problems that can happen as well.
Kathy

by EKvonEarnhardt on 09 January 2009 - 03:01
I will be talking to her tomorrow and see what she wants to do. Boy, just when you thought German Shepherds had it bad from temperaments and hips this comes along! (Maybe just me as I have never heard or had to deal with).
THANK YOU everyone who wrote here and IM me. I know talking about our babies is sometimes hard and painful but it is important to share so others learn and know what to expect. This is a real eye opener! AGAIN THANK YOU
EK
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