gracillus muscle contracture - Page 1

Has anybody had any experience with this? Our dog went for TTA today and they ortho found the contracture. He said that there is not a great deal of information out there but that it seems to be mostly well bred European dogs that are affected. There may or may not be a genetic component. Santo is line bred on Fero through Troll. Any thoughts? Lorri

Yes - my late Otto (out of Wiko vom Kirschental) had this problem. At age 7.5 he began to show erratic gaiting in left rear leg, with outward rotation causing a hitch in his gait. The regular vet took X-rays that showed normal hips and no bone issues, so he got me a consult with a vet neurologist who diagnosed the problem by feeling the band of fibrous tissue in the gracilis muscle (hamstring in humans. His gait stayed the same for around two years or so - abnormal trotting and he couldn't jump well anymore - but he could still run pretty well. It was a little bit sad because that dog was a superb athlete who used to jump onto the roof of my SUV to show off. However, he didn't seem to have any pain, and he would have showed me - if not anyone else - had he been hurting. It certainly didn't affect his activity level much; he was outside from dawn to dusk every day doing his thing. It got only mildly worse as time went by. But this past spring he really began to have problems not only with that leg but also the other one, so back to the vet neurologist we went. This time the diagnosis was DM and he went in less than a month (fortunately before he could no longer move his hindquarters at all or became incontinent - he was a very proud dog and would not have tolerated a cart or diapers). The only issue for me personally regarding the gracilis issue is that I think it might have masked earlier DM symptoms that I would have otherwise noticed - but since there doesn't seem to be any scientific evidence that the drug/diet treatments developed by Dr. Clemmons at the University of Florida actually work, I don't think there's much I could have done anyway. As for your dog's gracilis injury, I may still have some literature from a study on the ailment that the vet neurologist provided kicking around my office - I'll check on Monday and get back to you. But I recall that it said that surgery can provide short-term but not long-term improvement, and that the disease ocurs largely in highly energetic European lines GSDs - but I don't recall a possible genetic cause discussed.

Hello, I too would be very interested to read more about this. I have a high drive, showline male out of Domino vom Baronenwald who has some sort of leg problem that we have been unable to diagnose. He is about 5 and this started about one year ago. He does fine most of the time, but if I try to jump him for Schutzhund, after a few jumps he complains loudly, limps a bit and will not jump again. It clearly is not his knee and I can not afford an MRI at this point. When I can, we will also do that. Despite his being a well trained dog and ready to title, I have been unable to title him because every time I get him ready for trial, this problem resurfaces. I have noted some minor muscle atrophy perhaps in that leg, but we can discover no reason for his pain on jumping. He will do vigorous protection work. He does not like to trot when I trot the entire gang around my field (I ride an ATV). I have also noticed that every once in a while he does drag a nail on that rear foot and I have worried that perhaps he is a candidate for DM. So please p59titel, if you have more information, consider finding a way to get it to me as well. I would be very interested to read what you have. Thank you. schwarzenberggsd@earthlink.net

That would be great because there just doesn't seem to be that much out there. My e-mail is rowlett@centurytel.net, or even post it here, as Hodie says there may be more undiagnosed dogs out there. My regular vet and the Ortho were both amazed. I do not think that regular vets in the US really understand the working dogs and the drives in these dogs that will mask symptoms. Santo's cruciate was initally diagnosed as a hamstring pull because he was still trying to use it. I too question the genetic component, there would be more family lines known for lameness if that were the case. Thanks! Lorri

Actually I Yahoo!ed it and found a link to the article - it's "out-of-print" on the UAB website but was saved on the Internet Archive. It's written by vets for vets and and acordingly has a ton of medical lingo, but it's pretty informative if you can get past that: http://web.archive.org/web/20030311232909/http://main.uab.edu/show.asp?durki=41701 The bottom line seems to be that there's nothing to be done for it. After the diagnosis I started my guy on glucosamine/chondroitin supplements to try to keep his joints in good shape, but that won't doing anything for the underlying issue. The authors of this study think the condition arises from athletic injury and is not caused by genetic or neurologic factors.

And to amplify on the genetic factor or likely lack thereof, my guy wasn't out of standard Euro working lines, but rather Kirschental show and sheepherding lines on the dad's side and showlines on the motherline. He was, however, constantly on the go - he wore 6" ruts into my lawn from running down to the fence in front to bark at passers-by and people using the public boat ramp in front of my house. When he was young he'd sometimes take the corners too fast and go over the "high side" and roll five or six times - it was funny to watch.

That is a great article, thank you. Actually the most hopeful thing I have read and I am eager for Santo to get fully healed. I can see where PT, warm up and regular activity will be beneficial. It also begs the question about starting training too early for phase C. I am also encouraged that Santo had the sudden traumatic injury not a gradual onset that might have led to more extensive fibrosis. Thanks again! Lorri