Spondylosis-members experiences . . . - Page 1

This past week one of my 9 year old females was diagnosed with this condition after a week of not being able to jump on the bed with occasional lameness in the left hind limb which she would work out of. X-rays showed three vertebra starting to fuse in the arch of her back. She was sent home with an anti-inflammatory and directions for low impact exercise and NO jumping. The following day the vet called to tell me that when writing her notes she found an extra vertebra on the x-ray. Of course I've done due online research-not all positive on the outcome . . .

[sigh] My first GSD was diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis in her spine at the age of 8. It was already really severe by the time she was diagnosed, with pretty much the whole lumbar spine involved. And to add to the problem, the vet said it looked like a bacterial infection was eating away at the spine. Due to the reduced blood flow caused by the arthritis, her immune system wasn't able to get rid of it. Already at diagnosis, he was hinting at euthanasia. She had already lost a fair amount of feeling in her feet at this point, and when he knuckled her rear toes under, she didn't right the foot immediately.

He wanted to put her on prednisone, and sell me a bag of expensive Science Diet crap. I couldn't get out of there fast enough! Here we've got a dog with a chronic infection, and he wants to knock her immune system out with pred?? HELLOOOO!!

I found a vet who was willing to put her on an antibiotic that would still allow her own immune system to work, and I started giving her glucosamine and chondroitin sulfate, as well as Echinacea and garlic to strengthen her immune system.

When I brought her back in for a recheck a few weeks later there was a noticeable improvement.

I kept her going with this regime for about a year, as she continued to slide downhill. Eventually, she was losing control of her bowels, then she began to drag her rear end along the ground if she was on soft grass, and only make the effort to walk when she was on gravel or pavement.

At that point, I decided it was time to let her go.

It was one of the hardest things I've ever had to do, as she never lost that spark in her eye that said "I want to live!" She had to be in pain, but she didn't show it. At one point in the spring, I'd made the decision to take her in and thought, okay, I'll take her for one last walk. As soon as she saw the leash, she gamely struggled to her feet, her tail wagging, and her eyes sparkling.

I called the vet and cancelled the appointment.

She was finally PTS a few months later, just before the July 1 long weekend (Canada Day).

R.I.P., my brave lady, Lili Marlene... 

SS,

Unfortunately I had a similar experience with my male shepherd about three years ago-but his issue was bulging disc(s) and putting him down was the hardest of the four I've PTS.

Fortunately Kiva is in the early stages and until the vet found the extra vertebra she wasn't extremely concerned, so if I can find a way to delay the progression I'll certainly do so.

When the vet says 'extra vertebra', I take it she's meaning a transitional vertebra in the pelvic area? The concern for that is such often results in compression of the nerve bundle, the 'cauda equina' that passes through there and which may actually be the reason you're seeing that lameness in her left hind leg. If that's what the source of Kiva's recently developed issue is, it can be surgically corrected and the success rate is pretty darn good, though it is an expensive surgery. It's worth discussing...I wouldn't hesitate to do it for a 9 year old dog, personally; I'd consider it in a 12 year old dog, if the dog had no other health issues and the spleen, liver, heart and lungs were all normal on an x-ray done before I made a decision on surgery or not.

Standard anti-inflammatory measures should also be instituted [omega3-omega6 fish oils, etc.], since they can only benefit her [I personally like the anti-inflammatory effects of MicroLactin for arthritic conditions affecting the spine in particular, as most other agents have limited efficacy for anything other than arthritis in joints]. Some improvement is reported from cold-laser treatments, if that's available in your area; ditto for acupuncture.

The most important measure you can take is to keep her lean and keep her very fit--exercise is necessary to prevent the muscles in the hindquarters from losing tone and beginning to waste away. My 12 year old male has spondylosis of the lumbosacral spine; when we moved to a place where there wasn't a fenced yard and for 5 months, the dogs could only go out on-leash for the most part, my big guy lost a significant amount of muscle tone because he couldn't trot around as much as he was accustomed to doing. That muscle loss amplified the effects of the spinal situation, to a degree where I didn't know if he was going to still be with me this summer. Fortunately, the fence is installed and he's back to his self-exercise routine, with the addition of some sloping ground he can run up and down, and he is regaining the lost muscle tone and with it his mobility improves visibly. If the fence still hadn't happened, by now I'd be taking him to a canine rehab facility to swim him, and that might be something to check into as well.

Cauda equine syndrome and spondylosis are limiting, but both have a far, far better prognosis than bacterial spondylitis, so at least Kiva's not looking at that.

Hexe,

Thanks for your input.

Kiva was prescribed Meloxicam-I will put her on fish oil and am trying to increase the whole pack's exercise.

The vet did not call the extra vertebra "transitional" although that came to mind; but Cauda equine was mentioned and its effects. Surgery has not been discussed-I'm not aware of cold laser treatments in the area but it may be available through the University. I will have to inquire with my vet whether she does acupuncture.

Kiva is naturally slender, but I'm sure she could lose a few pounds. Fortunately she does not seem to be in any pain, has not exhibited any lameness of recent.

My guy is on meloxicam as well; as NSAIDs go, it appears to reduce pain due to arthritic changes in the spinal column, which most of the others do not really touch. The MicroLactin is a milk protein-derived supplement with anti-inflammatory properties, the OTC veterinary version is Duralactin, though I just purchase the powder formulation sold for human use through Swanson Vitamins [that's the only place I've found in the US that still sells the loose powder, as opposed to capsules--it may be available elsewhere in other countries] and follow the dosing used for the Duralactin.