[Hetland]

My baby, a 2.2 year-old fixed female started crying last night on the couch. She NEVER cries, except to be petted of course, and the only health issue she's ever had was uti after she was fixed. She tried to stand up, and it appeared her two front paws were hurting her, it almost looked like she had splinters in each front foot. A short time later she seemed to be moving around fine, even running towards the back door for her nightly warnings to the neighbor dogs about staying out of her territory. She peed on command, and otherwise acted fine, but she didn't want her front legs petted, and I didn't press the issue.

Today the vet saw normal arm development on the x-rays, (I had originally thought wandering lameness) and an abnormality in the cervical spine (4-5 or 5-6, I can't remember). She mentioned wobblers, but wanted another vet to look at the films before giving a final opinion.

I'm wondering if it could be something else? She's 2, so this is early onset for a doberman, and her rear legs seem fine, just her front, lower legs seem affected.

I'm devastated.....

 

[sam&macksmom]

Can't offer any medical advice but just wanted to say I hope she will be ok.

 

[akturbo]

I would have another vet give it a look just to have a second opinion for your conscience. Other than that I also have no medic advice, but I do hope whatever it is, is for sure determined and can be dealt with in the best way possible. Keep us posted please. Best of luck to you and your little girl.

 

[Dobiewankanobi]

Clearly I'm not a vet. BUT, when my Dobe was diagnosed with Wobbler's/CVI his front legs were fine. Back legs weren't. It all started in his neck and progressed to an ataxic gait, general unsteadiness, slight dragging of the rear paws, and eventual loss of feeling in his back legs.

In Dobes, it's usually the C5 to C7 vertebrae that are affected. Sometimes its as simple as a vertebral abnormality compression and other times its a bulging/herniated disc.

It is my opinion that an X-ray is not definitive enough. I'd want an MRI to get a clearer picture of what's going on. Because you're right...it is early onset for a Doberman.

If she were my dog, I'd contact an orthopedic specialist. If that specialist agreed that wobbler's/CVI was likely then I'd contact a neurologist. Because of his heart, my male was not a candidate for surgical intervention. He was kept of strict crate rest for 5 months and medicated with steroids/pain meds. After that 5 months he returned back to relatively normal but still displayed the ataxic gait and we had to be careful with his activity.

 

[Dobiewankanobi]

Also, flip her back paw over so that the top of the paw is resting on the ground. Does she immediately flip them right?

 

[mmctaq]

There are various illnesses which can cause body/joint pain. Was a full physical performed, or just an orthopedic exam?

 

[Patches Mom]

Might ask the vet if it could be Panosteitis in dogs

Panosteitis is commonly referred to as “growing pains” and the problem is ... in large breed puppies during periods when their long bones grow very rapidly. ... Panosteitis causes pain and leg lameness for the dog and the problem will often come and go over a couple of weeks time may go to each leg. When my Buddy had it he would stand on three legs it went to each leg on him. Not much can be done about it just something they have to out grow once the have it they go though it do not get it again. They say feed adult food one with not a high protein some say it helps some say it does not. Good Luck.

 

[LindaH]

Maybe test for tick bourne diseases. So many possibilities...

 

[Hetland]

They did a full exam, and took several xrays. She was fine last night, and this morning, and I can pet, and play with both her front and back paws. She doesn't show any tenderness or guarding there, or in her neck/back.

The vet has her on light activity for two weeks, and anti-inflammatory meds for a week (when we will re-evaluate). I'll wait for word on the second vet looking at her X-rays, and decide what to do then (probably an mri).

Thanks everyone.