Shoulder injury

Caro

Caro

Moderator
A month ago Deska hurt himself at a jumping trial and is still limping. It is particularly pronounced when he trots, but when he runs there is no sign of the limp. I think this is a long term injury that has worsened. In the last year, when he runs really really fast (like when he is chasing something) he walks back limping and will be really stiff in the morning. In the last 4-6mths his weave poles have slowed right down and now he cant manage more than a few twists. But he still spins an awful lot, esp when running or playing.

I have been to 3 different vets, and a chiropractor and a physio and have had 3 different diagnoses. He is way too stoic and will not even limp in front of a vet so it makes it hard. The diagnoses have been - lower back problem, triceps tear, some other muscle deep within the shoulder (cant remember the name). He is currently on rimadyl and walking on-lead only. On Thursday he had more physio and felt well enough to take off after a car on Friday (took my eyes of him for 2 seconds), following day he was limping badly but a day in a crate while Tully had an agility trial helped. Last night he did flyball training (kept jumps at 7") and it hasnt aggravated the limp.

I dont want to keep visiting vets for diagnoses. Shelties are not a common breed here so I'm wondering if anyone knows if there are certain shoulder or back injuries shelties are prone to. I am hesitant to get an xray if it requires anaesthetic as he does not react well but I am at a loss what else I can do.
 
I know nothing about sheltie bone problems (or a lot of problems in general!), but I hope Mr. D feels better soon. I don't blame you about wanting to hold off on the x-ray either. I hate it when they have to go under for something. :dead: It makes them and you both feel bad!
 
Othropedics aren't my speciality but in talking with a surgeon after Justice's flexor tendon injury, he told me that shelties seem to have a lot of carpal injuries such af flexor tendon spains/tears, ligament injuries and tendonitis in the lower leg and elbow.

Also there is a agility related injury called medial shoudler instability which has similar on/off signs. The weaves pole often show the most signs since it is a side to movement that exposes the weakness.I went to a Chris Zink lecture and she said it was hard to diagnose if you don't know to look for it. Another possiblity is bicepitical tendonitis.


Some info on MSI
http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/resourceCenter/documents/VOSMNwstrFallFINAL11.20.08.pdf
Published in Clean Run

http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/surgery/documents/RotatorCuffInjurya.pdf

Article about carpal injuries
http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/surgery/documents/CarpalAndTarsalInjuries.pdf

Just thoughts off the top of my head. Hope Deska feels better soon. No fun to have a gimpy boy, I know.
 
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I so feel for you Caro. My experience with Snap taught me as well that these dogs are stoic and that with chronic injuries it may be difficult to get a comprehensive diagnosis. One injury can result in "referred pain" to other places and problems with other limbs / muscles trying to compensate for the injury.

The mistake I made with Snap's soft tissue injury was in following my primary vet's recommendation for 7 - 10 days of rest / anti-inflammatories and in believing that my dog indeed was "well" after that. With Snap's re-injury, the primary vet recommended 2 mos of rest. The orthopedic and rehab specialists recommended 2 mos of rehab, followed by 2 mos of controlled exercise. At 5 months the injury was pronounced "healed".

If Xray can help with a diagnosis, you might want to ask whether acceptable xrays can be taken WITHOUT sedation.
 
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Justicemom said:
Othropedics aren't my speciality but in talking with a surgeon after Justice's flexor tendon injury, he told me that shelties seem to have a lot of carpal injuries such af flexor tendon spains/tears, ligament injuries and tendonitis in the lower leg and elbow.

Also there is a agility related injury called medial shoudler instability which has similar on/off signs. The weaves pole often show the most signs since it is a side to movement that exposes the weakness.I went to a Chris Zink lecture and she said it was hard to diagnose if you don't know to look for it. Another possiblity is bicepitical tendonitis.


Some info on MSI
http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/resourceCenter/documents/VOSMNwstrFallFINAL11.20.08.pdf
Published in Clean Run

http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/surgery/documents/RotatorCuffInjurya.pdf

Article about carpal injuries
http://www.vetsportsmedicine.com/surgery/documents/CarpalAndTarsalInjuries.pdf

Just thoughts off the top of my head. Hope Deska feels better soon. No fun to have a gimpy boy, I know.
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By the description you gave, something along these lines makes sense to be as well. I don't believe it is a bone issue. More likely a tendon or ligament issue, in which case, I believe the remedy is largely controlled exercises (e.g physio) and avoid situations where he could restrain it all over again. He might need to stay out of trials until he is healed, else the injury will not heal properly or ever.
 
Poor Deska is still limping. He came off the rimadyl on Monday and I think his limp is now worse. So I have agreed to get an x-ray, which really worries me. Not just because x-rays are notoriously inconclusive, but also he has to be sedated and left at the vet for the whole day (he wants to monitor him after the aneasthetic).

The vet said he will give him a 'gas anaesthetic' given he did not recover from the last aneasthetic very well, and he wont use a sedative - he says that is the protocol he would use for dogs with the 'collie gene'.

Deska hates the vet, and anywhere that looks lke the vet, with a passion! I have to carry him into the vets and he goes rigid as soon as he gets on the table. We actually go there weekly for a weigh in so its not like every trip there is bad. I know leaving him there for a whole day will be pretty traumatic for him. Any ideas for making his stay a little easier and less traumatic?
 
If you can, pick up a bottle of Bach's Rescue Remedy. It's an herbal calming agent that isn't going to hurt him or interact with anything he's given. I find it doesn't always work that well, but some people have great luck with it. You just put a few drops (comes with a dropper) in his mouth, and can use it several times a day.

If you don't have a natural health food store, you can find it online. When is Deska going in? We'll be thinking about him...
 
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