Hi everyone! Nitro my 8 yr. old GSD lost his balance in the rear end tonite. He is not falling right over or dragging it. When he is standing, his rear is just sort of falling to one side. This is a new condition. I'm going to the vets on Monday to have it checked out or is this something that needs immediate attention? Thank you! Mark R.

Is he weak on one side more than another? I would be worried about a stroke...and that is something that can be dealt with MUCH better if you catch it IMMEDIATELY. IMO, if he were my buddy, I'd take him to the emergency vet. It'll cost you less head/heartache in the end if you're over-cautious rather than under-cautious. You don't want to have to say "If only I'd taken him right away." I hope it's not something serious, but I wouldn't take the chance.

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Is he weak on one side more than another? I would be worried about a stroke...and that is something that can be dealt with MUCH better if you catch it IMMEDIATELY. IMO, if he were my buddy, I'd take him to the emergency vet. It'll cost you less head/heartache in the end if you're over-cautious rather than under-cautious. You don't want to have to say "If only I'd taken him right away." I hope it's not something serious, but I wouldn't take the chance.

I'm with Jenni 100%. A stroke or a TIA* can be addressed immediately to prevent additional events, which is a big factor -- if the conditions were right for a TIA (or what could be called a mini-stroke) or a stroke, then they still are, without intervention.

Please post back. Good luck.

* Transient Ischemic Attack

When I phoned the emerg on Sat. night the on call vet asked alot of questions and didn't think it was a stroke. We pin pointed the problem to his left rear leg only. Because of the rarity of strokes in canines and the answers to her questions the vet didn't think that the added stress of a car ride only to be left overnite would help. Nitro could be left until a vet appt. on Monday(today). She left that decision up to us. He didn't seem to be in any pain, there was no cofusion, his overall spirits were good and the biggest thing was was that he was not in any distress. We took the chance and left it until today. He seemed better yesterday and even better today. Nitro was examined today and our vet came across a sensitive spot along the spine at the lumbar and thorax joint. Her conclusion is that Nitro may have a degenerative spinal condition. When it gets worse and given his age he might lose the use of his whole rear end and probably contol of certain organs. She did some flex tests to see if he knew where his legs were and pain tolerace tests and everything is normal.....for now. The best conclusion she could think of was that he injured himself earlier that day. We were playing with the ball and he jumped pretty high off of the ground and came down on his back legs. I was instucted not to over do it anymore with him. Maybe limit him to walks and swimming. He's been chasing his rubber ball since he was 8 weeks old. I could walk him for 3 hours but "the walk isn't over 'till we play with the ball" can anyone identify with this? Thanks to everyone for listening!! Mark.R + Nitro

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When I phoned the emerg on Sat. night the on call vet asked alot of questions and didn't think it was a stroke. We pin pointed the problem to his left rear leg only. Because of the rarity of strokes in canines and the answers to her questions the vet didn't think that the added stress of a car ride only to be left overnite would help. Nitro could be left until a vet appt. on Monday(today). She left that decision up to us. He didn't seem to be in any pain, there was no cofusion, his overall spirits were good and the biggest thing was was that he was not in any distress. We took the chance and left it until today. He seemed better yesterday and even better today. Nitro was examined today and our vet came across a sensitive spot along the spine at the lumbar and thorax joint. Her conclusion is that Nitro may have a degenerative spinal condition. When it gets worse and given his age he might lose the use of his whole rear end and probably contol of certain organs. She did some flex tests to see if he knew where his legs were and pain tolerace tests and everything is normal.....for now. The best conclusion she could think of was that he injured himself earlier that day. We were playing with the ball and he jumped pretty high off of the ground and came down on his back legs. I was instucted not to over do it anymore with him. Maybe limit him to walks and swimming. He's been chasing his rubber ball since he was 8 weeks old. I could walk him for 3 hours but "the walk isn't over 'till we play with the ball" can anyone identify with this? Thanks to everyone for listening!! Mark.R + Nitro

Wow, even though this isn't great news, it sure beats a stroke.

Also, it's really good what a detailed phone call can do, with a vet who, as you said, "asks a lot of questions."

And there is a lot you can do with degenerative discs and vertebrae, etc. There are supplements that I have used on myself* and on several senior dogs I've adopted over the years, and have found to be very beneficial, and the swimming (preferably in warm water) is, IMO, absolutely perfect advice.

I'm not a health professional; I've had several senior dogs with senior ailments.

I hope others will have suggestions for the ball, because all I can think of is the obvious swimming after the ball. I do hope you will be able to give him some swimming, which does so great with non-weight-bearing exercise, range-of-motion flexibility maintenance, and getting the fluids into the stricken areas.

*My own first line is human grade glucosamine without chondroitin, distilled pharmaceutical-grade salmon oil (for long-chain Omega 3 EFAs) with Vitamin E (mixed tocopherols), and others if the deterioration progresses

I had similar problem. My regular vet thought in was DM too, but ref me to neorologist, who did mileogram. It was NOT DM <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />, but broken disc & was repaired surgically. My dog was 8 at the time, no further problems with the spine. You may want to go to a specialist for 2nd opinion.

Also, neuro surgeon said that because DM is common in the breed, easy to misdiagnose as DM.

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I had similar problem. My regular vet thought in was DM too, but ref me to neorologist, who did mileogram. It was NOT DM <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />, but broken disc & was repaired surgically. My dog was 8 at the time, no further problems with the spine. You may want to go to a specialist for 2nd opinion.

Sometime when you have a chance, I'd like to hear about the surgery. Is it like on a human when they fuse two vertebrae where a disc between them has ruptured?

I remember my mother having that surgery, and being so happy and so pain-free after years of back misery.

If memory serves (that's a laugh), it is the same surgery. My dog had great results. Not too long ago, I saw that at Lakland AFB (sp bad!) they are trying out the artificial disc on some dogs. I have a friend (human) who went to Germany & had this done. (Her ins. co. would not pay for it, less expensive to have it done in Germany - even with airfare, etc.) Anyway, she is doing really well, & before surgery could barely walk.

Hi everyone! Thanks to all for your replies and Connie you have a kind way about you.....I love reading your posts!!! Sorry it took so long to reply. I'm a long distance truck driver. Nitro has been diagnosed with degenerative myclopathy. A progressive condition. Poor guy. Just another aliament in his already long list of health problems. Still full of LOVE and great spirits. The "bloat" surgery aged him considerably in looks and,I would say agility obiviously. Nontheless it's April......and he's looking forward to a whole spring, summer and fall of SWIMING!

Mark R. and Nitro