I need some help for my 5 year old GSD. He's had many vets in past and my current vet said (like the rest) that they are out of ideas (??) and that my guy needs to see a specialist (or 2) about his problems.

She suggested the University of Saskatewan, Canada (I live in Canada), said they had specialists there, and it would be cheaper than other places since it is a teaching hosptial (she did not suggest other places). I called the small animal hospital in the university and they said that their vets would not know any more than my vets here at home (not specialists).

Money is not a problem, I just want my guy healthy, as of late I won't take him on walks in his condition.

Here are his problems in ORDER OF IMPORTANCE:

1) Front right shoulder-- had surgery for a rare cyst a year ago, never healed well due to not enough muscle to repair. Problem is the limping has gotten progressively worse and I am worried that the repair has torn. (X-Rays show nothing sinc its not bony tissue). Limp is VERY bad.

2)Back righ hock--very recently a bony growth has gotten larger, he has been using the HOCK to walk along with his foot. It shakes and sticks out when he uses it (odd to see). Could be neurological or muscle weakness due to his meds. X-Rays show nothing, but can not rule out his rare cyst problem relocating (vet says), but could be tumor (doubful though).

3) Allergies--food and airborn. Has had ALL blood and skin tests done. Even with diet he still scrathes his neck (hair gone) and behind ears. On a low dose of pregnosone for 1 year (from 10mg down to 5 now but scratching increasing due to reduction). I hate this pregnosone: makes him very hungery, and it could be part of his weird back shaky leg (vet says). Taking him off it slowly now but scratching worse.

4) Arthritis in front left leg-- began age 3 (very young for a dog). Not much to do about this bit. He develps ulcers to pain killers (vet says this is rare too, but I've read studies that this may not be too uncommon).

Sadly, he has only one healthy leg thus far. I keep his weight down to 95 lbs (can see far set of ribs) to reduce pressure on legs.

My dog is in pain, and I can't bear it when I take my other GSD out for walks and have to leave him behind (3 weeks no real walks). He can't chase balls or play frisbee or come on a bike ride.

So......If anyone knows of a clinic that has specialists that can deal with these things please reply.....

Wo He is in really rough shape. I don't know how to say this, but I would never let my dogs suffer like that. I do not wish for you to feel worst, only I don't think you have many options.
God Bless you and your dog.
“The mind is like the weather, there will always be sunny days”

I PM'ed you.

http://www.pets4life.com/index.php?p=research/hvet

http://canadianveterinarians.net/links.aspx#Veterinary%20Associations%20&%20Organizations

http://upei.ca/avc/

These are a couple of starting points (I hope) for finding an orthopedic specialist AND (separately) an allergy specialist.

It sounds like this dog has no quality of life. Maybe I'm reading it worse than it is?

Many people would not start with the allergy problem, but I have seen first-hand what western vet med does with canine allergies (and have adopted dogs who were surrendered because of this issue), and I want to cry when I read about a year on steroids.

NONE of this is a slap at you, the owner; it's a slap at the vet "industry" (used advisedly) that sells crap waiting room food and repeated steroid meds instead of actually diagnosing and treating allergies.

Steroids are a least-possible-amount, shortest-possible-time intervention for breaking a cycle of misery for a dog who cannot sleep for itching and who is tearing his skin up with scratching -- NOT a long-term treatment.

Long-term, steroids in effect speed up the aging process; thinning of the bones, muscle weakness, stomach problems, inability to heal wounds, organ derangement, and on and on......

And short-term effects can also be devastating.

YES, it can be a magic bullet as a cycle-interrupter. NO, it is NOT a safe or appropriate long-term daily treatment for allergies.

QUOTE: Has had ALL blood and skin tests done. Even with diet he still scrathes his neck (hair gone) and behind ears. END

Does this mean that scratch tests were done? And what "diet" was implemented?

Depending on your means and how much time and money and travel you are able to commit to this dog, I look at this as two basic choices.

I am very sorry to be so blunt; I can't think of a way to sugarcoat this.

If I was unable to *immediately* find and consult an allergy specialist, and get the dog on real (fresh) food, with an elimination diet and fish oil and vitamin E, along with trials of antihistamines *and* the full-blown derm-vet scratch tests and lab followup desensitization injections (and all the many other helpful steps, like rinsing off pollen after trips onto grass, getting allergens out of the carpet and bedding, and on and on, all described in detail on this forum; PM me if you would like links) *and* get a referral to an orthopedic vet at the same time, then I'd have to be getting ready to put him down.

I am so sorry to say such a terrible thing. I think (and hope) that I might be doing you a favor by putting into words what you might have trouble facing (as I would). I am not trying to influence you, because only you know what yur dog's daily life is like.

Please PM me if I can do any kind of research for you.

 Quote: Kevin J Tikivik

....I don't know how to say this .... I don't think you have many options.
God Bless you and your dog.

That's exactly how to say it.

I am so sorry for both the dog and Sam.

I'm sorry about your dog, I wouldn't do anything anymore. My opinion, I think it is unfair for the dog to suffer like that sometimes we don't want to give up too quick.

I hope you found what you have been looking for.

Thank you all for your replys.
I did find two specialists who are going to see him ASAP; they may have an idea whats going on so there is hope.

Almost off the pregnosone now, won't be going that route again. No more shaky hind leg (preg. influnece for sure), and he is not using his hock while walking only when he is playing.

From talking with a vet the other day it looks as if his front right shoulder needs to be reopened and restitched.
His back right leg/hock needs more looking into which only the MRI and/or CAT will determine where to go.
After that I will deal with the allergy problem seperately, there are two great places that I've heard of that can help solve that problem.

So.......his condition sounds bad when I see it typed out, but he still seems very happy, and his pain seems to be mainly first thing in the morning and after too much exercise. At the moment I keep an eye on him to make sure that he isn't overdoing it when he's outside with our other dog.

I love my dog dearly, and I won't give up on him unitl I know that there is nothing that can be done for him, and for now it still looks positive.

Oh, Sam, I am so glad you are finding help!

Yes, keeping prednisone for times when it's really needed (and those times certainly do exist) will be a good thing.

Any help you need with the allergies, please PM or post. That's one subject that several forum members here know a lot about.

Also, supplements for OA and other joint problems -- that's a rapidly-changing and expanding field, and there are so many much safer options now. In fact, in Canada you have cartrophan (NOT carprophen, which is Rimadyl). Cartrophan is pricey, but I sure do read good research about it, especially combined with a couple of other long-proven supplements like fish oil plus Vitamin E, and adequan, msm, glucosamine, etc.

I wish you both great success. I hope we'll hear back soon!