Aww Amy thank you. She's a real sweetie and whatever she ends up calling me I'm sure will be fine. And I've got a couple more years to age before she starts talking. It's just when you're referred to in that context it's a little shocking at first, it was to me anyway. Not that I haven’t had nine months to prepare.

In any case, no word on Vince yet. I finally broke down and called. Apparently I'm on her list.... Alrighty then.

It was interesting. The tech at my vet called first thing this morning, 8:30 and asked how it went. Did I find the place okay, make it in the weather, blah, blah. Oh yeah, and how’s Vincent?

I gave her a run down and told her I'd call as soon as I heard.

We played find the pork ribs this morning. I've got an acre that's covered in snow so my hiding job was easy. It's their job to wait on the porch while the one searches. It's the lowest impact thing I could think of while still exercising the poor boy. He usually get his exercise before meals. Today he just kind of worked for it.

Okay, back to hurry up and waiting.

Just make sure that the chiro is a VET...not just a chiro person. I, personally, would not let anyone that was not a vet first, no matter what kind of training they have, touch my dogs or horse.

My holistic chiro vet feels that metacam is the only drug that she feels comfortable prescribing. She will not prescribe deramax or any of the other similar drugs for her patients. She feels that it presents the least 'risk' for kidney/liver issues.

Oh my gawd - Lumbars and the sacrum and malformation and congenital predisposition to arthritic abnormalities.

Bulging and pushing and narrowed space in the lower discs L7 and L8 (most dogs don’t have L8) are the most difficult discs to work on.

Neurological deficiency (okay this is where I stopped her) and it simply meant when she flipped his foot on its front, he didn’t flip it back, which I saw.

We talked about pinched nerves and she said that's most likely what's happening but what's appearing as arthritis in such a young dog is concerning. Something is triggering the discs to narrow and protrude.

She said her day has been busy and she wants to consult with a surgeon they have there yet and will get back to me. I didn't know what to say.

OK, sounds scarey, indeed. Take a breath & wait until she gets back to you after speaking with the surgeon.

In the mean time....make a list of the questions that you have about what she has already told you. That way you can have a conversation about:

options/ pros & cons with & without any surgical interventions that might be proposed

recovery times

long term prognosis

additonal refferals 2nd opinions

and whatever else you might think of

Might help to record you conversation with the vet & or have someone else listneing to the conversation & possibly taking notes regarding her informatin & the answers to your questions. It is difficult to remember everything when you are in this kind of sisutation. That way you can go back over what was discussed. Ask her to speak slowly as you are trying to record or take notes of your conversation.

Sorry that you all have to go thru all this. Holding good thoughts for you.

Anne gives good advice....

<<HUGS>>

Hey definitely not your fault. Logan hurt himself 2 days ago and we just got back from our chiropractor (a really good one). She adjusted his left hip bones and where they join the spine. He usually does something to himself by spinning into a stop or u-turn in the grass with his legs locked...insane. He messes up on his acrobatic ball catching and its usually the lumbar region that suffers (his legs are long so his back seems short).

I'm no vet or chiro but in the x-rays the pelvic bones don't line up real good esp where they join the spine and esp on the left side of the picture. It looks like a very bad subluxation to me..so if the vet is sure there's no fractures or anything, then I would definitely take him to a chiropractor. Good luck and I hope your boy gets back to himself soon.

Anne's advice is exactly what I'd do. There are some good vet teaching hospitals in the lower 48 that you might want to look into for a second opinion, if there aren't high level specialists available. For a back or nerve issue I would try to go with the best there is if you choose surgery.

UC Davis, and Colorado come to mind first.They do some really advanced procedures on dogs these days... expensive, but he is so young!

Sent you a PM.

For the record, a chiropractic adjustment on a dog with neurological issues is something I would be very strongly against.

 Quote: Kiersten Lippman

Anne's advice is exactly what I'd do. There are some good vet teaching hospitals in the lower 48 that you might want to look into for a second opinion, if there aren't high level specialists available. For a back or nerve issue I would try to go with the best there is if you choose surgery.

UC Davis, and Colorado come to mind first.They do some really advanced procedures on dogs these days... expensive, but he is so young!

Sent you a PM.

For the record, a chiropractic adjustment on a dog with neurological issues is something I would be very strongly against.

University of Minnesota is very good as well. Thorough and prompt. Though I hope that all will be just fine with the second reading. Prayers and hugs for you guys!

The University of Minnesota Vet School is the place I took my dog and they patched her up again. They work miracles up there. If you go there, you are welcome to stay with us- we are 45 minutes from them... though in an emergency, I found I can get there in less than half an hour...

Hugs to you and Vince. Drift sends her love as well.

--Kel

Chiropractic issue can be the source of neurological problems as can a few medical problems. I missed the neurological component...but yeah some more opinions sounds like a good idea to be sure. Again, I hope he feels better soon.