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Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!ihnp4!inuxc!pur-ee!uiucdcs!convex!trsvax!delanie
From: delanie@trsvax
Newsgroups: net.pets
Subject: Dog's Back Problem
Message-ID: <58100015@trsvax>
Date: Tue, 24-Sep-85 10:48:00 EDT
Article-I.D.: trsvax.58100015
Posted: Tue Sep 24 10:48:00 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 28-Sep-85 04:56:50 EDT
Lines: 42
Nf-ID: #N:trsvax:58100015:000:1485
Nf-From: trsvax!delanie    Sep 24 09:48:00 1985



Dear Net.Pet.World:

I am looking for some advice or at least some words of
wisdom from people who have dogs suffering from back
problems.

I have a 9 year old medium sized Mutt (18", 28lbs, terrier
cross).  After noticing he was having trouble walking with
his hind legs, I promptly took him to his vet-doctor.  The
vet scheduled X-rays and found a problem in the spine. The
vet is guessing that it is a collapsed disk between the 11th
and 12th vertebrae (middle back).

However, is could be related to an injury about 2 years ago
when a refrigerator fell on Fritz and chopped his tail off. 
After this incident, he limped for a day or 2, then seemed
fine from then on.

The X-ray shows thicker bone in this region.  The vet says
this could be due to the previous injury or possibly a bone
tumor.  Regardless, you can see where the spinal cord is
restricted.  The vet also noticed a slight loss of bladder
and bowel control.  (It hasn't been noticed at home cause he
has a doggie-door.)

Treatment so far:  Administering a non-cortisone,
non-imflamatory drugs to reduce inflammation and hopefully
reduce pain.  The drug is called Bute. I think it's
Butazolidine, but I'm not sure.  We'll monitor his progress
with this.  Then in 6-8 weeks, X-ray again.  If there is no
improvement, then we can opt for surgery.

Does everything I mentioned here jive with anyone else's
experiences.  Any advice or word of wisdom will be
appreciated.

Many thanks,

Delanie Alcorn
delanie@trsvax.UUCP


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