Physio and rehab struggles

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Peartree

I have been trying to get Diesel fit and well since about May of last year when one of the trainers pointed out to me that he was not moving well at all. It appeared that the adrenaline of retrieving was masking some serious underlying problems. He had stopped jumping into the car and the vet found that he had some sensitive areas on his spine.

She recommended taking him to a chiropractor and while I was quite sceptical, he seemed to enjoy it and about the fourth session he looked as though he was moving better and was jumping again. We also had reduced all the Gundog work to lessen the impact, ie no marks and no obstacles.

I thought that this would be the end but he then developed a front leg limp after rest. This was worse after fast sessions, so I cut back on his exercise again and after nothing was found on X-ray, started taking him to hydrotherapy.

We are now into our third month of hydro. We have achieved a dog that is calmer around water retrieving, he used to be a nutter. But they keep telling me to reduce his exercise further. It is possible to see now that the muscles around his shoulders are even but the limp keeps reappearing. If I reduce his exercise he starts to spin when he sees me which is just counterproductive.

He is supposed to have most of his exercise on lead but he’s not relaxed at all when he’s at heel, he tends to pace with a stiff body. We have not done any retrieving now for at least 4 months. It interesting to see how that has changed his behaviour. I think that he is generally much more chilled, we potter in boring localities and I rarely recall my dogs as I don’t want him charging back. I have been rewarding hugely any non solicited check ins and he is staying much closer to me while not coming near enough to be put on lead. This is from a dog who for a retrieve or a tug or a ball throw had a whip lash return.

I think that I’m going to have to accept that his Gundog training days are probably over. While he would not show problems on a slow mooch any fast work brings them out again and he’s not a dog that can do anything slowly.

I’m not sure why I’m writing this other that just to accept that this is where we are. He’s only just 5.
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

Oh @Peartree I am so sorry to hear this. How awful for you and Diesel both. Is he pain free on the exercise regime you have him on now? Are you looking for more things you can do with him to keep him active mentally? I'm thinking about @Ashley who was doing scent work with their dog on post-operative care, and finding it very useful as it is mostly on-lead work, slow and steady, but satisfying as well as tiring mentally for the dog. Here is the link, perhaps this might be something for you to consider: Beginner Scentwork
 
P

Peartree

MellowYellow said:
Oh @Peartree I am so sorry to hear this. How awful for you and Diesel both. Is he pain free on the exercise regime you have him on now? Are you looking for more things you can do with him to keep him active mentally? I'm thinking about @Ashley who was doing scent work with their dog on post-operative care, and finding it very useful as it is mostly on-lead work, slow and steady, but satisfying as well as tiring mentally for the dog. Here is the link, perhaps this might be something for you to consider: Beginner Scentwork
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I keep thinking that he’s going to get better but shoulders are apparently very difficult to fix. I have done some scent work with Bingley but Diesels such an enthusiastic energetic dog I’m not sure that it would suit.
 
MellowYellow

MellowYellow

It's such a shame. Just five years old. However, don't give up, keep on with the hydrotherapy, and see if you can find a good physiotherapist. I know a dog who at three years of age had to stop work due to a bad shoulder. It took well over a year to get her right, but she is pain free now and can do a certain amount of training again, so there definitely are success stories. Very hard for you though, and heart-breaking when your lovely dog is in pain. I'm really sorry.
 
P

Peartree

Thank you @MellowYellow. It was your post about Merlin which prompted me to write. It’s such a struggle when they can’t understand why you are not engaging with them in the way they want. This is a dog that lives to retrieve and is so unhappy when he knows I’m doing it without him. We are very restricted on the drugs we can use with him as he has a very sensitive stomach. He is just on a non steroidal anti inflammatory at the moment but I’m not sure it’s that effective.

I do know someone who had a bitch she was going to compete and breed from but the hip scores came out at 54! 27 each side. She was devastated and gave the dog to a friend, who I see is very successfully winning competitions with it. I do believe that careful management and fitness can count for a lot.
 
kateincornwall

kateincornwall

Location
Cornwall , UK
So sad for you , I really am because it must be incredibly hard to keep on top of this x Nelly has awful rear end joints , hips and knees both sides , her Xrays looked shocking . She was on Metacam for a short time but I worried about tummy issues and so with the Vets blessing , I got her onto a glucosomine and chondroitin supplement , and can only say that, for her , the results have been fantastic . So sorry for this worry x
 
Beanwood

Beanwood

Administrator
I feel your pain! Early last year Benson developed a limp. It wasn't a severe limp, but in my mind, a limp is a limp no matter how slight it is. It took a good couple of months of nagging to get a referral and CT scan. Mainly because it didn't look that bad, and whenever I took him to the vet the limp was not noticeable. In the end, it took me capturing the limp on video to get the CT scan booked.

Xrays are OK...but to really drill down and get the best and most accurate diagnosis, you need a CT scan of all the joints that may be affected. We had shoulders, elbows and wrists scanned. The results showed ED in both elbows, not fractured, but evidence of joint modulation, meaning that Benson was already using his physiology to adapt to his discomfort. The scan also showed evidence of osteocytes in his wrists, again possibly due to joint modification and soft tissue adaptation. When one joint is buggered, it usually affects others, like when my back goes, it's usually followed by my knees!

At this stage, (Feb/March last year ) he was limping practically every day, exercise had been dialled right back. He needed lots of rest on those joints before rehab was commenced, roughly a couple of months later. We went to Tamsin, luckily one of the best rehab vets had started up just minutes from where we live Freedom Rehab Vets

We had so much work to do with Benson. He had lost muscle mass, had a stiff back, his gait was out of synch, plus both elbows were sore on palpitation. A plan was put into action, very specific exercises, monthly review combined with acupuncture, assisted hydrotherapy, and cold laser therapy. Benson had to re-learn how to use his muscles differently.

So roll on a year, he hasn't limped for 4 months, he looks really fit, plus his mood is better, more like his old, goofy self again. Oh, and I have started back with some gentle gundog work :)
 
Loraseal

Loraseal

Location
The Hague, The Netherlands
@Peartree I am so sorry for you as it is a constant struggle to work out what is the best for your dog. Hunter istarted limping at the grand age of 4 months. So we have a restricted exercise regime for a young dog. I am on the 4th session of Hydrotherapy and am slowly starting to see some change in his gait. We are building up his exercise but basically all his joints are bad. I read the wonderful walks all the dogs go on on this forum and I do get sad as I know one wonderful walk means pain meds and stiffness the next day for Hunter.
The CT scan wll show more detail of what is actually happening to the joints. Do you already use supplements? It is a process of working out what suits Diesel. There are lots of options out there. My goto vet is quite useless so I go to a vet who specialises in pain revalidation. I think the hardest part for you is that Diesel is so active and busy. As I have said before the acceptance of Hunter's ED was my turning point. There are so many options available and maybe your physio and/or vet can make an action plan with regular assessment? I know how hard it is especially as we love them so much. :hug:
 
P

Peartree

Beanwood said:
I feel your pain! Early last year Benson developed a limp. It wasn't a severe limp, but in my mind, a limp is a limp no matter how slight it is. It took a good couple of months of nagging to get a referral and CT scan. Mainly because it didn't look that bad, and whenever I took him to the vet the limp was not noticeable. In the end, it took me capturing the limp on video to get the CT scan booked.

Xrays are OK...but to really drill down and get the best and most accurate diagnosis, you need a CT scan of all the joints that may be affected. We had shoulders, elbows and wrists scanned. The results showed ED in both elbows, not fractured, but evidence of joint modulation, meaning that Benson was already using his physiology to adapt to his discomfort. The scan also showed evidence of osteocytes in his wrists, again possibly due to joint modification and soft tissue adaptation. When one joint is buggered, it usually affects others, like when my back goes, it's usually followed by my knees!

At this stage, (Feb/March last year ) he was limping practically every day, exercise had been dialled right back. He needed lots of rest on those joints before rehab was commenced, roughly a couple of months later. We went to Tamsin, luckily one of the best rehab vets had started up just minutes from where we live Freedom Rehab Vets

We had so much work to do with Benson. He had lost muscle mass, had a stiff back, his gait was out of synch, plus both elbows were sore on palpitation. A plan was put into action, very specific exercises, monthly review combined with acupuncture, assisted hydrotherapy, and cold laser therapy. Benson had to re-learn how to use his muscles differently.

So roll on a year, he hasn't limped for 4 months, he looks really fit, plus his mood is better, more like his old, goofy self again. Oh, and I have started back with some gentle gundog work :)
Click to expand...
Thank you Beanwood for your detailed reply. It’s helpful to know exactly how other people are coping with their dogs. I’m quite sad about Diesel as he is such an enthusiast - not sure that gentle Gundog work would play out with him. You’ve seen him - 100% at 100 miles an hour or nothing! I’ll keep trying
 
P

Peartree

Loraseal said:
@Peartree I am so sorry for you as it is a constant struggle to work out what is the best for your dog. Hunter istarted limping at the grand age of 4 months. So we have a restricted exercise regime for a young dog. I am on the 4th session of Hydrotherapy and am slowly starting to see some change in his gait. We are building up his exercise but basically all his joints are bad. I read the wonderful walks all the dogs go on on this forum and I do get sad as I know one wonderful walk means pain meds and stiffness the next day for Hunter.
The CT scan wll show more detail of what is actually happening to the joints. Do you already use supplements? It is a process of working out what suits Diesel. There are lots of options out there. My goto vet is quite useless so I go to a vet who specialises in pain revalidation. I think the hardest part for you is that Diesel is so active and busy. As I have said before the acceptance of Hunter's ED was my turning point. There are so many options available and maybe your physio and/or vet can make an action plan with regular assessment? I know how hard it is especially as we love them so much. :hug:
Click to expand...
I think I wrote my post because I have to accept that I have a damaged dog and it’s a difficult thing to come to terms with. You wonder how it happened and whether you did anything wrong that caused it.

I’m sorry to hear of your problems. I really sympathise with your feelings about other people and what they do with their dogs. I keep being invited to wonderful training days and have to turn them down.
 
Heidrun

Heidrun

There are several conditions that won’t necessarily show up on an X-Ray but will be visible on a CT or MRI scan. IOHC and OCD are two of those disorders and sadly they are not uncommon in labs. It might give you a better idea what you are dealing with and the best treatment options.
 
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