Lurcher - Any Ideas Or Advice On Crawling Dog

I would have said his legs look like they are working very well. I would be looking more towards something like a trapped nerve in his back - probably between the shoulder blades somewhere but obviously hard to say accurately without examining the dog. I would get him to a chiropractor asap or I'd be happy to treat him FOC as a donation to the rescue but I can't get to Cornwall very easily!

 

As he is only in Cornwall, would it be possible for his foster carer to make the trip to Honiton in Devon and see Sandra Osborne, the sighthound vet, at Honiton Small Animal Clinic?

She is a truly marvellous vet and may well be able to diagnose the problem straight away with her vast experience of sighthounds :thumbsup:

01404 42062

Honiton Small Animal Clinic

14 Ottery Moor Lane

Honiton

Devon

EX14 1AW

 

watching the video he looks like he is doing a typical collie stalk, is he nervous ????

as when he is walking he looks absolutely fine, i hope what ever it is he gets his forever sofa :thumbsup:

 

before I saw the video I was wondering if he had, Had a stroke but then I saw the video I havent a clue he walks fine when hes up on all 4's.Might be a good idear to have him chequed by a bone person (carnt spell the other word).good luck with him hope he finds that for ever home :wub: :wub:

 

I totally agree with Jinnyfizz that Sandra may be able to put her finger on the problem, she is an amazing Vet.

I do think he has a strange gait too.

Very much hope that he can be fixed as he looks adorable and deserves a good home. :luck:

 

I've just heard from a friend of mine who looked at this thread earlier (as a guest) that he has seen exactly the same thing with a collie lurcher when it had knocked it's back out.

If it is a trapped nerve, as he suspects, then giving any exercise other than letting out in the garden to "empty" will aggravate the injury. It needs to be seen by a specialist canine chiropractor who will manipulate the vertabrae back into place :thumbsup:

I will investigate potential practitioners in the Cornwall area tomorrow ....... what area of Cornwall is Bob being fostered in, Fiona?

 

They're only about 10 miles from me! Hopefully they shouldn't need to go as far as Plymouth - I'll check it out and let you know :thumbsup:

 

I definately wouldn't have any manipulation performed until the dog's spine has been thoroughly investigated.

I see the vet prescribed pain meds, are anti-inflammatories being used e.g. prednisalone?

I'd be inclined to go along with the vet's opinion and if no resolution occurs with medication consider an orthopaedic referral.

I'm not for a moment thinking manipulation won't work, just more concerned someone may do more harm than good. Seeing as though no-one knows the circumstances or history of the dog, it could well be the dog has a major injury.

I wouldn't rule out a psychological problem but it does seem that pain is a symptom. Unless the issue has been going on for a long time and the dog 'thinks' it will have pain if it does stand up.

Bob is absolutely gorgeous by the way and he looks to have a lovely nature. I hope he finds a lovely home :luck:

 

Glad to read he's improving. :thumbsup: and don't think you can go wrong with an orthopaedic specialist, even if it's just to rule out a spinal problem.

Tony asked if he's walked up any stairs and if so how was he?

Bloody shame that he's been like this for so long

 

It is lovely to see the forum working as it should with the genuine k9'ers offering advice and support.

I cannot offer any advice but do send my best wishes and hope that a suitable treatment can be found for this boy. :luck:

 

In the video clip, he was walking OK outside with the other dogs!

Does he do the "crawl" only inside the house as he might have been

kept in a kennel at one time with a low roof. Or he might just be a bit

nervous of being in a new environment.

The female we are fostering at the moment walks perfectly everywhere

we take her except in the house :blink: she tries to walk on her claws which

makes things very slippy for her.

It might be worth talking to a dog behaviour expert to get their take on his problem.

 

I was told of a dog that was kept in a small space for most of its life. Took ages to learn to walk again when rescued.

Muscles wasted too. Hope you find the answer and the poor boy makes a good recovery. xx

 

I too cannot offer any advice, although I did wonder if there was a behavioural element to it.

Also agree it is great to see k9ers being helpful and offering good advice. :thumbsup: I do hope things improve for Bob - he looks a gorgeous fellow. :wub: :wub:

 

I think outside he's not massively lame but he does look to falter after his head shake and a little tentative therafter but there's always the issue of looking for something combined with the fact none of us know the dogs own natural gait anyway.

I'm really smitten with him. I spent last night trawling hunting life forum to see if anyone had lost him. Tony's said nooo we can't have another. :-