Has anyone ever come across this before??

[Dana Jennings]

Can anyone help me please!

Sheba is nearly 12 and for the past couple of months I have been giving her metacam (painkillers) as prescribed by the vets for arthritis. This is because she has developed a strange gait on her hind legs, basically her hind legs sometimes bumb together when she walks, almost like the right one is crossing over the left one. When I took her back to the vets this week he decided to x-ray her before giving me more metacam and the x-rays came back great - no sign of any hip problems or any arthritus but it doesn't explain why she has this problem. The vet thinks it may be muscular but told me to monitor it. I'm pretty sure she isn't in any pain because she still runs around the field and chases the odd rabbit!!

I want to help her but I'm not really sure what the problem is?!?!? Can anyone help at all? Any suggestions would be most welcome!

[angeldon]

Hi Dana,
Could it be this - a hardening of the gracilis muscle, quite a common occurence in GSDs?

PROVET HEALTHCARE INFORMATION - Muscle Contracture - Gracilis

Julie

[angeldon]

Sorry Dana,

I should have added that my boy Kruger was diagnosed with this when he was about 4 years old. (I was told that it normally happens in overactive young dogs who have too much exercise but can occur at any age!!) The only evidence was his slightly strange gait - he would sort of flick his back foot round and outwards as he walked. He never appeared to suffer any pain from it and it never stopped him from being overactive and he was 13 years and 2 months when we lost him last September.

Julie

[Dana Jennings]

Hi Julie

Many thanks for your response. I have had a look at the link you sent me and there does seem to be some similarities. Did you do anything for Kruger for this or was it just something he happily lived with?

I am so sorry to hear that you lost him but 13 years is pretty good going - I hope we will have Shebs for a few more years yet and that this doesn't give her too much grief - I still call her my "puppy girl" at the age of 11!

Thanks again
Dana

[angeldon]

Hi Dana,

We tried massaging the tendon for several minutes each day which made it more sort of pliable, but this was only temporary and didn't really make a difference long term. As he got older he used to drag his back foot slightly which wore down his claws and we were worried about the damage to the quick but were told that it retreats in order to protect itself so even this didn't bother him.

Quite honestly the condition as a whole never bothered him and he was still really active up until he was almost 11 when he suffered a stomach torsion (his second) and underwent a gastroplexy which really slowed him down. As a result of this (and age obviously) he developed slight arthritis in his back legs and they used to sometimes get into a bit of a tangle when he forgot he wasn't 5 anymore! We gave him Joint aid, seraquin and green lipped mussels which all helped remarkably.

We also have a Golden Retriever x Border Collie (Yale) who is coming up to 14 and a half and has arthritis in his back legs. He's on all the above and also wears a magnetic collar and he's still very active for his age so I can recommend all these.

Thank's for your kind words, we miss Kruger so but know how lucky we were to have him share our lives for so long.

Big hugs to Sheba and if I can help anymore just let me know.
Julie

[wildmoor]

Hi Dana
It may be CDRM now known as DM; over the years I have had two with this condition.
PROVET HEALTHCARE INFORMATION - Chronic Degenerative Radiculomyelopathy (CDRM)
Pam

[Dana Jennings]

Thanks again for the response Julie and thanks for the link Pam. Having looked at this one it describes exactly what Sheba does with the exception being that the vet tested for CDRM by turning over her knuckle and she turned it straight back over again so he discounted it. It also feels like she has a tight hamstring on the inside of her right hind leg. It's very strange!!

[wildmoor]

Hi Dana
In the early stages the dog will right its feet, plus due to muscle wastage you do get a shortening of tendons.
Pam

[Dana Jennings]

Hi Pam

Now I'm concerned that this is what Sheba has. Can you possibly tell me a little bit about what I can expect? Is there anything I can do to help slow this process down?

Thanks
Dana

[kita]

This site has lots of info. about CDRM (or DM). If you go down the page they have sections to click on for Warning Signs, Treatment etc.

Degenerative Myelopathy Support Group - Jack Flash's Homepage

This is a more complex paper about it by Dr. Clemmons:

Degenerative Myelopathy of German Shepherds


Sue