GSD with back pain

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Lucyad

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My GSD was at the vet getting a cyst on a salivia gland removed, and the vet thinks she has back pain and is recommending putting her on Metacalm. She is nearly 9 years old, healthy in every other way, active and fit. She does get a bit stiff after particularly strenous exercise (she comes hacking with me on my horse, and due to dark nights and weather it isn't as consistant at this time of year as in summer, so this could contribute). She is the correct weight, and has no problems with her back legs. She does not have the pronounced downward sloping back found in sime GSD's.

I am taking her back to the vet for her post op check up tomorrow, and would like to come fore-armed with knowledge and questions about this 'back pain' diagnosis. I am worried about putting her on Metacalm long terms, as I had a cat on it for arthritis who died of liver failure eventually. Though she is an older dog her otherwise good health should suggest she has a good few years left.
 
Ask for x-rays. How did the vet qualify 'back pain'? Some dogs do not like getting prodded and pulled around on a table, does not automatically mean they are in pain.

Could be spondylosis.
Could be just a tweaked vertebrae.

At nine I would be expecting her to slow down a bit, go easy with the hacking :)
 
Thanks. I will ask for x-rays tomorrow, and also ask for a clearer diagnosis. OH took her to the vet for her mouth check up (we had been monitoring her lump for over a year before it grew big enough to bother her at all - hence now removed). I think that he mentioned that she seemed stiff, particularly after strenous exercise, and wanted her back legs checked - particularly as these seem to be the weak point in many GSD's. The stiffness is only really apparent when she is trying to jump into the back of the 4X4 in the morning, and maybe a bit lazier after a busy weekend. Vet just said 'back pain' but I have the opportunity to discsuss further tomorrow.

I don't know if she would agree with you about the hacking - it is her favourite thing in the world. When I put my high viz on she gets all excited and runs round and round in circles unitl she falls over! Sounds like I should maybe be taking her shorter routes only though - and maybe not galloping so much?
 
The back legs in GSDs thing can be a bit of a red herring, yes obviously hip dysplasia is a problem in the breed but I have never had one with it yet and there are many more causes of lameness (not getting at you BTW :))
Arthritis, the neurological condition CDRM, spondylosis etc can also cause issues.


Nine years is considered old age in the breed, like it or not, the oldest one we had lived to 14 and that would be considered unusual. I would scale the hacking back a little and stop asking her to jump, it is the high impact/jarring action that will cause her distress/pain.

You might just need to get her a good supplement and hopefully it will be nothing too serious :)
 
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