Lumbarsacral Disease

My lurcher has lumbosacral stenosis (congenital, but likely to have a degenerative component, too, as he gets older. He's now nine).

It was discovered when he showed pain symptoms a while after an accidental high-speed collision with another dog five years ago; he'd hurt his neck, and the lumbosacral stenosis was discovered during the diagnostic imaging.

We did a lot of re-hab exercise (slowly built up after a period of rest) with meds, to build up the supporting muscles. We walked on-lead up a LOT of hills. He loved it, me not so much! This helped a lot and he didn't need meds at all for two and a half years. He's currently back on them for support after another issue (now resolved) caused him to lose weight and muscle; he became symptomatic again but is doing well now.

I've always understood it to be a lifelong condition. Fitzpatrick does have a procedure for it but neither by own vet or the referral hospital which did the imaging have suggested this would be appropriate for my dog; we've managed well without surgery so far. I've become aware of subtle changes in his movement and general bearing which indicate he may need meds or a change in meds.

Having had surgery myself for spinal stenosis (L4/L5) almost eighteen months ago I'm also aware that recovery can be slow and possibly problematic. He isn't a dog to enjoy that sort of thing so I would opt, I think, for conservative treatment for him even if surgery was offered.

He's doing well after his set back, more flipping re-hab hill walks will be the death of me but he's looking quite hench again and is happy.
 
Splinters said:
My lurcher has lumbosacral stenosis (congenital, but likely to have a degenerative component, too, as he gets older. He's now nine).

It was discovered when he showed pain symptoms a while after an accidental high-speed collision with another dog five years ago; he'd hurt his neck, and the lumbosacral stenosis was discovered during the diagnostic imaging.

We did a lot of re-hab exercise (slowly built up after a period of rest) with meds, to build up the supporting muscles. We walked on-lead up a LOT of hills. He loved it, me not so much! This helped a lot and he didn't need meds at all for two and a half years. He's currently back on them for support after another issue (now resolved) caused him to lose weight and muscle; he became symptomatic again but is doing well now.

I've always understood it to be a lifelong condition. Fitzpatrick does have a procedure for it but neither by own vet or the referral hospital which did the imaging have suggested this would be appropriate for my dog; we've managed well without surgery so far. I've become aware of subtle changes in his movement and general bearing which indicate he may need meds or a change in meds.

Having had surgery myself for spinal stenosis (L4/L5) almost eighteen months ago I'm also aware that recovery can be slow and possibly problematic. He isn't a dog to enjoy that sort of thing so I would opt, I think, for conservative treatment for him even if surgery was offered.

He's doing well after his set back, more flipping re-hab hill walks will be the death of me but he's looking quite hench again and is happy.
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Thank you, Bandit went for imaging yesterday and this came back as the diagnosis. He's had a steroid injection and the vet did mention surgery but it wasn't something he was going to offer as like yours he felt at this time it wasn't the appropriate pathway for Bandit and I'd like to try and steer clear of surgery if I can. The referral vet was really good, as soon as he saw the x-rays from last year he pinpointed the area he felt was the concern - the CT scan confirmed his thinking.

He has hydrotherapy and physio so I guess now we know what we are working with we can adapt exercises and treadmill sessions. The vet did say that Bandit was evenly well muscled (I suppose the treadmill will have helped with that) and that the rest of the scan was fairly 'unremarkable' in that apart from some mild arthritic changes in his shoulders his joints look really good.

I suppose I just wanted to hear something positive so thank you for that.
 
My 11 year old German shepherd has lumbosacral stenosis amongst many other ailments. She has pregabalin 2 x a day for it. She exercises for up to 30 minutes a day. Anything more and she will have a funny turn where her back end movement becomes very short and then sits down and lifts her front paws crying. I sit with her for a minute or so and she walks off like nothings happened.
 
Joop2 said:
My 11 year old German shepherd has lumbosacral stenosis amongst many other ailments. She has pregabalin 2 x a day for it. She exercises for up to 30 minutes a day. Anything more and she will have a funny turn where her back end movement becomes very short and then sits down and lifts her front paws crying. I sit with her for a minute or so and she walks off like nothings happened.
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Thank you for replying. What age was she diagnosed?
 
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