In yesterday’s post I shared the story of Sampson’s trip to our veterinary clinic and his diagnosis of Degenerative Myleopathy. I tried to indicate to you that despite an initial devastating diagnosis all was not lost.
Based on some of the comments, I’m not sure I accomplished that and for that I’m sorry.
Some of you will know the symptoms of DM but for those that don’t there are two pronounced indicators.
One is what is called Knuckling, where the dog’s toes turn under and he basically ends up walking on his ‘knuckles.’ Understandably the nails on the dogs toes get very worn down.
The second indicator is often times referred to as a ‘wiggle’ although from the video I saw, it looks more like a ‘hitch’ to me.
You can see a video of dogs with DM here.
After my vet consulted with the original vet, she told me she thought it best to go ahead and test him for DM. I scheduled the blood draw for Wednesday, January 8th, and immediately became obsessed with watching Sampson run and walk. I shot video of him walking on gravel, grass, leaves and pavement. I shot video of him running and walking side by side with Delilah. I posted all of these videos to my Facebook page and tagged my friends. Even folks who didn’t know why I was posting video were commenting and none of them could see anything that made the vet think DM.
Tuesday, January 7th I noticed Sampson shaking his head. A LOT. He wanted his right ear rubbed and I spent a good part of the evening with my finger in his ear, rubbing it.
Wednesday I called the vet and asked if I could add an ear exam to my blood draw appointment. Thanks to the amazing ladies at the vet’s office, they fit me in to see our regular vet at 4:20.
After confirming an ear infection my vet said, “Do you mind if I exam his back end?”
Are you freaking kidding me? I’ve only been praying you would every second of this day since I made the appointment!
I reined in my excitement and simply said, “No, go ahead.”
She examined him thoroughly and asked, “When was the last time he saw the Holistic vet?”
She recommended he be seen again as his spine is out of alignment, she also feels he may have some arthritis in his hips and then she asked, “Do you mind if I take him back to see Dr. B? (the vet who diagnosed him with DM)”
Of course not!
I could hear them chatting, but I couldn’t hear what they said, BUT when my vet came back she said, “Dr. B doesn’t see what she saw last week. I don’t think it’s DM at all. I think he has a partial ACL tear.”
She based this on the fact that Sampson’s knee was considerably looser than it was in December and then went on to explain that Sampson is a very stoic dog, which is why he hasn’t exhibited any signs of discomfort.
One of the tests they do to check for DM is to take the dogs toes and turn then under. Typically because DM is neurological the dog will hesitate to ‘fix’ the toes because he can’t feel them. She recalls the surgeons at Tufts telling them that ACL can mimic DM because a simple act of fixing their toes can be extremely painful when the ACL is torn. Since Sampson had been on anti-inflammatories and pain medication for a few days he was feeling better and quickly fixed his toes.
SO the blessing of an ear infection brought us a different diagnosis, which is challenging in and of itself, because our goal is to give Sampson the time he needs to heal on his own without having to do surgery.
For now we are keeping him on the Herbal supplements we came home with, keeping him on the anti-inflammatory and pain medications and trying to keep him quiet. No free access to stairs, no running and no jumping and he is limited to five to ten minute walks.
He is pissed off. And he pouts.
I don’t see how you think an ear infection if a blessing, you don’t have this funky crud in YOUR ears.
He’s ridiculous.
But it’s something we can work with.
Thank you for hanging in there with me and all your words of comfort and support and for sharing your stories and virtual shoulders. I’m extremely hopeful that we can get Sampson through this, and allow him the time he needs to heal so he doesn’t need surgery.
So glad to hear this different diagnosis for Sampson. I was a bit teary last night reading about the disease he might have. Here’s to quick healing of his ACL so he can run free again!
Yay!!!!! Nervous wreck there for a second. And now those video posts make sense too.
Even though the torn acl is difficult, I know you feel so grateful that it is not DM. Hugs to that sweet face and his mom,too.
Gus’ Mom
Phew! A pouting boy is the least of it if he can avoid surgery. Good luck.
That is a very good news after all that scare. Did you consider doing the conservative management with a brace support? He wouldn’t need to be as limited and the knee would be safer.
That is great news and how lucky for you. It must have been quite a worry. LOL pouting! We know that resting up is never easy when they want to be active. Have a terrific Tuesday.
Best wishes Molly
I am so pleased, that is brilliant news! Hurray for your vet
Yay!
Really glad to read this!
They did the toe test thing with Katie last spring since she was knuckling but her reflexes were great which was one of many reasons they decided she did not have DM. Sound like a mess trying to keep him quiet, but he is older which should help a little bit. It is good news, because we know the heartbreak of thinking the dog has DM. Give him lots of stuff to keep busy with in the house, like low cal Kongs, etc. That should improve the mood.
Yay Sampson!! A while back, my old dog, Smoki tore her ACL at 6am on New Years Day, zooming on 1/100th of an inch of snow. The emergency vet diagnosed the tear and put her on a steroid and 2 weeks of crate rest and on leash walking even inside the house. (NOT as easy as it sounds when your dog is a rocket.)The regular vet agreed the next day but said we should wait 3 weeks before thinking about surgery. Smoki lived a happy, robust, healthy 16 years. Your strong, brave boy will do great.
So glad to read the different diagnosis. While an ACL tear has it own problems at least it can be healed (one way or another). Keep us posted!!
I am so happy that the diagnosis was changed so quickly. I really think vet 1 needs to work on bedside manner. I think vets who have diagnosed DM diagnose it as a last resort and use the test as a rule out type test rather than a confirm diagnosis test. This is the second dog that I know of in blogville who received that wrong diagnosis. DM is not that common. Something is wrong.
Good luck keeping Sampson quiet. Super challenging with stoic dogs, but I know you are up to the challenge. 🙂
What a relief for you! It’s not good to have an injury, but it can be better when the alternatives are considered (we were similarly relieved when Sheba had arthritis, considering bone cancer was one of the alternatives). I hope you can keep him quiet and somewhat happy so no surgery is needed!
SO SO SO happy for you and Sampson! A ACL tear is still not good but it is better than DM! Ear infections can make them do weird things with balance also. Love the picture. I will still be curious on the DM test results, which I think will be clear! Have a great day.
It’s funny how a matter of perspective can make a diagnosis seem so much better! Normally, getting a diagnosis about a torn ACL is pretty tough, but after hearing your dog has DM first, it sounds pretty darned great! I’m so glad it turned out to be something treatable, even though Sampson is pouting about it. 🙂
Sorry about the Ear infection Sampson… BUTT what a much better diagnosis fur the OTHER thingys… Way to go!
I’m so glad to hear it–nothing like an ear infection to brighten one’s day! Seriously, I can only imagine how worried you were. Good luck making that ridiculous man relax. Can he do some crossword puzzles to tire his brain out?
So glad to hear it’s not DM! He doesn’t look too happy in that picture! Poor baby!
Oh Thank Dog!!!! Phew ! I am sooooo glad to hear that!!!
I can only imagine how relieved you are!!!
((husky hugz))
“love is being owned by a husky”
Hooray for the “good” (or at least “better”) news of the torn ACL. Sucks heavily that the vet scared the heck out of you with the first diagnosis!
Poor pouty Sampson! I hope he heals quickly!
Like Houndstooth says, it’s hard to imagine and ACL tear being good news, but in this case it is. YAY for Sampson! I’m so glad it’s not a degenerative disease.
What a distressful situation!
I’m so happy to read that it is not DM. We have a Facebook friend who has a collie with DM, and he has to use a wheelchair to get around. (he is otherwise happy)
So will you be doing crate rest when you aren’t home? There was another blogger who had a husky with a similar issue, and they handled it without surgery too. I will see if I can remember the name of the blog.
I think it was this one:
http://fivesibes.blogspot.com/
Maybe they can give you some advice.
I read this post first, so I actually haven’t gotten to your other related post yet. I’m not going to give you any medical advice or tell you what you should do. I know Sampson is in good hands and I’m glad it’s something you can work with. I’m glad to hear this diagnosis is not as bad as the first. I hope his injury feels better soon.
What a sweetie Sampson is. Take care.
He’s an adorable pouty face. Who’d have thought a partial ACL tear would be the good news? So glad that it wasn’t DM. ((hugs))
Oh, thank goodness! I feel bad that he is having some discomfort but at least it is not something as devastating as degenerative myelopathy. Whew!
🙂
WOAH. This is what I get for being offline for almost 3 days… Holy moly. I read your first post and had to click over immediately. Yeesh. What a roller coaster, but I’m so glad your regular vet was able to determine a proper diagnosis. Wishing you all the best, plus deep breaths and a big glass of wine!
You know I love Sampson and Delilah almost as much as I love my own, so our “conversation” yesterday afternoon made me feel a lot better. Thank God it’s NOT DM!
A complete, or even partial, tear of the ACL is no piece of cake either — especially when you have a stoic, confident, somewhat independent pup like my Callie and your Sampson — but it can be healed. And so can an ear infection. I have a feeling the ear infection and being cooped-up in the house has been bothering him more than his knee.
Now that it has been nearly two of the three weeks, how has he been doing? I know Callie was chomping at the bit every time I took her outside on the short leash until the surgeon finally gave me the okay to give her some off-leash freedom in the yard.
I feel funny, rejoicing in reading that a dog has an ear infection! So happy and relieved!
Phew! Not great – obviously – but not as bad as it could be either! Here’s hoping he has a speedy recovery of the ear infection and the ACL! Poor guy.
I’m so glad there isn’t anything really really wrong with him. Though wouldn’t it be nice to be able to explain to a dog that this sudden onset of lame/slow/short walks is to help him heal? Would make for less grumbling, for sure. Good luck with the rest and recovery plan, I hope it goes well 🙂
Glad Sampson is feeling better! There must be something in the water on Blogville with all these cruciates tearing.