Took Hayley (GSD/golden with pain in neck/back/shoulder area that was preventing her from lowering her head while standing) in yesterday for extensive exam and bloodwork (including tick titers and thyroid).
Bloodwork was normal with the exception of slightly high cholesterol and blood platelets. Magnesium was a tad low. The vet I saw was new to us (normal vet on vacation until next wednesday), and I was not real fond of him or his techniques. Hayley detested him, and while she's always a problem child at the vet, yesterday was out of control.
The reason I'm posting -- my cousin is a vet (cardiology specialist) and she feels very strongly that something is very wrong (i.e. meningitis, discospondylitis, lyme, etc). She has not seen Hayley, but after our discussions, she thinks we need a neurologist or orthopedic specialist. Vet at home thinks everything is fine, she strained something, and was reluctant to even do the bloodwork for me.
I'm not real comfortable with the new guy, and I need someone to talk to about my options. I feel like my two contacts are telling me opposite extremes, and I'm not sure how to proceed. BTW, seeing a neurologist (we have one locally) or an ortho (closest is about an hour or so away), will require a referral, and I just don't think the vet will give me one.
Right now, I'm kind of thinking second (third) opinion, from a new vet altogether, but would really value any insight I can get from this board. I'm reluctant to go ahead with x-rays because she will have to be anesthetized, and it will require another traumatic vet visit, and may still need a specialist visit for MRI or CT which will be more anesthesia .....
Thoughts? Thanks for listening to the rambling
Jenny
update on neck/shoulder post
if you take the dogs muzzle and put a hand on the nape of
the neck and try to lift the muzzle and the dog flinches or even yelps (you don't do it to hard), the chance are pretty good that it is a disc problem and i thin while waiting for a specific diagnoses an shot of steroid should be given..if for no other reason than to lessen the pain.till the reason is found..and if there is a fever, even antibiotics should be started early in case they are needed later.----just an opinion..