Dutch Shepherd Forum

Things have been rough. Grendel's heat cycle was awful and I had several people recommend re-homing her, including 2 of the trainers she's worked with. I did not, and she improved, but unfortunately, her health problems continue.

I won't go into detail, but she has had some mystery rear leg lameness (ortho doc couldn't find anything), and some sort of neurological episode that may have been a seizure. Only lasted about 30 seconds during which she got all wobbly like she was falling down and didn't know it. It was scary. I'm glad my friend was with me when it happened, as otherwise I'd think I'd imagined it. Vet found nothing.

Anyway, Grendel seems increasingly low energy- she will lay around the house all day while I work without even playing with the cat. When we go to the park she is excited, but after running a couple minutes, she lays down and doesn't want to do much more. Today we went to park for 30 minutes or so. She played a bit, but laid around more than she was active. When we left, she flopped down on the sidewalk and didn't want to walk home, which is only 2 blocks away. I got her to walk, but a few houses down from ours, she flopped down into the grass again. She can walk on leash for miles. But anything high intensity wears her out in a few minutes. And even after we get home, she'll be panting very hard for 10+ minutes like she just ran a marathon. Other dog owners at the park have remarked at her lack of energy. Today someone said she seemed fine but assumed I'd taken Grendel for a long walk before we got to the park. When I told her this was the first time she'd been out today, the woman was really surprised.

Grendel has a western med vet, a holistic/Chinese med vet, she's seen an internal medicine specialist, and she saw an ortho doc/retired professor at Sam's Clinic a couple weeks ago. Her blood tests come back pretty much normal, and nobody can find anything obviously wrong. Only thing ortho doc found was inflammation in front knees, which he attributed to closing of growth plates.

I am at a loss. If Grendel can't even exercise, then we're both screwed. I am VERY active, and it's a big reason I wanted a working dog mix. I want a companion and neither of us will be happy if I have to leave her home half the day while I'm out doing my thing.

As a last ditch effort, we're making an appointment at UC Davis, as the SF vet specialists said Davis best equipped to figure out difficult cases.

I don't know what else to do. I am pretty much exhausted emotionally and financially.

Lisa

I am so sorry you and Grendel are going through this.

How old is Grendel now?

I know you have consulted lots of professionals, but I want to share a couple of things that come to mind:

1. Diet.
2. Give her some space. Don't include her for a couple of weeks, and see if she gets excited after being excluded.
3. Is she showing any other signs of panic or fear when she plops down - whale eyes, tucked tail, excessive yawning?
4. Mental. I assume chemical imbalances can affect dogs as much as humans.
5. Does she need a companion (other than the cat)?
6. The cat is secretly brain-washing her, so you won't spend so much time with Grendel.

Have you tested her for Lyme??? Lyme is usually the culprit for unidentified lameness and things that go wrong.

I would get the test before you spend money on more tests and prognosis.

*** RESET BUTTON HAS BEEN PUSHED ***

I want to put some perspective into this conversation...

First of all, we have a member who is suffering through a tough time with their dog. It's a time for a little empathy and compassion. It's NOT a time to propose a rash answer or bring up past issues anyone might have.

If you can't empathize or provide some ideas, move on to the next post.

Also, no one noticed my evil cat joke?

LOL, I have asked a few times about Lyme's. I feel Lyme could be a culprit here and if it is not taken care of it will continue to get worse.

My Shiloh was diagnosed with Lyme. She went through a cycle of antibiotics and her tests have come back negative ever since. I, too would test for it, even if she was clear when you first got her. How old is she- 9 month or so?
Michael- my cat was watching over my shoulder earlier. I didn't dare write anything against the species.

Thalie was positive, but wasnt showing any weird things wrong so I didnt treat her. With the amount of things going on with Grendel , I would treat her for Lyme anyway.

Antibiotics are only good if caught in the first week. With animals we cant see a rash so we dont know when they have been bitten. Once the spirochetes leave the blood and enter everywhere else, the antibiotics are usless and you are only damaging the dogs immune system.