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Do you have questions regarding the health of your greyhound? Do you need tips what you should feed your dog? Or do you need advice in curing an injury?
Dog with an arched back
Dennis Pulis Australia (Verified User) Posts 89 Dogs 2 / Races 0 13 May 2019 04:23
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I have a 13 month old pup with an arched back. I only noticed it when I brought him into the inside kennels from the rearing yard. I never really noticed it as being arched before so I was very concerned. I took him to one of the top vets in Melbourne and he x-rayed his back and said that his vertebrae was normal. He did a urine test and said that he may have had acidosis at some stage but I would have noticed this as he has never drunk water excessively. The Vet said he may have Neospora so he was put on a course of antibiotics and pain killers, however three weeks later his back is still arched and he doesn't appear to be able to run when I put him in my work runs by himself. Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem may be? He's booked in to the breakers next month and I'm pretty sure he won't be going unless a miracle happens.
Kevin Wright Australia (Verified User) Posts 5708 Dogs 1 / Races 1 13 May 2019 04:35
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Dennis Pulis wrote:
I have a 13 month old pup with an arched back. I only noticed it when I brought him into the inside kennels from the rearing yard. I never really noticed it as being arched before so I was very concerned. I took him to one of the top vets in Melbourne and he x-rayed his back and said that his vertebrae was normal. He did a urine test and said that he may have had acidosis at some stage but I would have noticed this as he has never drunk water excessively. The Vet said he may have Neospora so he was put on a course of antibiotics and pain killers, however three weeks later his back is still arched and he doesn't appear to be able to run when I put him in my work runs by himself. Does anyone have any ideas as to what the problem may be? He's booked in to the breakers next month and I'm pretty sure he won't be going unless a miracle happens.
Dennis ...Top Vets can and do make mistakes ..... Get a second opinion From either a Vet or a k9 Chiropractor ...
Richard Gray Australia (Verified User) Posts 2231 Dogs 11 / Races 9 13 May 2019 06:30
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Arched up or down? If "up" sounds like a "roach back" which I wouldn't worry about Dennis. A bit like roman nose or undershot jaw. Just the make up and composition of the dog. Should not effect the dog on the track.
Cheers. Rich
Dennis Pulis Australia (Verified User) Posts 89 Dogs 2 / Races 0 13 May 2019 07:26
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Thanks Kevin and Richard. I will get a second opinion. I know a top dog chiropractor and will ask him to have a look at the dog. It is arched up. It will be a huge relief if it is a roach back as I've never seen one before.
Michael Geraghty Australia (Verified User) Posts 4138 Dogs 14 / Races 15 14 May 2019 07:45
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Dennis, It seems strange that you have never noticed his back before, so that would suggest it's a recent occurrence to make it profound. A dog will arch if there is pain in the stomach area ie: severe worm infestation, obstruction. FWIW I'd be firstly heavily worming the dog, then if no response, getting the dog's stomach x-rayed, or BOTH ASAP.
Hope you get on top of it.
Tony Gallagher Australia (Team Member) Posts 5912 Dogs 12952 / Races 40209 14 May 2019 07:57
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Dennis Pulis wrote:
Thanks Kevin and Richard. I will get a second opinion. I know a top dog chiropractor and will ask him to have a look at the dog. It is arched up. It will be a huge relief if it is a roach back as I've never seen one before.
Hi Dennis, get in touch with the breeder and see if other pups in the litter are "roach backed" as if this is it there is a good chance your pup will not be the only one. At least this will give you a guide as to whether your pup is injured or it's genetic.
Hope this helps, good luck.
Dennis Pulis Australia (Verified User) Posts 89 Dogs 2 / Races 0 15 May 2019 05:05
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Thanks Michael and Tony. It came on pretty suddenly. He gets wormed regularly and there are no worms in his faeces. I am the breeder and his siblings are all normal. The vet believes it's either acidosis or Neospora and told me to wait for 6 weeks to see if the muscles relax. I'm going to get a top muscleman to have a look at him and see what he thinks. The dog is in good nick and is not in obvious pain and because he's so young I won't consider sending him to the breakers until he's back to normal.
Michael Geraghty Australia (Verified User) Posts 4138 Dogs 14 / Races 15 15 May 2019 05:31
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Dennis, Acidosis won't give him an arch, rather a severe wasting of muscle mass of the lower back. He also would have been in a lot of pain obvious to the eye and touch. If it is neo the others should have had it too unless you fed him differently. Being the breeder I doubt either one.
Here's a tip and it will cost you about $4. Buy yourself a bottle of Parrifin oil. Give him a dose straight down the throat of about 30ml in the morning. Give him the same in the afternoon. Then put on a raincoat, a fullface Helmut, gummboots, and grab a shovel. What might come out could surprise. Won't hurt him and there is a chance it could clear the problem. It's amazing what some pups sink their teeth into when they shouldn't. If it doesn't you will have to go the next step.
Oh, and buy yourself some good aftershave and splash the whole bottle on you.
P.S. Any chance you fed soft brisket pork bones?
Dennis Pulis Australia (Verified User) Posts 89 Dogs 2 / Races 0 20 May 2019 03:22
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Thanks Michael. They all get the same food and none of the others have anything wrong with them. He hasn't showed any signs of Acidosis and hasn't been drinking excessively, dehydrated or been in pain so I don't believe that it is acidosis. So you are thinking that he may have swallowed something and it is stuck inside. Is that what you mean? I don't feed soft bones as a matter of fact these pups haven't had any bones at all yet.
Ellen O'Brien Australia (Verified User) Posts 50 Dogs 0 / Races 0 22 May 2019 09:59
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Hi Dennis I had a dog with a roach back he was also pigeon toed i went on to greyhoundhealth.boards.net and asked Tom Muelman you can find his answer on the above site look in questions and answers under my name Ellie heading Roach Back.
Cheers Ellie
Dennis Pulis Australia (Verified User) Posts 89 Dogs 2 / Races 0 18 Jul 2019 00:23
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We've had a Neospora test done and it was negative. Another x-ray revealed Discospondylitis. He's been on Antibiotics and pain killers for the past 3 weeks and there is no change. I'm taking him back to the vet tomorrow and unfortunately I don't think I'll be bringing him home. I'm hoping the vet says that he can be a pet for someone willing to take him.
Do you have questions regarding the health of your greyhound? Do you need tips what you should feed your dog?
