Dutch Shepherd Forum

Radar hasn't been himself the past week, and I finally got him to the vet this morning.

The diagnosis is a soft tissue injury to his neck.

I guess going from exercise/play 2-3 times a day to 5-10 times a day caught up to the old man he has become.

I just know that the next two weeks is going to be hell, so I've got to develop some low impact activities for even after he heals.

Nosework is on the top of my list, but I am open to suggestions.

Picture of Radar just because.

Just let him out by himself not with another dog or put e-collars on the dogs to keep them from rough housing. When he's inside- put him in a crate or on his bed. Riddick has been taking it easy for the past year because he ran into a folding wooden lawn chair hurting his leg. After about six months I started taking him for his regular walks again and then recently went for a hike with him which he did great.

It's really heartbreaking right now to know he's in so much pain.

He hasn't moved from this position much since yesterday.

Do you know what caused the strain? Were the able to give him some relief from the pain?

ladyjubilee wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 11:46 am Do you know what caused the strain? Were the able to give him some relief from the pain?

No, we're not sure what caused it. We think it may be the uptick in hard play that took place since I started working from home. He's ~9.5 years old based on shelter estimated age. So, he's an old man.

SEL wrote: ↑Thu May 21, 2020 2:47 pm Is he on a pain med? I hope he starts feeling better soon.

The vet gave him a pain and a steroid injection on Tuesday. He started a twice per day regimen of Carpophan yesterday.

He is a little more active today. The vet says zero activity for two weeks, If he's not much better by then, we can talk possible MRI to pinpoint the problem closer.

We also started CBD treats. Not sure if they will help, but it can't hurt.

Wish you the best!

He's more mobile, but definitely not himself yet.

If you have a veterinary acupuncturist nearby, that could be a great thing for him, and/or if any vet around has laser therapy available those could goth really help healing. I've been using Ellevet CBD oil for my big old dog with very good results for relief from his arthritis and a joint tumor.

How is he doing? Any improvement?

Oh no. I hope he recovers quick. Give him my love. And lots of cuddles from Rogue.

I have recently started chiropractic with my 10.5 year old GSD. Not an injury per say but his old body with the minor hip dysplasia just can't handle it anymore. After he would hear/see something and run the fenceline he would not put any weight on his rear right... Poor guy. So we have been managing the fenceline thing and chiropractic has been amazing for him. I have actually stopped giving the carprophan... If you have a local animal chiro I would definitely try it. It made a big difference right from his first adjustment.

ladyjubilee wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2020 11:51 am How is he doing? Any improvement?

Better, but he seems more depressed than anything. Every time I take him out back he wants to play, and he let's out a huge sigh when I don't bring the ball down for him.

Joxgirl wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2020 12:05 pm Oh no. I hope he recovers quick. Give him my love. And lots of cuddles from Rogue.

Will do.

ICE wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2020 2:57 pm I have actually stopped giving the carprophan... If you have a local animal chiro I would definitely try it. It made a big difference right from his first adjustment.

I gave him his last carpophan this morning. I can get more if it seems like he needs it, but I definitely don't like to give him drugs for no reason. I'll have to look around to see if there's a canine chiro in my area. I've actually never heard of that.

centrop67 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2020 3:06 pm

Better, but he seems more depressed than anything. Every time I take him out back he wants to play, and he let's out a huge sigh when I don't bring the ball down for him.

Oh man, that sounds so sad.


I'll have to look around to see if there's a canine chiro in my area. I've actually never heard of that.

Look for a guy with really chewed up arms?

TimL_168 wrote: ↑Wed May 27, 2020 3:31 pm Look for a guy with really chewed up arms?

*** UPDATE ***

It's been over two weeks and there is not much improvement. We had to go back on the Carpophan, as he regressed just two days after we initially stopped.

He has mobility but he is not the same dog. I am really concerned now. It is so sad to go outside with him. Every single time he looks at me like aren't you going to get the ball?

My friend, who also watches Radar when we go out of town, told me that Radar collided with the pole on the back patio while playing with him. This happened around the same time we started noticing the problem, but I can't say for sure this is what caused it.

I went looking for local dog chiropractors and there are only two local that are certified by the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association. The one that is actually a DVM specializes in horses only. The other is a human chiropractor with the canine training and credentials, but also much farther away from where I live.

I will be talking to my vet about next steps this week.

I sorry he isn't improving. Do you think it could be more than soft tissue since it didnt heal?

ladyjubilee wrote: ↑Thu Jun 04, 2020 5:44 pm Do you think it could be more than soft tissue since it didnt heal?

Unfortunately, yes, but he is >60 years old in human years, so it may be taking longer to heal.

Anyone know what it costs for a doggie MRI?

I have felt scrutinized in real life over this issue, and not that I have felt it here, but I want to clarify in case there are some suspicions.

Radar is NEVER leash-corrected. Ever.

I recently got the stink eye form the vet tech and a friend who happens to be a veterinarian.

Radar wears a harness on walks that makes leash correction impossible and at the very least harmless,

He does wear a martingale collar while doing scent work, but correction is not applied and definitely bad for that type of training.

I know I probably have the collar usage backwards, but the collar differentiation is less about the tool and more about the signal as to what we will be doing.

Sucks man. I really hope he gets better soon! Has he had any other types of tests?

Well, pooh. You don't have to explain yourself. Dogs get hurt. It happens, just like it happens to us.

I have found that not all vets know about dog training. I switched Bramble from her first vet because that vet didnt seem to know enough about training....and the breed (they assured me Bramble could not be a DS, because DS are NEVER brindle.) The new vet and our ER vet are more familiar with Shepherds and have assured me that some of the things I was being told were inaccurate.

So, don't feel judged, just have patience with the stupid people.