Hi all

I have a Japanese Shiba Inu, Karma, who is now 8.1/2yrs old - through circumstance he was in three pet homes before me (and in rescue/back to breeder in between homes) but we have been together for 4years now and he is an absolute darling!

He has had a couple of episodes of "limpiness" - as if he has had a sudden pain and walking is uncomfortable. The vet has examined him and found nothing wrong and within 24hrs Karma is back to normal. When I was last away in the USA in December he was at the kennels which we have used for the past 4 years - v good, v professional and Karma really enjoys being there! Day 5 I receive a call to say that they had found him in the morning in the play area of the kennel-run unable to use his back legs. They had taken him to their vet who had given him a special high-dose of soluble steroid. The kennel-maid then took Karma home with her and her dogs every night to keep an eye on him but he seemed 100% and since then has been fine although, for good order, I had him checked by our own vet. A couple of weeks ago, more as a question of ensuring that I had done all I could (I go to the USA again in a week's time) I had him X-rayed by our vet and had a full blood workup done on him. This produced nothing to indicate underlying disease and his lower spine/hips are clear.

This afternoon he was extra full of beanz out walking and was running and being a silly dog (Shibas are notoriously unreliable off-leash and because Karma has several major fear triggers we have a v long flexi-leash but he rarely gets jerked by it as (a) he knows how long it is and (b) I tend to jog to keep us on the move). As he led us further into the park we were about halfway from "home" he did his sudden stop/hunch and I could feel him almost gritting his teeth as he thereafter steadily walked back to the car. He didn't want to jump in the back (I have an old pointy Saab so the jump is about 2' max) and I had to lift him up. When we got home, where he is usually leaping out and in a hurry he waited for me to lift him down and I had to carry him indoors as he walked a few paces and then stopped lifting his front right paw.

I have spoken to the vet and made an appointment for tomorrow. The vet is convinced it is not a mechanical problem but a transient tummy cramp of some kind - Karma's tummy is rarely upset (only if I give in and let him have some cheese) so I don't understand what might be happening.

Any clues anyone??

For those who are unfamiliar with the breed they are very hardy, not prone to joint problems (patella luxation can occur) and tend to present with scratching and major itchiness if the diet isn't "just right". Karma is very healthy, his system is working well, his coat is terrific and he no longer has any itch issues!!

Appreciate any advice!

There is obviously something wrong and it is more than a belly ache. It sounds more like a problem with the spine, as if a nerve is getting pinched or is degenerating and is causing these problems.

I would take him to another vet, not a "GP", but a specialist practice. Your vet would be able to tell you the nearest practice is located.

Stacey

Stacey

Thank you for the "heads up". Karma was again 100% full of beanz and leaping around like a nutcase the morning after this last episode. The X-rays taken when he went under anaesthesia were from the chest down ... there was no narrowing between the bones and no sign of old disc problems. Should the X-rays have been "whole spine"?

When I return from the USA I am thinking I should take him to a doggie chiropractor ... do you know of how I could find the details of a suitably qualified person?

I have, of course, asked of my internet Shiba friends what might be the issue and only one has had a similar occurrence with a Shiba that worked Agility and who only presented occasionally with symptoms similar to K ... turned out she had a misalignment of a vertebra ... and a chiropractor fixed this in one visit!!

Thank you, by the way, for responding!

Have mailed you.
Dawn.