I'm hoping that someone on here will recognise the problems that my Briard is still having and advise accordingly. He is 6 yrs old in October.

About 2 yrs ago he started 'hunching' in the middle of his back, he looked like a camel, whenever he is moving around the house. He has to lean on walls to lay down but can get up perfectly OK. He runs about normally when he is outside and to look at him you wouldn't know that he has a problem, especially when playing with his sister and other dogs. When he stands still there is a 'tremoring, shaking' in his front and hind legs that is distressing to watch :-(

The first Vets diagnosis was that he was a 'middle aged large breed dog suffering from the normal joint/ arthritis problems' - he had just turned 4!! I spoke to my breeder who said that he had never come across this before, so I then, upon advice from other Briard people sought the services of a Mctimoney Chiropractor who gave him 5 sessions without improvement but then put me onto a Sports Injury woman. She came to the house (she also works with Horses) and gave him several sessions and said that he was so tight across the spine and back legs that she could do no more. In her opinion he had injured himself at a fairly early age by running into a solid object so that there had been a  concertina effect. Yes, when he was young he was a typical large breed bumbling dog that did on a couple of occasions run into walls, doors, cars etc but obviously didn't show any detrimental signs at that time. Unfortunately, apart from banning him from going outside this couldn't be avoided.

The latest Vet has said that he has a frozen fixed vertebra along several of the spinal disc's and that surgery will do one of two things. Either render him totally paralysed after the op or leave him with considerable mobility difficulties but will relieve the discomfort. The Vet thinks that because Murfee is a very stoic dog he has hid the ailment longer than other dogs would have. Devil and deep blue sea? I am now in two minds and apart from seeking yet a third Vetinary diagnosis, am in a quandry :( :(

Has anybody ever experienced this and if so - what to do??

>The latest Vet has said that he has a frozen fixed vertebra along several of the spinal disc's and that surgery will do one of two things. Either render him totally paralysed after the op or leave him with considerable mobility difficulties<

Sorry, I should have said that this particular Vets diagnosis was after X-ray under sedation.

I wonder if accupuncture would do anything?  Just that I had a really bad problem with my neck, shoulder about 3 years ago.  Couldn't lie down for 3 months, lost the full use of my right arm and fingers etc.  I spent 6 months in physio and only saw improvement when they started doing accupuncture.  Still have a few problems now but nothing like it was before.

This all happened after an air hostess dropped a bag full of bottles on my head from the overhead locker.  So I suppose it's a similiar concertina effect.

I really think he needs referring to a specialist hospital without delay.  

There's a good orthopaedic specialist vet over here in Fife he gets referals from all over Scotland PM me if you want info. Hope something can be done to help your boy

I had acupuncture done on my staffy (not chow hairypooch :)  ) and it worked wonders.  The vet came to the house to do it when missy couldn't jump into the car or onto anything and really looked in pain, and she has a high pain threshold.  At the very least it might provide some relief for the pain while you decide what to do.  The vet came and did 3 sessions and although missy hates the vets she was fine in the house and chilled out on the rug with all the needles in her.  I would say it is definitely worth an assessment from someone who does animal acupuncture - what have you got to lose?

Hairy Pooch sorry to hear about your boys problems .I have just been to hell and back with my 5 year old daxi Tilly ,She collapsed and was totaly paralylised dragging her hind legs no feeling and couldn't even wag her tail poor little sausage,it took about 4 days from collapse to get referal,I was told that the operation.could be done,there were no guarentees she would walk again.Anyway after much deliberation we decided to go for it ,she had an M R I scan ,and then the op.she had a slipped disc which had trapped the spinal cord she underwent decompressive spinal surgery (hemilaminectomy)  3 days post op feeling had come back in her feet she was out of the hospital 7 days post op ,home to cage rest and physio 4 times a day.She is now 7 weeks post op and walking now without any support.I have said a lot of prayers but we made it took the gamble and won.I would say to you go for a referal what ever you decide I wish you luck.I would never put £4000.00 on a horse ,but I did on a dog and she won.

Thanks for your replies ;-)

I have spoken at length about acupuncture with both Vets and they were less than willing to give an opinion either way. I got the impression that my current Vet thinks that it may do some short term good but not long term. The reason that I discussed it with them was because some friends of mine in the same breed have had good results with it and it is something I'm about to embark upon myself. So you're right, there is really nothing to lose. ;-)

I have discussed getting a referral to Glasgow Veterinary Hospital but our Vet believes that we can monitor the situation treating with possible surgery upon my consent before we go that route. I personally think that he wants to open him up and assess before he refers. I've also been offered the usual medication like Metacam but am not doing that for my own reasons. I've got him on high quality Glucosamin and Chondroitin but must say that in the months that he's been on them they don't seem to be helping. He's got a magnetic collar, again it doesn't seem to have made a difference :-( He's also on a Homoeopathic mix that a friend of mine who treats animals made up for him but nothing really seems to be relieving his symptoms.

I'm fast coming to the conclusion that an operation may be the only way. But I'm torn as he still has good daily mobility and probably 85% of the time he is fine with no obvious signs of pain, if the op went badly then I'm ruining his time left/life. But I know that the situation will only deteriorate as time goes on. It's a horrible situation because he always has been and will continue to be my baby.

Dachmad, Tilly sounds like a lucky girl :-)

Isn't it awful when the odds are stacked against you and you hear such devastating things like they may never walk again? :-(

I'm waiting on details for an Orthopaedic specialist and will take him along ASAP. Again it's weighing up the odds once I get their diagnosis (presuming it will be similar to my Vet)  and then trying to make a decision that is in the best interests of my dog. It's very easy to be selfish in these circumstances but as you have proved, it can work. Now I've just got to try and be objective about it.