7 year old border collie, neutered male, very active (agility). Two years ago became very lethargic, nothing on blood tests.  In desperation I sent his hair off for analysis and it came back that he had an amoeba infection (single celled protozoa).  Took medicine for 3 months and huge improvement.  Then after a walk became lame on left hind leg.  Improved, but became apparent he was not as fast on agility as before.  Had months off.  Occasional lameness, then stretched and went 'ow' and lame.  Two sessions of metacam which improved his overall outlook which had become a bit depressed.  Lameness ok, but not right, slightly unlevel.  Some heat in back.  Bloods taken, analysed, nothing found.  Full x-rays taken, all well.  Manipulated under anaesthetic and nothing found.  To physio and hydro therapy.  Physio found nothing, but clearly not right.  Hydro treadmill twice a week up to fast 15minutes, no problems, no lameness.  Then after 30seconds, dropped like we would with bad back and walking around the treadmill as if drunk, couldn't keep straight.  Out of treadmill slight lameness on left hind for possibly a minute then sound, resting leg slightly when standing.  Not as happy going clockwise as anticlockwise.  Physio found a bit of muscle spasm in back, nothing else.  Back to vet.  Saw specialist, considered MRI.  Blood taken and Addison's disease ruled out.  Awaiting result for insulin.  Whilst original lameness, slight occasional difficulty with going up a step, then yesterday a brief moment where it looked like he didn't want to walk forwards.  Specialist felt that if it was a spinal tumour then he should present more issues.  Apparently it's possible that the amoeba may have caused problems.

Any ideas anyone?  All gratefully received.  This dog is absolutely fine outwardly, full of mischief and running around normally, he's just not quite right. If blood comes back negative then we'll be going for the MRI I think.

Penny

I would certainly go for the MRI.
A cord lesion would partly explain the symptoms as would a lymphoma so best to rule out a growth.
Are any of his lymph glands enlarged?

thanks, not found by vets, specialist wanted to rule out certain things before doing MRI particularly as examination by 2 vets and physio hasn't found anything physical to explain - nor blood tests as yet.

Its also worth asking about meningitis and there seems to be more and more cases about.

ah, thanks, what are the symptoms in dogs?  he's fine in himself, just a light unlevelness sometimes and slower over the obstacles, but this has been going on some months, wouldn't meningitis have shown itself earlier? I'll discuss with vets though, thanks for suggesting.

One of my dogs once had a torn muscle which effected him for in excess of 12 months! The only sign he showed was being unwilling to jump stiles into the field and hesitant about jumping into the pick up. There was also a marked slowing in his working speed, particularly on a left flank. X-rays, blood tests....nothing. My vet said most people would not notice this in their dogs - it was because mine had a job to do that it was more noticeable. Apparently, torn muscles are more difficult to heal than broken bones?!!

I was VERY unsure of this torn muscle diagnosis and pretty much gave up on the hope he would work again (he was 8 at the time). He's now 11 and as fit as a fiddle - no sign whatsoever of the reason I "retired" him from working. He's now out of retirement and can work as hard as my 3 year old!

I know this is probably no help Penny but I do hope that this turns out to be something as non-sinister as a torn muscle. I spent a vast sum of money trying to get a diagnosis and got nowhere. Not that I grudge the money, I would pay it ten times over if I had to (isn't that why credit cards were invented!!). I think it's the "not knowing" that's so, so difficult.

Might be worth ruling out Lymes Disease?   It can be very difficult to diagnose.

http://www.dogstuff.info/lyme_disease_usbcc.html

thanks both of you, very interesting I'll raise Lymes disease with the vet.  Colliecrew, your dog sounds very like mine - although now it's showing more like neurological than a torn muscle, but that's what I originally thought it was.  Back to vets next week I guess.  Like you, I'll spend the money to get him right.

ok, thought I'd update you on my boy.  Blood tests all came back negative. I consulted an animal communicator - very interesting no pain, but feeling like being drunk in the hydro...nearly had panic attack just thinking about it, poor boy.  She said he felt his head was full of water and their was a chemical imbalance.  I sent his hair off for analysis and the result has just come back - a bacterial infection.  Not sure how this fits in with all the symptoms, but of course it may be more than one issue.  Remedy should come quickly - but have to go back to vets to see what they say...not sure what they'll think of the communicator/hair analysis.  If it was a muscle he's had a long rest so should be healing...I'll let you know how he does, he has to take remedy for 6 weeks.  Interestingly the communicator felt he was an 'open' personality - too open perhaps, laying himself available for horrid things as well as nice things, perhaps she's right he's had an amoeba infection and now bacteria....