Imperial Shi tzu lower back problem

[kngskid777]

Our Imperial Shi Tzu started having trouble two weeks ago.  She started yelping and veraciously nipping at her inside hind quarters.  She appeared to be miserable.  My wife suspected a UTI.  We took her to the vet and her suspicions were confirmed.  He put her on an antibiotic and medicam for an anti inflammatory.  The first problem appeared to clear up but then a second came up.  She began to scream and whince every time she had to poop.  We took her back and he took x rays.  Every thing came back negative.  He put her on a slight pain killer to help.  She still had the pain when going.  We thought it was an adverse reaction to the Medicam so we took her off.  Now after blood work, and a fecal sample she is only getting worse.  She walks all crazy, almost exclusively on her front paws, hunched up dragging her hind quarters up under to a degree.  She barely poops or pees.  Her appetite is all but non existent and we just don't know what to do.  At this point all testing has turned up a big zero. Any thoughts?

[emma359]

My shitzu was trying to come down the last three steps of the stairs and is after huting his paw he was yelping the first day and we took him to a vet as he could not walk on it the vet said he needed pins but he has started walking on it toady but with little pressure do you still think he needs surgery or should i give him a few more days as he is only 14 weeks and hate the idea of surgery can you reccommend anything

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Everyone above has posted good suggestions.

I think that your vet probably would have already checked the anal glands though, but you never know.

It does sound as if it could be intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), in which some disc material from one or more discs in the spine becomes extruded and pushes against the spinal nerves; this is also known as a herniated disc.  This condition can be very painful and the spinal nerves can become so compressed that paralysis and decreased function can occur.  Conservative treatment includes muscle relaxers, steroid injections and oral steroids.  Acupuncture in  conjunction with steroids is extremely helpful.  If conservative treatment is ineffective surgery may be necessary.  If the disc protrusions are not visible on X-Rays, as they often times are not, than an MRI may be necessary to pin-point the lesion or lesions prior to surgery.

[Misfits4Me]

Did your vet check her anal sacs? The symptoms you describe can also be from impacted or infected anal sacs. Also, could be a growth in that area. However, since she was just on antibiotics, I suspect that it might be as simple as having her anal sacs expressed....When was she last groomed? This is usually done as part of the grooming process. Some dogs need it more often.....At least, rule this out as you proceed to other causes....Good luck........Karla

[smith88]

Dear Sir,

This sounds very similar to what happened to our Shih Tzu, Ti, who had a slipped disc due to jumping. If you run your finger down its back, you can confirm this with pain elicited over one vertebrae. If due to a disc, can treat conservatively first with a local steroid injection and complete rest for 3 weeks, which worked in Ti's case. If it doesn't respond, surgery ($5,000) is the next step. Of note: according to the vet who treated Ti this is a common problem with small dogs and may reoccur at a different spinal level.

Good luck.

Sincerely,

smith88