Hello All,

I am a new Husky Owner, a former veterinary technician and I am stumped. I started noticing some odd, subtle movement to Everest's gate. It has progressed at this point to lameness and limping with exertion. I have brought him in to my vet, had sedated xrays and all skeltal issues you might expect, hip displaysia, torn ligaments in the knee or slipped disc in the spine, markers for these issues were missing. His x-rays look solid. I was initially very happy about this because, yay! He can run again! However, even on anti-inflammatory meds, he is having issues going from sit to stand, walking and pretty much movemement in general.

We have been to one chiro/accuppuncture appointment, and will be attending every 2 weeks. We are also sending out a tick titer test to look for tick born illness, we may not have considered.

All of this information boils down to one question for me, Is there some odd ball Husky issue I am overlooking? I never thought I would be the proud owner of a Siberian Husky but here we are! I am hoping someone has some advice but if not the vet and I will continue down the path of discovery!

Discs and nerve related issues wont show in an mri. And cruciate rupture/tear also wouldn't show. Have you seen an ortho vet or just your regular vet?

The x-rays won't show disc issues other than decreased disc space. MRI should show structural issues with spine, disc. How old is your husky? Not husky specific but there is a condition called degenerative myelopathy. Not, unfortunately, a good thing. Hoping it's not that.

Oh. Wait. I just remembered this: Siberian husky polyneuropathy type 1. Read this article, second condition down - this is not hypomyelination ( shaking puppy syndrome.)

https://vetmed.umn.edu/research/research-labs/canine-genetics-lab/canine-genetics-testing/siberian-husky-health-panel#:~:text=About%20the%20condition&text=Shaking%20puppy%20syndrome%20refers%20to,that%20cause%20similar%20clinical%20signs.

Everest is 1.5, I adopted him at 6 months. He has been checked for cruciate rupture/tear by my Vet, who I used to work for, and is not board certified ortho but is actually really adept at ortho. No knee issues, no back issues, and they're thinking skeletal is not the issue.

I've researched the iliopsoas muscle, and his symptoms line up with this description. I'm wondering if that is part of the issue. We aren't ready to head to a specialist yet, there isn't one in my area and will take planning and travel to accomplish. I am going to send out a tick titer tomorrow (3/15/23) to confirm this isn't tick related.

I'm hoping our chiro/accupunture vet will be able to help without looking to surgery. As a 4-peat ortho patient myself, I am a firm believer in alternatives versus surgery first. If we have to go there we will but in my experience, that surgery you must have to correct an issue is only one man's opinion, not the undeniable truth.

I appreciate your thoughts, even with my experience in the vet med world, I am worried about my little fella! As I mine more information about the situation, I will post!

Regards,
G

Have you considered getting the genetic test for the polyneuropathy mentioned in the article I linked to?

So umm have you tried cbd or p.e.a. the endocannabaniod system can actually reboot nerves and stuff. I am currently trying that on myself. although cbn is also extremely helpful you would have to find a dispensary that carries it or understand how to convert thc to cbn and cbg is amazing but extremely hard to find by itself and im not sure if it can be extracted at home. P.e.a. is not marijuana derived and i get the pills at natural grocers. Im all about surgical alternatives after 2 spine surgeries eventually failed. Also if your dog will tolerate it have you thought about an at home E stim machine to help with muscle atrophy? I bought one for $80 on amazon.

This makes me think of ro-eh (stupid name for a husky/mal/rottie/jackel mix) who had a lame issue on his front leg. Started around the same age. My uncle (an ortho vet) never was able to figure out what was wrong with him. What made the situation even weirder was they had pulled ied type shrapnel out of the opposite front leg.