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I have an 8 year old Beagle that has a back or hip problem that our vet's can not identify. approxamtely 3 years ago we noticed that our beagle hads stopped trying to jump on the couch and the next day she would not even try to climb stairs and than the next day we noticed her shaking uncontrollable her lower half of her body would become hard as a rock and she would howl in pain when we tried tro pick her up. We had taken her to the Vet and they could not find what was causing her pain, she then stopped even trying to stand and became almost paralyzed. Even after spending $6000.00 on an MRI we still had no idea what was causing the problem. Shortly after her MRI she began to feel better and all of the symtoms went away. Now 3 years later all of the same symtoms have returned and she has now stopped trying to use her lower extremeties. Please Help
Optional Information: Type of Animal: Beagle Gender: Female Age: 8 years old Name of Dog: Phoebe Already Tried: We have taken her to the Vet and he could not idenify what was causing her symtoms
Hi,What medications are you currently giving Phoebe? Are they helping at all? What was she taking 3 years ago?Thanks,
Benazeprile, Tramadol Hydrochloride, Rimadyl
The Medications 3 years ago was simple to controll pain and inflamation. The Medication she is taking now does not seem to be helping at all.
Did any of the vets mention "Beagle Pain Syndrome" as a possible cause for Phoebe's back pain? That is the first thing that came to my mind.The textbook description, with my add-ins in parentheses: Beagle pain syndrome is a disease of Beagles manifesting as spinal pain usually localized to the cervical area (neck), but which can be diffuse. Affected beagles are usually young (6-18 months) but recurrences of signs can occur in older dogs. The etiology is unknown but is likely an immune mediated meningitis/polyarteritis. A similar syndrome, steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis, has been described in young Bernese mountain dogs, German shorthaired pointers, boxers, toller retrievers, and occasionally in other breeds. Because of the positive response to immunosuppression (ie. steroid use), an immune mediated pathogenesis is likely. There may be a genetic component in the Beagle. Clinical signs often consist of an acute to gradual onset of intermittent fever, anorexia (not eating), depression, hunched posture, reluctance to move, and moderate to severe neck pain evidenced by cervical rigidity, low head carriage, and 'guarding' of the neck. Some dogs scream out in pain with any movement. Chronically affected dogs may develop ataxia or paresis (difficulty in walking). Bloodwork may show and increase in white blood cells, but all other values in the CBC and chemistry panel are normal. Cerebrospinal fluid findings may show blood-tinged fluid with erythrophagocytosis and increased neutrophils and protein. Often there is a profound neutrophilic pleocytosis with cell counts often exceeding 1000 cells/ul. Spinal fluid culture is negative for bacterial and fungal organisms. Diagnostic imaging is often unremarkable but may show meningeal enhancement. (which is why the MRI didn't show anything). Treatment consists of steroids, which Phoebe hasn't had before (I'm not sure why she was prescribed benazapril--does she also have congestive heart failure or high blood pressure?) So I would definitely ask your vet to research Beagle Pain Syndrome and start Phoebe on high doses of steroids and see if her pain can get under control again quickly.
Beagle pain syndrome is a disease of Beagles manifesting as spinal pain usually localized to the cervical area (neck), but which can be diffuse. Affected beagles are usually young (6-18 months) but recurrences of signs can occur in older dogs. The etiology is unknown but is likely an immune mediated meningitis/polyarteritis. A similar syndrome, steroid-responsive meningitis-arteritis, has been described in young Bernese mountain dogs, German shorthaired pointers, boxers, toller retrievers, and occasionally in other breeds.
Because of the positive response to immunosuppression (ie. steroid use), an immune mediated pathogenesis is likely. There may be a genetic component in the Beagle.
Clinical signs often consist of an acute to gradual onset of intermittent fever, anorexia (not eating), depression, hunched posture, reluctance to move, and moderate to severe neck pain evidenced by cervical rigidity, low head carriage, and 'guarding' of the neck. Some dogs scream out in pain with any movement. Chronically affected dogs may develop ataxia or paresis (difficulty in walking).
Cerebrospinal fluid findings may show blood-tinged fluid with erythrophagocytosis and increased neutrophils and protein. Often there is a profound neutrophilic pleocytosis with cell counts often exceeding 1000 cells/ul. Spinal fluid culture is negative for bacterial and fungal organisms.
Diagnostic imaging is often unremarkable but may show meningeal enhancement. (which is why the MRI didn't show anything).
Treatment consists of steroids, which Phoebe hasn't had before (I'm not sure why she was prescribed benazapril--does she also have congestive heart failure or high blood pressure?)
So I would definitely ask your vet to research Beagle Pain Syndrome and start Phoebe on high doses of steroids and see if her pain can get under control again quickly.
The Vet that we just took her to seems to think that he thinks she has a Heart murmur and he wants me to spend $450.00 for a special Cardioligist even though this does not address her Back(Hip) problem. And we have heard of Beagle Pain Syndrome before but does this syndrome cause peralysis in the lower extremities?
Yes, while it more commonly affects the neck region, it can affect all the legs or just the rear legs. I think I'd go with the pred first and see if she responds. If she is so painful she can't move and have a good quality of life, then it doesn't really matter if she has a heart murmur. And truthfully, a heart murmur without a cough often isn't treated anyway.
Experience: I am a practicing small animal veterinarian with 16 years experience.