4 yr old German shepperd

My 4 yr old shepperd was always such an active dog until last
year.Before xmas he started having trouble getting in the car etc. He
seems to be lacking in energy also. All his blood tests do not indicate
anything wrong neither do his hip xrays.At home he mainly stays to
himself, only part energetic if going for short walk or car ride.He was
put on prednisone for about 3 months, it worked fine in the beginning
but now he is back to lacking in energy etc. also he is losing a lot of
muscle. Has anyone any ideas. thank you

If the vet didn't find anything wrong with him, why is he on
prednisone...which surely is not good for his immune system? What do
you feed this dog?

Jill wrote:
My 4 yr old shepperd was always such an active dog until last
year.Before xmas he started having trouble getting in the car etc. He
seems to be lacking in energy also. All his blood tests do not indicate
anything wrong neither do his hip xrays.At home he mainly stays to
himself, only part energetic if going for short walk or car ride.He was
put on prednisone for about 3 months, it worked fine in the beginning
but now he is back to lacking in energy etc. also he is losing a lot of
muscle. Has anyone any ideas. thank you



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"Jill" wrote in message
ups.com...
My 4 yr old shepperd was always such an active dog until last
year.Before xmas he started having trouble getting in the car etc. He
seems to be lacking in energy also. All his blood tests do not indicate
anything wrong neither do his hip xrays.At home he mainly stays to
himself, only part energetic if going for short walk or car ride.He was
put on prednisone for about 3 months, it worked fine in the beginning
but now he is back to lacking in energy etc. also he is losing a lot of
muscle. Has anyone any ideas. thank you

...................what was he on pred for? Did the blood tests include a
chemistry panel? I'd get this dog tested for Addison's disease. Also get a
urine sample run - fresh - no more than 1/2 hr old.

buglady
take out the dog before replying

If he were my dog, I think I would be inclined to have him checked for
lyme disease. Some ticks carry lyme disease.

Jill wrote:
My 4 yr old shepperd was always such an active dog until last
year.Before xmas he started having trouble getting in the car etc. He
seems to be lacking in energy also. All his blood tests do not indicate
anything wrong neither do his hip xrays.At home he mainly stays to
himself, only part energetic if going for short walk or car ride.He was
put on prednisone for about 3 months, it worked fine in the beginning
but now he is back to lacking in energy etc. also he is losing a lot of
muscle. Has anyone any ideas. thank you



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http://www.newsfeeds.com The #1 Newsgroup Service in the World! 120,000+ Newsgroups
----= East and West-Coast Server Farms - Total Privacy via Encryption =----

"Jill" wrote in message
ups.com...
My 4 yr old shepperd was always such an active dog until last
year.Before xmas he started having trouble getting in the car etc. He
seems to be lacking in energy also. All his blood tests do not indicate
anything wrong neither do his hip xrays.At home he mainly stays to
himself, only part energetic if going for short walk or car ride.He was
put on prednisone for about 3 months, it worked fine in the beginning
but now he is back to lacking in energy etc. also he is losing a lot of
muscle. Has anyone any ideas. thank you
===========
-
I would find another vet and get another opinion.

On Sun, 10 Sep 2006 10:19:58 GMT, "buglady"
wrote:

... Also get a urine sample run - fresh - no more than 1/2 hr old.

Buglady, why such a time stipulation: microbial growth? Chemical
oxidation?




___________________
A dog's life is too short; their only fault really.

"Michael A. Ball" wrote in message
...
On Sun, 10 Sep 2006 10:19:58 GMT, "buglady"
wrote:

... Also get a urine sample run - fresh - no more than 1/2 hr old.

Buglady, why such a time stipulation: microbial growth? Chemical
oxidation?

Just cancel the password boxes and you'll still be able to read this site.
This site never used to be protected and ability to now read it may be a
hole in their system. ;-)

http://courses.vetmed.wsu.edu/vm552/...htm#Urinalysis
Analysis of a urine sample should be performed within 30 minutes of
collection of urine. Delayed analysis of the urine sample will allow any
bacteria present in the sample to proliferate (even a sample obtained by
cystocentesis may contain a few bacteria obtained from the skin surface).
Bacterial numbers double every 45 minutes at room temperature. As bacteria
proliferate, the urine pH often increases as the bacteria convert urea to
ammonia. Formed elements in the urine such as casts and cells may degrade in
the "aged" sample and crystals may either sediment out of solution or may
dissolve providing a false representation of the actual "in vivo" urine
composition. Refrigeration at 5° C will preserve urine for 2-3 hours by
delaying bacterial growth. Refrigerated samples should be warmed to room
temperature before analyzing as some of the color pads on urine dipsticks
contain enzymes and the rate at which enzymatic reactions occur is
temperature dependent. Cold urine samples can lead to false negative
readings. False negative urine cultures may occur if urine is frozen or
refrigerated for 12 to 24 hours or longer.

buglady
take out the dog before replying
..