New in VA
 

Hello. I am new to YT. I have a 5 1/2 year old yorkie named Columbo. He has been having some health issues lately & I was looking for info & advice. For the last 9 months, on and off he has had a stiff neck. It usually appears after he has been napping, but not after sleeping all night. The stiffness is very inconsistant, but the vet thinks it seems to be arthritis, although he is young for that. He was tested for everything, all blood work is normal, no lime disease, etc., nothing suspicious. His xray showed the beginning of cartilege degeneration in 2 discs in his neck, but the vet said it was minor. Sometimes Columbo's neck is so stiff, he can't even lift it above the shoulders & he has a times been shaking with pain. Then other times he is normal for days. He is on rimadyl, which helps but does not always. We don't like having him on that since he is so young & we're worried about liver damage. He's been tested once since starting 5 months ago & liver is still fine. We have been giving him people glucosomine, but wanted something easier to give him & to remember. I found good info from you all & we just ordered him Dasuquin & can't wait till it arrives. We are hoping he improves & we can back off the rimadyl. Also got some good info on food from you as we were looking to change and just got him Innova after reading your posts. It's possible he has injured his neck somehow. He has only ever worn a harness, so that's not how, but he is a squirrell maniac and jumps up & down off the ottoman or couch looking out the window to see them, so the jarring could be it. Don't really know how to stop that as it is the biggest joy of his life (other than food). He doesn't like it when we make "steps" with pillows and circumvents them. Anyway, thank you for the good info you have posted. Can't wait to get him on the Dasuquin and hopefully see results. Also, as you can see my username in Bobohyde. His name is Columbo, but when he is tired or sleepy, he gets very cranky and turns into "Bobohyde".... Jeckyl & Hyde, get it?

Welcome to the YT family. I'm so happy you were able to find something to help your poor baby. You will find lots of useful info here on evey subject. Glad to have you with us.

Hello and Welcome to YT. Im not sure about the stiff neck Columbo has been suffering with, but you may want to post a Thread the in sick and Injured. Hope he starts to feel better.

Welcome to YT from a fellow Virginian!:wavey:

Maxwell House, you live very close to me.

Give me a hint.

Sorry, I didn't mean I know who you are. I'm in Cville, your side of town.

I'm sending you a PM :D

VA
 

Welcome :)
I am from VA, too. Near Roanoke.
Hope you figure out what is wrong with your baby.

Thanks for the welcome, everyone.

Were the xrays taken just plain films or was it an MRI? If he hasn't had an MRI yet, I would suggest it...just to rule out anything more serious, you know? I sure do hope and pray for the very best.

It was just a plain xray, although it showed most of his body so he got a good look at things. I will ask about the MRI the next time he goes in. We are hoping the dasuquin will make a difference. If he hasn't improved in a couple months on that, we may take him to a holistic vet (not his regular vet) for another opinion, advice & maybe accupuncture. I am also thinking of making a long cushion that he has to jump on for in front of the ottoman he uses for squirrel watching. That way it will soften the blow when he jumps down. It has to be fairly thick and wide enough that he can't jump over it because he can really get going when a squirrel dares to come up close.

Welcome to YT! You find alot of helpful advice here...hope someone can help you!