Dog lost movement in hind legs

[Jupiter88]

My dog lives home with my father,hes a 3 year old APBT.very active and healthy before this.my dad noticed my dog limping and the vet said it was his leg then that night around 4am my dad notices my dog couldn't move. He brought him to emergency and they did a MRI. They said they see nothing wrong with him. So they said a dick herniated then popped back in wich it amazing because that saved a 8,000 dollar surgery or some Kim of spinal stroke. He had feeling in his legs but they said he dosent pee and they have to express bladder and this makes me nervous.im going home after the storm passes to take care of him when he comes home for at least 2 weeks but after that my dad works 50 hrs a week and is in his 50s.will he regain his ability to urinate?please help anyone who has has a dog slip a disk and not be able to go to the bathroom. It's good news they see NOTHING wrong.we were going to do the surgery as the dog is like a child to us, but there's nothing to do surgery on as his back looks fine.doctrors were surprised but said its very good news it's almost like he had the surgery to repair his back naturally.Thanks sorry for the typos I'm flustered an on my iPhone and don't have time or patience to correct right now.

[Jupiter88]

I know I'm new here and not friends with all you guys but someone please help me out

[CarolC]

Hi Jupiter88,

If they did not see anything on the MRI, that seems like good news. If it was a disk, it should have shown up. Spinal stroke (also called FCE) is diagnosed by ruling out everything else, so they have ruled out a disk problem. There are some infections that can cause paralysis, so you may need to check whether they did blood tests to rule those out.

The good news is, the great majority of dogs with spinal stroke improve with time and physical therapy. You need to have the hospital show you how to express his bladder so you can care for him when you bring him home. It is best for you to learn while he is still in the hospital. If you can afford it, you may be able to enroll him in professional physical therapy. You would either take him to appointments or board him and let him have intensive therapy. You might ask your dad to check what is available at the hospital or the city where you live. Physical therapy would include land exercises, possibly massage or electrical stimulation, and walking on an underwater treadmill or swimming in a pool with the help of a therapist.

I am in my 50's and cared for a 63-lb down dog, I think you and your dad can do it.

Here is some info on expressing the bladder (with videos at the end of the article--see the videos for a large male dog).

http://www.handicappedpets.com/mediawik ... dog_or_cat

[LisainCAN]

Hi Jupiter88,

Any news on your dog?