dog with kyphosis and scoliosis

[Dragon Fly]

Does anyone else have a pet with these issues? The vets keep saying she's not going to live long and she's going to become paralyzed before she's 5. I'm concerned about a wheel chair for her due tohow severe her malformation is. She was born this way and the vet said the it's passed down from her parents due to bad breeding. trying to post a picture of her but am not able to figure it out

[slshepherds]

Hello, and welcome.

I have a paralyzed Lab with kyphosis and have seen and worked with a dog with scoliosis, who had a great life. Did your vet say why your dog won't live long? Is it because they think she has an underlying disease or just that you won't be able or want to live with a paralyzed dog? The dog I worked with had a cart custom built by Eddies wheels that specifically addressed scoliosis - in fact they have a page that shows another scoliosis dog they made a cart for here: http://eddieswheels.com/carts/special-carts/ .

Joanne

[FYI]

http://web.archive.org/web/200803300300 ... _kind.html

[Dragon Fly]

The vets she has seen over the last 3 years out of the 6 she has seen I've only had 1 who was willing to really do anything for her. The first vet she seen said that as she grew her spinal cord would sever and she would die from it. I've had other vets tell me keeping her alive is wrong and she should be put to sleep. The vet that has helped the most is utterly confounded at why she lived through birth and that she has made it through her growing without her spinal cord being severed. He didn't give me a time limit all of her organs have been checked out and are good so in theory as long as she doesn't sustain any sort of injury she should be fine. I don't know if a cart would work with her she is severely deformed she is a miniture shih tzu she weighs 8lbs and all the vets she has seen haven't ever seen anything like her.
http://s1223.photobucket.com/albums/dd5 ... 112248.jpg
Here is a link to a photo of her back

[critters]

all the vets she has seen haven't ever seen anything like her.

Welcome to our world, and, in my opinion, all the more reason they shouldn't be issuing gloom and doom proclamations.

[Mitulondon]

My 2 year old dog just developed 5 months ago. She got better then worse. Hers is severe. I am having surgery Wednesday . We are also doing stem cells for later to help her . It's almost 2 months since she walked. I think my fear didn't let me do sooner. It would have been better. Also didn't like my Doctors. Now I found someone.
Have you found a good neurologist?
Wish you luck.

[Mitulondon]

Have any thought of surgery to stabilize her spine and taking out vertebrae to give it space? The surgeon is taking piece out, stabilizing spine with plate and lining spine with her own fat. They give it room. It would seem yours would be more stable.
I wish you luck. It is very hard. I think if I can give her a better quality of life and off prednisone , even if she can't walk she will be better. I feel for you and your dog. So sorry. Your case is more severe. I thought she was but it's not like your dog.

[Mitulondon]

How old is she ?

[Dragon Fly]

She will be 4 in December. Her liver is Failing now so the vets could be right about her not making it past 5 but I'm pulling for her like always. She is a great dog she still has use of her legs so far hoping she beats medical science and lives a whole lot longer.

[Christine]

Have you ever heard of milk thistle for liver support? I found out about it about five years ago. Here is some information - perhaps your vet or a holistic vet could advise you in regard to mixing it with anything else she is on. Sending prayers for your girl. http://www.natural-dog-health-remedies. ... -dogs.html

[bridge5]

I have a dog with both. I'm in vet school and thought I would show my embryo teacher since my previous vets had no idea what it was.On the outside he is totally normal though.