Dogs: PARALISED HIND LEGS TO TO DISC DAMAGE AND CONGENITAL D

[naomi]

My 13 year old Shitzu is paralised due to a disc injury and she is too old to get operated on. I am devastated, my dogs are my children and love them so much. Ling is now totally paralised in her hind legs, she she has severe arithritice in her spine and legs. The vet sent her home to let go in peace. bUT i CANNOT AND WILL DO ANYTHING TO KEEP HER GOING. She has perfect body functions and eats very well. She is content when I have her near me day and night. Right now she is back on Prednisone, but that surpresses her immune system terreble and cannot fight an eye infection that left her almost blind. Myfamily and friends think I am crasy to try and get her well, but they are not important at my stage of life. Lingling is a wonderful friend and companion and I am very sad and am really hurting emotionally. I am taking he to a Rehab on thursday to see if she has any muscle function left in her hind legs. What is your advice? I am excercising her legs and massaging them many times a day as per vets advice. Is there anything else I can do to get her better. I would so much appreciate anybodies help, since I am so desperate. PLEASE/ nAOMI

[Paul Coover]

Hi Naomi. First of all, I want to say that crate rest is one of the most important things to do right now. How long has she been down? Usually 4-6 weeks of crate rest is necessary from the onset of paralysis.

Prednisone will cause her to pee more, so be prepared for that. But it does help, so keep your attitude positive. One of the most important things for your pet is to keep a good, positive attitude. Your dog will sense if you are happy and positive, and that will aid in recovery. In my opinion, it is as important as any medicine or treatment!

I have 5 dachshunds, 2 of which are handicapped. They use wheelchair carts, which is a good alternative to consider if she remains unable to use her hind legs permanently. We also have Riley, who we adopted as a paralyzed dog but he recovered. If you wish to read more about his story, click on the link below. Good luck!

Paul

Riley's Story

[BethT]

Dear Naomi,

I am so sorry about your dog. How long has she been paralyzed? If it has only been a short time listen to Paul's advice and give her rest in a crate or very small area. Is she able to urinate and move her bowels on her own? If she can then that is a good sign. I have a dog named Waffles that had a disk injury 2 years ago and had the surgery but it did not work. His back legs have been paralyzed since then plus his bladder does not work so I have to express his bladder a few times a day. Waffles gets around in a cart very well and is a very, very happy dog even though he can not walk. Don't let the negative comments of others effect what you do. So many of us here have had vets tell us that there was no hope and yet we did not listen. As long as Ling is not in pain and she is eating and happy you can take care of her. Waffles uses a cart from a company called Eddies Wheels. They are very, very helpful. Please write back and give us more details of Lings injury. There are many people here who have paralyzed animals. I am sure you will hear from some more of them soon. Don't give up hope. BethT

[connie]

i have a yorkie mix who had a ruptured disk in nov. he had the surgery but i was told it wouldn't help . they also wanted at first to put him down.he is paralyzed in hind legs. but he spinal walks and is doing great. vets are amazed.
but you really need to crate him your dog. i had to crate cricket for 6 weeks. they need time to heal and rest. so glad your pet is peeing good at least. good luck to you, my prayers are with you. keep us informed.

hugs, connie and cricket

[naomi wall]

Thank you so much for your repsonse. Linglinghad the dis injury about 1`8 months ago and was then crated and put on prednazone. She was crated for a month and later could walk somewhat. As you know Prednazone takes awat thei immune system. She had an eye infection which would not heal, due to the damaged immune system. The vet then took her off the ored and after that she became blind and became totally paralised in her hind legs. She cannot do anything but stay in her pillow except when the has to urinate, then U pick her up and try to let her stand whiule she does and she is back on her pillow. The paralisis started on June 13rg. She was at the vet for 10 days, but there was nothing they can do. Now she is home with me. Crating her does not have much sense, since she is not moving at all. Operrating is out of the question, since she is 13 yrs old. I shall try and contact Eddie for a LIGHTWEIGHT wheelchair, I had one before but she could not pull it,, it was too heavy and her front legs are full of arithritise. Please tell me if you have any other suggestions? I so much want to help her. Thanks so much for your help. Naomi

[critters]

How about a quad cart (wheelchair with 4 wheels? Even if she can't pull it, do you think she'd like it if you pulled or pushed her in it, like pushing a severely disabled person in a wheelchair? At least it'd be a change of scenery, etc. Could she pull her own weight in ANY wheelchair? But, as I mentioned, maybe that wouldn't be as important to her. Just thinking outloud...

[naomi]

Thank you so much for your advice. Lingling has been paralised since june 13th, she had been on prednosone for about 6 months because she also had a raptured disc and was then caged and the prednosone helped her quite a bit. The vet had to take of that medication since her imune system, due to the prednazone was totally depressed. So when that happened on top of her cronic spinal disease she became paralised, which is about 2weeks now. She does not move at all and I have to hold her up for her functions. Hoswever, she will let you know when she has to do so. Do you think physiotherapoy will help, I want to take her to a place which is quite a distance from here and see if she will react to hydrotherapy tomorrow.
Please help me and tell me what to do. Crating her woul;d not help, since she is not moving at all. Thank to alkl of you for your help, I am really so down about her,I have had her for 13 yrs. Naomi

[naomi]

We did not try the quad. I am considering that too,or something like a baby carriage. I would still need some sort oif a sling, to hold her up when she has to go to the bathroom. What do you think, and w what about hydrotherapy professionally, a few times and then Icould do it here at home? I am excercising her legs not and massaging them quite a few times a day, and she seems quite nimble, in fact her little toes are moving when i DO THAT. tHANK YOUN SO MUCH EVERYBODY FOR HEL[PING US. Naomi

[critters]

If her toes move, that's GREAT!! There's not a complete disconnect between her spine and her legs; Buddy did that before he started moving more. Buddy's now sloppy and floppy, but he walks, does stairs, etc. He's a former homeless kitty who was hit by a car Apr. 9.

[Cindidoxiemom]

First you say your dog is too old to have surgery? Hunter (my 13 y/o dachshund) had his second IVDD surgery when he was 12 1/2. If surgery is within your means...go back..have a myelogram and go for it!
If sugery is not in your means, prednisone and TOTAL crate rest is the normal non sugical treatment.
You say she still has bladder/bowel control? This is very encouraging. Does she still have deep pain? Based on my experience with disc disease..surgery and treatment. If she still has bladder and bowel and has deep pain, a surgical consult would be in order hon.
Right now...TOTAL crate rest. No walking or movement except to go potty, and you should carry her out to potty.
Keep us updated.
Cindi
Hunter- IVDD sugery 2 times...walking
Oscar- IVDD sugery 1 time...paralyzed..but showing improvement!
Misty
Sage

[naomi]

Hi Cindi, I am so gratefu; to your response. Yes I had a surgical consul done and I WAS TOLD SHE WOULD NOT SURVIVE THE ANETHESIA. i AM CARRYING HER IN AND OUT AND SHE IS AT CONSTANT REST OTHEWISE, SINCE SHE CANNOT MOVE AT ALL. sO SHE IS TEITHER ON MY LAP OR ON HER PILLOW. sHE EATS WELL, DRINKS AND IS AWARE OF EVERYTHING. bUT iu SHALL GO AND HAVE HER EVAKUATED AGAIN TOMORROW, AT A NEUROLOGICAL VET. SURGEON AND pOSSIBLY AT THE vET CLINIC AT THE uNIVERSITY OF pA. VET HOSPITAL. wILL KEEP ALL OF YOU INFORMED AGAIN A MILLION THANKS FOR YOUR SUPPORT. NAOMI

[NAOMI]

Hi Kritters, will let you know mpore after a surgical and neurological consult tomorrow afternoon. Naomi Thanks a million.

[Robyn]

I had a visual of babies in those 4 wheel seats -- even though the baby can't walk or stand, it can still use its kicking motion to get around in this thing, which I do not know the name of. It looks like a high-chair seat on 4 spider legs. Could something like this be beneficial to a small dog with arthritis and paralysis? My other thought for a temporary measure is a scarf around the middle to support her while she makes the walking motions.

[Cody's Mom]

Hey Naomi,

I don't know if you read my post from yesterday, but as I said I don't think I would buy a rear wheel cart. I don't think it would work for her since she is weak in the front. If you are going to buy a cart, I would go with the quad cart which will support her fully and she won't have to pull the cart. She can walk in it if she's able and if not, you can pull her.

I can't remember if she is incontinent. I'm guessing she is being paralyzed. I saw you mentioned hydrotherapy. You may only be able to do this at home in the bathtub or kiddie pool. I know I wanted to have them do hydotherapy with Cody at rehab and they refused since he was incontinent. They wouldn't do it even if I put the little swimmer's diapers on him. So this may not be an option for your baby, but you could still do it at home.

Take care,

Cody's FOREVER proud Mom

[BethT]

Naomi,

Do you live in the Philadelphia PA area? I can recommend a great place for hydrotherapy (where my dog Waffles swims) in South Jersey. But definitely see the specialist first.
BethT