Hello,
I'm new to this forum and probably will not post much or check replies since I have to back to work the day after tomorrow! But I did get some inspiration from this site and wanted to give back by sharing my story for whoever it will help.
Mojo had had trouble with his back legs for quite awhile, and the Monday after Thanksgiving they just refused to work at all. The vet believes simply age-related neurological decline. We left him at the vet's the first night and brought him back the next day after I got a "bottoms-up" leash from Petco. However, he didn't have enough strength in the front to walk even with his hind end supported. He weighs 80 lbs (I weigh 100) and even with supports at both ends and my husband helping it was soon clear my shoulders couldn't last.
We did look into purchasing a cart, but aside from the high cost for a dog that large we were very concerned about time. Most of the sites said they could take 2 weeks! So...we scoured around and through trial and error built a cart. The cart itself is a human walker. His chest is supported by a "Skid Plate", purchased at GI Joe's (in the hunting dog section). His hind end is supported by a "Bottoms Up Leash" which has been modified some. The "skid Plate" attaches to the scooter frame with strapping and buckles that I sewed together. My husband did some cutting to remove bars and the original seat that were in the way and added the extensions in the front of the handles.
To move him around indoors we made a stretcher (I sewed a sheet of denim and my husband cut the poles) and then my husband made a wheeled frame the stretcher can be placed on.
There are pictures at http://www.mojo.claudiaweb.org and you can also contact me for more details through that site.
I hope this will be helpful to others.
What we did for Mojo (16-year old lab,back legs don't work)
Two very clever inventions!
When he first had his attack Thanksgiving that made the legs totally paralyzed was he in pain?
What meds did your vet prescribe on Thanksgiving Day? is Mojo on meds now? Was any crate rest prescribed?
Did Mojo visit a specialist in neurological disorders?
Board certified neuros, internists and surgical specialists:
http://www.acvim.org/Specialist/Search.aspx
--
Paula Milner
Lewis and Clark (3 surgeries, paralyzed since Jan 2007;
Sept 10, 2007 superficial pain sensation)
Dachsie IVDD Care FAQ:
http://users.cyberport.net/~milnerwm/dachsieFAQ.html
When he first had his attack Thanksgiving that made the legs totally paralyzed was he in pain?
What meds did your vet prescribe on Thanksgiving Day? is Mojo on meds now? Was any crate rest prescribed?
Did Mojo visit a specialist in neurological disorders?
Board certified neuros, internists and surgical specialists:
http://www.acvim.org/Specialist/Search.aspx
--
Paula Milner
Lewis and Clark (3 surgeries, paralyzed since Jan 2007;
Sept 10, 2007 superficial pain sensation)
Dachsie IVDD Care FAQ:
http://users.cyberport.net/~milnerwm/dachsieFAQ.html
Can Mojo turn himself on his bed? Here are two kinds of mattresses you might be interested in.
a memory foam mattress to relieve pressure points:
40" x 56" x 2" Thick Square Dog Bed (Solid Memory Filled)
$54.99 http://www.foambymail.com/PetFoam.html
A veterinary quality mattress but washable:
36" x 60" $80
http://www.palacepet.com/history.htm
--
Paula Milner
a memory foam mattress to relieve pressure points:
40" x 56" x 2" Thick Square Dog Bed (Solid Memory Filled)
$54.99 http://www.foambymail.com/PetFoam.html
A veterinary quality mattress but washable:
36" x 60" $80
http://www.palacepet.com/history.htm
--
Paula Milner
Reply to Paula
Hi Paula,
Thanks for your comments. RE: the bedding -- yes, he can turn around and move quite a bit and does. Over the years I have tried every kind of foam and bedding and he has always preferred hard floors -- even preferring the tiled entry over the carpeted bedroom where we are.
RE the "attack", we had no idea anything was wrong till my husband tried to get him to get up and go out. He was barking, but we thought because he wanted to go out. I imagine he was in some pain, but he was definitely very scared at the vet's -- shaking; I've never seen him like that. I'm not sure what they gave him that first night but they sent him home with some prednisone. We stopped that after a few days because he was completely incontinent and not moving any better. (Now he is bowel incontinent -- which started about a year ago -- but we have to express urine -- or he will urinate when he eats). Now he is on tramodol which seems to be doing a great job of controlling the pain --plus all the other meds he was on before -- Rimadyl, phenobarb (for seizures), eye stuff for KCS.
And RE: the neurologist -- our vet did suggest this (although not with great optimism). The nearest veterinary neurologists are about an hour away. Frankly, we really thought he was just going to die and were focused on just meeting his immediate need as best we could and handling work and getting through the holidays....Now that it appears he plans to stick around and we have more or less of a system down to handle his day-to-day immediate needs we probably will look into a veterninary neurologist.
No crate rest was prescribed...
Not sure if I answered all your questions. Thanks for your interest.
Thanks for your comments. RE: the bedding -- yes, he can turn around and move quite a bit and does. Over the years I have tried every kind of foam and bedding and he has always preferred hard floors -- even preferring the tiled entry over the carpeted bedroom where we are.
RE the "attack", we had no idea anything was wrong till my husband tried to get him to get up and go out. He was barking, but we thought because he wanted to go out. I imagine he was in some pain, but he was definitely very scared at the vet's -- shaking; I've never seen him like that. I'm not sure what they gave him that first night but they sent him home with some prednisone. We stopped that after a few days because he was completely incontinent and not moving any better. (Now he is bowel incontinent -- which started about a year ago -- but we have to express urine -- or he will urinate when he eats). Now he is on tramodol which seems to be doing a great job of controlling the pain --plus all the other meds he was on before -- Rimadyl, phenobarb (for seizures), eye stuff for KCS.
And RE: the neurologist -- our vet did suggest this (although not with great optimism). The nearest veterinary neurologists are about an hour away. Frankly, we really thought he was just going to die and were focused on just meeting his immediate need as best we could and handling work and getting through the holidays....Now that it appears he plans to stick around and we have more or less of a system down to handle his day-to-day immediate needs we probably will look into a veterninary neurologist.
No crate rest was prescribed...
Not sure if I answered all your questions. Thanks for your interest.
Well, since Mojo can move and adjust himself, no need to worry about bed sores and pressure points, then. I guess his thick fluffy coat makes sleeping on the tile floor not bad!
Shaking is a sign of pain. There are a number of diseases/trauma that can damage the spinal cord. As with people the first course is immobilize the spine to prevent further damage (with dogs that means crate rest). Finding our what the cause of the cord damage is and now five weeks later, a neuro with an evaluation might be able to offer a treatment. Spinal cord damage is slow to repair, but in some cases with rest or surgery can come back in weeks, months or a year out, sometimes never. At 16 surgery may not be a consideration.
Did the vet say Mojo has deep pain sensation in his hind paws? If yes, there are rehab centers with water treadmills that are excellent for retraining the legs to walk again. Veterinary acupuncture is also good for healing the nerves and with reducing pain thus educing the amount of pain relievers needed.
I'm not saying Mojo has disc disease or needs surgery, but here is an example of a dog that had spinal cord injury and thru rehab did learn to walk again. http://www.dodgerslist.com/story.html
You can do rehab at home to keep those back leg muscles in tone and prevent atrophy. Also the joints need to be flexed to keep them from freezing up. http://www.dodgerslist.com/lit/Massage% ... rcises.htm
You can express his poop as well as urine. About 30-60 minutes before his body would normally release feces, you can encourage release at a more convenient time/place.
http://users.cyberport.net/~milnerwm/Ex ... hor1101367
Steroids or Rimadyl which is a type of NSAIDs, both of these are very tough on the stomach and should never be taken at the same time. Make sure Mojo is taking a stomach protector such as human Pepcid (famotidine) for the Rimadyl. For my little dachsie it's 1/2 10mg tab 30 mins before dosage, your vet can tell you for Mojo's size.
Know the side effects of NSAIDs, regarding kidneys, bleeding, stomach ulcerations "for example: an aged pet may not efficiently clear a dose of medication from its body leading to stronger and longer activity of the drug" http://www.marvistavet.com/html/rimadyl.html
University Teaching Vet Hospitals have board certified neuros or find others near you http://www.acvim.org/Specialist/Search.aspx
Best wishes for a good 2008 with Mojo!
--
Paula Milner
Lewis and Clark (3 surgeries, paralyzed since Jan 2007;
Sept 10, 2007 superficial pain sensation)
Dachsie IVDD Care FAQ:
http://users.cyberport.net/~milnerwm/dachsieFAQ.html
Shaking is a sign of pain. There are a number of diseases/trauma that can damage the spinal cord. As with people the first course is immobilize the spine to prevent further damage (with dogs that means crate rest). Finding our what the cause of the cord damage is and now five weeks later, a neuro with an evaluation might be able to offer a treatment. Spinal cord damage is slow to repair, but in some cases with rest or surgery can come back in weeks, months or a year out, sometimes never. At 16 surgery may not be a consideration.
Did the vet say Mojo has deep pain sensation in his hind paws? If yes, there are rehab centers with water treadmills that are excellent for retraining the legs to walk again. Veterinary acupuncture is also good for healing the nerves and with reducing pain thus educing the amount of pain relievers needed.
I'm not saying Mojo has disc disease or needs surgery, but here is an example of a dog that had spinal cord injury and thru rehab did learn to walk again. http://www.dodgerslist.com/story.html
You can do rehab at home to keep those back leg muscles in tone and prevent atrophy. Also the joints need to be flexed to keep them from freezing up. http://www.dodgerslist.com/lit/Massage% ... rcises.htm
You can express his poop as well as urine. About 30-60 minutes before his body would normally release feces, you can encourage release at a more convenient time/place.
http://users.cyberport.net/~milnerwm/Ex ... hor1101367
Steroids or Rimadyl which is a type of NSAIDs, both of these are very tough on the stomach and should never be taken at the same time. Make sure Mojo is taking a stomach protector such as human Pepcid (famotidine) for the Rimadyl. For my little dachsie it's 1/2 10mg tab 30 mins before dosage, your vet can tell you for Mojo's size.
Know the side effects of NSAIDs, regarding kidneys, bleeding, stomach ulcerations "for example: an aged pet may not efficiently clear a dose of medication from its body leading to stronger and longer activity of the drug" http://www.marvistavet.com/html/rimadyl.html
University Teaching Vet Hospitals have board certified neuros or find others near you http://www.acvim.org/Specialist/Search.aspx
Best wishes for a good 2008 with Mojo!
--
Paula Milner
Lewis and Clark (3 surgeries, paralyzed since Jan 2007;
Sept 10, 2007 superficial pain sensation)
Dachsie IVDD Care FAQ:
http://users.cyberport.net/~milnerwm/dachsieFAQ.html