Neurological Disorders Resources. Treatment and care for pets having pain or trouble walking or standing due to spinal injuries or neurological disorders like IVDD, FCE and DM.
I adopted a precious dog a few months ago from a special needs rescue that I volunteer with. After several months, we figured out that she has hemivertebrae. Since birth, she has not been able to use her back legs at all. The back half of her is completely emaciated. She has no muscle tone from lack of use. So, she has a very severe case of it. She also has neurological problems. She shakes very bad all over her body when she tries to move herself or when she gets upset. Question 1...is this related to hemivertebrae?
She also has something wrong with the front half of her body. Her front legs splay out to the sides like a dog with Swimmer Puppy Syndrome. She lays flat on her chest with her front legs at a 90 degree angle to her body. Is that also related?
Lastly, she also has severe muscle contraction in her back legs. It's bad enough that her kneecaps have been pulled to her thighs. I know that sounds crazy, but it showed on her xrays. Her back legs don't bend at all, and we always wondered if her kneecaps were on backwards. Her bones in her back legs also don't line up correctly. I'm attaching a picture of her xray that shows the kneecaps and bone misalignment. In case anyone is wondering, her tail had to be amputated b/c she was peeing and pooping on her tail. Her rectum is actually attached to her tail instead of being below it, so she's a mess. Because of the muscle contraction, the vet said that in the future her pain may get so bad that we have to put her down. Right now she takes Ultram when she has pain. I have to give it to her about once a week or so, so it's not bad, but she's only 11 months old. Has anyone got any information about how this disease progresses? Do dogs with severe cases like this usually live a full life? I have asked my vet these questions, but he had never seen a case this severe, so he didn't have answers.
I would appreciate any advice or help. I know some people may suggest that I go ahead and put her down with everything that's wrong with her, but I want to assure you that she's very happy. Here's a link to a video of her to prove it. http://s46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/ ... dedown.mp4
I'm also attaching a link to a picture of her.
Emma's xray: http://i46.photobucket.com/albums/f129/ ... /3EMMA.jpg
Emma:
Hello and
Your dog is absolutely darling, and looks very happy. Unfortunately I'm not familiar with this condition, but I hope someone with more experience will be able to give you some better insight soon. I looked at the radiograph you linked. Wow! I've never seen the patella's drawn up that high. That's an interesting picture.
I would guess that getting a better veterinary opinion will involve finding someone like a neurological specialist at a university hospital. In the meantime, it looks like you two are getting on very well. By your posts, it looks like you have a lot of experience with special needs dogs. I'm glad you've joined.
Thank you! She's the first one I've had myself, but I have worked with several others. She's unique though because she has so many things going on. But she's definitely happy. I just pray she lives a long life with minimal pain. : )
mswanson502 wrote: She shakes very bad all over her body when she tries to move herself or when she gets upset. Question 1...is this related to hemivertebrae?
She also has something wrong with the front half of her body. Her front legs splay out to the sides like a dog with Swimmer Puppy Syndrome. She lays flat on her chest with her front legs at a 90 degree angle to her body.
I wonder if she may have severe cerebellar hypoplasia (cerebral palsy)? My Baby does, and this sounds an awful lot like her. Baby also has thin cartilage, like in her ears, and it's missing in her hips, not that it matters--she can't walk anyway.
I love the video . It is obvious that she is a well cared for happy girl. She is lucky to have a mom who is so concerned about her and takes such good care of her. May you have many, many happy years together.
Most vets have not seen that many pets with severe medical conditions so it is difficult for them to say how long they will live. With loving, attentive care she could live a long, long time.
I'll have to look at the cerebral palsy. I didn't know dogs could have that. Hmmm.
Well, I did consult with 2 neurologists. Both basically said that it didn't sound like there was anything that could be done for her. These were good doctors in Dallas, TX. I didn't want the rescue to spend all the money getting her there for no reason. She has improved greatly since she's been with me. She could barely move when I first got her at 4 months old. Now she's running, though her back legs drag. Thank y'all for your advice!
Thank you Jean!
I'm Joanne and your post made me smile because I have shared my life with several "straight legged shepherds". Straight hindlimbs can be a result of several different at problems (trauma, congenital, infectious, genetic). They are basically caused by contractures of the quadriceps or sartorius muscles that prevent the legs from bending, can cause bone deformities (my guys have no acetabulums, misaligned femoral heads, rotational deformites of the femur and tibia and short femurs) , and the patella alta you describe. Unfortunately 2 of my GSD's passed away (the oldest was nine and she had a GDV, it was nothing to do with her limb anomalies). Spirit had horrible orthopedic disease that somehow resulted in the contractures, but Darwin had myelodysplasia of his spinal cord (i.e. primary neurologic disease) with the orthopedic anomalies being secondary.
One question I have - given the shaking has your pup been tested for neospora?
None of my dogs are paralyzed (at least not the GSDs), in fact all run and play totally oblivious to their hindlimb anomalies. They are not painful and I expect that they will have a normal life. If you want to see my guys have a look at http://www.straightlegshepherds.org/
regards
Joanne
Joanne
Carl, Tiny, Freckles (paralyzed Lab, mix and Red Heeler)
Sam I Am (Lymphoma, Lab)
Eli, Aoibhe, Tesla (limb deformities, GSDs and Lab mix)
Mochridhe (storage disease, GSD)
First of all, I have to say how great it is that you were able to give Emma a home. She is just adorable. Not many people are kind enough, or understand the joys of having a special needs dog. I don't have a lot of information for you, but maybe some hope. I rescued a 10 week old schnauzer with a similar conditon almost 6 years ago now. We've never pinpointed the exact cause of her rear end paralysis, but she has severe scoliosis and some kind of spinal cord deformity from birth which leaves her paralyzed in the rear legs, incontinent, and with no deep pain sensation. I suspect it's something like spina bifida, but hemivertebrae has been mentioned as a possibility before. Anyways, the vet didn't want to get a referral because he said it would be just a waste of money as her problem was congenital, so even if we figured out what it was, there would be nothing to do about it. We did try therapy and acupuncture, which we still get occasionally, though truthfully I think the needles do more to freak her out than calm her! She's really spirited so her idea of fun is not laying still with a bunch of needles in her! There are a lot of similarities between our girls. My girl has splayed front legs, just a congenital defect to deal with her scoliosis and rear paralysis. I also thought it may be swimmer's puppy syndrome, but my vet says it's just the way her body compensates her disability. It's just the way she balances herself. I was concerned about her development as a puppy, but my vet said as long as she gets around, leave it alone. Dogs have a way of compensating for injuries and conditions, and sometimes we do more to interfere with them than needed. Almost six years later, it is no worse, no better, and she still gets around just fine. We are lucky, as she has no problems with pain, she just has no feeling below the waist, so it's not been a problem for us thankfully, so I can't advise you there. Precious does shake a lot, she's perpetually cold, even though we live in Florida, and she gets a lot of nerve impulses in her back and legs, which seem to bother her a bit, but this is just normal for her, I don't know if it's similar to your pup. Plus she's one of those dogs that just loves a good hard shake. But of course when people see a paralyzed doing it, they assume she's having a seizure! When you're dealing with neurological issues, as spinal cord deformities are, you can get a lot of side effects. Plus she's still a puppy, so this may even be something she could grow out of.
Precious will be 6 years old in January, and has never really been sick in her life. She's never had a bladder infection, and the only surgery she's ever needed was to pull a baby tooth and her spay of course, to which she came out of it very well. The only thing that we struggle with is little skin infections around her groin. She's on a strict pottying schedule, so she never really has accidents, but even when she does I wash her with soap and water every time, but we still get the rash. But if that's the worst of it, I can't complain. More importantly, so many people who've known her as a pup never expected her to last a year, two years, three years, couldn't even imagine longer than that. But still she goes on, happy as the day is long, healthy as she ever could be. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't worried about losing her every day, because she's just become such an important part of my life. But I have to always remind myself that every day with her is a pleasure and a blessing. We have to focus on day to day, and not worry what the future will bring. Because truly every day I am with her I am so incredibly thankful for, because she has taught me so much, given me so much, and helped me through so much. Everyone says how lucky she is to have found me, but I know the truth, for I need her much more than she could have ever needed me. Most people don't understand, but when you've been blessed by such a presence, you get it. Because of her,I will always want to have a handicapped dog in my life, always. But I wanted to write you to say that Emma could live a normal, happy life, outlive many dogs people would consider much healthier than her. You just never know. The will to live is strong, and the enjoyment is strong, and I see that in her, as I know you do too.
Good luck with her and we'll be praying for Emma and her health, and don't ever let anyone tell you what is best for your dog. Only you know that!
I'm also attaching two pics of my girl, one so you can see how her front legs are splayed as well, and the other how she can still her use cart even though her legs are splayed, though it is a four wheeled cart as it was thought her front legs needed to be supported as well, but she still gets along in it great.
Best wishes, and thanks for helping your special girl,
