Paralyzed Dog kicking

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.
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CarolC
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by CarolC »

That is great about the ramp. Thanks for posting the facebook link, I was surprised! There's a May 12 video where she is standing well and walking a little. She might be slow and hesitant, but I am impressed! Some of your rehab must be working. Can you explain more about it? How far can she go if you stand her up? Does she ever flip her feet under and walk on her knuckles? Does she ever lose her balance? Her muscle mass in her hindquarters looked good. This is the video I was watching.

https://www.facebook.com/71496430855546 ... 516448567/

Also, I had no idea she was deaf. You were so nice to adopt a deaf dog! :angel:
RedKat
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

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See that is the thing, she has done nothing but get worse. If you see the post in order you will watch her from walking to limping, to slowly moving, and at this point, she can't even roll over on her own. I water her with a syringe, I turn her food bowl sideways so she can "scoop" with her tongue. She can't stand at all she is too weak. A lot of this last month has been wasted on how to get her therapy instead of her having therapy. So she has done nothing but lay down. As I have had a hard time moving, lifting, turning her. So I'm really hoping we can go in the other direction now. She paddles pretty well with her front legs, and I would give her about 85%. I saw her back right leg move twice on Wednesday as she was trying desperately to get to shore. She so hates this but loves being back outside, and we are going to do it even if she hates because she can't do anything to stop me. When she can walk away then we will do something else.
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CarolC
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

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RedKat wrote:See that is the thing, she has done nothing but get worse. If you see the post in order you will watch her from walking to limping, to slowly moving, and at this point, she can't even roll over on her own. I water her with a syringe, I turn her food bowl sideways so she can "scoop" with her tongue. She can't stand at all she is too weak. A lot of this last month has been wasted on how to get her therapy instead of her having therapy. So she has done nothing but lay down.
That is just so strange. If someone has a dachshund (for example) that is diagnosed with a spinal problem, one of the treatment options for some dachshunds is 8 or even 10 weeks of strict crate rest. They stay in their small crate 24/7, only out to potty, and for toileting they are carried to and from the grass, and only allowed to potty on a leash with a minimum of movement, then right back in the crate. During this time of 2 months or more when they have no physical therapy and as little movement as possible, they do not slowly lose the ability to turn over or eat. At most they might lose a little muscle mass in their hindquarters. So I do not see how lack of physical therapy could cause a noticeable change like you describe in one month. Don't fault yourself, you have been doing a lot. I would lean toward thinking this is something with her and not with you, and I don't think she is doing it on purpose, so neither one of you is to blame. It seems like there must be some reason behind it. It's just not clear what it is.

Did the vet say she has a neck problem? Did he say anything about Wobbler syndrome?

It could be something temporary. Are you noticing any signs of a urinary tract infection, such as a change in the color or odor of the urine?

Also, did you ever get a chance to ask the vet about the crunching you noticed in her shoulder blades? I have never heard of that. I would really like to know what that is.

I'm sorry for so many questions. I don't know, I am just trying to figure this out. Maybe some of the answers are further down your fb timeline. I am going to keep looking at your fb page. I am not a member of fb and it keeps popping up the login screen and the videos freeze half the time, probably because of my wonderful internet connection. :roll:
RedKat
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by RedKat »

Her injury is between her front shoulder blades. I have no idea what Wobbler syndrome. As far as I know, she doesn't have a bladder infection. No, I haven't been to the vet since then. I don't have the money to take her. I owe my next door neighbor $67.00 for the last visit. Which I'm hoping to be able to pay in Sept. Maggie was never placed on create rest that I recall.
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CarolC
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by CarolC »

OK, thanks.

I think it said on the fb page that she was on prednisone for a little while. Was she doing better on the prednisone? It would tend to decrease inflammation and might help her neck feel better so she could move better.

Just wondering if the reason she is lying down so much is maybe because it is uncomfortable or painful for her to sit up at the moment? I don't know. Sometimes anti-inflammatory meds or muscle relaxers help. Sometimes rest helps, but sometimes sensible light activity helps restore things. That may be why the vet recommended hydrotherapy.

I think different dogs show pain differently. Some of them will whine and cry and tremble. Some will become quiet and withdrawn and kind of hide it and keep it in.

Here is a list of signs of pain in dogs from the AKC.
https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/general-health/signs-that-your-pooch-is-in-pain/ wrote: The most obvious signs of pain in dogs include:
  • Anxiety
  • Agitation
  • Vocalization
  • Trembling
  • Restlessness
  • Increased breathing rate.
More subtle signs include:
  • Increased heart rate
  • Reduced appetite
  • Depression
  • Reluctance to move
I contacted Nancy at Walkin' Wheels to see if she knows of any adjustment on the wheelchair to make it easier for a dog with a problem in the neck or between the shoulders. Will see what she recommends. She'll probably know if there is anything that can be done to improve that. I think you might have been right to keep her out of it, at the point where you weren't sure it was helping. But it would be easier on you if there is a way to make it work.

Your dog is lucky. You got her a wheelchair, a sports cart, a swimming tank, a flotation vest, a special bed, and even a cold laser. I don't know how many of your friends or neighbors have cared for a 60-lb down dog for 7 months, but I did it with my golden retriever, Merlin, who started out at 63 lbs when he went down. I lived alone and was 52 at the time with a previous back problem. I had to be really careful every day how I did anything with him. I dislocated a rib, rotated vertebrae, and messed up the SI joint, among other things. I found that taking Aleve took the edge off, and I wish I had tried it sooner. When you talk about aches and arthritis and your back, I believe you.

EDIT TO ADD: If she's had any kind of bite (even a small one) or puncture wound in the skin where it is squishy-crunchy, that could be a useful clue.
RedKat
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

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The reason that She lays down all the time is that she can no longer set up. She has slowly gotten worse and worse over time starting out with that limp that I was telling you about until we're to the point now where she can't even sit up. Where I have to feed her my holding her Bowl sideways. And I have to water her with a 35 ml syringe. Otherwise she can't do it. We have done 3 days of water therapy though and today was the third and it went pretty good. She wanted to swim to shore, so I left her. And she moved her back legs a very little bit, not much, but a little. So I’m hoping to see more improvements as we go along.
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critters
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by critters »

Well, at least it sounds like good possibilities! :D
RedKat
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by RedKat »

There is a new video up on the GG andMaggie Jo show. It's of her 4th session. It's a good one!

https://www.facebook.com/The-GG-and-Mag ... 308555466/
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CarolC
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by CarolC »

Super good! Working both legs and she looks pleasantly tired and happy in her cart afterward. What a pretty place that is.

:trophy:
RedKat
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by RedKat »

Yes, she normally takes about 2-3 hr nap after we get done. But she is happy. LoL She looks forward to getting out of the water, being in the water scares her still. She is scared that she will go underwater and won't come back up. So she is very happy to be done.
boinkboink
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by boinkboink »

Hi Everyone,

Thank you for contributing so much in this forum as I get to learn a lot about handicapped pets.

Sadly a week ago, our dearest dalmatian Rosie was playing in the garden and when she came in she has the same symptoms as Maggie Jo where she couldn't stand up anymore and her back legs are now paralysed. On the second day she could still walk but very wobbly and keep falling down but on day three onward she's been lying on the bed whole day :(

1) We took her to see the Vet immediately on the second day and the vet prescribe some antibiotic as she's having some fever.

2) The fever slowly goes away on day 3 but she's still not getting up and we took her to the vet again and the vet suspect that she might have a tumour in her brain.

3) The vet then gave her some steroid and see if that would ease her symptoms.

4) It is day 7 now, her fever is gone and she has improved where she looks brighter now except that she still cannot walk and hardly be able to crawl. It is really heart breaking :(

5) The thing that keeps our hopes up is that her back legs are movable? same as the topic in this thread, her legs are kicking when you massage her neck and also when you tickle her legs, sometimes she will kick back.

6) We will be taking her back to the vet tomorrow to further monitor her situation but I wonder has anyone has similar experience or could give any suggestions please? We love her to bits and I've been very worried about her everyday.

Thanks for looking into this thread.
RedKat
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

Post by RedKat »

Get your dog to a vet now! I wasted so much time thinking she would be ok. You need a specialist to look at your dog, do MRI or what ever. I had to put Maggie Jo on March 12, 2019. If I had reacterd faster, understood everything I was up against she would still be here. If you need help look for a foundation that will help. I recommend http://www.bialyswellnessfoundation.org/ they did so much for Maggs, it was just to late to save her. There is nothing harder as a pet parent then watching you dog only be able to lift her, smiling at you, as she takes her last breath, knowing its all your fault. I wish you the best of luck!
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CarolC
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Re: Paralyzed Dog kicking

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I agree with RedKat. You've taken her to a vet twice but he hasn't given a firm diagnosis. You need a specialist asap if you can. You need a diagnosis. There are diseases that can cause both fever and paralysis, but there are different diseases in different parts of the world, and a specialist where you live should know the possibilities where you live. Also the fever could be a coincidence, but they need to figure that out. It sounds like she needs bloodwork to try to diagnose the "fever of unknown origin" and maybe an MRI or CT like RedKat said to look for any spinal problems. I am not sure why the vet suggested a possible brain tumor but that is something else a specialist could check better than a general vet. Some specialists are only by referral. That means you have to call your regular vet and say, "Please refer us to a specialist" and he will find one and make the appt for you. Other specialists do not require referral. If you go online you can usually find a directory of veterinary specialists in your area. As RedKat said, with paralysis time is of the essence. We don't know what is going on with your dog but finding out immediately gives you the best options for treatment.

RedKat, I am so sorry. You gave it 1000% and you and she both did all you could with a situation that was going to be difficult no matter what. We can blame ourselves for a lot of things, but sometimes it's the situation and not us. I'm so sorry it did not work out after you did so much to try to give her every chance. She would not want you to feel bad. I am so sorry for your loss. :cry:
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