Hi all, looking for answers and support. I’ve worked professionally (for about 3 years) and as a volunteer in rescue for about 15 years. I typically foster newborns or serious adult medical cases. I fostered a paralyzed dachsie for 6 months until his adoption.
I’ve had my sweet Sophie since she was 1 day old. I tube fed her, then bottle fed her, then failed as her foster mom. She is barely 20 months old and is a tiny but fierce 10 lb terrier-chi mix.
Here are my questions, then I’ll give her history.
1) Any experience with a dog this young paralyzed but was not caused by any sort of injury or accident?
2) if we see improvement, how quickly should we expect it?
3) After how many days do we assume this is the new norm?
About 5 months ago, she had an episode of serious shoulder and back pain. After 2 weeks on pain meds, she was back to her typical fetch-aholic behavior.
Wednesday, she seemed sore- not as active as usual and whimpered once when picked up. Thursday, she was definitely painful so we started her back on pain meds with plans to take her to the vet in the morning. At the vet yesterday morning (Friday), she walked - although you could tell she was sore. She reacted quickly to replace her feet when the vet tested the reflexes on her back legs. The vet took X-rays, which showed that she had a cartilage flap in her shoulder, which will be easily repaired surgically. Unfortunately, she also had three mineralized discs in her back. At 20-months old!!!
Vet sent us home on pain meds and told us “still is the name of the game” to let her heal. When we got home, Sophie walked on her own to urinate. Well, When I checked her at 5 pm, she could hardly walk at all and no longer replaced her feet when I checked her reflexes. By 9 pm, she was completely paralyzed.
She cannot control her bladder. She has pooped small amounts twice today (Saturday).
I’m so calm, cool and collected when it comes to caring for sick and injured dogs. I’ve seen just about all of it over the past 15 years. But I’ve done nothing but cry since last night.
Thanks in advance!
Cathy
20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
Re: 20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
Hi Cathy,
http://www.dodgerslist.com/faq.htm
Without having a firm diagnosis, it is hard to be sure what is going on. 20 months old does sound young for a disk problem, but a disk problem does match the symptoms.
It was understandable for your vet to recommend strict crate rest, as that does work for some dogs when a disk problem is not too bad. But at this point I would say it looks like crate rest is not working. She has progressed to a worse state. She is paralyzed or nearly so. Therefore, time is of the essence.
If you can afford it (I know people who work in animal rescue often do not have a lot of extra money to spend) my best thought would be to get her to a vet on an emergency basis asap. Ideally to a specialty center. It sounds like she needs advanced imaging and possibly surgery, but I don't know. There are other conditions that can cause paralysis, including diseases or a clot. Someone needs to find out if this is related to the previous shoulder issue or something else.
My vet told me a lot of dogs have calcified disks (I think he meant older dogs) and often they cause the dog no problem, so that may or may not have something to do with this.
Anyway, if it was my dog and if I could afford it, I would get her straight in for an exam...tonight if possible, to see if she has lost deep pain sensation. If they lose deep pain sensation, then the sooner surgery is done the more likelihood there is of success. It is best done within the first 24 hours, the sooner the better. Surgery is never guaranteed, but the chances of success go down by the hour if delayed.
If she has not lost deep pain sensation, then it seems like at least she might need to be on some kind of anti-inflammatory medication (like prednisone) along with her crate rest.
I'm not saying any of this very well, but when they take a turn for the worse during crate rest, then it is time to consider surgical treatment, and with surgery the sooner the better, and it is best done by a board certified specialist, even if you have to drive the dog an hour or two to a regional veterinary specialty hospital or veterinary college.
You could either take her to the local after hours emergency clinic and get a referral to the specialty hospital, or you could try looking up the regional specialty center or veterinary hospital and call them directly and see what their admission procedures are. I'm sorry, but I think you kind of need to think in emergency mode right now.
If surgery is totally not an option, she can still have a happy life as a paralyzed dog (and it's good that you have experience). If her injury is up near the shoulders, her care may be a little different than the dachshund, but it's great that she is a small dog and you have done this before.
(((big hugs))) to both of you.
http://www.dodgerslist.com/faq.htm
Without having a firm diagnosis, it is hard to be sure what is going on. 20 months old does sound young for a disk problem, but a disk problem does match the symptoms.
It was understandable for your vet to recommend strict crate rest, as that does work for some dogs when a disk problem is not too bad. But at this point I would say it looks like crate rest is not working. She has progressed to a worse state. She is paralyzed or nearly so. Therefore, time is of the essence.
If you can afford it (I know people who work in animal rescue often do not have a lot of extra money to spend) my best thought would be to get her to a vet on an emergency basis asap. Ideally to a specialty center. It sounds like she needs advanced imaging and possibly surgery, but I don't know. There are other conditions that can cause paralysis, including diseases or a clot. Someone needs to find out if this is related to the previous shoulder issue or something else.
My vet told me a lot of dogs have calcified disks (I think he meant older dogs) and often they cause the dog no problem, so that may or may not have something to do with this.
Anyway, if it was my dog and if I could afford it, I would get her straight in for an exam...tonight if possible, to see if she has lost deep pain sensation. If they lose deep pain sensation, then the sooner surgery is done the more likelihood there is of success. It is best done within the first 24 hours, the sooner the better. Surgery is never guaranteed, but the chances of success go down by the hour if delayed.
If she has not lost deep pain sensation, then it seems like at least she might need to be on some kind of anti-inflammatory medication (like prednisone) along with her crate rest.
I'm not saying any of this very well, but when they take a turn for the worse during crate rest, then it is time to consider surgical treatment, and with surgery the sooner the better, and it is best done by a board certified specialist, even if you have to drive the dog an hour or two to a regional veterinary specialty hospital or veterinary college.
I know this is a lot to think about on a Saturday night. It sounds like this little dog is kind of the light of your life, and if you can't afford surgery, you might want to consider Care Credit to pay for it. It is a loan for emergency veterinary care, the terms are good, and you pay it off over time. Many vet hospitals have the application at their reception desk and will submit it for you and you find out very quickly if you are approved.http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htm wrote: When surgery is a consideration
• If your dog can't walk OR with STRICT crate rest, neurological functions worsen and are lost (legs and bladder control)
You could either take her to the local after hours emergency clinic and get a referral to the specialty hospital, or you could try looking up the regional specialty center or veterinary hospital and call them directly and see what their admission procedures are. I'm sorry, but I think you kind of need to think in emergency mode right now.
If surgery is totally not an option, she can still have a happy life as a paralyzed dog (and it's good that you have experience). If her injury is up near the shoulders, her care may be a little different than the dachshund, but it's great that she is a small dog and you have done this before.
(((big hugs))) to both of you.
Re: 20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
Hi Carol,
Thank you for the quick response! She didn't get worse on crate rest - we just started her on crate rest on Friday at noon. She went from walking that morning to paralyzed that night. We started her on prednisone Friday night.
The good news is that we had some improvement over Sunday. She can poop on her own and she is no longer leaking urine. Also, several times she has "squatted" and peed a bit on her own. I'm continuing to express her bladder and she is on strict crate rest - only out 5-6 times a day for potty. Luckily, she is a little girl, so she is easy to carry. Bad news is that it is tough to bend all the way over to express her outside. So, I'm doing 2-3 times outside and then doing 3-4 times inside on the counter to save my back a bit.
I'm okay with having a paralyzed girl, I'm not okay with having a pup in pain. I spoke with our vet this morning. Our game plan is strict crate rest for 4 weeks with prednisone, then re-evaluate.
Luckily, Sophie is being so good in the crate - totally chilled. We are moving her crate so that she is always with us.
Cathy
Thank you for the quick response! She didn't get worse on crate rest - we just started her on crate rest on Friday at noon. She went from walking that morning to paralyzed that night. We started her on prednisone Friday night.
The good news is that we had some improvement over Sunday. She can poop on her own and she is no longer leaking urine. Also, several times she has "squatted" and peed a bit on her own. I'm continuing to express her bladder and she is on strict crate rest - only out 5-6 times a day for potty. Luckily, she is a little girl, so she is easy to carry. Bad news is that it is tough to bend all the way over to express her outside. So, I'm doing 2-3 times outside and then doing 3-4 times inside on the counter to save my back a bit.
I'm okay with having a paralyzed girl, I'm not okay with having a pup in pain. I spoke with our vet this morning. Our game plan is strict crate rest for 4 weeks with prednisone, then re-evaluate.
Luckily, Sophie is being so good in the crate - totally chilled. We are moving her crate so that she is always with us.
Cathy
Re: 20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
Oh, that is the best news. Whew!
I'm sorry, I was reading it that you went to the vet Friday morning, he sent her home with instructions to be still, and at 5 pm Friday she got worse. I'm really glad she's doing better with the prednisone and is good in her crate.
Sorry the board was down off and on yesterday. I was so worried not knowing how she was doing. Thank you for updating! Hopefully they have whatever glitch it was fixed now.
I'm sorry, I was reading it that you went to the vet Friday morning, he sent her home with instructions to be still, and at 5 pm Friday she got worse. I'm really glad she's doing better with the prednisone and is good in her crate.
Sorry the board was down off and on yesterday. I was so worried not knowing how she was doing. Thank you for updating! Hopefully they have whatever glitch it was fixed now.
Re: 20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
Wareagle wrote:Hi Carol,
Thank you for the quick response! She didn't get worse on crate rest - we just started her on crate rest on Friday at noon. She went from walking that morning to paralyzed that night. We started her on prednisone Friday night. Very glad to see that! Pred was going to be my first suggestion.
The good news is that we had some improvement over Sunday. She can poop on her own and she is no longer leaking urine. Also, several times she has "squatted" and peed a bit on her own. I'm continuing to express her bladder and she is on strict crate rest - only out 5-6 times a day for potty. Luckily, she is a little girl, so she is easy to carry. Bad news is that it is tough to bend all the way over to express her outside. So, I'm doing 2-3 times outside and then doing 3-4 times inside on the counter to save my back a bit. How about kneeling? That's what I always did. You can even use knee pads if you want (I suggest the ones with a hard plastic shell on the outside).
I'm okay with having a paralyzed girl, I'm not okay with having a pup in pain. I spoke with our vet this morning. Our game plan is strict crate rest for 4 weeks with prednisone, then re-evaluate.
Luckily, Sophie is being so good in the crate - totally chilled. We are moving her crate so that she is always with us.
Cathy
Re: 20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
Wonderful news to report! Sophie started using her legs yesterday morning! We are continuing to keep her crated and are speaking with the vet this afternoon. Woohooo!
Re: 20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
That is g-r-e-a-t news! So you have the recheck today, and I imagine the vet will re-evaluate and decide whether to continue prednisone and crate rest? The advice on crate rest for conservative management of a disk problem (if that is what this is, I'm not sure that has been established) is 8 weeks of crate rest.
http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/I ... tment.html
Have you had a chance to think about whether there is a way to avoid this in the future? Don't ask me how you're supposed to slow down a teenage chihuahua-terrier mix on a long term daily basis! Recommendations include not jumping off of furniture, and using ramps instead of steps.
Do you think her neck is involved at all? Did he include the neck in the x-rays? You mentioned previous shoulder pain in the first post, but did not mention the neck. Have her front legs been fine through all of this? There is a condition that affects some young small breed dogs like chihuahuas and Yorkies, but it involves the neck.
Glad to hear the good news!
http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/I ... tment.html
Have you had a chance to think about whether there is a way to avoid this in the future? Don't ask me how you're supposed to slow down a teenage chihuahua-terrier mix on a long term daily basis! Recommendations include not jumping off of furniture, and using ramps instead of steps.
Do you think her neck is involved at all? Did he include the neck in the x-rays? You mentioned previous shoulder pain in the first post, but did not mention the neck. Have her front legs been fine through all of this? There is a condition that affects some young small breed dogs like chihuahuas and Yorkies, but it involves the neck.
Glad to hear the good news!