20-month old pup, paralyzed last night
Posted: Sat Aug 04, 2018 6:47 pm
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
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