Need help - my dog can’t walk -
Posted: Wed Feb 26, 2020 1:42 am
Hi, I am brand new to this group - I have a seven year old American bulldog and she cannot walk. Quick background: she is a rescue and came from a horrible beginning. she’s had every problem under the sun. In 2014 - she was diagnosed with heartworm, mast cell tumor, tumors on her memory chain and a pregnancy with 12 puppies. Her uterus was infected and had to be removed. The puppies did not survive. In 2015, she had 17 teeth pulled and another mast cell tumor. In 2016, everything seemed good and I thought we were home free, and that we were finally through all of her battles. In 2017 she was diagnosed with bone spurs in her lower back, likely from an injury as a puppy, (before I rescued her). In October 2018 she was diagnosed with lung cancer and given 2 to 6 months to live. We chose not to do radiation or chemo but instead focused on healthy food and holistic treatment. She is still here. In May 2019 she collapsed on a walk and was diagnosed with congestive heart failure. Just when I thought we’d had all we could take, at the beginning of February, (2020) her back leg seemed a little out of sync with the rest of them.
We went to the vet and got some anti-inflammatories and pain medicine and five days later she was stepping off her chair - not jumping – and when her feet touched the ground, she immediately fell on her right hip. Her walking ability has declined rapidly since then.
She is not a candidate for surgery because of her other health issues. She cannot go under anesthesia, which means an MRI is not an option. she cannot do prednisone because of her heart disease.
My vet referred me to a vet that specializes in rehab and pain management. The vet recommended we try physical therapy and acupuncture for a month and then reevaluate.
The reason I am writing today as I am having a lot of trouble navigating her care. I am single, and don’t have any help. She weighs 50 pounds and it is very hard to carry her everywhere. While she cannot walk, she is still continent. We just got a help’em up harness today, which is helpful, but I cannot get her to go potty while she’s wearing it. i’m sure it feels strange and she just doesn’t know what’s going on, but I know she’s got to go, and she just won’t go.
Does anyone have any tips? My pup is the love of my life and I will do anything and everything in the world for her. I bought a stroller and a wagon to help get her around. I think the harness will help when the wagon and stroller are too much trouble.
my biggest problem is dealing with getting her to go to the bathroom. Once she finally goes, I feel tremendous relief, but then immediately start getting anxious for when she will need to go again.
Thank you
We went to the vet and got some anti-inflammatories and pain medicine and five days later she was stepping off her chair - not jumping – and when her feet touched the ground, she immediately fell on her right hip. Her walking ability has declined rapidly since then.
She is not a candidate for surgery because of her other health issues. She cannot go under anesthesia, which means an MRI is not an option. she cannot do prednisone because of her heart disease.
My vet referred me to a vet that specializes in rehab and pain management. The vet recommended we try physical therapy and acupuncture for a month and then reevaluate.
The reason I am writing today as I am having a lot of trouble navigating her care. I am single, and don’t have any help. She weighs 50 pounds and it is very hard to carry her everywhere. While she cannot walk, she is still continent. We just got a help’em up harness today, which is helpful, but I cannot get her to go potty while she’s wearing it. i’m sure it feels strange and she just doesn’t know what’s going on, but I know she’s got to go, and she just won’t go.
Does anyone have any tips? My pup is the love of my life and I will do anything and everything in the world for her. I bought a stroller and a wagon to help get her around. I think the harness will help when the wagon and stroller are too much trouble.
my biggest problem is dealing with getting her to go to the bathroom. Once she finally goes, I feel tremendous relief, but then immediately start getting anxious for when she will need to go again.
Thank you