Biting and pulling fur out

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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Benitheheeler
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Biting and pulling fur out

Post by Benitheheeler »

Hello ! I’ve been reading several posts here about dogs biting their legs and it sounds like this could be a god sign. Beni is 11 months old- she has neospora and stopped walking last October. She uses a wheelchair, and has great mobility outside with her front legs.
Her back legs have good reflexes ( when you tickler her toes) and she moved them when she uses her cart, but doesn’t put much of any weight on them.
Recently she has started to bite at her back legs and pull them- she is pulling chunks of hair off! I’ve been giving her the Gabapentin but it’s not doing anything to stop her.
Is there anything else I can try? Have any of you experienced the fur pulling like Beni?
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critters
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Re: Biting and pulling fur out

Post by critters »

:whale: Yes, that kind of thing is pretty common after spinal cord injury. Lyrica can also be used, but maybe she needs a higher dose of gabapentin? In the meantime, keep close watch on that, because they can do a lot of damage to themselves very quickly.
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CarolC
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Re: Biting and pulling fur out

Post by CarolC »

:welcome: Benitheheeler,

I want to second (and third) everything critters said. I try not to exaggerate, so I actually mean this when I say it sounds like you've potentially got an emergency waiting to happen. There have been dogs who chewed off body parts and at least 2 dogs were posted here that the caregivers euthanized because they did so much damage chewing. See these links for examples.
https://handicappedpet.net/helppets/viewtopic.php?f=4&t=20403&p=104015#p104015 wrote:
http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/view ... 758#p28758
(chewed his toes, had to have surgery on his foot)

http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/view ... 297#p15290
(chewed both hind legs,double amputation doxie)

http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/view ... 931#p63931
(Bailey chewed his p*nis off)

http://www.handicappedpet.net/helppets/ ... =4&t=11598
(doxie mix got out of e-collar, chewed foot nearly off)

viewtopic.php?f=21&t=12506#p64984
(chewed foot off in minutes, euthanized)

http://handicappedpet.net/helppets/view ... 205#p65205
(doxie chewed male area during crate rest, euthanized)

On the good side, it could mean you are seeing more recovery in the nerves. And chewing is usually a temporary phase (but necessary/urgent to get under control). It may be the gabapentin was working but the dosage needs to be increased now (as critters mentioned). Here is some information about Lyrica (pregabalin).

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=18641&p=96667#p96671

If it was my dog, I would put her into a cone collar until you can get a medication dosage that is working. The cone collar cannot be depended on, as dogs can get out of it, but it will help for as long as it's on. I think the stories in the links show that you can't depend on just watching the dog. Chewing damage has happened when the caregiver was out of the room, or during the night when the caregiver was asleep.
Benitheheeler
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Re: Biting and pulling fur out

Post by Benitheheeler »

Oh man! This is very scary. I made an apt for the end of the week, and may call and ask about increasing gabapentin. I also ordered a cone- hopefully in the morning it will be here. I haven’t noticed any pattern as to why, or when she does it- but I’ll walk by her and find all this hair in tufts laying all around her. I hope she stops this phase quickly.
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FYI
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Re: Biting and pulling fur out

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CarolC
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Re: Biting and pulling fur out

Post by CarolC »

Here is a scientific explanation of why they chew on their feet:
Other: Excerpts on regeneration of nerves

"The denervated limb must be protected from mutilation until evidence of reinnervation is apparent. Such protection may be provided by padded bandages, splints, or moldable cast material. In some cases, self-mutilation of the denervated portion may be attempted and may be correlated with early stages of axon growth and reinnervation of sensory-deprived areas. Conservative management, accomplished by a protective bandage, side brace, bucket collar, or muzzling, is usually sufficient to prevent further damage. "
Note: This was written before use of gabapentin or pregabalin was common.
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