Help Needed: Mini Aussie with Back Problem

[Stefanie]

Hello. I am new here and I have an 8 month old Miniature Australian Shepherd who just recently has had some strange problems with her rear end. She has been to the emergancy vet and her regular vet. They did X-Rays and blood tests but can't find anything significant. They said she is very young to have a disc problem but it is still possible.

Here are her symptoms: She started having trouble going up the stairs, she would trip and not be able to pull her rear end back up. Then I noticed when she would squat to deficate, her back legs would start shaking and she would fall back onto her rear end. She could no longer jump up on the furniture (which she is allowed to do). This was the first couple of days before she went to the emergancy vet. The vet told me to keep her calm for about 2 weeks and give her Rimidyl.

Well, she did okay for the first week back from the vet but then she went downhill fast. Now, she is really having trouble walking on her back legs and most of the time she starts dragging them. She still seems to want to run and play and do everything she did before but her legs won't let her. When she tries to go potty, her legs start shaking and she cannot hold herself up to deficate.

I called her regular vet and she prescribed a pain med in addition to the Rimidyl but it hasn't seemed to make a difference. She seems to be getting worse by the day. The vet said the next step will be an MRI.

The MRI is extremely expensive and my husband and I live paycheck to paycheck so we would have to scrape up everything we have just to afford the test.

Does anyone have any advice? Has anyone experienced something similar? Does anybody know of a list of vet clinics that have MRI machines so I can find one the doesn't charge so much as my vet? Please help! I love my dog and want to do what's right. Thanks.

[connie]

i have a yorkie mix 5 yrs od that had a ruptured disk and had surgery last year. but he stated acting like that before we know what it was. anyway, the vets told me later that if i had crated him , it wouldn't had got so bad. so first thing i would do is quit letting her drag, put her in a crate for healing and rest , just out to potty. cricket had to have crate rest for 6 weeks. they don't like it, but moving around will hurt them more. yes test is high, my vet let me pay it out, ask yours if they will.
hope this helps, but main thing, crate rest till they find out what is going on.
my prayers are with you, keep us updated please.

hugs,

connie and cricket

[Cindidoxiemom]

Stefanie,
I'm sorry your pup is going through this. I agree that 8 months is VERY young to have disc disease, but we did see a case on another board I belong to just recently. It sounds like a neuro/disc issue, and I agree with your vet that an MRI, meylogram or CT scan do sound necessary. You can't leave your dog on rimadyl long term, it will damage his liver.
Is your dog still able to urinate on his own?...Does he have feeling in his legs and feet? Has he ever "screamed" or yelped when you pick him up? move him?
I really think:
A. You need to crate your dog. If this is a disc problem, allowing him to walk around is asking for trouble. The simple act of walking can cause a rupture. This means that your pup needs to be in his crate at all times unless you are taking him to potty. I would carry him out to potty and carry him back.
B. I don't like Rimadyl, but your dog is already on it, and switching to a steroid like prednisone is not an option as you can't mix steroids and NSAIDs. This is more information on Rimadyl http://www.fda.gov/cvm/CVM_Updates/rimadyl2.html
C. Make an appointment with a Neurologist. Yes, they arn't cheap, but you really need a specialist for neuro problems like this.
D. Ask the neuro about MRI, CT and Myelogram...they can tell you the pros and cons of each.
Keep him still and calm right now, get an appointment with a specialist. You need a diagnosis to know what to do next. Guessing can end up being more expensive that finding what is actually happening and treating it.
Keep us informed.
Cindi

[Stefanie]

Thanks Connie. I have been keeping Zoe in a crate for most of the day and all night. I have been letting her out of it a bit more than I should, I guess. Thanks for your advice.

Stefanie and Zoe

[Stefanie]

Thank you Cindi. I will keep Zoe confined to her crate more than I have been. She has been crated all day when I am not home and all night. I will crate her now even when I am home except for potty breaks.

She hasn't really been responding to the Rimidyl or the other pain med she is taking (forgot the name). I am planning on taking her in to a specialist to talk about options. Maybe I can ask if she can be switched to something different than Rimidyl.

Thanks for the advice.

Stefanie

[Cindidoxiemom]

Stefanie,
I'm glad your going to do strict crate rest, and I'm thrilled you will be going to a neuro. You really do need to find out for sure what the diagnosis is. Once we all know that, perhaps we can help you more. If your Aussie is not getting pain relief, I do suggest you contact your regular vet ASAP and get something to help.
Now...you can't switch to a steroid like prednisone until the Rimadyl is completely out of the dog's system and that takes about a week. Again...I know have the diagnostic MRI,CT or Myelogram won't be cheap, but you need to find out what is going on, and I agree with your vet that one of these tests might give you the answers.
Cindi

[Stefanie]

Just curious. Can you tell me approximately how much the surgery cost for your dog or give me some idea of the cost of that kind of sugery? Thanks.

Stefanie

[GabrielDeafBlindPupFamily]

So doc still has no diagnosis. I have to agree with Cindi & Connie on the crate rest tho, and glad that was your first instinct.
When the diagnosis comes, clearer treatment options will be uncovered.
I am sorry you and Zoe are going through this and know how frightening something like this out of the blue can be...
I have two aussies.... my prides, my joys, my lethal whites, GabrielDeafBlindPup & AllicksBlindPup...

[connie]

hi again,
surgery for cricket's ruptured disk was 2500 dollars, but my vet contacted a vet in MEMPHIS, TN..(i am in arkansas) who did the sugery. arkansas didn't have a vet who could perform that kind of surgery. anyway she asked that vet to let me pay it out and he did. it never hurts to ask them.
he was wonderful, called me each night, kept me informed on everything. almost had to put him down, but the day before he made a turn around and was fighting to live. he was paralyzed when i brought him home, vet didn't hold out much for walking. but with P.T. lots of love, hard work on both of us, he has come a long way. vets are amazed by him now. he spinal walks, runs like the wind, does everything except jump up on things. i have a video on www.youtube.com of him walking. when you log on there go to search videos, type in "another walking video of cricket. see for yourself how they can overcome things.
but i had to crate him for 6 weeks like i said, i had to be real strict, and now i do hyrptherapy in bathtub , it helps also.
also make sure your baby's bladder is empty, paralyzed ones hardly ever can get urine out. there are so many more on this board that knows more than i do, just telling you how i do things. yes surgery is expensive, but it was worth it to save my boy. i am single, one check person, but with caring vets and payment plan we are making out. i sure hope you get your miracle like i did. we are here for you always, and your in my prayers.

hugs,

connie and cricket