BOXER with FCE(spinal stroke) ...desperately seeking advice!
Posted: Fri Jul 13, 2018 5:42 pm
My fiance and I have 2 dogs. A 4 year old boxer Capone and a 1 yr old mastiff/boxer, Caine. About 2 and a half months ago we noticed our boxer Capone acting as it he couldn't walk very good. His two front legs were knuckling and he would slip and slide all over the floors. He was not his usual active self anymore. About a few months prior to this he was less active and we thought he may have arthritis. So when this happened we knew it was something more serious. When we took him to the vet he was referred to a speciakist. We then went to a specialist and they first thought it was something neurological due to the knuckling. They gave us an estimate for what it would cost including surgery because they thought that he would need it. The final outcome was Approx 13,000$ we were ready to pay whatever we needed to fix our not. After two night stay in the hospital and xrays, MRI,CT scan etc it came back that Capone had FCE aka spinal stroke. We were told it would get better in time on its own and there was nothung that could be done other then physical therapy. They gave us instructions on exercises to do with him. He wasn't able to walk like usual but he could still get around pretty good with the harness we were provided with. We were told to take him in for acupunture as it could be really good in helping with healing so we tired it. The first and only session seemed to be going good as he wss doing it he seemed to relax instantly. But then the next day every thing changed. He could no longer stay up on his own or with little support. It was harder to go up the steps with him and instead of just holding his harness we had to pretty much lift him. It is now a month later and he is worse then ever. All he does is lay on the floor 24/7. We have to turn him over frequently...he urinates and defecate on the floor wherever he is laying and all he can do is bark when he wants something. He Don't even seen to have any personality left in him. He Just lays there all day with such a lost look. We dont knkw what to do at this point. Every one says we should put him down but that is the last option only if we know he will never get better. Apparently most dogs with this make a full recovery. Ita also not supposed to get any worse then it initially is but Capone seems to have gotten alot worse and it seems since the acupuncture. It is also said it isn't a painful diagnosis but every time we go to turn him he yelps and cries out. He even bit my fiance and I which is completely out of character for him. We are at a loss of what to do at this point. Any advice would be appreciated. Thank u.