HELP dog with spinal problem

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HELP dog with spinal problem
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NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4591
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 9:31 am Post subject: HELP dog with spinal problem

Just back from the vets and still reeling.

This morning my little collie bitch was dragging each back leg randomly, refused to go out for a wee...straight off to vet we went, poor thing was shaking all the way.
Anyway, there seems to be a problem in lumbar vertebrae - legs and tail affected, but reflexes were there. Although her left foot was slow on the pinch test.
She's been given anti-inflammatories and I hope to god they make a difference in 24 hours - otherwise it's a choice between scratching together a few grand for the likes of MRI tests...or I presume the "other option".

So... if you know of any similar cases please let me know what happened, good or bad, so I can try and weigh this all up. I don't need a diagnosis if the prognosis is still terrible, if you see what I mean.

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 9:33 am Post subject:
No ideas about what to do but I'm sending my love.

Nell Merionwen

Joined: 02 Jun 2008
Posts: 16300
Location: Beautiful Derbyshire

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 9:39 am Post subject:
ginkotree's friend had a dog that lost the use of it's back legs. Boglin would sit in the yard and roll the ball towards her so she could lean over and catch it. Given time it's body healed itself and she now has full use again. She was definitely a dog that most would have had sent to doggy heaven. they persevered and cared for her. Lots of hard work but a happy result

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 9:42 am Post subject:
How old is she?

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4591
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 9:58 am Post subject:
She's just turned 5. In terms of a long/hard recovery - fine. But if this is a permanent disability, it would destroy her to have to be left without me (she follows from room to room, never mind at work!)... Click to see full size image

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 10:03 am Post subject:

What did the Vet say? A problem with the lumber vertebrae covers a multitude of problems. Being so young and coming on quickly would suggest it is trauma rather than degenerative - which is good.

Give the medication chance to kick in and let her take time to recover - make her comfortable and make sure she gets plenty of fluids - rest will help if it is trauma -

Is there any incident you can recall that might have caused this? Jumping for a ball /stick etc?

I hope she recovers without problems - it is heartbreaking to see a loved pet become incapacitated.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 10:08 am Post subject:

She's beautiful.

The back end is going on my collie x, but he is twice her age. The symptoms sound similar but with him they came on gradually over 2-3 years. We have good days and bad ones. Sometimes his legs are so stiff that they drag on the floor like your dog's, other days he is quite happy toddling around.
It is very distressing to watch, particularly since my pooch is like yours and insists on following me everywhere (sometimes we have to shut the doors so he can't keep following me up and downstairs).

I know that this will be the thing that does for him in the end, but while he can still get around, we manage. The weather makes a big difference - on cold, damp days he struggles a bit, and there can be shivering and whimpering until he has warmed up by the fire. Massage, warmth and rest are the things that seem to help most (I know, I know - how do you make a collie rest?

). He was on anti-inflammatories for a while, but mostly he seems to be stiff, rather than actually in pain, so I have stopped them for now and it doesn't seem to make that much difference.

Hopefully the anti-inflammatories will help your girl and you can find a way to manage this - it doesn't have to be an immediate death sentence.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4591
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 10:13 am Post subject:

Vet said she could have been hiding it for months, now on a massive guilt trip as I have been joking/grumbling about her being lazy / not keen on the sheep work. And she's had a couple of accidents in the kitchen, which I blamed on me staying in bed too long!

Only thing we did differently yesterday was wade/scramble through floodwater - she was thoroughly disgusted with me afterwards but physically fine. Jumped in and out of van as per usual.

I've got some puppy pads in case she doesn't want to get outside for a wee, will probably soak her dinner to make sure she gets fluids (she can be funny about drinking).

It's the sudden onset that has thrown me (or is it sudden? Has she been soldiering on, poor sod?). "Wear and tear" in an older dog would be expected.

dpack

Joined: 02 Jul 2005
Posts: 45520
Location: yes

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 10:25 am Post subject:
umm ,base your descisions on prognosis hugs

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4591
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 11:21 am Post subject:
Panic subsiding gradually, we (well, she!) have wobbled to the garden for a wee and a drink. Much improved already

mochyn

Joined: 21 Dec 2004
Posts: 24585
Location: mid-Wales

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 11:22 am Post subject:

Went

Joined: 19 Mar 2006
Posts: 6968

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 11:31 am Post subject:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

Panic subsiding gradually, we (well, she!) have wobbled to the garden for a wee and a drink. Much improved already

That's a good sign but don't rush her to exercise too soon - give her time.

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 11:48 am Post subject:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

Panic subsiding gradually, we (well, she!) have wobbled to the garden for a wee and a drink. Much improved already

That's a great sign. Probably the cold wet conditions yesterday made her stiffer than usual. Just make sure she warms up well after being outside.

NorthernMonkeyGirl

Joined: 10 Apr 2011
Posts: 4591
Location: Peeping over your shoulder

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 11:58 am Post subject:

Gawber wrote:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

Panic subsiding gradually, we (well, she!) have wobbled to the garden for a wee and a drink. Much improved already

That's a good sign but don't rush her to exercise too soon - give her time.

Absolutely... luckily it's a teeny tiny house

"Bed rest and loo breaks" were our instructions.

She's now firmly back on her sheepskin rug. Home raised, organically tanned Hebridean, no less

judith

Joined: 16 Dec 2004
Posts: 22789
Location: Montgomeryshire

Posted: Tue May 01, 12 12:00 pm Post subject:

NorthernMonkeyGirl wrote:

She's now firmly back on her sheepskin rug. Home raised, organically tanned Hebridean, no less

And some people say I'm soft for giving mine a patchwork quilt.

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