Hi. My 11 year old dachund's rear legs are slipping out from under her a lot lately (she is Beatrice Guyan on the photo pages) She is a healthy weight (~22lbs) for a standard and has never experienced any sort of accident or trauma. She dosen't seem to be in any pain, it just seems her legs (right leg in particular) apear to collapse under her. She also struggles to get up (uncarpeted) stairs. She was at a Dr's appt not too long ago and she checked out ok.
Any advice on what might be going on? Again - no evident pain just sort of wobbly on the back end.
I'm new to Doxie's but here is my 2 cents I'm sure others will answer allot better, at 11years old might be arthritis in her legs or back only a vet could tell for sure.I did see a new product in one of my catalogs recently I only get two Care A Lott and JB Pet products.They had tapes that fit on the dogs paw would give the dog better traction on wooden floors and the like.???? Hope it is nothing serious with your senior pup. Get Better soon.
Papbouv
Patches & Buddy
Hmmmm...I'm not sure. If there isn't any pain it could be arthritis and I know there are supplements that you could give your pupper. I would also not let them go up the stairs if they are struggling but carry them instead. I would say another check at the vet/specialist would be in order. Keep us updated!
I concur with the others. At that age, arthritis is probably setting in. Is your area carpeted? If not, that may not help with the slipping. Also - NO Stairs ! Bad for their backs and especially if having trouble. Do you give any supplements? Keep us posted !
Have you trimmed the hair flush with the pads, as I know that does not help traction. Maybe some mats.
Roberta
She is going to the Vet tomorrow.
Her right leg in particular seems to fold underneath her. She has not expressed any pain but seems confused/frustrated as to why this is happening.
She can still run well - will chase a ball like nobody's business - but when walking causualy (carpet or tile) her right leg seems to just colapse under her.
I am concerned (on top of the leg issue) that she will damage her back when her leg goes under and she twists to recover.
I will let you know what the outcome is.
Thank you for all of your comments.
Please keep us posted we care.
Papbouv
Rays headed her way! Please keep us updated! :comfort: :bandaid:
:pray: :pray: and :xfinger: :xfinger: that your baby does not have a back issue. Hoping it is just arthritis. We will be eagerly awaiting your news from the Vet today. If they recommend crate rest, that would be a very good thing.
You might check with your vet about adequan shots--its liquid glucosamine. You do a series of them and then just the occasional pick me up.
You can also buy in pill form and add to the food.
Thank you all for all of your suggestions and well wishes. At this point the news is inconclusive but not terribly promising. The Vet told us, based on visual tests, that it appears to be a neurological issue (i.e. back related). He prescribed an anti inflammatory and wants to see her again this Friday. If there is no improvement, he indicated that he might send her to a specialist for an MRI.
I can say with certainty that there is no improvement; in fact, the function of the leg seems to be deteriorating further. Yesterday she almost fell off of my bed when she lost her balance and this morning she completely fell on to her side when I set her down to walk. She also seems to constantly list to one side when standing still and going up and down stairs has become almost impossible.
Strangely enough, though, when we throw a ball or toy she will run after it like there is nothing wrong and thankfully still does not appear to be in pain.
Anyway, I will let you know the prognosis after Friday's appointment.
Regards,
Tracey & Bea
I'm so sorry to hear this! Did he recommend crating and confining her movement until the appt? We went through back surgery with Penny last year so I can relate. I would recommend crating her and restricting her movements immediately and check out http://www.dodgerslist.com for more information on back issues.
Bea has not been crated since she was a tiny pup (my mistake) so I think that would be more tramatic than any of us could take. I will take measures to gate her to a single level of the house until we hear what the Dr has to say - I am going to try to bump up her appt to tomorrow.
Our thoughts are with you and major rays headed her way! Keep us updated.
you might conside using a sling under her to help her walk ? would not think falling over would help her back since when she goes over it would twist her back? Good luck & best wishes from Patches ,Buddy & papbouv
Hang in there and please don't get discouraged no matter what! We are all here for you to support you and Bea through this. Several of us have gone through surgeries, etc. with our litte ones on their backs. If you do not think Bea would be comfortable in a crate, then a small ex-pen will do nicely. You can put more than one ex-pen or crate around the house so Bea can be with you a lot more and not feel so alienated. An MRI will definitely show what and where the problem is.
I too am a member of Dodgerslist. Mega prayers and well wishes to you and Bea. :pray: :pray:
Hi All.
Not such good news... Bea went back to the Vet today and not only has the function in the right back leg diminished but the left hind and right front legs have also started losing mobility. The Vet thinks it is either a disc issue or a tumor at her brain stem.
Bea has an appointment tomorrow morning with a neurologist and will most likely have an MRI. The results, I suppose, will tell us which unpleasant decision we will need to make.
She is clearly suffering at this point. I took her out back a while ago and she could not steady herself enough to poop (I had to help her). When we came in, I had to assist her getting into her doggy donut sleeping position.
Please take this opportunity to view this pics of the beautiful Bea (Beatrice Guyan) on this site and say a little prayer for my awesome girl.
Thanks
Tracey
Healing rays to Bea.
Tracey, many prayers for you and Bea. She is gorgeous. Please let us know the results asap.
I'm so sorry!! Rays headed her way! Please keep us updated! Many of us have been in this situation!!
Hi Again.
Wow - what a long day. We arrived a the Neurologist office at 9 am and got home around 4:45. That included a 60 mile round trip to the imaging place for the MRI.
On that note - GOOD NEWS. It appears Bea has some sort of inflammation in her brain (I fully expected it to be a tumor). They ruled out both stroke and tumor (they ruled out back issues very first thing). After we went over the MRI results with the Neurologist she had blood taken for a full round of tests for infection. Once the results are back and they rule out any sort of infection in her, she will start an intense course of prednisone to fight the inflammation. There is also some concern about Lymphoma (I hope I am getting this right) so she will start on oral chemotherapy . The Dr. seemed quite confident that once we start the drugs she will regain her balance (I had thought it was weakening but its a balance issue on her right side) within about 36 hours.
I have to say this was one of the most emotionally taxing days I can remember - I really thought I was going to have to put her down. So far this has cost us about $3K but I keep reminding myself that that is way less than the back surgery would have been - not to mention who the hell cares if we get our pretty girl back to her happy healthy self (at least for a while - she's no spring chicken).
Anyway, we are still dealing with a very wobbly dog but are much more hopeful and optimistic than we were even a few hours ago.
Thank you all for all of your well wishes - they apparently worked.
Cheers Tracey & Bea
Wow! What a day! That is good news that it isn't her back! and that this seems to be treatable. Penny had an immune system problem where her immune system was attacking her spinal cord and she was on the oral as well as the injectable chemo drugs! She is now back to her old self!!
Rays still headed your way!
This is certainly a light in the dark for you and Bea. Continuing the rays coming your way.
Oh wow....I am so glad it's not a brain tumor or a back problem. I am soooo glad her condition is treatable. Many prayers and well wishes headed your way :pray: :pray: :comfort: :comfort: for a quick recovery for Bea!!!
We just had one of our 3 doxies 'go down' - back legs went out. Beans, an otherwise healthy male, 4.5 yrs old. When it happened at 10:30pm on Jan 3, 08 - he could not get up, yelping in pain, trembling, urinated on himself. Took him to the emerg 24/7 hospital 1 mile away. Diagnosed w/IVDD, after xrays & myliogram (sp) - 2 ruptured discs. Had surgery 5 hours later. Hospitalized 5 days, now home on 24/7 crate confinement xcept for PT & potty outings. My suggestion is to get your kid to the vet ASAP for spine exam. PS: www.dodgerslist.com is a gr8t site for dogs w/IVDD.
http://f1.grp.yahoofs.com/v1/QKiTRzUQaGfprYXxjveLWidfcXDcqCmiVKCYPZL0HbEx8-DsLvltM0sodWpvyceWk9AyEEWDRwfoImPGtUzkL0LwaQmIQm3RFYC_wA/_Members%20Files/EasyIVDDforBeginners.html
Hello ,I havent posted in a long tiime ,Our dog Norman who is turning 6 in a few weeks had back surgery and was diagnosed with IVDD back in september T13/L1 was the bad disc they repaired . It was a terrible time and costed over 3000. 6 months have past and boom ,seems as though our nightmares have returned . this past saterday i took norman out for a walk ,he fell to the ground ,and made some awfull noises ,and short of breath ,i rushed him home and called the vet ,got him in within the hour ,he had a antibiotic /anti inflamitory for pain dispersed to him to settle the trembling ,he suggested it could be a flare up or IVDD acting up again ?.. not sure or perhaps a pinched nerve . As of today he is no longer in pain but has little or no control over both of his back legs ,they just fold up when he stands ,but he dosent express any pain . Our vet said to wait this out before going back in ,perhaps till thursday .He said its rare that he sends dashies backin for a second round of surgery but it nmay be the only way ?.. But our bank account is drained from last time . We have pet insurance but was rejected due to the 21 day waiting period they told us about when we signed up 5 days before all this started .. geeeesh . Is there any good info on wheelchairs for these guys in Canada ,Ontario ?
thanks for any replies .
Steve
Sending HHHHHHH's & PPPPPP's for Bea. Hope they can get a course of treatment for her soon.
Merion and the ZZ's
I am so sorry to hear that Norman is having back problems again so soon after his first surgery. Do the Vets where you live accept care credit? I was able to pay off my doxie's back surgery 12 months same as cash with it. www.carecredit.com (http://www.carecredit.com) From what I have seen on www.dodgerslist.com (http://www.dodgerslist.com), yes, dogs can sometimes need two surgeries. The sooner you get them into surgery once they go down, the better chance for recovery. If your dog has deep pain before surgery, their chances of a happy outcome are greater. I believe the people on Dodgerslist could tell you about the best wheelchairs out there. I have heard of Eddie's Wheels which I have been told are very good. Have you searched for wheelchairs on the internet? Good luck with Norman. I hope you can get him into surgery asap...if not....then I pray conventional methods will help him regain the use of his back legs. Please keep us posted on his progress....and remember....crate rest 24/7 when our babies have back issues!