Kirby is acting a little funny tonight. He has slept almost all night and kind of creeps around like he is in pain. I noticed that when I called him in to eat something he kind of has this swagger. Almost like his back end is sort of jack knifing? Is this a back issue or something. I'm definitely worried :confused:
It sounds like it could potentially be a back problem. I would keep him quiet ad crated if possible and have him checked out by your vet as soon as possible. Just my :2cents:
Kari do you think this is cause for serious alarm. Should I wait till tomorrow? I just read this in an article.
unsteady walking or paralysis of the rear legs. Sometimes the nerves to the bladder and colon are affected making it difficult for dogs to urinate and defecate on their own. A wobbly walk is a precursor to paralysis, if you see this symptom it is time to get to a specialist for evaluation.
I don't want to scare you or freak you out, but having been though this with Penny, back problems can become really bad, really quick. Go with your gut, if you think it is getting worse I would go tonight if you can. It is better to be safe. Drew and I ended up and the ER vet with Penny at 11:30 PM on New Year's Eve.
We are thinking of you! Keep us updated!
Oh gosh I hate it when things like this happen too. Just don't panic, like Kari says crate him right away and don't let him out except to potty and then only on a harness. IF it does turn out to be a back problem, it's crucial he stay as still as possible as that can make all the difference. If he yelps or shows any signs of pain I wouldn't wait until morning either, chances are better that he doesnt' need surgery or anything and it may not even be his back at all but IF it is, time is of the essence. Not to scare you further...you have already been googling this so you are probably scared out of your gourd already! But just watch him and if he doesn't improve by morning I'd take him to the vet too. If he gets worse at all tonight you should consider getting him in tonight. Hopefully it's just a tummy ache or anal sac thing or something. Let us know how he is doing.
Actually I just reread your post, if he is truly swaggering, I would try to get him in to an ER tonight if you can, or at least call them and see what they say.
Have you tried the proprioreception test, take his back paw (very gently) and turn it over so he is standing on the top of his paw instead of the bottom. See how fast he rights his paw (turns it back over the right way so he's standing on his pads again). Do this with each paw if you can. If he is very slow or just stands there on the top of his paw, that is a sign he should get to the vet asap also.
How is he this morning?
I went through several back episodes with Cajsa before she needed surgery. Usually a round of Rimadyl and STRICT crate rest for several weeks would take care of it. The time it didn't she got progressively worse and the Rimadyl (As well as the other pain meds) weren't working and she went from wobbly in the evening to no response by 1 am. She had surgery on Good Friday less than 24 hours after she lost control of her hindquarters. She is running and playful now like when she was a pup so it all worked out.
I tell you this because it certainly sounds like his back, but it's something to watch and definitely take him to the vet today for evaluation. If it gets any worse then be insistent that he is seen ASAP or take him to the emergency vet if it's after hours.
well we ended up going to the ER last night and they took some x rays and Kirb has a mild herniated disk. So the vet gave him a shot and some pills and she said he should be ok in a few days. But we do have to follow up with his regular vet in a week. I hope he's ok today. I'm dog sitting at my boyfriends house and we don't have a crate there. But I put him in his room and put some stuff on the bed so he won't jump up there. When I left he was laying in his bed but still moved pretty slow when I took him out this morning.
Keep him quiet even after he starts to feel better. He may try to do more than he should because the meds have kicked in and he feels better. He still needs to rest and not move around to give time for his body to recover.
I'm so glad you were able to get him into the ER last night. I agree with Dee Dee and April - Definitely keep him quiet and confined even if it looks like he is feeling better. Try and visit www.dodgerslist.com ... there is valuable information on that site regarding back problems. We had Penny crate for a total of 10 weeks during her back episode. It is a PAIN and she hated it but it is worth it! I would maybe call your regular vet today to just alert them to the situation. Rays headed his way! Let us know if you have any questions...we are here to help!
yes you guys are completely awesome. I have to call to make an appointment with his vet today for next week to follow up. The hardest thing is keeping him from jumping on/off furniture.
Give him lots of lap time and always keep your hand on him so he won't jump off. If he's anything like my two he won't really try to get out of a lap unless he has to potty or something equally urgent.
Poor little boy. I just hate these doxie back problems! I am glad too that you got him into the ER last night. I can't stress enough though how important it is to crate him or at least have him in a very small area...he should not be free to walk around a room. A lot of doxies have gone from doing OK to going down by having too much freedom. Not to scare you but it really is the #1 most crucial thing you need to do. As Kari said it is SO hard to keep them crated especially after they start to feel better...it really sucks. That is the most risky time because they think they are feeling OK but aren't anywhere close to being healed yet and just one wrong turn, not even a jump, can be disasterous. And things can happen so fast, I had set Hallie down once in front of her crate door and was helping her in when she saw a :cussing: cat right at the window and she turned and tore off to the window. I lost about 10 lives. So find some way to confine him totally he should be able to stand up and turn around easily but not too much more than that. Definitely don't give him the chance to try and jump on something. Take him out for potty breaks on a harness (not a collar) and right back in to the crate again. Do check out the dodgers list link, you will get great info there and can post on their forum for advice too. Give him a hug for us.
Thanks for all the advice everyone. It's great to find people that really understand what's going on. Most people I know don't understand Dachshund ways and looked at me like I was from mars when I told them what happened. I'm going to head out to get him a spare crate for my boyfriend's house after work. We need one for him there anyways. I know kirby is going to have a fit- he hates the crate, but he'll get over it.
I don't have any advice since we have been blessed and none of our pups have gone throught this. But, I can offer support and well-wishes! I really am praying that his back issues get better and he doesn't have any more problems in the future!! :pray: Poor Kirby! Please keep us updated!
Abby, I would definitely keep him on create rest for at least six weeks. It is extremely important that he not strain his back at all. Keep him on a leash when he goes to potty and only let him potty and bring him right back in. Good luck and God Bless you !!! I am soooo glad you took him to the ER last night. Definitely no more jumping onto and down from furniture any more EVER! Ramps are in your future!! I hope you got onto Dodgerslist....they are a Godsend!!
Good luck and keep us all posted as to how Kirby is doing.... :pray: :pray: :comfort: :comfort: :xfinger: :xfinger:
Oops, I almost forgot...please don't take this wrong, but Kirby should not sit up like he is doing in your Avatar. That is not good for the back and it puts a strain on his disks...Heck, my Zoe liked to sit up like that too....and she would jump over the side of our above ground pool and go fer a swim (which is dug into the ground and low to the ground on one side). She ended up with a surgery. I had a doxie growing up who had no back problems at all, so I was not in the know about these things either until we had to go through it with Zoe.
I know this is all confusing and there is so much to learn....I have learned so much in the past two years....Please ask any and all questions. We all will try and help you all we can.
Take care! Cheryl
If Kirby is use to jumping on & off the furniture you may just want to keep a leash on him at all times know if Patches ever was to have a back problem I would have to keep her leashed to me or in the crate.Patches is a jumper never could get her to quit then hubby did not help so I gave up.
Kirby is pretty ticked off that he's in his crate right now. When we're home- How horrible right? I can tune him out but the barking drives my boyfriend crazy. I think he's going to have to get over it.
Have you tried getting a Kong and filling it with peanut butter and yogurt and freezing it and putting it in the crate with him? At least it gives him something to work on for awhile!
Has anyone tried those Aromatherapy things that you plug into the wall that are supposed to emit calming pheremones? (sp?) Rescue Remedy may help Kirby to calm him down.
Yes I'm a bit late but the faster to the vet the better, and try giving him a bit of your clothing in the crate to keep him company. Crate him even in the car, Amy is ayear post surgery, but for the rest of her life she rides in a crate, no being left for a second on chairs etc, you have to be cruel to be kind, and they do get used to it.
Roberta
Get yourself some Rescue Remedy (usually found in health food stores.) This stuff is AWESOME and safe. www.rescueremedy.com/
Rays to Kirby Hugs to you Rescue Remedy for Kirby stiff drink for the boyfriend then he won't care about Kirby's barking. Good luck with your Fur Kid.
Hi,
I am late at posting a reply, but I don't yet know my way around this site real well. I need to spend more time. (i also apologize if this a duplicate post, I tried to send yesterday and was sidetracked and it disappeared. Did i send?? I could not find it so I assume I did not)
Anyway - I just want to make sure that you realize just how important the crate rest is for recovery. I learned the hard way. I woke up one morning with Sofie (1 week before her 3rd bday) sitting on my pillow. She is usually snuggled at my feet. She seemed fime so we got out of bed and startedt he normal morning routine. She was, however, acting sad - very unlike her. Not in pain, just sad (you know..... you can tell in those big, brown eyes). I called the cet as soon as they opened and they had me bring her in so they could take a look. They did the paw test as someone mentioned and suspected a back injury and then a xray to confirm it. Xrays are really hard to tell the extent of injury so they gave me prednisone, crate rest and I was to go to the neurologist the next morning. By the next day she was no longer 'sad' and the neuro did the paw test and that inproved so he said 6-8 weeks strict crate rest and the meds as prescribed. Well - since she was back to normal in my eyes, after only a couple weeks of crate rest I let her out a little bit more (under close watch) and started holding her in my let, etc... Well - 3 weeks to the day of the neuro trip we woke up again to a 'sad' Sofie. I called the neuro asap and they suggested I come in. My follow up with them was the next week anyway. The trip there is 3 hours and by the time I arrrived Sofie could no longer walk. I put her down and she just fell to her hip. It was the saddest thing. They and MRI and surgery right then. I was told (SCOLDED) that without the proper 8 weeks of crate rest the spine does not heal correctly. The meds relieve the swelling and hide the pain, but the healing can't happen without time. She recovered almost perfectly!!
After all that we actually would scold her if she tried to jump on to the funiture - she now just gets real close and stares at where she wants to be and we pick her up. We now never leave up on the couch unattended. We have baby gates at the stairs so she can't do that anymore either. It sounds a pain but it is not at all. Even with all this in place - 10 months after surgery, somehow, she ruptured another. We treated that with crate rest and meds only and again she is almost perfect! It (crating) was very tough for us. She is my shadow when I am home. It took a few different meds (sedatives ) until we found one that worked and that is how we had to treat her the first couple weeks until she got used to it - but she did.
Sorry this is sooo long - but I have not read enough of the posts on this site and not sure if you have either - but I really want your baby to stay well!
~ Brooke
The other thing you have to realize it that, as bad as I hate to admit it, these dogs seem to be part C-A-T.
Don't believe it...see this post http://www.wienerwritings.com/forum/index.php?topic=5661.0
which mean we have to discourage all the jumping they do. And thats no small task.
How is Kirby today?? He should get used to the crate soon. It is so hard to ignore their barking, but just remember it's for his own good! I think the frozen peanut butter or yogurt in a kong is a great idea! If he likes vegetables, maybe you could do Porky's favorite treat. You take a small piece of whatever their favorite veggie is and put it in an ice cube tray, fill it with water and freeze. Then they have fun trying to get the treat out of the ice. It keeps Porky busy for a good 15 minutes. Also try turning on some calming music or a tv in the room with him.
Sending rayd to Kirby! Get Well soon buddy!! :pray:
Cajsa had some pretty strong separation anxiety and I had a pretty good routine worked out to get her to stay calm. I would give her a frozen Kong with her food mixed with plain yogurt in it. a little dab of peanut butter on the end (she doesn't like frozen stuff) with a few drops of RR on/in it. For a while I also gave her a little bit of chamomille tea w/ honey and a biscuit with the RR on it instead of the Kong. She stayed calmer that way while I was gone.
Something in that may help keep Kirby calmer in his crate. If he's fighting and scratching at his crate it is not the best place for him to rest his back. So it may be that he will just need a VERY small pen, like the size of his bed and a water/food dish instead of putting him in a crate. Whatever will keep him quiet and calm to heal.
I'm waaaay behind on all these. Been a busy week. Kirby monster is doing well we are going back to the vet later today for a follow up. He seems to be in no pain and is back to his old self. Though he is not allowed to do any jumping and I let him on the bed, but don't let him jump off or on. His new crate that I bought for my boyfriend's house is very nice and i'm thinking about getting another one of those to replace his old hand me down crate that he has at my house. It's hard keeping an eye on those little guys. we'll see what the vet says today. His crate issue has gotten better, it's not great but not as bad as it was. He's no longer scratching his nose on the crate anymore but I don't think he's going to run and hang out in there himself anytime soon.