Paralysis in dog-UPDATE-UPDATE 2 :(

This past Sunday we woke up to my 11 year old Rottweilers back legs paralyzed. I rushed him to the vet where he was given shots of steroids and morphine to help with his pain. They did did blood work and X-rays and all that fun stuff and they believe he had a bulging disk along side a digentitive disk disease. Basically my options were surgery, which is no guarantee or treat with steroids and pain killers.
We chose to treat with the medication first because we felt that the surgery wasn't a guarantee and he is 11 but now I am second guessing myself. I do see some improvements in fact we went from zero mobility to him actually being able to stand for a few seconds and put weight on the dead leg which seems to be getting feeling back. Right now I am helping him in and out of the house, he is confined because I have a puppy who I am afraid will hurt him. He has no control over urinating but seems to be able to control bowel movements. I don't know if he can feel it or not but the vet says the frequent urination is because of the steroids he's on. I just hope I made the right choice for him, maybe I should have done the surgery ugh
Does anyone have any experience with this? I'm just at a loss but praying he regains his bowel control and some movement. My poor guy :(


Update- just wanted to update that my boy is walking again and just this week is slowly regaining his ability to control his bladder. I still have him confined as recommended by my vet to make sure he heals fully and does not reinjure himself, so I spend a lot of time on the kitchen floor. I don't know how much time I will have left with him since the odds of it happening again is high but we are going to have to change a lot of things, no stairs or jumping on furniture anymore to try and help prevent it from happening again. Hopefully I can get another couple years with my big bear.

UPDATE 2: My sweet boy lost his fight today. He took a turn for the worse and was just in a great deal of pain. I thought we were making head way but sadly that just was not the case. He's in a better place, healed and hopefully his sister met him at the bridge to met him. Heartbroken is an understatement. Two dogs passed in less than a year.

Message edited 3/19/2015 8:24:11 PM.

Re: Paralysis in dog

Ughhhhh i'm so sorry for what you're going through, it makes my heart hurt.

Dh had a german shep growing up, hip dysplasia in the hind legs and severe arthritis (not exactly the same situation) and she just couldn't stand anymore to go out to the bathroom; this happened over the span of 2 weeks, the vet told them there was no chance of getting better and they let her go.

When I think of spine surgery, I think there's not guarantees even for humans; I think you have to trust your instincts and I tend to think you have done the right thing. You obviously want the best for your dog and you are an awesome fur parent, always know that no matter what!

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My German Shepard had a very similar issue - one morning we woke up and she couldn't walk...and she was fine the night before. We rushed her into the vet .. were given several options as to what it was and how to treat. We also opted to treat with medication/steroids. The Steroids made her drink so much more and pee alot... I had to help her out all the time (towel under her back legs to help her walk..). She was 13 at the time, and for us - surgery was just not an option at that age. Unfortunately she never regained any movement in her legs.



Trust your instincts and don't second guess yourself. You're doing the best you can for your guy and I hope he gets better soon!!

Paralysis in dog

Thank you both for your reply. I think I needed to hear from others people that I'm not crazy for not doing the surgery. He seems to be getting some movement back in his legs but I am not sure it will be enough for him to have any quality of life. I'm going to wait a little longer for medication to keep doing its job but our big problem will be if he can't regain control over his bladder. He seems to have a handle on bowel movements now and now when he sees me coming with the towel he hurries up and gets up and try's to scoot away from me like he doesn't want my help! It's so hard because looking at him you would never know he couldn't walk. He's not sickly, eating and drinking great and completely alert. Ugh, this is just bull shit-he was fine! We just lost his sister in June to cancer, sometimes I think I'm desperate to fix him because i couldn't fix her, she was 11 as well and it was metastized all over her body and blocking her bladder. I knew she was ready i could see it in her face, with him he looks so perky. I actually called a few places today about accupuncture treatments, my dh is probably going to tell me I'm insane. That's ok though! Thanks again for the support!

Re: Paralysis in dog

Would he tolerate a diaper?
I'm so sorry he's going through this.
I have no advice, but I really do hope the meds work for him .

Message edited 2/13/2015 5:46:35 AM.

Re: Paralysis in dog

Thanks all! I spoke to his groomer who also owns a pet store and she suggested wee wee pads only because she knows how he is, he wouldn't keep them on.
On a positive note, MY BOY IS STANDING!!!!! Not only that but even getting up and walking on his own (with me by his side in case he falls). He is no where near better, of course, because he walks like a drunken sailor but to even be at this point is great. Our only problem is that he needs to regain control of his bladder. He definitely seems to be getting better but he is still having accidents, however he seems to have full control over pooping and waits for me to let him out to go. He is such a good boy, I feel like he is really fighting to get better. He is such a people person as grumpy as he is his desire to be around people is what I think is compelling him to get better. He doesn't like being confined to the kitchen but for his safety I can't let him roam the house freely (I have a puppy who is very rambunctious). Praying he continues to improve it will take several weeks and he will be on steroid for awhile but I plan on doing whatever I can for him as long as he seems to want to fight for this. Thanks for all the advise and just making me feel like I made the right choice for him. I know ultimately in time this is what will take him out but if i can give him some more time I want to do what I can to make it happen.

Re: Paralysis in dog

Re: Paralysis in dog

Message edited 2/14/2015 6:49:21 AM.

Re: Paralysis in dog

Would you ever try water treadmill physical therapy?
Also, they do make wheelchairs for dogs of all sizes ( if it gets to where you would need one) eddies wheels for pets is a Facebook page you could check out.

Message edited 2/14/2015 1:57:04 PM.

Paralysis in dog

I haven't looked in to water treadmill, thanks for the suggestion I'll def look into it. Right now I'm looking into getting an appt with Atlantic coast to try accupuncture. Just waiting to go to the recheck with my regular vet next week and see what he says about that and possibly some chiropractic treatments. I went out and got him a diaper today, he is ruining all of his beds and blankets and I can't keep up on the washing so I'm hoping this alternative saves me some clean up. So far it's working ok. I just hope he regains his ability to urinate on his own. I don't know what I will do if he doesn't.

Re: Paralysis in dog

Did you take him to your regular vet or a specialist?
I'd get a second opinion and bring test results.

Talk to your vet first since you are doing the steroids but fish oil is a natural anti inflammatory and glucosamine is great for joints. But before using these speak w your vet first! Good luck! Hope the diaper works. You can also look into belly bands.

Re: Paralysis in dog

This happened to my Doxie and she completely walks again.

I didn't do the surgery. It was 10k with a 50% rate she's
Would walk. I found an amazing vet who did acupuncture herbs and massage for 6 weeks. By week 2 she was wagging her tail , by week three she had control of her bladder and by week 4 she was walking!!!!!!

I still do no jumping or stairs ever and she's been fine!! This was three years ago

Please let me know if I can help in anyway! It was a terrible thing to go through

Paralysis in dog-UPDATE

Update at top

Re: Paralysis in dog-UPDATE

I am glad your dog is better. Yes, no jumping.

Paralysis in dog-UPDATE

glad he is feeling better

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great news!!

Paralysis in dog-UPDATE

So glad he's feeling better

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Glad your dog is feeling better!

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ohh i am so happy to read your update
cherish every moment

Paralysis in dog-UPDATE

Sad update at top

Re: Paralysis in dog-UPDATE-UPDATE 2 :(

My heart is broken for you. I am so so sorry for the loss of your beloved pet (s). I do believe you did the right thing.

Re: Paralysis in dog-UPDATE-UPDATE 2 :(

I'm so sorry, I know how much the loss of a pet hurts.

http://www.petloss.com/

Message edited 3/19/2015 10:57:49 PM.

Re: Paralysis in dog-UPDATE-UPDATE 2 :(

very very sorry for your loss. no more pain, only running free. prayers for you

Re: Paralysis in dog-UPDATE-UPDATE 2 :(

So sorry you had to go through this .

Message edited 3/20/2015 4:05:17 AM.

Re: Paralysis in dog-UPDATE-UPDATE 2 :(

Oh no im so sorry.