Dog paralysis

My 4 yr old, 51 lb. mixed breed dog(Boxer/beagle) had some pain in her back area.  Yesterday, took her to the vet, they xrayed her and said her knees may be a problem.  They gave her an anti inflammatory injection and pain meds.  Today she woke up and could not stand on her back legs and is paralyzed in her back legs.  She is at the hospital and they are saying, without any further test that she has some type of disk and spinal condition.  They want to send me 2 hours away to a specialist for a mylegram/CT and possible surgery.  It could be costly!  If I get the surgery, what is the success rate and the long term prognosis ie. will she be able to live a quality dog life....play, run, jump?  Do I consider putting this dog down?  I can't bear to consider putting her down, but I don't want to spend thousands of dollars and she live a horrible life sedentary life.  She is very active and very loving!  Please help me...what do I do?

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

How is your dog doing?  Did he have the surgery?

[sojka123]

I'm blown away by this.  You present a dog to a veterinarian and your major complaint is BACK pain and they diagnose her with Knee problems and send her home with pallitative treatment and without even x-rays of the spine.  There is a word for that.... That is Malpractice!!  They have cost you precious time between a disc bulge and now paralysis.  And even still they are not willing to radiograph her back for you?  A) after you get this resolved I'd take legal action against them and B) a State Board Complaint.  

For now I'd say you don't need further tests other than confirming x-rays and probably immediate decompression surgery of the spine.  These need to be done within 24-36 hours.  This can be done without mylogram and or CT.  A simple x-ray can localize it for you and easily show a surgeon where the decompression needs to be done.  For someone that needs the help economically this is the way to go.  Success rate depends on how quickly surgery is done and how much damage the disc protrusion did.  Not sure where you live, but most good surgeons can do this procedure, you don't need a specialist.  if there is a boarded surgeon near you then by all means - but in an urgent need where time is crucial - good surgeons can do this and dramatically help the dog.  

Call and get copies of all the records from the first visit and I'm willing to bet you can recover all your costs in the settlement against the vet #1.  That was inexcusable!!@

[Lorelei3]

Thank-you!  I agree the first vet screwed up!  Who is to say they did not make the injury worse by trying to contort her for the xrays!  I have spoken with a surgeon and my husband is on the way to Dr. Ray Wright of Lithonia, GA which is 4 hours away!  I spoke with him late last night and again this morning!  He also said he did not need a mylegram.  We are in Savannah, GA and the only surgeon is on holiday and wont be in until Monday.  We have friends who know and trust this vet and I just need someone I can trust at this point to tell me the truth!  AND...I am with you...the first Vet at Banfield Hospital needs to lawyer UP!!!

[sojka123]

oh my God, Banfield.  That all makes sense now.  Banfield has a horrible history.  Everyone should steer clear of Banfield.  

good luck and I hope she gets some relief today.  

[Lorelei3]

My dog had surgery on Friday!  She is recovering, however she is still paralyzed.  The surgeon said it may take 2 weeks before we will know if she will walk again.  The vet is doing rehab every day to get her back up and walking.  She is responding to pinching her back paws and pushing back on her back legs.  We are hopeful she will recover.  It is so heartbreaking to see her this way, although she has on a happy face!

[Misfits4Me]

I'm sooooo excited for you and your furkid....I sure hope everything turns out well...I'm keeping my fingers crossed!  Let us know her progress............Karla

[Lorelei3]

Well Missy is home now!  Still paralyzed, although she has seen some progress.  She is much stronger with her right back leg than her left!  The vet kept her for 2 weeks and said she had hit a plateau in her recovery, in that her progress was slowing.  Although she sitll cant walk using her back legs, we are hopeful she will regain some use of them in the next few weeks!  Other than her not being able to fully use those back legs she is happy and loving.  It does break my heart to see such an active dog being limited so much.  We have a "strap" we use to hold up her hind quarters and she just takes off.  If she is laying around and wants something, she scoots around.  My husband and I are going to do some intense therapy by massaging her muscles, water therapy and trying to get her legs underneath her to teach her how to walk again.  She wags her tail a little and goes out to urinate.  I just wanted to give you all an update!  Any suggestions on additional at home therapy techniques would be appreciated.  Thanks....Lori in Georgia

[Aleda M Cheng, D.V.M., C.V.A]

Can you take her for electrical acupuncture?  The sessions are not very costly and she may benefit greatly, it really does work.  It is certainly worth a consultation with a veterinary acupuncturist.

If you are interested google veterinary acupuncture, or check www.tcvm.com or the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association website.