Pinched nerve

[shayasmom]

I have a 15 yr old pug and she has arthritis. She started walking funny on the back end and loosing bowel control. When she would walk she would drag the tops of her back feet on the ground and sometimes fall over. Now she falls and will drag her back legs when she walks and is now loosing bladder control. We can't let her outside at all anymore because when she falls and drags her legs she is getting all skinned up and starts bleeding. She has been on Rimadyl for a while now and when I took her to the vet the other day she changed her to demaraxx(?) but it doesn't seem to be working. The vet said there wasn't really anything else we could do and I just wanted to see if there is something we can do that would possibly help her. She can walk it's just that her back end will either fall to the side or her back legs will completely give out. Now alot of the times when she goes potty she falls in it and gets it all over her. She is also urinating and having bms while she's sleeping. Is there anything else we can try? Also, how do I know when enough is enough for her?

[Kimberly Coyner, D.V.M., DACVD]

I would consider acupunture as well if MRI and surgery are not options; acupuncture is non-invasive, non-painful, requires no anesthesia and I have seen it help several dogs to extend their life and decrease their discomfort.
Good luck,
Kimberly Coyner, DVM

[shayasmom]

Thank you for the advice. We have tried the cart but she keeps tipping when she's outside and can't get back up. The vet said she thought it was neurological as well and thought it was a pinched nerve or herniated disc but because of her age and all that there is no surgical solution because she can't go under anesthia anymore. I just hate to loose her or see her in pain because she has been my baby and I hate to see her suffer or to leave us. I'll do whatever I need to inorder to make the rest of her life more comfortable or if that's impossible then we will put her to sleep, we're just trying to cover all bases and give her every chance we can before we make that awful decision. She's had such a hard life, she's had bladder stones, then had her eye pop out when her & I were in a bad car accident, and then about a yr ago she finally lost that eye. She's come thru all of that I guess we're just hoping she'll pull thru this as well. The vet said to give her a week to 10 days on this new med but as of right now there's no change. Thank you again for your response.

[Lori Teller, D.V.M., DABVP]

Pugs are such sweet little dogs--I'm so sorry she's having these problems. Walking on knuckled feet, dragging the rear limbs, and loss of bladder and bowel control are all signs neurological disease. The Rimadyl and Deramaxx are both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) that help relieve pain, but they won't help with neurological disease. There are  many things that can cause the neuro problems. The differential diagnoses include, but are not limited to: the arthritis may have gotten so bad that nerves are being pinched or entrapped, a disk has herniated, or a tumor is affecting the spinal cord. You would need to have some imaging done--possibly including CT or MRI--to get a definitive diagnosis. Another option to consider, if that is not feasible, would be to get a doggie cart. These work very well for dogs that have no control over their rear limbs, but have control over their front half. You would still have to deal with the loss of bowel and bladder control though. Please consult further with your veterinarian to determine what would be best for you and your Pug. A thorough review of her quality of life would be in order too. The best of luck!