2year old chihuahua

[Bri0820]

My chihuahua, Lola has been acting really funny this afternoon. She was fine this morning. She is a pretty calm dog and lives with 4 other dogs, there are all under 7 pounds. She is walking as though she is drunk and really babying her left back leg, she still has her silly smile on and is wagging her tail like crazy. She is shivering but will allow you to pick her up and is patient. I can not think of anything that could of happen to her. Everything has been normal all day. Please help.

[Misfits4Me]

Hi Brio....My Oliver had the "Decompressive Hemilaminectomy".....His was Stage IV which means he was Paralyzed, but still had a pain response in his foot.....Emergency Surgery was performed by a Neurologist Surgeon....

His testing was first an Xray, then a MRI, then a Myelogram. The Myelogram is a procedure where Dye is injected into the spine to locate the rupture....Then the surgeon knows which side to enter the spinal column in order to retrieve the disc material.....

I took Oliver to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital at Okla. State University.....There are 27 Vet. teaching hospitals in the US.....Maybe there is one close to you! The price was $3000.00 for everything! He was still paralyzed when he was released, but eventually returned to almost normal after a few weeks....

Your Vet's price quote is over-whelming...Are you sure that's what they said? The highest I have ever seen this surgery was $7000.....

There are many Joint supplements on the market.....My Holistic Vet prefers Phycox JS Chews.....They make Phycox small bites for tiny dogs.....I buy mine online....

Anyway, something else you might want to do: You need to get "Pet Stairs" for your Beds & your Sofa.....These will help ALL your dogs NOT risk a back injury by jumping up or down....Pet Stairs are a Must!

Good luck with Lola's recovery.....You might want to get her a Kong & some stuffers: (Cottage Cheese, Yogurt, kibble topped w/peanut butter, canned food, etc.) to help her with boredom.....I stuff Kongs and then freeze them for longer enjoyment!  

Again, good luck and keep me updated....Alot of people have excellent luck with conservative treatment for their dog's Disc Disease! Hang in there.......Karla

P.S. I also used a child's playpen to keep Oliver confined.....It was easier on my back and he had more room to move, yet still not enough to run or play.....Mine had wheels on it so I could easily move it throughout the house & he could be with us wherever we were.....Just a thought.....Bye

[Bri0820]

Thank you for all the info. What was the surgery that your vet offered you. They told me that we would have to go to a Nero surgeon and that it would be between $16,000-20,000. Or I could treat it with steroids, which I had no choice but to do. She is happy as usual, not acting any different. She has to stay in her crate for 6 weeks only leaving by being carried outside to use the bathroom. Please if there is something different you did let me know. I have a call in for the joint supplement. Thanks!!

[Misfits4Me]

Hi Brio....Thanks for the update...
I live with a toy dog that has IVDD for several years, now.....He had a Disk Rupture that lead to being paralyzed from the waist down.....There was no injury or trauma for him, either....He went out to potty and came back in dragging himself....That was it!

He had to have emergency surgery to correct the paralysis.....He takes joint supplements, receives Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs on a regular basis and he's doing great...You'd never know he ever had any trouble!

He did tear an ACL in his rear leg and has recently undergone knee surgery to be able to use it again.....I call him my Bionic Dog! ;)

Talk to your Vet about a good Joint supplement......Your girl would benefit from it.....

I have been treating "Oliver" for his Disk Disease, for over 3 years, now.....
He was out chasing Squirrels earlier today & all is well!

Good luck & keep me updated on your "Lola".....Take care, Karla

[Bri0820]

Thank you for your help. I was able to get an appt. last night to take her to the vet. They said exactly what you said, and that she didn't injury herself or wasn't injuries but has Canine Intervertebral Disk Disease, which is found in small dogs.
Intervertebral disk disease is a major neurologic problem affecting both canines and humans. Both species can be affected with cervical (neck) disk disease with similarities in the symptoms and outcome. However, in the thoracolumbar (mid-back) area, unique species differences alter the symptoms and outcome of canine versus human disk disease. The major neuroanatomic difference is in which vertebra the end of the spinal cord lies. In humans, the end of the spinal cord lies approximately inside the second lumbar (L2) vertebra (mid-back). Nerves exiting the spinal cord then descend inside the remaining lumbar and sacral (pelvis) vertebral segments. In comparison, the spinal cord in dogs ends at approximately the sixth lumbar (L6) vertebra (low-back area) and nerves descend through the last lumbar, sacral and coccygeal (tail) vertebral segments. It's very very sad but my Lola is going to get lots of love and care. She is being treated with steroids and confinement. Please if there are any suggestions, do email.

[Misfits4Me]

Hello & welcome.....It sounds as if Lola has injured a Disk/Disc in her spine......Is she a jumper? On and off furniture, beds, stairs, etc.? Check the Paw that she's favoring....Turn it upside down and she if she's slow to return to normal position....That's usually a good way to tell!

She MUST be kept crated until you can see a Vet....If this is a disk herniation, it could rupture and cause paralysis......Then you have an emergency....

Google IVDD (Intervertebral Disk Disease) and see if the symptoms fit.....

Shivering is a sign of PAIN!   Good luck and please let us know what you find out........Karla

[ginger899]

There has to be something really wrong there, to suddenly "start walking as if drunk". Unusual gait, like you describe, is strange and could mean there is something either wrong with the balance in her inner ear(ie most likely an ear infection or possibly vestibular disease)
Or...if she is just limping and favouring her sore leg, it could be she has sprained her leg, or a number of other possibilities.
The only slight red flag with that is that she is shivering. Unless she normally shivers for no health reason, that can mean pain. Usually a dog shivers when it is feeling pretty bad pain.

I would get her to a vet to be thoroughly checked out.