Full body paralysis of Border Collie

[Heatherm4]

Our 11 year old Border Collie has had a sudden paralysis from basically his neck down. He lives with my MIL because we have 2 young children and he likes to herd them and nip. He's lived with her the last year.

Friday he barrelled down the outside steps and came back favouring his one front paw. We were there Sunday and he needed to be lifted up and down the stairs but could still walk. We weren't too concerned as he has kinda hurt his paw previously and has been fine. He still favoured his leg but was able to put weight on it.

Monday I get a call from my MIL that he couldn't move at ALL. Took him to the vet, she did x-rays and blood work and everything has come back normal. She has given us 5 days of very strong steroids to give him and if there is improvement then there will be more.
He can only move his head….he needs to be flipped over a few times a day, he isn't in pain (that we know of) he has pooped and peed but I don't think he can control it. He needs to be lifted up to drink or eat or just therapy wise.
We are heartbroken and were told he has a 50/50 chance of recovering. Which to me means, they haven't got a clue.

Has anyone had to go through this with their dog before? Have they actually recovered. I read all sorts of stories about just front or hind leg paralysis but rarely anything about full body.
Our thoughts are that we should put him down. (Please don't give me flack for this) His quality of life is greatly diminished, it's just so hard because mentally he is still there! :(

[Heatherm4]

Great news!! He is WALKING! My mother in law called me last Saturday and said he was up and walking around.
The paw that originally showed trouble is still a little limp but he is walking! It's pretty amazing. Things weren't looking too good for him but he has made it through. He is still on steroids but will now start to wean off of them slowly.

[Ghilly]

At least it sounds like he is making progress, however slow!  That's great news!  It sounds like whatever it is, is working to resolve itself!  Thanks for the update!  Please keep us posted and hopefully the next update will be even more good news!

Ghilly

[Heatherm4]

So, he is able to sit up, and move his back legs but his front legs are still immobile. He can stand and hold his weight but after a couple mins his front legs will start to give and he will slide down. His front paws will also curl under if you don't watch it.

[Margot49]

Glad to read the Vet considered ticks.
Sounds encouraging.  Keeping fingers crossed that he will progress and recover.

[Heatherm4]

Thanks! :)
Well he has been peeing and moving his head more. He is now wagging his tail! I went to see him and it seems like he moves to get up but just can't. He's able to put weight on his legs and apparently he moved off of his bed in the night….all good progress so we will see how things go!

[Ghilly]

You're in my thoughts, Heatherm4.  I hope that the situation resolves itself and your pup is back to good health soon!

Ghilly

[Heatherm4]

The vet seems to think it's FCEM which is basically cartilage that's moved and spread and basically caused nerve paralysis.
She's thought of coonhound paralysis and tick bites but it happened too sudden. It's still quite cold here so I'm not sure if ticks are even really a threat at the moment. I've tried looking him over but cannot find anything.
We are giving it the full week to see what will happen. This is definitely something that is quite tough to handle.
Will keep posted!

[Ghilly]

Just a thought, but everyone may be thinking disc or spine because he came back in from play favoring his paw.  Has anyone checked him for ticks?  It could be tick paralysis, which will right itself very quickly after the tick is found and removed.  Just trying to think outside the box here, it might be that everyone is thinking "horses" when the hoofbeats are heard, but sometimes, just sometimes, it's "zebras".  

Ghilly

[Margot49]

I am so sorry to read this.  Glad you went to the Vet but too bad no definite diagnosis.
This could be degenerative myelopathy, slipped disc, infection in the spine, an embolus, among other things. Any chance he has had a tick bite?  
Some conditions may resolve. You might have to do a myleogram, but that might cost.
No flak here for considering euthanasia.  He is up there in age and nobody wants to see a dog suffer or have no quality of life.
If it were me, and he does not seem to be in pain, I might try the steroid treatment to see if there is any improvement.  You know your dog best and will make the right decision.  Work with your Vet on this and ask fir a realistic prognosis
Good luck. Please update..