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My 3 years Shiz Tzu is has severe weakness in rear legs and not able to walk.
My dog Alex, he is 3 years old. All suddenly he developed weakness in his rear legs. We took him the vet right away and we were referred to a Neurologist and MRI. we have an appointment this coming Tuesday. Has anyone experienced anything like this and what was the outcome. He does not appear in pain and we are giving Rimidyl as per the vet. It aches so much seeing him like this. Please share your experience. Thank you.
Hi Karla,
Sorry for getting back sooner. Alex is doing well. He is starting to lift himself with his rear legs and also walking, not with a firm gait, but he is trying. We still have in the crate and continue his range of motion and massage. We only let him walk to his bathroom and back to the crate as his gait is not static and hs seems not strong enough and seems struggling and we are afraid he might injure himself as he try to walk. His wound is healing and his still on med, of course we are tapering. In all, he is seem to be doing better and we will continue encourage walking with assist until he can do it all by himself. Looking forward to hearing from you and your advice.
Tx
Sorry for getting back sooner. Alex is doing well. He is starting to lift himself with his rear legs and also walking, not with a firm gait, but he is trying. We still have in the crate and continue his range of motion and massage. We only let him walk to his bathroom and back to the crate as his gait is not static and hs seems not strong enough and seems struggling and we are afraid he might injure himself as he try to walk. His wound is healing and his still on med, of course we are tapering. In all, he is seem to be doing better and we will continue encourage walking with assist until he can do it all by himself. Looking forward to hearing from you and your advice.
Tx
Hello & sorry for the delay.....
Alex WILLwalk again, you are going to have to give it time....Think positive! This is a major surgery and healing is important....Your exercises are VERY, VERY important as this will keep his unused muscles from atrophying (Wasting away) while he is recuperating....Always find time for his exercises!
Make sure he does not have to lay in any urine in his crate.....I purchased a Human, cloth bed pad that soaks up urine & it can be machine washed...They are used for humans that are bedridden.....They absorb urine and keep it away from the patient's skin....You don't want urine burns! These pads worked wonders...I had two & just traded them out!
Get him a kong and fill w/LOW FAT snacks.....This will give him something to do and help with boredom....You can put many things in them, such as celery sticks, sliced carrots, kibble, etc. Plug the end with either Yogurt Or peanut butter and FREEZE.....Kongs are the greatest invention...
Next: DO NOT overfeed him...Remember, he is not burning very many calories.....For snacks, choose again, healthy snacks like veggie sticks or a bowl of lowfat PLAIN yogurt...
If he is over weight, get the weight OFF.....Obesity just adds more strain on the back.....
Make sure your feeding a high quality diet void of excess fillers & grains....These are fattening...Feed a food as close to fresh ingredients as possible.....Great food promotes healing, make no doubt!
Purchase "Pet Stairs" for the sofa & beds in your house...Train him to use them when he starts walking again.....NO more jumping on and off furniture......Actually, it's not the jumping up, but the jumping DOWN that causes friction on the spine....
Make sure you start him on a excellent joint supplement in a few weeks.....These make a multitude of difference in joint health for life......I would wait until he is finished with his other medications.....My Holistic Vet recommends "Phycox Small Bites"...All my dogs are on them...I purchase them online....
For pottying outside, I wrapped a scarf under his waist, right in front of his back legs....I made sure his penis was exposed....When I got him outside, I lifted his rear end with the scarf & let him walk on his front legs.....He would pee-pee this way....I would let him touch his back toes on the ground and practice......Many dogs are constipated after a surgery....If your Alex is, you can add "Pure Canned Pumpkin" to his meals twice a day.....He needs anywhere from 1/2-1 Teas. each meal....You do not want canned pie filling....You want pure canned pumpkin..NO spices or seasonings....This will help him & it's very nutritious!
Hang in there...It only took my Oliver a little over a week to slowly start walking again...Normal is about 2-4weeks......
If I can help you with anything else, please let me know.....It is amazing to watch them start walking again after being paralyzed! Get your Video Camera or phone ready for the event!!!!! I want to see it, later! :) Karla
Alex WILLwalk again, you are going to have to give it time....Think positive! This is a major surgery and healing is important....Your exercises are VERY, VERY important as this will keep his unused muscles from atrophying (Wasting away) while he is recuperating....Always find time for his exercises!
Make sure he does not have to lay in any urine in his crate.....I purchased a Human, cloth bed pad that soaks up urine & it can be machine washed...They are used for humans that are bedridden.....They absorb urine and keep it away from the patient's skin....You don't want urine burns! These pads worked wonders...I had two & just traded them out!
Get him a kong and fill w/LOW FAT snacks.....This will give him something to do and help with boredom....You can put many things in them, such as celery sticks, sliced carrots, kibble, etc. Plug the end with either Yogurt Or peanut butter and FREEZE.....Kongs are the greatest invention...
Next: DO NOT overfeed him...Remember, he is not burning very many calories.....For snacks, choose again, healthy snacks like veggie sticks or a bowl of lowfat PLAIN yogurt...
If he is over weight, get the weight OFF.....Obesity just adds more strain on the back.....
Make sure your feeding a high quality diet void of excess fillers & grains....These are fattening...Feed a food as close to fresh ingredients as possible.....Great food promotes healing, make no doubt!
Purchase "Pet Stairs" for the sofa & beds in your house...Train him to use them when he starts walking again.....NO more jumping on and off furniture......Actually, it's not the jumping up, but the jumping DOWN that causes friction on the spine....
Make sure you start him on a excellent joint supplement in a few weeks.....These make a multitude of difference in joint health for life......I would wait until he is finished with his other medications.....My Holistic Vet recommends "Phycox Small Bites"...All my dogs are on them...I purchase them online....
For pottying outside, I wrapped a scarf under his waist, right in front of his back legs....I made sure his penis was exposed....When I got him outside, I lifted his rear end with the scarf & let him walk on his front legs.....He would pee-pee this way....I would let him touch his back toes on the ground and practice......Many dogs are constipated after a surgery....If your Alex is, you can add "Pure Canned Pumpkin" to his meals twice a day.....He needs anywhere from 1/2-1 Teas. each meal....You do not want canned pie filling....You want pure canned pumpkin..NO spices or seasonings....This will help him & it's very nutritious!
Hang in there...It only took my Oliver a little over a week to slowly start walking again...Normal is about 2-4weeks......
If I can help you with anything else, please let me know.....It is amazing to watch them start walking again after being paralyzed! Get your Video Camera or phone ready for the event!!!!! I want to see it, later! :) Karla
Yes, he needs to be crate and activity restricted for the next 2-3 months. Range of motion, Massage rear extremities with stroke technique. Bouncing Exercise and walking support. Water pt was not recommended as Alex is not a friend with H2O. medications, Prednisone, Tramadol, and Gabapentin and back in two weeks. If you need more info in order to assist me with Alex let me know. Thanks.
Yes, he needs to be crate and activity restricted for the next 2-3 months. Range of motion, Massage rear extremities with stroke technique. Bouncing Exercise and walking support. Water pt was not recommended as Alex is not a friend with H2O. medications, Prednisone, Tramadol, and Gabapentin and back in two weeks. If you need more info in order to assist me with Alex let me know. Thanks.
First, what were your discharge instructions? Did they say to crate him for x amount of weeks? How about a way to hold his rear up to let him walk around? Did they offer any suggestions or did they say NOT to walk him? How about Pain management? IS he on any? When do you go back for a followup?
Any more information about his discharge would help me help you.....Karla
Any more information about his discharge would help me help you.....Karla
Alex is back home. He looks well, thus not standing on his on his own or walking. He has feeling in his rear extremities. We were instructed what to do at the clinic, eg: massage, assisting him to was walk and strength excise. Karla, You seems you have been in the position before and you have knowledge. Please, give some advices on how to help Alex recuperate from surgery and walk again. Thanks.
Hi Alex...Yippee! Thanks for the update....SO, glad you were able to do this for him!! I have 2 disc/disk disease dogs....One too, was paralyzed & had the surgery 4 years ago....I was 200 miles away & they called me with updates.....He wouldn't eat either, until I demanded that somebody go to the nearest Kentucky Fry & get him a piece of chicken.....They sent one of the internist out to do this for me & the rest is history! ;) Oliver, actually enjoyed the biscuit dipped in gravy better, I found out later! ;)
He got back to feeling sooo good that he tore an ACL while playing, a couple of years later.....Had surgery on that too, almost 2 years ago...I call him my Bionic Buddy!!
My other has had a herniation, but this time I realized the signs before a rupture.....Immediately took him to my Holistic Vet for Acupuncture to get the disk to go back down quicker......Yes, it worked!
They both receive Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs for Anti-inflammatory properties.....Both are well!!!!!!
Anyway, I am so grateful for your update!!! It made my day......Thank you & good luck, Karla
He got back to feeling sooo good that he tore an ACL while playing, a couple of years later.....Had surgery on that too, almost 2 years ago...I call him my Bionic Buddy!!
My other has had a herniation, but this time I realized the signs before a rupture.....Immediately took him to my Holistic Vet for Acupuncture to get the disk to go back down quicker......Yes, it worked!
They both receive Acupuncture & Chinese Herbs for Anti-inflammatory properties.....Both are well!!!!!!
Anyway, I am so grateful for your update!!! It made my day......Thank you & good luck, Karla
Hi,
Alex had surgery last Tuesday. He had an IVDD and is recovering well, thus he does not want to eat due to post surgery. He looks well, but I guess a little upset at us that we still have him in the hospital, but as you guys know is for his best (lol). Just visited him and his face looks lively and he has feeling in his rear legs, which is what we want. I like to thank you for your support during this difficult time. We did know that we love him, but we didn't know that we love him so much much and you guys understand this. Thank you.
Alex had surgery last Tuesday. He had an IVDD and is recovering well, thus he does not want to eat due to post surgery. He looks well, but I guess a little upset at us that we still have him in the hospital, but as you guys know is for his best (lol). Just visited him and his face looks lively and he has feeling in his rear legs, which is what we want. I like to thank you for your support during this difficult time. We did know that we love him, but we didn't know that we love him so much much and you guys understand this. Thank you.
Any News???? Please come back with an update, we're thinking about you......Thanks, Karla
I'm praying for you both, too! Let us know when you can.....Thanks & good luck..... Karla
My prayers for you and Alex. He is a young dog and that should give him the strength of youth to help him recover.
Thank, will keep you on the know and hoping and praying all for good news for Alex.
Welcome......My first thought is IVDD (Intervertabral Disc/Disk Disease)? A ruptured disk/disc in his spine......Is that what they (Your Vet) suspects has happened? He seems a little young, though...Usually happens at around 6 or 7 years of age.....
Please, keep us updated & good luck Tuesday.....I will be waiting to hear.....Hopefully, others will come by with some ideas......Karla
P.S. Also, Make sure you check him for any ticks.....Tick Paralysis ,though rare, can happen & needs to be ruled out......
Please, keep us updated & good luck Tuesday.....I will be waiting to hear.....Hopefully, others will come by with some ideas......Karla
P.S. Also, Make sure you check him for any ticks.....Tick Paralysis ,though rare, can happen & needs to be ruled out......
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