7yr Golden excessive panting front legs give out

[bvpusa]

Our 7 yr Golden presenting with panting, very weak, front legs give out cannot go down stairs.  Still eating, peeing, pooping OK.  Blood shows high calcuim and phorophous levels.  Ruled out Lyme diease, Heartworm xrayed heart, lungs, kidneys all OK.  Vet is stumped!

[seeana]

Oh my dear I am so very sorry I have a Golden Retriever he is 8 yrs and a huge part of my life. I cannot express the words I feel for your pain.The saying is !your life becomes Golden when a Golden enters your life never a truer word was spoken.I hope you are brave enough to enter that life with a Golden again.
                                                              sincerely Joan.

                                      

[Misfits4Me]

I'm sorry it's taken me this long to offer my condolences to you for Savannah.. I've thought about you ever since you posted the first time.....
This is not the outcome I was hoping for and I know it must have been terrible....

You gave her the greatest gift you could, by letting her go and ending her pain...I know she's happy to see her mom & that makes it alittle better.....

I hope time will heal your heart......My thoughts & prayers are with you.....Please, come back and check in if you feel the need.....Sincerely, Karla

[bvpusa]

You were particially correct, Savannah had a cancerous temor in the neck that caused total loss of her legs.  This happened very fast and was very sad to say the least.  We put her to sleep and she is with her mom who we put to sleep 71/2 years ago with similar temors wrapped around her internal organs.  I want to thank you for your suggestions and advise. God bless

[ginger899]

I'm just a little bit amazed your vet didn't think of this...
If you don't see any action with your vet, take her immediately to a different vet

[Misfits4Me]

P.S.  RAISE  her food and water bowls so she doesn't have to lean down so far to eat & drink......Less pressure on the neck.....Karla

[Misfits4Me]

Panting is a sign of Pain......What your describing is classic of A Herniated Disc in the Cervical Spine.....Yes, Ginger's right....The Cervical area is the NECK...There are 7 discs in that area....It starts at the base of the skull and then goes down...

The good news is, in that area, there is alot of room between the discs so normally Total Paralysis goes not occur.....Further down the spine where room is compact, paralysis is frequent in a herniation, then rupture....

If you know anyone that has had a herinated disc in their back, they will tell you that the pain is excruciating!

Pred. (At the correct dose) is the first line of defense, but painkillers are needed, too.

Regular Xrays sometimes cannot see the Herniation...There is a 70% chance of it showing up....An MRI is the best, but is very expensive.....

Surgery for the neck is done through the throat, not from the back.....I will add that surgery is usually INSTANT relief, but 6-8 wks of recovery are a must....
Surgery can range from $3000 -$7000 depending where you live....If there's a Veterinary Teaching School (College) near you, they have the fairest prices....

It would not be fair not to add that this could be a Mass (Tumor) on the spine, also...
In that case, it's a different plan.....Either way, I feel your Drs. looking in the wrong place..

If your desperate, Most surgical centers will take "Care Credit". It's a credit card for medical care for humans & ANIMALS....You pay with the card, and then pay monthly installments back to the card company.....Just a thought....

The Pred. must be relieving some of the inflammation, so the panting has stopped.... The Pain is tolerable now, I suppose..

For further Info. Google IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease). Sometimes it's spelled DISK, also... Go look around and see if you don't agree.....Good luck and please come back with updates........Karla

[bvpusa]

Thanks for your info.  She started panting in June, first front leg problem end of July.  She would favor left front when walking.  Went to Vet he found nothing.  It has now progressed to she barely gets up when she does it is to go pee or poop only.  When walking her head is stuped V shaped front legs.  They will give out and she flops to the floor with her back legs slowly going down.  She is listless barely lifting head up to say hello.   This is a dog that 3 weeks ago would greet you with strenght and excitment wagging tail head pushing you to pet her.
We have been giving her prednisone since Tuesday with slight inprovement of panting no help for weakness.  We are waiting for new blood work takes 6/7 days.
Did CBC & electrolytes all negative.
She eats and pees & poops fine other than over all weakness.  Same conditions all the time.

[Misfits4Me]

BINGO!!!!  I think it is, too....That's where I was going with my questions.....I hope she comes back to see your post......Karla

[ginger899]

Could there be a cervical disc problem?

[Misfits4Me]

Hello & welcome....What does your dog's posture look like when walking? Pay close attention and give some details.
Has your Vet tried any Medication? Did it help?
Does your dog seem worse at any particular time of day? After eating? At night?
Was the rest of his/her blood panel OK?
Let me know and I'll get back with you.....Karla