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Muscle loss
I had to put my best friend to sleep last Thursday. She was only 5 1/2- a German Shephard/Beagle mix, about 32 lbs. A couple of months ago she started having trouble using her back legs. She was dragging herself around with her front legs. My vet said he believed it was a disc problem and I should wait for 6 months to see how she did- in the meantime, he gave me prednisone (20mg/2X/day) for her. The prednisone did not seem to work very well as she continued to get worse. Last Wednesday I noticed that her facial muscles seemed to have disappeared. Her cheek bones stood out and she was VERY lethargic. The vet said that there was nothing else he could do for her and that the kindest thing would be to put her to sleep.
My question is... what do you think happened??? I don't believe that it really was a disc problem. It seems as if she started losing all of her muscle tone and that is why she couln't walk. I would just like to know what it might have been. I miss her greatly and hope that I did the right thing.
Thank you.
My question is... what do you think happened??? I don't believe that it really was a disc problem. It seems as if she started losing all of her muscle tone and that is why she couln't walk. I would just like to know what it might have been. I miss her greatly and hope that I did the right thing.
Thank you.
I have a 4 year old German shepherd . She is he most beautiful girl you will ever meet. She had erchlicia canis aka tick disease and we treated her and now 3 vets and Iowa state vet school and no one knows what's wrong with her now . She has lumps all over sores all over swollen face and legs also has lost so much hair she looks awfull. And now I know it's time to put her down but how do you pick when to take her. And I wish I knew what was wrong with her
Hi hi have a 6 year old miniature schnauzer with a very deterated leg I asked the vet today but there not really shaw, what the case is, she can't get up by her self and she can't walk for a long period time I just don't know what's the cause is for a small 6 year old dog is I'm desperate find out I don't want the worst to come.
COMMUNITY LEADER
It might be time to consider "hospice care" for him.
That would involve medication and alternative remedies for the relief of pain and discomfort....acupuncture being a really wonderful one. Yes, even a dog in the last weeks of his life can benefit from pain relief and improved mobility which acupuncture an often help with.
Also there are many other things which can help a dog on its end-of-life path. Gentle music, few disturbances, a soft warm bed, hand-fed food, maybe ramps to help go up one or two steps, or if necessary, get in and out of a car, regular potty-breaks....etc
Hospice care (at home of course) may involve one or more members of the family having time off work. It often will involve someone sleeping downstairs on a sofa or made-up bed to be with the dog during the night. It nearly always involves broken sleep sometimes, so it's helpful if more than one person is on duty.
Now the hardest thing of all to do is feel the love, and show the love, and nothing else. Not the grief, not the tears, not the worry. That is hard. But it will help the dog so much to feel secure and loved and safe, and smiled upon as its strength ebbs.
That would involve medication and alternative remedies for the relief of pain and discomfort....acupuncture being a really wonderful one. Yes, even a dog in the last weeks of his life can benefit from pain relief and improved mobility which acupuncture an often help with.
Also there are many other things which can help a dog on its end-of-life path. Gentle music, few disturbances, a soft warm bed, hand-fed food, maybe ramps to help go up one or two steps, or if necessary, get in and out of a car, regular potty-breaks....etc
Hospice care (at home of course) may involve one or more members of the family having time off work. It often will involve someone sleeping downstairs on a sofa or made-up bed to be with the dog during the night. It nearly always involves broken sleep sometimes, so it's helpful if more than one person is on duty.
Now the hardest thing of all to do is feel the love, and show the love, and nothing else. Not the grief, not the tears, not the worry. That is hard. But it will help the dog so much to feel secure and loved and safe, and smiled upon as its strength ebbs.
Chiropractic care for your dog may truly help him be more comfortable. It may not restore his health to 100% however it may be able to help stimulate enough nerves so that he is more functional without such pain.
Make sure you go to someone who has had proper training and experience.
Other therapies that I have found to be helpful are acupuncture and cold laser therapy.
Good luck
Make sure you go to someone who has had proper training and experience.
Other therapies that I have found to be helpful are acupuncture and cold laser therapy.
Good luck
Thank you for your reply.
I have since posting spokmen to the vet. Problem is vet has said his muscle loss was so dramatic he won't get it back and no matter what the results would say he will not be well.
His neck which is stiff he thinks with medication might be treatable. But at 10 years old his standard of life would not be too good.
He is also confident doing the test will just get us an accurate answer to what has caused this. It is most likely nothing can be done.
He is in so much discomfort, I cannot bare to see him like this, not to sure when we could get in for an MRI, maybe within the next 6 days, but that is a long time for him to go in his state.
He is on steroids, started them this morning, vet said call him on Thursday (2 days) if he hasn't improved or showed any signs of improvement then it will be for the best to do the unthinkable!
I am praying it's been a trapped nerve and the steroids can relax him another for it to start a repair. 1 in a thousand chance I suppose but it is all I have got.
Thank you for your comments, some people can handle this sort of things better than others, I am not fairing to well right now, so guess this is going to hit me hard.
I have since posting spokmen to the vet. Problem is vet has said his muscle loss was so dramatic he won't get it back and no matter what the results would say he will not be well.
His neck which is stiff he thinks with medication might be treatable. But at 10 years old his standard of life would not be too good.
He is also confident doing the test will just get us an accurate answer to what has caused this. It is most likely nothing can be done.
He is in so much discomfort, I cannot bare to see him like this, not to sure when we could get in for an MRI, maybe within the next 6 days, but that is a long time for him to go in his state.
He is on steroids, started them this morning, vet said call him on Thursday (2 days) if he hasn't improved or showed any signs of improvement then it will be for the best to do the unthinkable!
I am praying it's been a trapped nerve and the steroids can relax him another for it to start a repair. 1 in a thousand chance I suppose but it is all I have got.
Thank you for your comments, some people can handle this sort of things better than others, I am not fairing to well right now, so guess this is going to hit me hard.
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am so sorry this is happening. I know I would feel upset myself if this was my dog. It's worse when we don't know what is the matter, and we do our best but they don't seem to be getting any better.
What would I do?
If I were in your place, I would have to do the MRI scan. It's difficult, I know, as there is anesthetic involved, apart from the journey. Also I realize that it would be difficult to get pain medication down him if he isn't eating, or has to fast before anesthetic. I wonder if you could ask your vet for pain-relief patches you might be able to apply to his skin (the skin on the belly is best for this) -while he was in transit for the MRI? So that at least you would be pretty sure he isn't suffering any pain, even though he has to travel.
But in my own opinion, I would feel I had to know, and that I had to do everything possible to help him. The MRI just might tell what is the matter, so it can be helped.
Sometimes it can be the case that after a dog has been put to sleep, the owner can torment themselves wondering "what if"....and "did I do everything possible?" ....and "what if I'd done more?"
I know not everyone would agree with my opinion, and also, no-one knows your dog like yourself. You will get the message from him when he has had enough. If, in your own opinion, that time really has come, and you get that feeling from him, then please don't let me influence you, and instead, do what your boy most needs.
You are in my thoughts. It is a very difficult decision for you. God bless.
What would I do?
If I were in your place, I would have to do the MRI scan. It's difficult, I know, as there is anesthetic involved, apart from the journey. Also I realize that it would be difficult to get pain medication down him if he isn't eating, or has to fast before anesthetic. I wonder if you could ask your vet for pain-relief patches you might be able to apply to his skin (the skin on the belly is best for this) -while he was in transit for the MRI? So that at least you would be pretty sure he isn't suffering any pain, even though he has to travel.
But in my own opinion, I would feel I had to know, and that I had to do everything possible to help him. The MRI just might tell what is the matter, so it can be helped.
Sometimes it can be the case that after a dog has been put to sleep, the owner can torment themselves wondering "what if"....and "did I do everything possible?" ....and "what if I'd done more?"
I know not everyone would agree with my opinion, and also, no-one knows your dog like yourself. You will get the message from him when he has had enough. If, in your own opinion, that time really has come, and you get that feeling from him, then please don't let me influence you, and instead, do what your boy most needs.
You are in my thoughts. It is a very difficult decision for you. God bless.
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