atrophy

[Ladya2006]

I have a  one yr old 4lb chihuaha..One day I went to bring her outside and she wasn't moving..I thought that she had had a stroke bc her left side wasn't moving..She was seemingly very sad & very quiet..I rushed her to the vet..They kept her overnight and gave her prednisone,..next morning, no change & they had me pick her up..I continued to give her the dosage I was told too for 1  1/2 months. and to keep her very quiet..I did this and had to hold her to feed her and hold her so she could go to the bathroom..When she showed signs of wanting to move around I stayed with her to see what she could, and would, be able to do..her rt side is fine but her left front foot is under her tummy and stays there so she pees on it when she goes to the bathroom...she is very unsteady and to move her bowels she will fall over so I hold her up so she can go..Atrophy is in her backside and I want to help her so maybe she can walk one day without so much trouble..I have tried to see if she can doggy paddle in the water, and she can't. .front leg doesn't move...Vet said it's a disk problem and not to have hope that it will ever get better..I miss her running around and playing and it's obvious that she's not 100% happy...She's just a tiny little thing and I have to do all I can to help her...What exersizes can I do with her to strengthen her backside?....Thank you

[Ladya2006]

Hi Karla, thank you so much for your reply.... I just wrote to you and then hit something on my pc and it all disappeared.  :(   The vet did mention   acupuncture.but I know it will be very expensive..He said they could do an assessment and go from there..He has a niece that does the acupuncture...I haven't heard back from him yet...I made a video of my little one walking, her name is Twinky, and it shows exactly what's going on with her.I don't know how to show it to you in here...I will look up all you told me about.and read it...I know that you said that I need a new vet..lol..I understand what you're saying but he does a lot of work for our shelter here and he's a very good vet..but...I have noticed that, where he is so busy, I don't get all my answers that I need from him because I always feel rushed..I just changed from my old vet to this one...We don't get paperwork either saying what was done at the vet visit like i used to get from the other one...I am going to find a way to get this video so you can see it..There has to be a way..until then, I will do what you said..Thank you again for your help.I  appreciate it so much!!!.........Andrea

[Ladya2006]

Hello Jerry and ty so much for your reply..Yes, it's the black one with the leg problem..her name is Twinky..It seems to be at the shoulder and at each joint..I took a video but don't know if I can put it in here for you to see..It's of her walking and you can see exactly what the walking problem is...I don't think her back left leg is 100 % yet but hope that it gets stronger..I would love to put a splint on it but don't know if I could do that and would want to do it right..I wonder if it is at the shoulder that it may not work with a splint..The vet mentioned acupuncture.but I know it will be very expensive..He said they could do an assessment and go from there..He has a niece that does the acupuncture...I haven't heard back from him yet...I wish I could post the video  :(     I thought of a cart also but, like you said, it wouldn't work for just one side...thank you again Jerry........Andrea

[Misfits4Me]

Welcome to the forum!  What??? You need a new Vet!!!!
Disk problems are very treatable and correctable----From supplements, Acupuncture to Surgical correction....My goodness.....

Please google Canine Intervertabral Disk/Disc Disease & read everything.....Find a Holistic Vet in your area & start w/Acupuncture.....You won't be sorry!  

To find a Holistic Vet in your area: Go to AHVMA and do a state search......Karla

P.S.I wouldn't start any exercises until you know exactly what your dealing with. A definite diagnoses is the key.......

[Jerry_NJ]

Is the subject dog the back dog in your avatar?  Looking a that picture enlarged I see a left front foot that doesn't look natural. Is the problem below the lower joint, or is the whole leg of no use in walking?  If just the lower leg I wonder if a splint would help  We had puppy that fell off of a 1 story high deck and he had to wear a leg splint to immobilize his left front leg He learned to get around by swinging the leg/splint forward and backward.  Best I can remember (it was many years ago) he moved around quickly... making a tap-tap-tap sound as he moved across the floor.

You say the problem is the left side, both back and front and back legs?

I have seen dogs with wheel carts for the rear or front, but I can't see any way to use something like that for one side.