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Charlie_D_'s avatar
Charlie_D_
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Jan 20, 2021

Daschund legs

Looking for help with our 5 1/2 year old Isabella.

We have 2 daschunds-twin sisters- and like all dogs they are lap dogs. We had the bad habit of letting them jump into our laps when we are sitting.
About a month ago Belle would sit on the floor at the wife's chair wanting to be picked up so we started doing that. Belle took care of her business and trotted back to the house for her bed time treat. She weighs 10 #'s so is not overweight.
Next morning when I opened their crate for their morning trip, Belle was at the front of the crate and her rear legs would barely support her. Immediately took her to our Vet and he gave her a shot of Rimadyl and prescription of Rimadyl 25mg every 12 hours on 1/13/21. She has never exhibited any pain but had a slight soft whimper 2-3 times daily.
Next day she had lost all movement of her rear legs. Back to the vet, x-rays and said he had a ruptured disc and another was calcified. I do not have the location of those discs. He prescribed Prednisilone @ 5mg/daily and Gabipentin @25 mg 3 times daily after 24 hours of her last dosage of Rimydal. Because I have used Gabapentin and Prednisone I asked the Vet how long Belle could remain on it. He said the benefits outweigh the riks.
Her appetite is normal other than being a little picky on her evening meal. We changed to a different food and she eats that well.
I take her outside on a leash and band to support he belly to prevent her feet from knuckling under and she has a bowel movement 2-3 times daily and urinates without issue.
Drinks water and loves her treats.
Took her back to the Vet this past Monday and he gave her a shot of Adaquan and will continue another shot tomorrow for twice weekly for 3 weeks. He believes it may restore some function to her back legs where she can regain some use and the ability to waddle around.
Because of the time she would no longer jump into our lap and getting her paralysis we believe the window for back surgery has closed. If surgery could be done it would have to be in Houston 125 miles away.
In addition wife had some heart issues in mid-November. Week of Thanksgiving it became worse and sent her by ambulance to ER. EMT's did an EKG and said she had Premature Ventricular Constrictions. After observance at the ER she was better and they sent her home to consult with our PCP. He referred her to a Cardioligist who, after mutilple tests and a heart monitor for 30 days. Next visit to doctor is Feb.3 will describe a course of treat as she was found to have AFID. I have occasional flare ups of my Rheumatoid Arthrist and some days can not use one of my hands for 1-2 days before it subsides. If back surgery was still available wife doesn't feel we can give Belle the proper care and therapy.

Vet said she has not reached the end of her life cycle and we agree that we do not wish to put here down. We asked about a doggie wheel chair and he said he is not in favor of that because of her age and did we really want her to use that for the next 6-7-8 years. We may still get one depending on her progression.

We are hoping for some type of recovery to where she could at least move herself around.

I have been studying cold laser therapy amd am willing to try that as a local Vet. does it.

Hopefully Dr. Doug and some of you have gone through this and can provide incite.
  • Deep pain is an unsophisticated but reliable test to evaluate how much injury there is to the spinal cord. Having deep pain is a good thing - there is still some functionality in the spinal cord. The fact that she is still able to control urination and BMs also indicates that there is some connection going through the spinal cord.

    Don't get too concerned about the yelp, she's also getting used to being handled in new ways. It is important to avoid torque to the spine to prevent further disk injury.

    I've used Adequan with some success but it's not a cure, just a valuable anti-inflammatory tool.

    The way the hydrotherapy works is to support weight while allowing mobility and limb movement, perhaps re-learning how to walk. The heat from the water could also be of some benefit.
  • Thanks for the comments.
    Today was the second shot of Adaquin-anyone familiar with it.
    Belle continues to be alert. Does her outdoor business. Eats and drinks. She has never whined but when neither of us are in the room she whines and barks loudly.
    We continue to allow her to sit next to us in recliners. We move and handlle her only when going outside and moving to her bed.. She can widen her hip to take care of business and we think that is a good sign. Twice she has yelped when I pick her up by placing my fingers-carelessly-under her belly near her vulva. Dzoes that mean anything?
    Next Monday will be her third shot and will ask the Vet to see if she exhibits pain in her paws. If so, am I wrong to think she still have some feeling in her back legs.
    Still taking Gabapinten and Prednisole.
    I have ordered a doggy wheel chair and a life vest. We will start water therapy when the vest is delivered in a few days. We have a jacuzzi and wondering if using it on a low setting would help in addition to the water therapy.

    We will try that for a few days and may search for a vet. that does laser therapy. Relative used the therapy for hind legs for their pet but there were other issues instead of paralysis and she said it helped.
    Any other things we can do?
  • We have been through this with our dachshund, Morgan, and it can be frustrating but not insurmountable. We rescued him when he was 4 yrs old and a year later he ruptured a disc chasing his ball. From everything I've read this is genetic and 5 years of age is typical for this injury appear. We went the surgery route along with physical therapy and he did recover - for a while. Apparently, he developed scar tissue that put pressure on the spinal cord, so he gradually lost most of the use of his hind legs. He can still occasionally walk but it's not graceful.

    I disagree with your vet about the wheelchair. We have one and Morgan loves it. He started using it when he was 7 I (I think) and he’s 11 now and shows no sign of slowing down. So I’m not sure why using it for 6-7-8 years is a problem. IMHO NOT being able to use one for 6-7-8 years would be a problem. It just lets him be a dog again.
    We only use it for outside and it gives him the ability to run and chase his ball and go on walks again. He goes crazy when we pick it up because he knows he’s going outside. They do need supervision when they’re in it in case it gets caught on something. Morgan has even managed to flip it over chasing a rabbit in the yard.
    I recommend Eddie's Wheels, they custom build the wheelchair to the dog’s measurements. The place where he was getting his PT recommended them and took his measurement for me. I did my own research as well before I bought and didn’t think any of the other options were nearly as good. The website is eddieswheels dot com.
    You can also get what’s referred to as a drag bag. Basically, a bag that your put the dog in with harness that goes around the upper neck/torso and protects the legs from getting scraped up when the drag around. We had one for Morgan, but he really hated it. So inside we just let him drag himself around. Our floors are tile and laminate so he can’t tear himself up.
    Good luck with whatever path you choose and let me know if you questions I might be able to answer.
  • The window for surgery to help in these cases is very short and is within hours/days of the initial insult.

    I've had cases (this is a very common condition) that will encourage you and others that will depress you. It's difficult to gauge what the eventual outcome will be, but constant slow improvement is a good sign.

    The absolute best case was a cervical disk (neck) where all 4 legs were affected. He couldn't stand and basically just paddled on the floor to move around. It took about a year, but he progressed so he could stand and walk.

    Laser therapy is potentially helpful, but I don't have any experience with it. Hydrotherapy (swimming) is a physical therapy that I've found very helpful.

    BTW, your vets original treatment was pretty standard for minor disk.

    I understand your and your wife's medical issues - Sandy has AFIB and RA. If you need to vent, send me a PM.

    Doug
  • Howdy!

    Our daschund had the same type of back problems. We noticed he as having problems with his hind legs and showed signs of being in pain. We took him to our vet the very next morning. Our vet then had us take him straight to another vet in Houston for surgery. Our local vet advised if we had waited on the surgery he would have been paralyzed and not have use of his hind legs. The surgery was successful are he is doing well even years later. I wish you well with your fur baby and your wife’s health also.

    “Happy Trails “
    Chiefneon