Dan and I are completely exhausted. And a bit emotional, too. Last Friday, out of what seems like no where after our morning dog walk, Fritz began having trouble walking. Yeah, he has difficulty ambling around as it is, but he was dragging around his back feet. He couldn't even stand on them. We were out of town at the lake and began calling around to vets in that area after our own vet basically told us we needed to get him in somewhere. We were in small town USA, so almost NO vets had anything available for emergencies. WTF!? We would have to drive over an hour to an emergency vet hospital, but thankfully, we finally found a place 20 minutes away.
But we didn't end up taking him in. Within an hour or two, after a decent amount of rest, he was walking around again, keeping up with the other two dogs. Like nothing had happened. I called our vet, who said maybe he has a pinched nerve that just gets aggravated with a lot of exercise. They told us to give him baby aspirin every 8 hours and if he starts having difficulty again, get him in.
That's what happened today. I put him down this afternoon after carrying him in from outside and he immediately yelped and started having difficulty walking on his back two legs. We decided to play it out a little while to see if possibly it would "wear off" again. It didn't. I called our vet and we got him in.
The vet found the area of tightness and problem on his spine during examination. And noted that his paralysis/limpness was definitely "not good". X-rays were done....and show nothing is wrong with his discs. That's good, I supposed. But the poor guy is in pain. Not even going to the bathroom the way he should -- poor guy is BACKED UP because it probably hurts to much to push.
But...while the x-rays show nothing abnormal with his discs...The doctor said its very likely something is wrong with his spinal cord. Possibly a sign of the abuse he may have experienced previously. Something that maybe lied dormant while he laid in that shelter, completely inactive. Something that decided to rear it's ugly head the moment he started to become active again in his new forever home.
My heart is breaking right now...we have been told that we can start putting him on a steroid regiment and hope to GOD that it works. But we can also take him to a neurologist. The only neurologist for animals in this state is in the Detroit area. Nearly 3 hours away. While distance probably isn't terrible -- the price IS. We are taking him tomorrow for the consultation/neuro exam. Which is only $145. But it's going to have to stop there. If the doc says he can be on medication and that will help? Great. But if we have to go further?
A CT scan or MRI? $2500-3000.
If surgery is included?? $6000-7000.
I don't know what to do. WE don't know what to do. The only thing we can do is pray and hope. Hope that tomorrow the doc says it's nothing SERIOUS.
It's killing me inside. KILLING me. I'm falling apart.
He's so brave. And strong. So strong willed that he has been almost REFUSING to just lay down in his bed. He wants to walk around so badly. :(
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Prayers going out for all of you, but especially for the ailing Fritz. He is blessed to be a part of your family. I don't have answers for his back pain issue, but did the vet offer ideas to keep his digestive system moving along to help lessen that stress? I pray that the answer for Fritz isn't complicated or expensive!
Praying for you and Fritz!
Alicia: The doc said that once the muscle relaxant kicked in, that should help out a lot with being able to poo. :p
As you know my parents have doxies and have had to put down two of them due to very similar situations. While their dogs weren't rescue dogs, nor did they suffer abuse, those little pooches have such bad spines that they are plagued with trouble. Just know that you've given him a loving home and kindness and whatever happens he's loved you for that. Thinking of you my dear.
Sending good vibes your way! Good luck and keep us posted.
I'm so, so sorry he's having problems. All of you are in my prayers. Please give the little man extra loves from me and my pups.
I am so sorry to hear about Fritz' condition. I have been in your position with regard to the expensive tests and lack of funds with a wiener rescue of my own. But my recommendation is - make more calls! In my situation, through a series of strange coincidences, I was referred to a LIFE-SAVER veterinarian in Ketchum, Idaho (Dr. Randy Acker) who was able to test, diagnose, and do surgery on my "Indiana" for 1/4 of the cost I would have paid in Las Vegas (where I was living at the time). It was a 10-12 hour drive, one-way - but Absolutely worth it. He is a WONDERFUL man, loves his four-legged clients, and excels at his practice. He also consults with veterinarians all over the country (which he did on Indiana's case) --so it may be worth making a call to his office just to see if he can refer to someone closer to where you live. Just stay positive - and I do hope you get good news tomorrow at your consult.
Yikes! We are so sorry to hear about this. We are sending lots and lots of positive thoughts your way and hoping Fritz won't need surgery or a lot of intervention to get better. I think this is every dachshund-owner's worst nightmare.....
Keep us posted on how it goes. Stay strong!!!
I am so sorry to hear this. Please read up on IVDD so you can do your best to help him. You can certainly try 6 weeks of steroids and strict crate rest. I'd also look into steroid blasting as a surgery alternative. Here is really good ivdd info:http://www.12many.com/duchwood/backproblems.html
I'm sorry to hear this. I went through a scare with Carlisle a couple of summers ago, and luckily it wasn't anything serious. I'm hoping the same for you.
Chase
Pls put fritZ on cortisone and keep him very quiet in a crate. If you see him thru this carefully you can avoid surgery. Which shd be last last choice. My dachsie had a terrible time 6-7 years ago (her back legs were paralyzed for 5 weeks then one day she stood and walked again) and we've learned to keep her well. Ramps everywhere. Give him love. Keep the dosage as low and short as possible: too high will make him crazy and has terrible side effects.
Sending prayers and positive thoughts your way. Please keep us updated on Fritz progress.
I agree with Pearl whole heartedly. I have two doxies.
Sisters....and they each have had an episode. X-rays
showed their discs were not touching but they were
in pain. A muscle relaxant helped with the constipation....and then make sure Fritz gets rest, maybe by crating? Avoid any stairs for a few weeks.
It's worked for me thankfully and I've talked to other doxie owners who have had the same experience.
Eventually it may get to the point where surgery may be the answer but hopefully it's a long way off. BTW
the first episode was when Penny was a year and a half and she'll be turning 11 at the end of August.
PLEASE check out www.dodgerslist.com -they are a site dedicated to helping with exactly this. Fritz needs to be on strict cage rest right away. There is CONSERVATIVE treatment that can work, but strict cage rest is imperative. Please check out Dodgerslist.com ASAP. When Frankie went down, they were my life-saver.
Hope this helps!
Frankie's Mom,
Barbara Techel
PLEASE check out www.dodgerslist.com -they are a site dedicated to helping with exactly this. Fritz needs to be on strict cage rest right away. There is CONSERVATIVE treatment that can work, but strict cage rest is imperative. Please check out Dodgerslist.com ASAP. When Frankie went down, they were my life-saver.
Hope this helps!
Frankie's Mom,
Barbara Techel
PLEASE check out www.dodgerslist.com ASAP as they are a wonderful resource that will help you with this. They have a yahoo email group with lots of people willing to help you through this. They were my life-saver when my Frankie was hurt.
CONSERVATIVE treatment can also work if yo ucannot afford the surgery, etc., but strict crate rest ASAP is essential.
Hope this helps and we are keeping you in our prayers.
Frankie's mom,
Barbara Techel
Another idea...how about calling the Veterinary school at the University of Michigan or Michigan State?
I called Purdue two years ago and spoke with a wonderful vet doing research into reactions to immunizations after Oskar had a bad event.
Prayers for all.
we had a doxie named oscar who lived to the old age of nearly 18... he was a fighter!
he had the same problem for awhile, and we started taking him to acupuncture. it was literally a life saver. I know a doggie acupuncture office may be hard to come by, but look into it.
I'll be thinking about you guys!
Crate Rest! Crate Rest! Crate Rest! You may also want to call the Small Animal Hospital at Michigan State as I'm guessing it would be a shorter drive and they certainly have neurologists on staff and part of their referral base(and have a broader perspective since Fritzie doesn't seem to have garden variety IVDD). Dr Galle (sp?) over in metro Detroit took care of doxie grandma's girl when she had back issues and she had a more that full recovery - you'd never guess that she ever had a problem. We'll cross our paws for you.
This is one of the scariest parts of loving doxies, one knows that there might be spinal/back complications but you hope so hard it doesn't happen. I am sending you and yours lots of positive and healing energy. I hope he can heal and have a rapid recovery.
Prayers go out to Fritz and you. Crate rest in the interim while you investigate is the way to go. I hope everything will work out.
If you can get to West Virginia, Dr. Rhodes is AMAZING and SO MUCH CHEAPER!! He performed miracles on my dog who had the same issues. We drove 9 hours for him to do the surgery!
[PARKERSBURG VET (Veterinarians & Specialists)]
36TH STPARKERSBURG, WV 26101
PARKERSBURG, WV 26101
3044226971
Hours: 7:30AM - 6PM
Sweet Fritz....you are in our thoughts and prayers. You are loved.
My beloved BonnBonn had this happen to him as well. He just yelped, and went down. The doctors put him on the steroid treatment, and I did do the MRI, but he ended up paralyzed, however, he was so active afterwards, and moved faster (without his cart) than I did! Its a little more work---alittle more patience and love, but oh so worth it. This doesn't have to be the end.
I am praying it is nothing....I am so sorry!!!
Roxanne
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