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My dog needs help...

By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

Hello all,

Almost 3 weeks ago my dog had an accident in the garden and her back left leg had no feeling in it. She was knuckling as she was walking for the first week but now is not dragging her foot and putting weight on it.

I took her to the vets when the accident happened. The vet who checked was a young vet and said at the time it could be many things, spinal, neurological, muscular. They took xrays and she still wasn't sure what if it was spinal so she referred it to a "specialist" at one of their other branches. After a few days of waiting my vet rang me to tell me that that her colleague could not see from the xrays what the problem is. They want to refer us to "Willows" and have quoted me £4000 for an mri and purple dye investigation plus £400 for consultation. All this before they actually do a procedure if she needs one.

I rescued my dog in Jan of this year my dog from a neighbour who wasn't looking after her and kept her chained up in the garden all the time. I hadn't got insurance for her because I wasn't sure if I was going to keep her. Only a few months back I decided I want to give her a happy life and keep her.

Since the accident she has made significant improvement and is able to run around do small jumps on the sofa. She is much, happier, tail wagging, eating as normal, has bladder control and is back to her normal self. She is not knuckling but she is hobling when she runs and kind of hops. I can see everything is not back to normal. She has some feeling in the leg and has some control as she does moves it when I poke a sharp item into it. She has been on painkillers and steroids everyday since our first visit to the vet.

I am going to take her to the vets on Friday as it has been 3 weeks since the vet last saw her and back then she wasn't bearing any weight on the leg or walking.

Last Friday I rang the vets to get my dogs prescription renewed but then they asked me about the referral to Willows.

I would appreciate any advice from people who have similar experiences with their dog/s or even if someone knows of someone who can help with advice. I have the xrays and have made a few videos which I would be happy to email.

Any help or advice would be much appreciated. Thank you.

P.s. dogs name is "Pisti" and she is 3 years old

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Sorry to hear about your dog, vets fees can be bloody expensive. the only advice I can give you is to try the PDSA. If you're on any kind of benefits they may be able to contribute financially or give you advice what your options may be. Best of luck

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

If you feel she's improving which it sounds as though she is why pay for something if not nessesary vets certainly know how to charge

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Keeping fingers crossed this poor little mite gets back to where she was before xx

It could be that they were wrong if she's getting better it sound like she's coming on in leaps and bounds xx.

I wouldn't let her jump about too much as she might end up hurting herself again before it's fully healed.

When we have an injury our body will try to protect it with fluid it could of been that it was squishing a nerve?

Fingers crossed x

If the financial side is a problem as it was suggested before go to the PDSA they can help sometimes x

Best of luck xx

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

Thanks for the advice. I'm not on any kind of benefits I'm afraid. If need be I'll pay the money for the scans but then if she needs a procedure then that would be probably a few grand more. In my experience there is always an alternative solution and having read online forums many people have been able to care for the dogs themselves and over time have made a full recovery. I am a firm believer in where there's life there's hope.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

Thanks guys. This is the thing. The vet only saw the dog for 20 mins then had the xrays done. Then it was just a load of it could be this it could be that. Something I knew myself before the vet told me by doing my own research.

I have been with Pisti literally every minute since she had the accident. That first week, I slept downstairs with her, kept her warm and hydrated. She is 27kg and I was picking her up and taking her outside for fresh air and so she could do her business. After the second week I didn't have to do most of that and now I am not doing any of it. Things are pretty much back to normal. She has bags of energy. But like I said that back leg does not seem to be in sync with the other three.

Thank you kindly for all your best wishes.

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By *odareyouMan over a year ago

not far from iceland,,,,,, tescos is nearer though :-) (near leeds)

I m not a vet or medical professional of any description, from my own (generally) sporting injuries breaks and soft tisSue injuries ( tendons ligaments) these often take longer to heal than a broken bone, if shes happy in herself and making progress I d continue with the course of treatment shes having ,

Hope shes better real soon,

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

[Removed by poster at 22/07/14 13:35:48]

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By *obbyboomMan over a year ago

Burnley

It sounds like she is making a natural recovery. You could try to find a veterinary college. They are normally a lot cheaper than the veterinary practice. Also they are normally a lot better. As a veterinary professor does the consultation and has students there who are in the process of learning and not in the relaxed comfort of having a job.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

Thanks John,

My feelings exactly. If she was the same or worse as she was in her first week then I would not hesitate to have her referred. But the fact that she has not changed, her behaviour has not changed and nor anything she use to do before the accident has changed makes me think she is healing. Yes she struggles to get on the sofa but that could just be she cannot bear too much weight on her leg.

Someone mentioned a bioflow collar, I have read the reviews and purchased one. Should have it tomorrow. Will update you with progress.

Thanks again.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

"It sounds like she is making a natural recovery. You could try to find a veterinary college. They are normally a lot cheaper than the veterinary practice. Also they are normally a lot better. As a veterinary professor does the consultation and has students there who are in the process of learning and not in the relaxed comfort of having a job. "

Bobby that is brilliant advice thank you. I never thought of that. There are a few here in Brum I can contact.

It's pretty amazing how I have got more advice and positive response from a bunch of fabulous people on a swingers site more than I have from my own vet who just goes on about the cost of this the cost of that lol.

Thanks again guys you all are awesome.

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By *ILLY aka SirslagWoman over a year ago

Land of the Prince Bishops

Bobby that is brilliant advice thank you. I never thought of that. There are a few here in Brum I can contact.

Thanks again guys you all are awesome."
Go you for deciding to keep her hope she makes a full recovery and gives you years of devotion as you obviously care very much for her...

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

I'm not a vet, but I am medical person for humans - as has been said above, it does sound like it could be a ligament/tendon/torn muscle sort of problem. If you can identify the area on your dog's leg that is causing her discomfort, a gentle massage will help. Cod-liver oil caps (I think you can get the canine version) will help keep her soft-tissue and joints more mobile.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

"Go you for deciding to keep her hope she makes a full recovery and gives you years of devotion as you obviously care very much for her...

If I can make a positive difference in her life then I will have no regrets about anything. For two years I watched her chained in the garden (not 24/7). Her owner treated her badly, bless her she was only little. RSPCA came out a few times but just gave him warnings. After the way he was treating her and how she was living she would still wag her tail when he would go into the garden. One day I said enough is enough. I paid him so he hands her over to me and has nothing more to do with her. She hasn't had the best start in life and now this. Yes, I am a softy at heart but who wouldn't be with anyone or anything is being mistreated? I will update on here with her progress.

Thanks Gilly x

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

"I'm not a vet, but I am medical person for humans - as has been said above, it does sound like it could be a ligament/tendon/torn muscle sort of problem. If you can identify the area on your dog's leg that is causing her discomfort, a gentle massage will help. Cod-liver oil caps (I think you can get the canine version) will help keep her soft-tissue and joints more mobile."

See that has been my gut instinct all along. I have had a feeling it is some sort of ligament, tissue, muscular damage. However I have not been able to isolate where the exact problem might be. Probably because she is on pain killers lol. I massage her every evening when she comes and lays her head on my lap. As for the cod liver caps, just ordered

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated. "

Did the vet take a comparative xray of both legs? Soft tissue injuries are notoriously difficult to spot in an xray, especially in the case of a sciatic nerve lesion. Try squeezing gently around the very top of her thigh to see if there's a reaction, but again, the only treatment is rest, gentle exercise and massage. In humans, I'd suggest an nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug like ibuprofen, or enteric-coated aspirin.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

Hi there - I'm a veteran with this sort of dog injuries (always had Springers, they can't stay out of trouble...) and I'd tend to agree with most of the posters about ligament/tendon damage, but it could also be severe muscle damage. Also, like someone else here I'm a medical person for humans and something that does work for joints and similar damage is glucosamine + chondroitin sulphate - can be expensive, but shop around on the 'net. I've been using 'Seraquin' prophylactically on an ageing Springer.

Anyway, hope the pooch makes a full recovery!

Moose

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By *illwill69uMan over a year ago

moston

"Sorry to hear about your dog, vets fees can be bloody expensive. the only advice I can give you is to try the PDSA. If you're on any kind of benefits they may be able to contribute financially or give you advice what your options may be. Best of luck

go to the PDSA is the best advice your going to get.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

Thank you for the advice, much appreciated.

No the vet took xrays of the spine and lower back. They were the only ones that were shown to me and emailed to me. If I remember correctly she did say she took xrays of the leg in question but not both legs and found nothing.

I just squeezed her right working hind leg first, I felt her muscle tense up but this was after about 15 seconds, but she remained calm. I then squeezed the left non working leg, it felt limp compared to the other and same again she remained calm until about 15secs later when she was try to push away my hand with her right leg.

She is getting all the tlc I can give her. She is currently on Tramadol 50mg and Prednisolone 25mg. But will see what the vet says on Friday about her meds.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

"Hi there - I'm a veteran with this sort of dog injuries (always had Springers, they can't stay out of trouble...) and I'd tend to agree with most of the posters about ligament/tendon damage, but it could also be severe muscle damage. Also, like someone else here I'm a medical person for humans and something that does work for joints and similar damage is glucosamine + chondroitin sulphate - can be expensive, but shop around on the 'net. I've been using 'Seraquin' prophylactically on an ageing Springer.

Anyway, hope the pooch makes a full recovery!

Moose"

Hi Moose, thanks for that advice. I will look into "glucosamine + chondroitin sulphate" I'm willing to give it a go if I know it won't have an ill effect on Pisti. I have had quite a few remedies and physio advice today so I will go through them and see what will be best for her. I don't want to throw everything at her all at once.

As for going to the PDSA, they won't see me as I am not a "person in need" as in not on benefits. I am self-employed. Like I said it's not about the money. It is a question of whether or not she needs four grands worth of scans for them not to pin point the problem or more or less say what most have been saying about how to care for her.

Thanks guys really appreciated.

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By (user no longer on site) over a year ago

With out knowing the full story it's hard to give any advice on how to treat your dog.

I would say this though get a second opinion either from the senior partner at the vets or from another practice altogether.

Just because the dogs moving better doesn't mean anything it could be the drugs Rimadyl for example is great at relieving pain but could masking it so causing more damage.

If it's something like cdrm then it's a whole other ball game.

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By (user no longer on site) OP over a year ago

"With out knowing the full story it's hard to give any advice on how to treat your dog.

I would say this though get a second opinion either from the senior partner at the vets or from another practice altogether.

Just because the dogs moving better doesn't mean anything it could be the drugs Rimadyl for example is great at relieving pain but could masking it so causing more damage.

If it's something like cdrm then it's a whole other ball game."

Sorry I should've explained what exactly happened. The full story is I opened the back door to let her out into the garden. She sprinted out and the next thing I hear her screaming and then in a sitting position on her bum. What happened was one of the patio slabs had somehow becoming loose and when her front legs put weight on one part of the slab the back of the slab raised slightly and her back left paw caught it and she ended up collapsing. When I went to her she was shaking and I lifted her up to get her to stand and her back legs were not bearing any weight and she was just sitting back down. I picked her up and brought her back in and wrapped her in a blanket to keep her warm. Her dewclaw on the right hind leg had broken and she was bleeding. I cleaned that up and bandaged it. After a couple of hours I lifted her to get her to stand, she could now use her right hind leg but the left one was still not bearing any weight. I waited till the morning and then took her to the vets. The rest you know...

That rules out cdrm disease as the accident was a result of the raised slab which has now been fixed.

I agree with you to a certain extent that the drugs could be covering the problem but I'd rather she had pain killers and did some of her normal regular things than be in constant pain and unable to do anything at all. The vet said to continue with the steroids to see if they make a difference. I will see what the vet has to say and if she still has a "I'm clueless" diagnosis then I will get a second opinion from a different practice.

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