Issues with back legs

[adenes]

Hi pug people it's been a while!! I am back with some questions. I took Puglsey-Toad to get a consult with a surgeon yesterday for a luxating patella and was informed that yes he has that in both of his knees but that is not the main problem. The sent me directly to a neurologist who wants him to have an MRI ($1,700). Pugsley-Toad drags his back left leg and the neurologist did some tests with his toes and he for sure does not have much control over the left leg and his right leg is a bit slow. I felt like the neurologist kinda of scoffed when I mentioned DM and said it could be a tumor in his spine or a slipped disc. I am not sure if I would go through with the surgery because I fear something worse could happen. I am very open to PT and supplements but I was wondering if anyone else has had this experience or any advice. He's turning 8 this year and with some internet research it said that this was pretty common in older dogs but you all are the experts!

Thank you and I've missed you so!

[Wonka & Nilla]

Welcome back!!!

I really don't have any experience with this, hopefully someone with more knowledge will chime in. Personally, if it was my pug, I'd rather do PT for a while and see if that helps. It seems odd to me that they couldn't be more specific in a diagnosis... "a tumor or a slipped disc" seems sort of random and vague. I hope you can find a good solution for Pugsley-Toad!

[shaynapug]

Unfortunately, I have...

It could be a number of things: Pugs can get cysts on their spines. It's costly to diagnose....and while there is surgery...there is no guarantee the the cyst won't come back. The result is a lost of function in the rear .....

It could be due to a spinal stenosis...which I"m pretty sure Isis has....There is a vet here that is doing stem cell surgery....for $2000 and more....but there's no guarantee on that either... It is not painful!

There is another disease...I cannot remember the name of it. There is a test for it.....Nikki was tested for it a long time ago and was negative.....Same outcomes...

I do feel that chiro, pt, supplements...etc do help!

Good luck to you!!!!

[adenes]

Thank you so much! Yea the price to diagnose is scary and I am not sure if I should diagnose if I am not going to do the surgery. I just think it's to risky....then I feel bad like I should do whatever is possible...so I go back and forth. I put in a call to his regular vet to see what she says.
Thanks guys!!

[Cathy and Winston]

There is another disease that Pugs can have, syringomyelia. It mostly affects Cavalier King Charles spaniels, but Pugs can have it, my boy Winston does. The only way to diagnose it is an MRI. Please have your baby scanned, the earlier it is caught, the better chance your dog has.

[puglover22]

i'd suggest trying a chiropractor

[Tinker's mom]

How awful!!Prayers for you and Pugsley-Toad.

[SSShayne]

IM new to PUGS - just got one last saturday . . . but I do have a senior dog and I know that a lot of vets either push surgery or euthanasia. My vet told me to put my Border Collie mix down TWO almost THREE YEARS ago, because he didnt believe dogs could get Vestibular Syndrome more than once, and told me she probably had a brain tumor and to put her down. I took her to a holistic vet and he did acupuncture and chiropractics on her, along with changing her diet and chinese herbs - she's still going strong! She is SIXTEEN YEARS OLD. Dont hesitate to go to someone else. And if you cant afford the MRI or SURGERY, seek alternatives - they are out there.

and is EIGHT years OLD for a PUG?? I thought they lived to be 12 or 14?

[adenes]

8 isn't that old for a pug but he's also not a youngin. I called my vet who said I didn't need to rush in to an MRI since he is walking really well. I made an appt with a physical therapy group that was highly recommended to me by my vet and several people. Thanks for your advice I appreciate it and keep it coming!

[SSShayne]

Massage can do wonders too! and you can do it yourself!

Good Luck! Keep us posted!