New here, Pug with back issue

[lolasmom]

Hello everyone. My name is Chelsey, and I'm the proud mom to 3 beautiful girls. Lola 4yr old Pug, Emma 3 yr old Aussie, and Lily 2 yr old mini schnauzer. I'm no stranger when it comes to health issues as Emma has a couple of chronic health issues, and Lily has an extremely rare intestinal disorder called Lymphangectasia.

Our first baby Lola has always been healthy. She has never had any issues, other than some seasonal allergy issues, until now. Just a little over a month ago I took her into the Vet for her yearly check-up. We did blood work, HW tests, dental check up, and everything looked good. 2 weeks ago I was taking her on her daily walk when she started dragging one of her back legs, and kicking the other one out to the side. We immediately took her to the evet. The next day they did xrays and didn't see any discs out of place, so they started her on pred and said she needed to be on crate rest. She stayed at the vets for 3 days, and then came home with us. I was to take her back to the vet in a week. I took her back last week, and it was decided that she's not getting any better as far as her walking goes. They are baffled by the fact that she isn't in any pain. She still wants to run, jump, and play. She's getting really mad because she's been in a crate for almost two weeks, with the exception of going to potty. I don't like it either. :(

Our dilemma now is whether or not we should see a specialist. I have contacted the vet teaching hospital where Emma and Lily have both been before. The problem is that the surgery to fix this issue (if it is indeed a disc) is $8,000. It's ridiculous. I can take her in for just an MRI, but I don't see the point if we can't afford the surgery, and honestly I don't know many other people who could afford that either. I guess I'm not sure what to do with our girl. We love her more than life itself, and we only want her to be happy. Of course she can still walk, although it looks a little funny, she doesn't know the difference. Any advice would be appreciated, thanks so much!

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

What dosage of pred is she on and how soon after the injury was it started and how long has she been on crate rest. Crate rest sucks, but is essential. Try to keep them busy and sane with frozen aw bones, marrow, knuckle and beef rib, Kongs stuffed with organic unsalted peanut butter, yogurt or raw hamburger and frozen, etc.

Immediate high doses of steroids and strict crate rest can mean the difference between lifelong deficits and full mobility.

I don't recommend surgery it is very expensive, difficult recovery and not always successful.

Take care,
Lisa

[lolasmom]

She started out on 10mg of pred for 5 days, and now she is taking 5mg of pred. My vet is very conservative when it comes to steroids because the other dog Lily I have will be on pred for the rest of her life. So, although I know it's a wonder drug, I hate it. The pred was started that same afternoon. That's the whole reason we took her in that night was so she could be started on pred. I'm thinking that she will take her off of crate rest when we go back in this Tuesday for her check-up. I will be so glad, we went and picked her up tons of new bully sticks, and yogurt for her Kong, but she's getting really antsy the past couple days. Her motor function has gotten a little bit better, but she's definitely not walking normally. We picked her up a pool today for our back yard. We are going to get it set up so we can start doing some PT with her, since she's not going to be able to do her daily walks for a while. The more I've read about the surgery, I don't think I would do it if I could afford it. The recovery it what I think would be so terrible.

[6 Beautiful Pugs]

Pred can be a wonder drug and a killer, the trick is to know when and how to use it and stop it.

My Bugsy slipped a disc. He suddenly screamed, then began dragging both reAR LEGS AND HIS TAIL. tHEY WERE TOTALLY USELESS AND UNRESPONSIVE TO PAIN (SORRY, CAPS LOCK). Luckily I recognized the symptoms and had pred on hand. He got 10 mg. within 2 minutes of the injury, and immediately put in the crate. We did 10 mg. twice a day for a week, then tapered down. He was on cage rest for a month. He regained full mobility and the only deficit he is left with is that he can't jump as high as he used to be able to.

A spinal injury is one time I would not be conservative with steroid therapy.

I hope she continues to regain mobility. Did it effect her ability to control her bladder/bowels? Give her a kiss for me.

Take care,
Lisa

[pugtown]

Did she get vaccines at her vet visit last month? Hind limb paralysis is a potential side effect. Side effects can manifest even at 3 months after being vaccinated not necessarily right away. Science of Vaccine Damage

[lolasmom]

Thank you both got for your replies. No, it hadn't affected her bladder or bowels.
Yes, she did get a rabies vaccination on the 20th of March. This happened on April 8th.

[Pat's Crew]

wander if this is a spinal infarction sp?. I had it happen to a boston at one time....it took about 6 weeks to feel a bit back to normal and get her mobility back. they had her on some steriods and crate rest........
she was not in pain at all........just could not walk at all..........at first and then very slowly
she lived to be 19 and half with no arthitis..

I had to learn phsiotherapy for her and it did wanders...
she felt almost like frozen in her back end and I had to bend the limbs

wander if you could suggest if this is what it is to your vet
it took the vet unniversity vets to diagnos my boston.

[shaynapug]

I spent over $10,000 in a year on my Dreamer. I could never do it again...and wouldn't even if I could! Put me heavily in debt....IF it bought him any more time, it was maybe a month or so. Did spend the 1000 for the milogram.....at MSU. Found he had a stenosis....NO surgery was recommended..and I don't think I would have done it had it been. No chiro at the time...but.....did do acupuncture.

Chiro does help (helped a rescue with a ruptured disc) ...as does cold laser....They are not miracles...but can comfortably and reasonably prolong life and comfort! I would ask my vet.

My thoughts are with you!

[lolasmom]

Thank you all for your input. Im taking her back to the vet this afternoon.

[lolasmom]

Lola is officially off of crate rest! YAY! Her vet said her walk was about the same, but I already knew that. She wanted us to go ahead and start her swimming. We did get a pool yesterday, but we haven't had a chance to put it up yet. So tonight we put her in the bathtub and let her swim. She did really well with it as long as I was sitting the tub with her. :) Silly Lola! We also picked up a stroller today. I'm a runner, and although Lola's never been able to run with me I thought it would be good for her to still be able to get out of the house so I got a jogging stroller. We're going to try that tomorrow. Her vet is reducing her pred to 5mg every other day. Her weight stayed low, so that was good. I was worried about her gaining water weight from the pred, but she didn't.

Here's a picture. She's okay with it as long as it's not zipped up.