Emergency Vet Visit for Suki This Morning

[Cheyenne]

Suki almost gave me heart failure this morning. The alarm went off at 4:45 as it always does on weekdays. I went to start the coffee and then into the bathroom where Suki is normally waiting for me. When she wasn't there, I called to her a couple of times. And then panicked when she came hobbling into the bathroom "hugging" along the bathtub and shaking like a leaf. I immediately picked her up and took her to the sofa and held her for awhile to see if she would stop shaking, trying to decide whether to get her to the ER or wait till 8 a.m. and call our regular vet. I'm thinking seizure? or stroke? or injury? In about a half hour's time she settled down and stopped shaking for the most part, and as she was alert and seemed comfortable, I sat with her till 8:00 and called the vet. We took her right in first appointment.

The vet thinks she probably hurt her back when she jumped down off the bed like she does every morning. By the time we arrived at the vet, she was walking better although still shaking a bit, so I knew she was in pain. The vet gave her a thorough exam and said she noticed some tenseness in her back when she felt along her spine, but that she did not think she did any serious damage. She watched her walk and checked her back legs to make sure she had normal sensation and movement in both. She gave Suki a Prednisone shot and also gave us some in tablet form to use in decreasing doses over the next 6 days. She also gave us Tramadol to be given as needed for pain.

The vet feels that if she is back to her normal self in a couple of days, it is most likely a pulled muscle. If she's still exhibiting symptoms after that, we will have to do more tests.

We also agreed it's a good time to get her on a Cosequin supplement. She said it won't do much for her discs if it turns out to be a more serious disc problem, but it will help keep her other joints healthy.

Needless to say, I'm staying home from work today to watch her closely. I'm trying to keep her from jumping up and down off the furniture. She already tried to do it once and "missed." :( So I will have to be very vigilant today.

Please keep a good thought for Suki.

[LeeStrickler]

Prayers and healing thoughts for Suki from Montana.

[ZoeZoesmom]

Poor little girl. Sending healing thoughts and prayers her way.

[puglover22]

Oh poor baby! I hope she feels better soon. I'd consider a chiropractor too....I have a great one that helped Junior maintain a great quality of life and definately extended his time with me. Louie goes to him now for preventative maintenance

[sumrhumr]

I had a pug in a wheel chair that came from the rescue and I KNOW how scary that is when one of your KIDS gets sick. Pugs seem to have alot of mobilty issues with the hind legs and back. My prayers are with you!!!

[Wonka & Nilla]

Poor Suki! I hope she feels better soon.

[Lindsey]

Oh-No, Poor Suki!! I hope she get's well and this isn't a life long injury.
Lots of thoughts headed your way!!

[pugsmum]

Just as a suggestion, to keep him from jumping up onto the furniture (and consequently down again) when you are not right there, you can put cardboard boxes on the couch and chairs.

We did this when Sam had broken (and pinned) toes years ago, it looks kind of weird but works really well. So important that he does not do any additional damage to the spine. Also when he is with you on the couch, keeping a harness on him to avoid those sudden unexpected jumps is a good idea.

Milk thistle while he is on prednisone is a good idea to protect the liver and pancreas.

[PhoebesMommy]

Oh poor baby. I hope she feels better soon!

[Cheyenne]

Joan, thank you for the suggestions. Suki actually has stopped herself from jumping up a couple of times this afternoon. She just kind of looked at me and I knew she wanted to share the couch so I was able to pick her up and then set her gently back down when she wanted off. I've been picking her up and carrying her outside to potty, so she doesn't have to navigate the porch steps.

I'm a bit torn about her sleeping arrangements tonight. I want her close to me in our bed so I'll know if she needs me during the night. I'm just concerned if I'll be quick enough in the a.m. to take hold of her and lift her off the bed before she tries to hop down. Neither of my Pugs is ever crated at night and I'm also worried if I crate them tonight, even next to our bed, if it will be too stressful and bewildering for them. It would have to be both Pugs because I would never isolate Suki in a crate and still let Milo sleep on the bed.