Please help Henry

[Mandy]

I need your help. I am afraid that Henry may have a problem with his back...something is wrong and we don't know what it is yet. So, I will start at the beginning.

We had an ice storm last night, so Bart and I were on a delayed schedule getting to work this morning. I walked into the bedroom about 0900 to see what Henry was up to. He had been sitting in a chair for quite a while. When I walked in, I saw that he was shaking (kind of a shivering type of thing) and he had been grumpy all morning (growly and didn't want to be bothered). I called the vet and the said they could get him in at 1030.

I talked with my husband who said that on their morning walk, Henry had not lifted his leg a few times when he urinated, but had squatted. This didn't happen each time, so Bart thought it was a traction thing with all of the snow and ice we had gotten.

Henry did not want to eat much. When it was time to go, I asked who wanted to go for a ride. Usually our guys are so excited they jump all over the place (and Jake did this), but Henry continued laying on the chair and only lifted his head. I brought his leash in and same thing (again, the leashes usually cause jumping and running around). He was very slow about walking and was limping a bit on his left back leg. I carried him out to the car to go to the vet.

When we got to the vet, he seemed to be feeling a little better and was not limping. Our vet was concerned about the possibility of a back problem and checked out his back from neck to tail and also checked his hind legs. Nothing seemed to be out of the ordinary with any joints, bones, or his abdomen. When she checked his temperature, he did have a fever. She said that it was possible he had a bacterial or viral infection.

She put him on cephalexin and baby aspirin twice a day.

I took the boys home and went to work. Bart and I got home at about 1800 and took the boys pottie. Henry seemed to be doing better when we got home and did fine on the walk. Later in the evening he wanted to lay on the loveseat and then did not want to move.

When it was time to go out again, he did the same thing where he didn't get excited about going "pottie" or with seeing the leash. I picked him up and carried him outside. But he still didn't want to walk. He took a couple of slow steps and then wouldn't walk anymore. I carried him back in and he hasn't moved much from where I put him down.

Can someone please help me??? I am so worried about him. I plan on calling the vet again tommorow at 0730 and if he still isn't any better by then we will probably be at their door at that time.

Any help would be so appreciated. We are so worried about him. Sorry this post is so long, but I just don't know what little detail might be of importance. Please help Henry!

[Mandy]

Well guys, it's almost 0400, 15 December. Here's the update. Henry still isn't wanting to move his back end, but he has eaten and had some water. I've been laying on the floor with him for a long time, and now Bart is taking a turn. We've all been camped out on the living room floor. Jakey doesn't quite know what to think about all of this.

In a few hours we will be on the doorsteps of the vet. Henry still has a fever and I have no idea what is going on. We are preparing for the worst. We really thought he was so much better when we got home today and he was fine on his 1800 walk. But now I am so scared for him. My little baby is only three years old. Henry is very special to me and I can't imagine what we will do if something happens. Best not to think about that until the time comes.

Wish us luck....
Bart and Mandy
Henry and Jakey

[Mark]

Hi Mandy,

I'm sorry to hear of Henry's condition. Are you in an area with access to specialist that have experience with Dachsie back troubles & IDD? If so, I would take him in . . . the sooner the better.

Whereas Duck Butter had a disk explode and required "the" surgery, Masse had a spinal infarction and was restricted to her crate (only being taken out on a schedule to do her "business") for 5 weeks (+or-) along with meds. So Dachsie's can have a wide range of back problems. Fortunately we acted very quickly (Duck Butter was in surgery within 3 hours of the event) in both cases and both have fully recovered even though Duck Butter was completely paralyzed from mid body back and Masse had lost 75% of the use of her rear legs. We know the symptoms and have a deal with our Vet that we go straight to the specialist, by-passing her, if we see them. She only asks that she be kept in the loop.

I hope Henry will be OK and it may not even be a back problem, but better safe than sorry.

Please keep us posted and meanwhile we are sending lots of Dachsie (and Catahoula) healing rayz.

Mark

[Murphy's Dad]

Mandy,

First you need to confirm it is a back problem. If you vet can't, find another vet or vet hospital...FAST! If it is a back problem, it needs to be attended to ASAP. Time is NOT on your side. A mylogram will need to be done. This will tell them if a disc has herniated or not. From there, you and your vet can decide on a course of action.

If it is a back problem:
1. Anti-inflammatory drugs and crate rest for 2-6 weeks.
2. Surgery, 6 weeks crate rest and a very long recovery period.

No guarantees either way.

If you want to know what we went through, go to Murphy's World (http://geocities.com/murphys_world) . It covers just about everything we went through from onset of paralysis to recovery. And even though Murphy is a Beagle, the problem is the same for both breeds.

Here is hoping for the best for you and Henry. Feel free to contact me if you have any questions.

Murphy's Dad - murphys_world@yahoo.com http://geocities.com/murphys_world

[Mandy]

Another update.....it's almost time for x-rays. After I got off the phone with the vet's office, I asked Henry if he needed to go pottie. When I brought the leash, he struggled to his feet and took a couple of slow, awkward steps. I picked him up and carried him outside. I wanted him to feel that he could at least urinate (since he hadn't at the 2300 walk last night. He stood still for a few seconds outside and then started walking. Granted that he wasn't his usually self, but we feel hopeful since he can walk sometimes. We still want to get the works done early this morning because obviously something is wrong. We need to figure out what it is and get it taken care of fast. Keep sending those dachsie rays and any others you have! Wish us luck! The O'Brien Clan

[dutchman]

Hi Mandy,

Until you rule out a back problem don't try to encourage any walking. You can carry Henry outside to let him do his business but don't ;et him do any other walking. Confinement is critical to minimizing any further damage. Since you are going to you vet again this morning I won't try to give too much advice. I would encourage you to seek out another vet if your's doesn't at least do a spinal x-ray on your visit today. Also if you vet doesn't seem willing to investigate the back in more detail I would immediately get on the phone to the nearest vet hospital either private or part of a vet teaching hospital and see if they won't look at Henry as an emergency case. In the event of a spinal injury time can be a critical factor in the long term outcome. Good luck we are sending some rays. These back problem cases have a special place in my heart having lost a little girl to complications following emergency surgery this spring.

Murphy's Dad, I don't recall seeing you here before. I want to thank you for sharing your first had information with us. I haven't had time to really check out your web site but my initial impressions are good.

Best wishes,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Oscar's Mom]

I'm sorry Henry is not feeling so well. I hope he is OK. Please keep us posted.
Healing rays on the way to Henry http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/angel.gif

[Mandy]

When we were at the vet yesterday, she told us she was going out of town today and so she spoke to one of the other vets at the clinic to make sure he would be updated on Henry. We went in today and had x-rays done. Nothing too terribly in the x-rays...a little calcification in a couple of spots, but nothing that looks like it will need surgery. We are still giving Henry the cephalexin just in case he does have a touch of something and he has now been put on prednisone....and of course lots of rest!

The nearest place that does this type of surgery is Pittsburgh (probably a three hour drive). We are getting the address and directions so that (God forbid) we have to make a 0300 trip we have an idea of where to go so that we can get him there as soon as possible.

The vet (even though we didn't like him as well as our normal vet - the boys love her0 seemed very hopeful that the prednisone and rest will pull him through easily without having to do anything more drastic. I hope so!

We have everything ready to take out a loan just in case it comes to surgery. Keep those dachsie rays coming! Thank you so much for all of your help. I was up all night with Hen, taking a break only to read up on more dachsie back problems. So, I will check in later...we are all going to bed now.

[dutchman]

Hi Mandy,

I hope the prednisone and confinement therapy works out. In many cases that is all that is required. It sounds like you are concerned owners and that is number one on Henry's requirement list. You are now trying to become informed which is also a good thing. While rather technical in nature the following link has some very good information. http://dachshund-dca.org/diskbook.html

Good luck,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)

[Mandy]

Thank you everyone for all of your advice and warm thoughts. Good news....it looks like it wasn't anything REALLY serious....Henry had slipped on some ice and that had aggraveted his back (he pulled his left hind leg a little). He is still taking the cephalexin, prednisone, and lots of rest. He actually thinks he is being punished because we won't let him do much...the only walks he gets to go on are short little ones which are just long enough for him to go pottie. We are trying to make it up to him by giving him special treatment. yes, he's not allowed to run around and play with Jake... but he gets to lay down on the chair with pillows propped up all around him and the special blankee on top of him, and a new "baby," and he even gets to watch his favorite tv shows......I know....we're pathetic...he gives us the L@@K and we add another special little thing to the list.....but if it keeps him resting AND happy...can you blame us?

[Mark]

Hi Mandy,

How could we blame you for something we ALL would do in your shoes? http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/lol.gif

I am so glad to hear that there Henry's problem is not a serious one.

Mark

[JadedpixieandBrutus]

Way to go Mandy. Looks like Henry is on his way to good health. Brutus and I will keep him in our prayers (do dogs pray?). All our love and healing rays also being sent.

Jadedpixie and Brutus

[Oscar's Mom]

I'm so happy to hear its nothing too serious.
Lots of healing rays on the way to Henry!