HELP!!!!DOG MIGHT BE PUT TO SLEEP!!!!

[dachsie_grrl]

<FONT size="4">Text</FONT s>I have a black and tan, 5 year old, female, dachshund. Never had pups and has always been in perfect health. She just slipped a disk and is getting very wobbly in the hind legs. Have any of you had dogs like this? Are there any other methods besides steroids? PLEASE HELP!

[Krista]

Surgery!!!!!

Get your dog to a vet neurologist post haste. The best results occur when surgery or treatment begins within 48 hours.

In the mean time -crate your dog. carry out to potty. Do not let them try to walk.

Steroids often do work with crate rest if it is not a bad case -but you need a 2nd opinion from a vet very familiar with this. Try a university vet school.

prayers for your pup!!!!

[Owen's Mom]

Also, consider a Homeopathic vet who can perform accupunture on the pup. Some friends have a dog that blew a disk, went through 2 months of accupunture and some hydrotherapy and now walks as if he's never been injured. You need to consult another vet and you need to do exactly what Krista said, don't let the dog walk around!! It will only put more stress on her back and that disk will cause permanat paralysis. If putting your dog to sleep in your last option, contact a dachshund rescue organization and see if you can sign her over to them to take care off. That means relinquishing her to another family who can afford the treatment she needs. I know that sounds harsh, but putting her to sleep is a very extreme choice to make right now.

[dachsie_grrl]

I AM NOT signing her over to another family. First of all, my dog, well lets just say has trouble socializing with people other than me. Second of all, If worse comes to worse, I can AFFORD surgery and a K-9 cart. BUT some dogs come out of surgery worse. And I don't think a dog in a cart has very good quality of life.

[Owen's Mom]

OK, I understand the stress of the whole situation and I was trying to give you constuctive advice. On the Dachshund zone board you mentioned that she may have to be pts in the next day or so... I'd hope you give it more time, give her rest, medication and time to heal. And, I understand that you wouldn't want to just give her to someone else, it was a suggestion, an option, you deserve to know what's out there. I don't envy your position right now, it must be very hard in so many ways.

Good luck

~~Amy~~

[Roxane]

Amy, your concern and advice is always so understanding and absolutely solid.
In addition to what you have suggested, I would add that if Dachsie grrl would read past posts regarding similar experiences that members of the board have gone through, it might help.
Everyone here, I am sure, is wishing you nothing but the best outcome of a very serious problem.
Dachsie grrl, please keep us posted, Roxane

[sillysadie]

If she is only wobbly she has a very good chance of regaining strength. She is also 5 which means she is still young and strong. If the surgery is not a route you want to take I would recommend complete crate rest. If you do need to take her out support her back with something although the vet will most likely put her on steroids. She will likely lose control of her bladder for the period she is on steroids.

I chose not to do the surgery with Oscar. It was very hard work and discipline to get him back up. It took over a month to completely regain his leg movement but it can be done.

Hope this helps but make sure you check with a vet to see the extent of the problem.

[Krista]

I just forgot in my haste to post to mention acupuncture!!! I have heard of success with that. I know there is a homeopathic vet in IN that does this quite regularly.

This has got to be so hard for you. I hope you got a second opinion and now have a treatment plan underway. Best of Luck. We'll all be praying she regains her strength, but it will take time to see what the ultimate outcome is.