paralysis of doubtful cause

[charly chiw]

hi! i got a 9 1/2 y/o smooth red, Dachess, whom i love dearly. she was paralyzed 2 weeks age. the vet is not sure of the cause. if it was slip disc, he's not giving the right medications. the x-ray shows a doubtful hip fracture. do these hip fracture cause paralysis of the hind legs???
What concerns me most is how do i take care of her. We made a makeshift wheel chair. she has problems urinating and defacating.
Help!!! i'm at a lost of what to do.

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[Mark]

Hi charly,

First, Welcome to the board!

Is your Vet knowledgable about Invertebral Disk Disease that Dachsies are predisposed to and has he ruled that out with back Xrays? No disk rupture or extreme calcification? Is there a Neurologist anywhere near enough to get to . . . a teaching hospital/college or specialty clinic? What kind of meds are being administered? Were you present at the "event"? If so, please describe what happened.

It's really hard to make a recommendation without the details I've asked about. Our two Dachsies have had different kinds of paralysis than the other. One caused by a Spinal Infarction, which was treated much differently than the other who had disks rupture. Thankfully they are both fully recovered.

The members here have an awful lot of knowledge about back disorders and we're all glad to pitch in and help if we can.

Mark

[dutchman]

Hi Charly,

I'll pretty much echo what Mark has said. Seek out a neurologist if at all possible. At 9.5 years your dog is above the age where most dogs first develop symptoms of IDD. From what I've read signs are most likely to appear between the ages of three and six. I've never dealt with a hip fracture so I'm not too sure what the symptoms might be. As far as a makeshift wheelchair if this is a back problems either IDD or an accidental injury then you are rushing things a bit and complete confinement would be in order. You dog should be confined to a crate or small area and only allowed out to do her business. Even then you should carry her in and out of the house. I would think (but don't know) that the confinement would be a good idea for a hip fracture as well. Unless your vet is well versed in dachshund backs they shouldn't be offended if you ask for a referral to a specialist.

Best wishes and dachshund rays,

Tom and the boys (Frank and Tanner)