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please help.....baby is very sick

6K views 73 replies 41 participants last post by  SamiPix 
#1 ·
My sweet boy Bouli is very sick. I will explain what has happened, hoping somebody can help me. Bouli had a spine problem 2 years ago but with some Predizone he was back to normal. So now I took him to the groomers for the first time (I always did it myself) the first week in June and when I took him I told her about his back problems. When I picked him up, his back legs were just letting out on him, he could not stand up. I took him to the vet and they gave me
dexamethasone, told me it was a spinal injury but the meds made him worse. They said he should not even have surgery. He could walk but it looked like his legs were not in sync. Was so upset and took him to another vet, who basically told me to put him to sleep. Now he cannot walk at all so last week I took him to another vet who told me the same thing... (she gave me pain pills for him)I have been crying for days, do you think I could get him a wheelchair? (his back legs are the problem). All he does is lay on his side all day, cries when he has to do his business( I carry him out) he eats and drinks. He is also very swollen from the steroids, he has gained 3 pounds. Somebody please help........
 
#2 ·
I'm so sorry! Maybe you can talk to your vet about a wheelchair, but if he's in uncontrollable pain, your vet may advise otherwise. This is awful, and I really feel for you. I hope your sweet boy finds relief soon. Maybe going to an orthopedic vet specialist would give you better answers?
 
#6 ·
I would check out a holistic vet and also a top orthopedist. I recently began taking my Giovanni to a vet that practices integrated medicine. A;lthoughnI have not used this service, there was a woman checking out with her 14 yr old (large daog) who receives accupucture and she said he is like a different dog after treatments! I wish I could be more helpful. Bless your sweet little fluff!
 
#11 ·
I'm so sorry. I agree with others here -- look for a specialist hopefully at a vet school or big vet hospital facility and see what they say. Maybe a neurologist or spinal specialist. I know there are wheelchairs but if he's in pain that won't be an answer. And I've seen acupuncture used on my neighbors dog who was just dragging along and now she's skipping like a puppy so maybe that route.
 
#13 ·
How old is he? And how long was he on the Prednisone? Did he only have the spinal injury with pain once or has he had some episodes off and on these past 2 years that you have been able to keep comfortable with the Pred? And what exactly is it that they have diagnosed him with? Are they saying it's degenerative disc disease due to the injury or was it a break/fracture that is now resulting in arthritis, etc ... ?? Has he had x-rays?
 
#14 ·
I'm currently dealing with my Chihuahua mix's back injury. I would urge you to take your dog to a board certified neurologist. They are the specialists that are best able to deal with this. Your dog should get some kind of treatment right away, because the longer the spinal cord is "pinched," the less likely it is that it will recover.

If surgery is recommended, it can be very expensive. I was told at the referral clinic that he didn't need surgery at this time, but if he did, it would be $5,000 for diagnostics and surgery.

I think you should talk to the groomer, but I think if the disc is fragile, it may not have taken much to injure it further--maybe just a little wiggling while being held. My dog's xrays--taken 6 months ago for another reason--showed a possible herniated disk, but he didn't have any problems getting around until something must have happened overnight--one last jump or wiggle.

Anyway, some dogs do improve with conservative care, and there are various places that make wheelchairs for little dogs, too. If it comes to that, I could make some suggestions.

Again, I hope you can get your dog seen by a neurologist soon.

Lots of hugs. You are not alone! :grouphug:
 
#15 ·
I am so sorry for what you and Bouli are going through. I hope someone can help you. Did the groomer give any explanation as to what happened. Your dog is fine when you drop him off but can barely stand when you picked him up......obviously something must have happened.
 
#16 · (Edited)
Where are you located?
If you are in the US or Canada, the website of the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine has a page where you can search for a specialist. (I recommend neurologist.) They say it is not complete, but you could start there if your regular vets don't have any they regularly refer people to.

ACVIM
 
#18 ·
I am praying for sweet little Bouli. It must be so hard to see him unable to move.
My Molly had a disc in her back rupture, and the way she acted sounds a lot like how you descrbie Bouli. Her back legs kept sliding out from under her, like she was doing a split, and she could not stand. We took her to a neurologist and they did surgery right away to release the pressure that the discs were putting on her spinal cord. She was able to walk after the surgery. I know that the more time goes by, the less successfult he surgery is so if you can, please take Bouli to a neurologist right away.
Where are you located? Is there a vet school anywhere nearby?
 
#19 · (Edited)
I am so very sorry you and Bouli are going through this. I would definitely take the advice of seeing a neurologist. If you don't know of one, check out the link Margaret (MSS) provided you. I sure you hope you can get him to a neurologist asap. I know of a wonderful company here in MA who specializes in wheelchairs (they can ship them) and I can give you their information if that is the recommendation of the neurologist. You and Bouli are in my prayers. Please keep us posted.

Edited: Here is the thread that was posted two years ago almost to the day. It sounds as if the same problem is reoccurring and a neurologist needs to be sought out for further advice and long treatment so this doesn't continue to reoccur or worsen.

http://spoiledmaltese.com/forum/52-maltese-health-behavior/106547-babys-sick.html
 
#20 ·
thank you all so much. I did find a vet that does acupuncture but he won't be in the office til Thursday, and I am just waiting until then to make an appointment as soon as they open the office. As for surgery all 3 doctors said there is no guarantee it would do anything (Bouli is 10 years old) and they really don't think it will help. But the one did say that acupuncture would help him, I am just praying it does. Once again thank you all so much
 
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