Spinal damage- any advice appreciated.

[Little Oscar]

Thanks! I like to hear stories of recovery because right now it is so heart breaking to see him try to walk. I am happy he is still eating, just went nuts over a carrot and still has spunk. I am not allowing him any play time or exercise. He is sleeping on the carpet right now, he doesn't go far on a normal day anyway. He's not very active so it's pretty easy to keep him resting. The only issue is when the mailman comes, after six years we still have barking! So he just went a little crazy barking which can't be good. I am also going to put a sign outside asking people not to ring the doorbell which also sets him off. And no Michael Jackson music or Wheel of Fortune- both set him off as well. He's a bit of a grump, but he's my grump and I love him!

[LoveLucy]

My Gladie dog, who had a much longer back than a Maltese AND much shorter legs (probably mixed with Dachshound) had a herniated disk. She was in a lot of pain. She never need surgery--just anti-inflammatory meds and extreme activity limitation for about a month. They recommended crating her, but she was a kind of an anxious dog and had never been crated, and surely would have flipped out at being put in a crate, so I just kept her quiet and quit taking her for walks, etc. She got better and after that I was very careful not to allow her to jump up on the furniture. I got her steps to get up to her favorite spot on the sofa and when we left I always blockaded the furniture to keep her off. Jumping DOWN is especially hard on their backs because of the "accordian motion" that the spine does. Good luck with Little Oscar. Hope the meds work for you.

[Little Oscar]

Thank you, makes me feel better. I have a weird little maltese, he's not a jumper, never was. He needs to be picked up and put on and off the couch. He won't do steps either, if more than three steps. Years ago. he was dropped as a puppy (anxious to go outside, struggled and got out of my arms), along with jumping off a counter one time. After those two incidents, I think he was scarred for life and never tried jumping again. I guess, for recovery, I'm lucky I have such a lazy inactive dog!! :-)

[Kathleen]

Poor little Oscar. It is so hard to see them in pain.
My Molly had a disc issue in her neck which started at about age five or six. It would flare up a few times a year. She would always have trouble with her back legs when it did. The prednisone would work within a few days, and we would keep her really quiet for a few weeks and she would be okay. Absolutley no jumping on furniture.
We were always warned that the disc could rupture and it eventually did, when she was about 12 years old. I am sure your vet told you, but if the disc ruptures they become paralyzed and then it is a true emergency. Surgery has to be done within 24 hours or so for it to have the possibility of working. Once day we came home from work and found her completely paralyzed. She did have emergency surgery, and it was like a miracle. She was able to walk again. We were lucky to have a board certified neurlologist nearby.
I don't mean to scare you, but there is always the possiblity that it could rupture. Of course, there is also the possiblity that it will never happen. We chose to wait and treat her conservatively instead of having the surgery since it could be managed with medication. I didn't like giving her the prednisone because it is tough on the liver, but it did work for her. At the time, I didn't know that there are alternatives like accupuncture. I know there are supplements and herbs that can help too. A holistic or integrative vet could help a lot with that.
If Oscar isn't better in a day or two, could you call the vet and see if maybe you could try a different kind of painkiller for him? Sometimes a different medication can work.
One other thing I learned is when you lift him, be sure to hold him with two hands so that his spine is parallel to the floor instead of head up, tail down. Less stress on the spine so less painful.
I hope he is feeling better soon.

[Kathleen]

Here is a good link about disc disease in dogs. Lots of info about treatment options and resources:
Dodgerslist: canine back problem, disc disease, IVDD, ruptured, herniated or slipped disc

[mss]

Kathleen, I'm glad you mentioned the lifting technique issue.

Edited to add: And great link!

[Little Oscar]

Thank you, he is still "wobbly" today but still has spunk. When he came back from the Vet, he seemed better- then was worse by night- then so so yesterday. Today he seems to be doing better but far from recovery. I have an appointment on Monday for in home acupuncture therapy. Yes, I was told there could be total paralysis and then it would be a rush to the hospital. I have a great 24 hour hospital near me that I can make it to in 15 minutes if needed. I am watching him closely. He still walks to the wee wee pad and goes there, pooping is a bit difficult for him right now so that gives him some trouble but the Vet said he will soon figure out the best position for him.. He also seems to be doing better in one hind leg today while still sort of dragging the other still so there has been some slight improvement. The medication seems to be helping but I have to be honest, I am giving it to him every 8 hours. 12 hours was not improving anything, but every 8 hours seems to work.

[edelweiss]

Fantastic post---can it be made into a "stickie?"

Originally Posted by Ladysmom

Ask your vet for a referral to a specialist.

There is financial aid available for vet bills if you qualify. This is cross posted from Yorkie Talk.

Mercy Crusade
P.O. Box 3265, Van Nuys, CA 91407
(818) 597-2926 / (805) 520-0734 / FAX: (818) 597-3490
Financial help with spay/neuter, vet bills. E-mail: petinfo@aarf.org
I believe they used to serve all of Southern CA but don't know if they still do. If not, maybe they can give you other suggestions.

In Memory of Magic (IMOM) is dedicated to insuring that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker is financially challenged.
http://www.imom.org
IMOM, Inc
PO Box 282
Cheltenham, MD 20623
Phone (866)-230-2164 Fax (301)-599-1852

United Animal Nations established the LifeLine fund in 1997 to aid companion animals in times of life-threatening emergencies when their caregivers, with low or no incomes, are unable to afford the entire cost of treatment.
http://uan.org/lifeline/index.html
United Animal Nations
P.O. Box 188890
Sacramento, California 95818
Telephone: (916) 429 2457 fax: (916) 429 2456
LifeLine Fund - http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28

Help-A-Pet is a nonprofit organization, which provides financial assistance for the medical care of pets whose guardians are unable to afford the expense
http://www.help-a-pet.org/home..html
Help-A-Pet
P. O. Box 244
Hinsdale, Illinois 60521
Telephone: (630) 986-9504 fax: (630) 986-9141

Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Programs provides financial assistance for emergency medical care for cats.
http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door/
FVEAP
1641 Elizabeth Lane
Yuba City, CA 95993
Fax: 888-301-4264

American Animal Hospital Association
http://www.aahahelpingpets.org/home/
"The heartbreak happens all too often ? a pet owner is unable to afford treatment and their sick or injured companion animal pays the price. If the owner is elderly, disabled or on a fixed income, the cost of care may be too much of a stretch for their pocketbook. Perhaps they have been victimized by crime, property loss or a job layoff and are experiencing a temporary financial hardship making it
too difficult to afford pet care. And some animals, brought to clinics by Good Samaritans, don't have an owner to pay for treatment. Whatever the situation, the fact remains the same: When sick or injured animals are unable to receive veterinary care, they suffer. Through the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, veterinary care is possible for sick or injured pets even if they have been abandoned or if their owner is experiencing financial hardship."

Angels 4 Animals
www.Angels4Animals.org
"Angels4Animals, a non-profit organization and a program of Inner Voice Community Services, has a mission to serve as the guardian angel of animals whose caretakers find themselves in difficult financial situations. At Angels4Animals we believe that animal owners should not have to say goodbye to the animals that they love. Our work is accomplished in conjunction with veterinary clinics across the country, eager to assist as many animals, and their owners, as possible. Our services range from financial aid to complete treatment to those pets and pet owners in need."

Care Credit
www.carecredit.com
A credit card company for health care, including veterinary care.
"CareCredit, the leader in patient/client financing, has helped more than 3 million patients/clients get the treatment or procedures they needed and wanted. With a comprehensive range of plan options, for treatment or procedure fees from $1 to over $25,000, we offer a plan and a low monthly payment to fit comfortably into almost every budget."


The Pet Fund
http://thepetfund.com/
"The Pet Fund is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit association that provides financial assistance to owners of domestic animals who need urgent veterinary care. Often animals are put down or suffer
needlessly because their owners cannot afford expensive surgery or emergency vet visits. Companion animal owners must often make the difficult decision to put an animal down or neglect urgent medical needs because of the costs involved. The purpose of the Pet Fund is to work towards a future where decisions about companion animal medical care need never be made on the basis of cost."

UK Assistance with Veterinary Bills
http://www.petloversonline.co.uk/financial.htm
"Most of us can cope with the financial commitment involved in the day to day care of our pets. However, how many of us come out in a cold sweat when our pet is ill or injured and we know we have to take it to the vet? Most of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford it but, some of us who love our animals dearly cannot. Unfortunately we do not have a PDSA or a RSPCA Centre within our area, but there are a few charities who may be able to help."

AAHA Helping Pets Fund
Animal Care and Welfare, Inc. (Pittsburg, PA)
Canine Cancer Awareness

Dougal's Fund, Inc.
Organized exclusively for charitable purposes to provide funds for medical care of pets, mainly small, short legged terriers such as Scotties, Westies, Cairns, Norwich, Norfolk, etc., in alleviation of the pet’s pain and suffering when financial need has been demonstrated. Dougal's normally determines financial need as that instance where professional medical care will not be provided due to the inability of the pet's guardian/s to pay for the services

HandicappedPet Help Fund

Orthodogs' Silver Lining Foundation

Piggers' Pals: A Foundation of Hope

Tails of Hope Sponsor-A-Pet™ Program

Wrapped In Kindness

The Mosby Foundation: The Mosby Foundation __________________

[Little Oscar]

Excellent website! Thank you so much.

[Little Oscar]

A couple of those links need to be reviewed because they do not work. Some also require a pre-application and do not cover emergency situations but are a great source for standard care.