I am SO Upset! Both my Shepherd and Manx are not doing well!

[sacredcreatures]

I just need to talk about this and if anyone out there has info or help, please respond. In March my dog was limping off and on. She had just had a pup and I figured it was from the weight of being pregnant but as time went on she started getting worse. Now she is paralized( well semi paralized)! She is unable to use her hind legs especially the right one. I took her to the Vet 2 weeks ago and he did some hands on tests showing nerve damage. It seems to be coming from a pinced nerve i n the middle of her back. ( Her OFA a few years ago was Good so Hip dysplasia was ruled out right away) The Vet says anymore testing will cost me Thousands of dollars because she would need to go to a Neuro and have MRI's Myelograms ect! I will also need a cart for her to be able to get around without putting more pressure on her spine. First let me say that the Vet says she is not in pain. She is on meds to help with inflammation, her nerves and a antibiotics. I would never keep her alive if she were in pain, severly depressed or she wasn't able to go to the bathroom. She is my retired Search and Rescue dog and means the world to me. Her name is Onyx, she is solid black, 9 years old and a AKC reg German Shepherd. The meds are helping some, she is not down on her back end as much but still can't use the right leg much and it causes her back to twist. I would of been able to buy a cart for her or get her tests started but then My CFA reg Grand Champion Manx Sundancer blocked! I rushed him to the ER Vet last Sat and they did the best they could to unblock him but then he reblocked on Wed and so far that has cost be $750.00. He is unblocked now but has a new problem, he is leaking urine so now he is on meds to help stimulate his bladder and one to keep the uretha open. Hes very active, eating ect so the Vets feel he may work this out. But all of this has caused me severe stress to where my DR has put me on meds! My animals mean the world to be. I would use my last dollar to make them well. That is why my Business name is Sacred Creatures!!! But my husband isn't quite as fond of all the creatures when a lot of money has to be used on them( if you know what I mean). Anyways Sundancers problem was my fault because I started mixing the other cats food with his RX diet of UR to save on money so I could help my dog get the tests she needs. And that is why he blocked. The Stuvite crystals reappeared. So I am really feeling bad! I guess I just want people to help me get through this. The Vets are feeling pretty good now about Sundancer but my dog Onyx's long road is just starting. Thanks for listening and if any of you have been through a similar situation please post, any advice,tips, info ect would be greatly appreciated. I just do not have many people to talk to who loves animals.

 

[gixxer3420]

Good luck and i hope everything works out for you and your dogs.

 

[Jeanne]

I know how you are feeling. My dog was limping for a few weeks and when I took her to the vet I found out that both of her hind leg knee caps slipped out of place. It is going to cost me $2400 to fix them. So far, she has had one surgery and is doing better. I will probably bring her in for the second surgery after winter.

There is a new program called Care Credit. It is like a credit card, but is only for Medical , Dental, and Vet bills. The first year is interest free. You may want to look into it, ask your vet if they offer it. Here is a link to their web site:

http://www.carecredit.com/


P.S. Just as an F.Y.I. We do have a Dog Forum now

 

[sacredcreatures]

Thank You!!!

WOW! Thanks Jeanne for the info. There is several Vets within 25 miles that take it. But not my Vet. Of course it won't hurt to ask them about it Because since she needs more specialized care they should be the ones to do it. But maybe some of the General Vets can do some of the tests. We will see But This might help get things done fasted. Thank you for telling me about it! I hope your dog does OK with the surgery. I worked for several Vets years ago and slipped knee caps can be a common problem in small to med breed dogs. Good Luck!


Gixxer3420, Thanks for your support!

I'll keep you all posted in the dogs forum once things get started.

 

[Jeanne]

Your Welcome! And I hope all goes well with him, I know how hard it can be to go through these things.

Also, If you go to the website, you can put in your zip code and it wll show you all the vets in your area that take it.

 

[BalloonzForU]

Wow! I'm saving that link. It wasn't easy to come up with $1k for my cats ACL repair at the drop of a hat. The things we do for our kids, errr pets!

Deborah, I sure hope that your guys get better soon. I know how heartbreaking it is to watch your pet suffer and feeling helpless. My cat had to be kept in a dog crate for three months after her surgery, it was the longest three months. I took her out and kept her on my lap every day while watching TV, and she hated going back in. I felt so bad, but it had to be done so she wouldn't damage her knee again. I'll keep your guys in my prayers for a speedy recovery.

 

[pawsfoot]

I worked at a vets office for 5 years. I would definitely check out the vets that use care credit, it can be a god send. I would also like to say that I am sorry you are having bad luck with the animals right now. If you go online and mybe even on ebay you may be able to find a used cart for your dog. This is only a suggestion because the carts can be quite expensive as well. Where do you live? I can recommend a good neurologist in the Washington D.C. area if you around here. She did my Cairn puppy when he had a brain tumor. Actually she's more into Fairfax, but thats not the point. I can give you her number if you want it. She will give you an estimate on just how much you will need and she may accept Care Credit. I can't remember. I traveled 4 hrs one way to see her. If your dog is not in pain then the best you can do right now is support her when she walks until you have the money. I again want to say I'm very sorry and I hope your Manx pulls through as well. They are truly beautiful cats. If you have any questions and would like answers soon, you may also give me a call. 1-302-242-8933.

 

[sacredcreatures]

Hi Vicki, I am about 35 miles from Fairfax and that would be reasonable to get to and well worth it, especially if they would take Care Credit. I went to the Vet at 4:30pm today to have Sundancer expressed and the Vet can't figure out why he won't get all the urine out when he is not blocked anymore. He can be expressed no problem and has a good flow. So Now the Vet has changed his meds again and says it may be a neurological problem. So I may need that Vet for both my animals! So if you can get me that number of the Fairfax Vet I'd be grateful. Thanks for being there for me.

Felicia, My Sundancer is also in a large dog crate. Its so sad to see him in such a small area but the Vet doesn't want him to be able to urinate somewhere where I can't keep an eye on the urine amount. And I can't really hold him on my lap because hes a whole male and leaking urine ect makes it hard. We do play on the kitchen floor, He has his toys and I have a litter of kittens out of him that he adores. Its so funny how a whole male can be so gentle with the babies. They love him too. Plus Onyx my paralized dog loves Sundancer she lays with us on the kitchen floor and licks him. I am sure they both know there is something going on with their health. Thanks for being there for me. Its so hard when my husband is trucking up North and my daughter is really too young to talk about emotions and such. I do not have alot of people to talk to about this most just tell me to put them to sleep. And that really hurts me. All of you are wonderful here. Thanks!!!!!! :main_thumbsup:

 

[Perefalcon]

I'd go nuts if something were wrong with our Shepherd Jerry Lee, he already attempted suicide this year, and that vet bill was over $500. we pulled that cash out of every orifice to make sure he was taken care of. I don't know what we'd do without him!

 

[sacredcreatures]

Boy Sonya, do I understand that. I raised the German Shepherd for years for our Search and Rescue team, I think the Shepherd is the absolute best dog there is. Although I do like many other breeds. But nothing could replace our shepherds. We have three right now Danzig is a red sable East German Lines and 120 lbs, Onyx is a solid black 80 lb girl East/west German lines with a tad of American Herding lines. And their pup Sakotah is a black Sable 7 months old and a sweetheart. I'll take some pictures tomorrow to show everyone. I just do not have any on this laptop and my CP that has many pictures on it, needs a power supply! Thanks!!! :main_thumbsup:

 

[brandy101010]

First I would Like to say I am very sorry you are going through all of this.

This problem seems to be common in german shepards. My mother bred them when I was yournger and my aunts had a few as well. What you can do untill you can get a cart is use a towl. Wrap the towl around the back end of the dog, not around the legs but more like around his bottom. (watch out for his goods! don't squish them!) grab each end of the towl. make sure you have a good hold on it. If you can not lift on your own have someone help you. you on one side and another person on the other. when you lift up he will walk with his front legs. You kinda make him squat buy slowly lowering him down into a comfortable squating position and he may use the bathroom this way. If you are not strong enough to do this do not attempt it. If you drop his back half he could be badly hurt. It is horrible to watch them in this condition. Your vet is right though and he is probably not in any pain. He is just like a paralized person.(and we don't put them to sleep!) he just needs his wheel chair! good luck! I hope you can get your cart soon. It can make a big difference!

 

[pawsfoot]

They are located in Fairfax on Arlington Blvd. The vet clinic is called South Paws. They are all sorts of specialists combined in one big building just for animals. The neurologist I saw was Dr. Betsy Dayrell-Hart, I would recommend her. Their number is (703) 752-9100. They have a website as well and it is www.southpaws.com . I wish you the best of luck.

 

[Sarah H]

South Paws is great. Amazing facility, it really is like a hospital. They have alot of specialists. One of our dogs went went there for cancer treatment.
Hope everything works out for you and both pets.

 

[misanthorpe]

Has anyone considered this.....?

(Excerpt from write-up at www.fanciers.com for Manx)

Manx Syndrome is a normally fatal defect caused by the so-called Manx gene, which causes the taillessness. The gene's action in shortening the spine may go too far, resulting in severe spinal defects--a gap in the last few vertebrae, fused vertebrae, or spina bifida in newborns. If there is no obvious problem with a Manx Syndrome kitten at birth, the difficulties will show up in the first few weeks or months of the cat's life, usually in the first four weeks, but sometimes as late as four months. It is often characterized by severe bowel and/or bladder dysfunction, or by extreme difficulty in walking.

Breeders of Manx will generally not let kittens leave the cattery until they have reached four months of age because of the possibility of Manx Syndrome appearing. In most cases, however, experience will point to a problem in a kitten long before the kit is four months old. Rarely will a breeder have no suspicion of anything wrong and have the Manx Syndrome appear.

 

[pawsfoot]

I've heard of it too. Manx show up with it way earlier in life than her cat is now. He is a Grand Champion, making him much older than 4 months.