Losing control of back legs

[Olivers mama]

Ary - so glad your dogs were diagnosed & treated!

We only saw the dogs where surgery was the only option. Oliver (the 16-yr-old cat born with cauda equina) responded quite well to the surgery; but then, pain management with cats is tricky. Surgery was the only real option.

Many of the symptoms of DM & cauda equina are similar. Testing for both should be done. Far too many vets are lazy or uneducated as to prognosis of affected animals. 20 years ago (my experience only), we had few real cases of DM - most were lumbar problems. Nowadays, that's changed. Are we better at diagnosing now? I doubt it...

[paula k]

thank you for all the information. I also joined a dm group on facebook and there is alot of information as well on that site.
I wil check out what dr. clemmons has to say and i started her on some of the vitamins. I exercise her daily and today is doing a little better and is in a happy and goofy mood.
So...she goes to vet on wednesday and I will be talking to him in length on her problems.I will keep everyone posted. I do believe he said...sloppy hip as a catch phrase. SHe has had hip problems for about 3 years.

[BMWHillbilly]

My senior lab is 11 and has been having hind end issues for about a year now. My vet says he has spondylosis of the spine which mimic closely the same DM signs. He is not in any pain and a 10mg dose of Prednisone every other day has helped tremendously along with home cooked meals and no more commercial dog foods. He has developed digestion issues earlier this year that I think I have finally gotten under control by cooking for him low/no fat foods. Combined with Prednisone and cooked meals (chicken, rice, carrots, green beans, pasta and cottage cheese) he has responded wonderfully. He gets around so much better. I also bought a utility cart that he can ride in since he can no longer "walk" any great distances but we can still get out and enjoy life.

[debbiebrown]

i had a gsd with spondylosis. kind of the same sypmtoms. alot of spinal issues are simliar to DM. have you tried any joint supplements or adaquin shots. these products may help cushion the vertibrae if it is a spinal issue. although its always nice to know what you are dealing with. i used light weight boots for my old guy to protect his feet when walking. wasn't easy to find softer liight weight boots but we found some swede boots that were very easy for him to walk in. we did do x-rays and so we knew what we were dealing with. we tried metacam and it didn't seem to help, in fact it made it worse as it progressed and i think it blocked the nerve receptors and since the nerves are effected by the disease it made his gate worse. vertri-disc seemed to help as well. there may not be any pain, but there are alternative products that may at least keep things at bay. as said you should determine what it is and then go from there. if its DM you could get a wheel chair, alot of them do well for a while with that. its frustrating to figure these things out.

[Olivers mama]

Originally Posted by debbiebrown

i had a gsd with spondylosis. kind of the same sypmtoms. alot of spinal issues are simliar to DM. have you tried any joint supplements or adaquin shots. these products may help cushion the vertibrae if it is a spinal issue. although its always nice to know what you are dealing with. i used light weight boots for my old guy to protect his feet when walking. wasn't easy to find softer liight weight boots but we found some swede boots that were very easy for him to walk in. we did do x-rays and so we knew what we were dealing with. we tried metacam and it didn't seem to help, in fact it made it worse as it progressed and i think it blocked the nerve receptors and since the nerves are effected by the disease it made his gate worse. vertri-disc seemed to help as well. there may not be any pain, but there are alternative products that may at least keep things at bay. as said you should determine what it is and then go from there. if its DM you could get a wheel chair, alot of them do well for a while with that. its frustrating to figure these things out.

That's why an accurate diagnosis must be made. DM is the new PC ailment & used (too frequently, IMO). All the supplements in the world won't work if it's a ruptured disc. And most of those can be treated surgically, no doggie-cart necessary. (by a bone or nerve specialist, not the regular vet)

[debbiebrown]

agree things need to be diagnosed first.....................

[ShoshanaRVT]

Vet first. Find out if wheelies would help. Eddie's Wheels | Dog Carts and Dog Wheelchairs for Handicapped Pets

[Olivers mama]

Originally Posted by ShoshanaRVT

Vet first. Find out if wheelies would help. Eddie's Wheels | Dog Carts and Dog Wheelchairs for Handicapped Pets

I've never understood these dog carts. If a dog is diagnosed with say, a disc ailment, it can usually be corrected. Yes, it's expensive. Why would you settle for a cart? To keep the dog "active"????

Hope it never happens but, if it does, they'll be no cart hooked up to my dog... I'd rather have an extra credit card payment or even a small loan payment to keep Ziva on her feet.

[a33890]

Originally Posted by Olivers mama

I've never understood these dog carts. If a dog is diagnosed with say, a disc ailment, it can usually be corrected. Yes, it's expensive. Why would you settle for a cart? To keep the dog "active"????

Hope it never happens but, if it does, they'll be no cart hooked up to my dog... I'd rather have an extra credit card payment or even a small loan payment to keep Ziva on her feet.

Wow....don't know what to think about your post. But I can tell you I went ahead and had the surgery for my GS and it didn't work so he's had a cart for the past 6 months and loves it. He still is very active and just had his 14th birthday. So with that said you can get yourself a loan or extra credit card but money doens't fix all.

[ShoshanaRVT]

If it can be corrected, wonderful. However, there are many conditions that can not be corrected by any amount of funding or technology, like DM or paralysis due to deformity or injury. Unless of course you want the coolest cyborg dog around!