spinal surgery ?

[minimoo]

hello anne, i just wondered how meg is getting on any progress this week

[megs mum]

Hi Octopus and Meg-
So pleased to read your thread and how well your little lady is doing. They are such a brave breed.

Made me shed a few tears, as Wed evening, my 8 month old baby, My Meggy dog and I were playing with bubbles when she yelped and disappeared. Needless to say- she has a spinal injury, is on steriods and just looks so miserable. She has no sensation in her back legs, so I am putting a towel under her tummy to help her go out for a wee, but she really isn't doing all the doggy task she usually does (no 1s nd 2s!!) should I be worried? No sign of improvement after 24hrs but trying to be positive.

Would value any experiences or advice you could offer- from one Meg's mum to another!  xx

[SarahS]

Hi Octopus and Meg-
So pleased to read your thread and how well your little lady is doing. They are such a brave breed.

Made me shed a few tears, as Wed evening, my 8 month old baby, My Meggy dog and I were playing with bubbles when she yelped and disappeared. Needless to say- she has a spinal injury, is on steriods and just looks so miserable. She has no sensation in her back legs, so I am putting a towel under her tummy to help her go out for a wee, but she really isn't doing all the doggy task she usually does (no 1s nd 2s!!) should I be worried? No sign of improvement after 24hrs but trying to be positive.

Would value any experiences or advice you could offer- from one Meg's mum to another!  xx

Has she managed to wee and poo at all?  If not maybe she needs a cathetar (can't spell it sorry?) and some more assistance from the vet.  The feeling and movement in the legs can take days even weeks to return depending on what kind of injury it is, but in the short term I'd be worried if there was no sign of either as it would be building up.  But maybe I have read it wrong and it is just not the usual volume?  I feel so sorry for all of you, it is so hard to see them like that.  Best wishes.

[megs mum]

Thanks Sarah,
I am taking your advice and returning to the vet this afternoon. As now, not only is she not going to the loo, she is barely eating and drinking. It's breaking my heart.  I rescued her 5 years ago and after the terrible state she was in, she has been such a bundle of joy. But to see her like this! Well, anyway- not going to dwell. Thanks for your kind message. Amy and Meg x

[SarahS]

Thanks Sarah,
I am taking your advice and returning to the vet this afternoon. As now, not only is she not going to the loo, she is barely eating and drinking. It's breaking my heart.  I rescued her 5 years ago and after the terrible state she was in, she has been such a bundle of joy. But to see her like this! Well, anyway- not going to dwell. Thanks for your kind message. Amy and Meg x

Hope things went well at the vets.  It is such a difficult and stressful time.  I know what you are going through and I wish you both all the best and hope that both these two doggies improve soon. 

[megs mum]

Hiya Sarah and everyone
Thanks for the message

Its been a long weekend and she has spent the day back at the vet's. She has no control over her bladder or bowel and so needs a lot of support to wee and has to visit the vets for the other! Yuk! But this am when I was picking her up to carry her outside, she was sat in a puddle of blood. Well, I was devastated and braved it out long enough to fuss her and bed-bath her in her favourite spot in the garden whilst waiting for the vets to open. I'm not sure how things can get any worse and how much more it is fair for her to put up with. I'm hopeful that the vet will explain my options when i collect her tonight.

Nothing prepares you for he empty sick feeling that follows you aound whilst waiting for the phone to ring. Anyway, Thanks for the comforting message. Amy and Meg xx

[EmmaA]

Oh Amy, I really don't know what to say.
You and Meg are going through a terrible time and i just wish I could make it easier for you.
Please let us know how she has got on with the vets today.
I'm sending healing thoughts for you and Meg 

[amanda.seal]

i am so sorry to hear about meg, please let us know how she is, your heart must be breaking stay strong and think positive thoughts if thats possible at the moment. sending you both loads of  and {{HUGS}}

[SarahS]

i am so sorry to hear about meg, please let us know how she is, your heart must be breaking stay strong and think positive thoughts if thats possible at the moment. sending you both loads of  and {{HUGS}}

I'm so sorry. I do hope things pick up. It is heart breaking.  My dog stayed in the vets, and had an op within days after the MRI showed two disks had burst. But I know the severity can vary and sometimes things that look worrying at first can pick up.  I just couldn't bear it after his op and spent days sitting in his cage at the vets or in their garden. I am sure the nurses thought I was completely nuts.  They were pretty amazing to put up with me as I am sure they couldn't let all owners hang around like that.  At least if she has no feeling she has no pain, that's what I liked to think.  I hope things improve soon.  In our case my usual vet had to refer us on to a specialist.  We were lucky that they were only an hours drive away from them, which is why I could visit.  You are so brave. I would have freaked at the blood.   There is nothing anyone can say to help you right now I know, but we'll all be thinking of you and keeping positive. 

[Robbie34]

Hi Octopus and Meg-
So pleased to read your thread and how well your little lady is doing. They are such a brave breed.

Made me shed a few tears, as Wed evening, my 8 month old baby, My Meggy dog and I were playing with bubbles when she yelped and disappeared. Needless to say- she has a spinal injury, is on steriods and just looks so miserable. She has no sensation in her back legs, so I am putting a towel under her tummy to help her go out for a wee, but she really isn't doing all the doggy task she usually does (no 1s nd 2s!!) should I be worried? No sign of improvement after 24hrs but trying to be positive.

Would value any experiences or advice you could offer- from one Meg's mum to another!  xx

Try not to worry too much - I know, it's not easy.  My last Cocker. Benjie, had the same symptoms and gradually lost the use of his back legs until he was totally paralysed.  He had x-rays and then a myelogram that showed he had a "lesion" on his spine, as the vet put it.  He said that he would be treated conservatively at the outset rather than have surgery.  Benjie was on steroids - prednisolone.  For days he didn't seem to be making any progress, and I used to carry him about when needed, and let him lie on the settee.  Instead of just his dog food I substituted chicken and fish fingers and hand fed him.  I'm sure he was having me on.  He refused to eat Asda's fish fingers, but loved Birds Eye fish fingers.  It was dreadful to see him dragging himself around and it upset me a great deal.  Benjie was just eight years old.  After a week or so he regained use of his back legs and was gradually weened off his teroids.  He made a remarkable recovery and never suffered a relapse.  Benjie lived until he was sixteen.

[SarahS]

Hi Octopus and Meg-
So pleased to read your thread and how well your little lady is doing. They are such a brave breed.

Made me shed a few tears, as Wed evening, my 8 month old baby, My Meggy dog and I were playing with bubbles when she yelped and disappeared. Needless to say- she has a spinal injury, is on steriods and just looks so miserable. She has no sensation in her back legs, so I am putting a towel under her tummy to help her go out for a wee, but she really isn't doing all the doggy task she usually does (no 1s nd 2s!!) should I be worried? No sign of improvement after 24hrs but trying to be positive.

Would value any experiences or advice you could offer- from one Meg's mum to another!  xx

Try not to worry too much - I know, it's not easy.  My last Cocker. Benjie, had the same symptoms and gradually lost the use of his back legs until he was totally paralysed.  He had x-rays and then a myelogram that showed he had a "lesion" on his spine, as the vet put it.  He said that he would be treated conservatively at the outset rather than have surgery.  Benjie was on steroids - prednisolone.  For days he didn't seem to be making any progress, and I used to carry him about when needed, and let him lie on the settee.  Instead of just his dog food I substituted chicken and fish fingers and hand fed him.  I'm sure he was having me on.  He refused to eat Asda's fish fingers, but loved Birds Eye fish fingers.  It was dreadful to see him dragging himself around and it upset me a great deal.  Benjie was just eight years old.  After a week or so he regained use of his back legs and was gradually weened off his teroids.  He made a remarkable recovery and never suffered a relapse.  Benjie lived until he was sixteen.

It is great to hear such a positive story, and I know from reading the posts on here that they are in the majority in most of these cases.

[megs mum]

Oh goodness, how much thanks can I say to everyone for being so kind.

After a long night, we returned to the vets for another catheterization, as it turned out she has a terrible bladder infection or rupturing of her bladder. There is a bruise on the inside of her rear leg and this might have caused a bruise or tear inside her. Or there is a small possibility the spinal injury caused it. I feel sick thinking that she could have fallen and hurt herself and I didn't see. It certainly didn't happen when she was with me, I barely take my eyes off her.

The antibiotics seem to be having some effect but her legs are still limp. However- I'm sure at 3am as we were spending another half an hour in the garden! I noticed her wag her tail. I'm hanging on to anything that might mean progress.

The nearest specialist for spinal injury is about 2 hours drive and I'm not sure how well she would travel at the moment. So we are hoping the conservative approach which Robbie described will be as positive. Our other challenge is a teething 8 month old little boy who loves his 'uff uff' and always wants to be near her. Not great for Meg who wants to rest or easy for me to watch the baby whilst carrying a dog around the garden. Sorry to sound so defeated, but little sleep and terrible worry are getting me down. Hope to be more positive tomorrow- perhaps she'll amaze me- as she does so regularly! My brilliant girl.

Thanks again to everyone sending there messages- they mean such a lot. xx

[Countrygirl]

I am so glad to hear from you, I was getting really worried.  All fingers and paws crossed here that each day brings more improvement.

[Robbie34]

I don't know where you live, but the vet practice where I take Charley takes referrals from all over the north west for orthopaedic treatment and surgery.
I can't recommend them too highly.  The main surgery is in St Helens - Rutland House Veterinary Hospital.  Of course, your vet will have to refer you.

[catcmartin]

I just found this thread.  Our Charlie had spinal surgery at 7y/o for 2 disks in his spine 2 years ago.  Before the op which was done at the Vet university in Glasgow he was paralysed in his rear.  It took us about 6 months of physio and he is now walking still a bit weak in his rear but it doesnt hold him back any.  There is a yahoo group which specialises in daschunds who have had this problem and there are a few cocker humans members as well.   I found this group of people terrific during Charlie's recovery as they are a fund of knowledge and give support when the vets are closed and you are worried about something and have forgotten to ask the vet.  I know how hard this is and how many unanswered questions that pop up when you have no one to ask.  I have posted it in here if you would like to join or even just read.
http://pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/Dodgerslist/ 
I know I needed them when charlie went down and will be forever gratefull to them. 
Hang in there at first it is over whelming but as you get into a routine it does get easier to cope.
Cathy with Charlie