Fletch, my 8 yo going on 2, cocker was fine on Thursday. On Friday evening, his tail was floppy and unresponsive and he couldn't sit down. I thought he'd broken his tail (he is a very active and waggy dog). I took him to the emergency vet who said he hadn't broken anything (and made it clear with all the manipulation he did to his tail and legs) but he did have damage to his lower spinal nerves. A test to his anal area showed only a tiny response. He was given steriods. At that point his back legs were only a bit wobbly.
Over the next couple of days, he got really bad. He tried to go outside to do everything, but it was obvious that his brain and body just weren't connecting. He was leaking urine constantly. He tries but is unable to empty his bowels. He lost the use of one leg and then the other went off. Today his back legs lost all feeling as the paralysis is moving up his back and he was really upset about the state he was in - soaked in urine despite my best effects.
From Friday evening with a seemingly broken tail, he has gone through paralysis of lower body which is moving upward and which is permant and has been pts.
The vet says it could be something simple as a bleed in the spinal cord due to an awkward landing off the bed.