spinal bleeding

[lmd]

I have a 9 year old dog who suddenly could not use his rear legs. I took him in and he was x rayed and given dexamethasome. He is now home with prednisone and clindamycin because he had blood in his first urine. There is no sign of disc or spinal pressure of any kind. If anyone has experience with this problem I`d like to hear some ideas. Thanks. He is comfortable, and I take him outside with a harness I made up. However, he has not had a bowel movement sinde this started on Wednesday afternoon. He eats and drinks well.

[Tambrey]

I would definitely be getting a second opinion now!
Any kind of bleeding is never good...and not having a bowel movement in that many days indicates something else is nwrong as well...

even though he may not be showing outward signs of pain, I am sure he is experiencing pain...remember, animals hide their pain, because in the wild, showing pain or weakness means certain death...and this is still a instinct that our domesticated pets carry with them...

I would not be waiting!

[davet]

many times, in fact most times, when there is a disc problem the symptons will show (weakness in back end, difficult getting up and down steps, etc etc) but you can find no lesion on x-ray. Difficulting in having a BM is usually indication of back pain...i think the dexa etc are appropriate medication because you wan to decrease the disc pressure which the dexa does and then try to prevent bladder infection by stasis ( ie difficulty in urinating which can lead to infeection..I missed the tyupe of dog but if it is in the doxie, beagele, basset or long back type this is a normal disc syndrone....but a 1,000 miles away makes an opinion worthless...if in doubt a second opinion would not hurt but i think this is a typical disc syndrone problem...steroids, antibiotics and some what limited exercise...keep posted.

[davet]

forgot to add,,if BM straining takes place it can do no harm to insert a glycerine suppository but check with vet fdirst.

[Traci]

The sudden lameness in the rear legs is concerning, and I think I would opt for additional diagnostics. Was a full blood profile done, and was a urinary tract infection (or stones) detected? Was heart function tested?

The inability to produce a stool is also concerning, whether this is pain related or constipation from not eating or an obstruction, it needs to be addressed promptly. Which day was the x-ray taken, and at that time, did the vet note anything unusual such as inflammation or impacted feces, or??

[lmd]

Just got back here. The dog has now got bowel movements, and seems peaceful. I take him out three times a day. It is a male Collie. The vet concluded that it probably is fibrocartilage embolism. Only the first urine was bloody, then good. The problem started on Wednesday. Thursday I took him home, and he is on prednisone after the dexamethasone at the vet. Thanks for caring to respond.

[lmd]

I forgot to mention. At the vet clinic, the dog had reflex response with the left leg, but not the right, and the tail moves. I have seen him move the right rear leg just a little. He scoots around the floor to change location by pushing mainly with his front legs.

[davet]

every once in a while when you are bored get down on the floor and tweek (bveterinary term) the toes of the right legt just enough to get hime to pull the leg back...they don;t mind it and it doew give some exercise to that leg that he would, otherwise not do...You can also do the same thing with the tip of the tail..,..i always found that responses to these two "tweeks" was a good indication of the gprognosisd of these back problems...if those reflexes are completly gone on both olegs and the tail then there is a problem....but this is a good little exercise that keeps you and th4e dog happy....

[jdf]

I forgot to mention. At the vet clinic, the dog had reflex response with the left leg, but not the right, and the tail moves. I have seen him move the right rear leg just a little. He scoots around the floor to change location by pushing mainly with his front legs.

This sounds incouraging if it's FCE.... our dog Roxy had a Fibrocartilaginous Embolism but her deep pain response was no where near as good as your dog is showing. Deep pain response is considered an indication of sorts of the possible level of recovery. Some dogs can eventually walk on their own again following an FCE. Roxy didn't fair that well and used a K-9 Cart for the last 6 years of her life. Incontinance is the big problem but it sounds like your dog is doing fairly well in that area.

I'm sure your vet told you that there is no cure other than the body repairing itself. Steroids are given as soon after the FCE event as possible in order to bring down inflamation quickly. Other than that, it's very important to move your dog's legs through motion flexes and to massage the muscles on a daily basis. Muscle atrophy can set in quickly and as the damage from the FCE begins to repair itself, it's important to have as much muscle mass and tone as is possible. Swimming is very good therapy for a dog who has suffered FCE.

Paralysis from FCE happens when fibrocartilage in a spinal disc "blows out" and damages blood vessels supply blood to the nerves. At infarction, paralysis is typically immediate and very dramatic. Roxy was walking, stumbled once with her hind quarters and collapsed. It was heartbreaking but she lived a long ( almost 16 years) and happy life in spite of the FCE.

Feel free to send me a private message if you like - I'll help in every way I can.... Jim

[lmd]

Wow - thanks for that. The dog is accepting his new lifestyle a little better, and will not mess in the house, so I use a brace to get him out and down the stairs. There seems to be no changes, and it has been 13 days. I do massage a lot, and move his legs. He has only a bit of discomfort response, and will now allow being on either side, and hs pulls himself around the room. The vet says that the fact he is on his chest a lot will help prevent lung problems. He contacted a neurologist who says there should be some sign of improvement in 2 weeks, but I`m still looking for a change. Here`s hoping. And thanks all of you for the support.