Guest greytelectric Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I have had the worst morning ever! After being perfectly ok last night, this morning I noticed that Porky was stumbling a bit and at first i thought he was just groggy from waking up. When he fell i knew something was wrong - long story short ... DH had to carry him downstairs and we took him to the ER vet (DoveLewis - they are amazing there!). After 7 hours of waiting and $1600 of tests and whatnot, they still don't know what's wrong with him. He's staying there for observation tonight and tomorrow will go to the neurologist. He's mellow and does not seem to be in pain - no whimpering, no crying ... nothing. I know some dogs will mask the pain, but Porky is a diva and he will cry at the slightest thing normally. He will be 10 next month but still acts like a puppy and has never had any leg problems in the past. Right now they are saying he's partially paralyzed in his back legs, the right one being worse than the other. He will try to stand and sometimes make it up, but the dr. said he will fall down soon after. He is also bruising very easily - under his armpits just from people having to hold him up, from being shaved for the IV, and has a large bruise that we noticed this morning that is on his back inner thigh - which the dr. said continues to get bigger. His protein in his urine came back at 300, but the other kidney tests were normal, so they are a bit concerned about the protein, but it's not their main concern right now. They did an xray for his heart and lungs and that's all good. Blood work all came back ok, including the coagulation results that they were worried about due to the bruising. Right now they are thinking it's spinal related, but won't know more til the ultrasound today and maybe the $1500 MRI tomorrow. I just want my dog back happy and healthy, but honestly, the tests and fees are really kicking us. Sorry if i am rambling - it's just been a long morning and always weird to come home and not have him greet us. Has anyone experienced these symptoms before? Is there anything we can suggest to the drs that they may look for? As always, any help, and positive thoughts for our boy, is greatly appreciated. Sending prayers. I do a LOT of volunteer work with Dove Lewis and I can assure you he is in extremely good hands. Keep your chin up. I know it's expensive at an emergency clinic. Do you have pet insurance? If you need to talk or want some company I am in Beaverton. Let me know and I can get you my contact info. Sending hugs and lots of white light. Sending prayers. I do a LOT of volunteer work with Dove Lewis and I can assure you he is in extremely good hands. Keep your chin up. I know it's expensive at an emergency clinic. Do you have pet insurance? If you need to talk or want some company I am in Beaverton. Let me know and I can get you my contact info. Sending hugs and lots of white light. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 The punch biopsy is probably looking for a neuromuscular problem causing the problem. Our dog who couldn't get up had one too. Marcia in SC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4greyhounds Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I am sorry I have no advice, but I am sending lots of prayers and white light. Quote Darlene Mom to: Aladdin, Sophie ,Pongo, Jasmine, Relic Forever in our Hearts Champ at the Rainbow Bridge. Let a greyhound race into your heart Adopt Bay Area Greyhound Adoptions INC. Naples/ Fort Myers Chapter Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MandysMom Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 No advice here, but sending prayers for your baby. Quote Beverly. Missing my happy toy-flinging boy Sammy (Where's Mandrill), (8/12/2009-9/30-2021) Desperately missing my angel Mandy (BB's Luv) [7/1/2000 - 9/18/2012]. Always missing Meg the Dalmatian and Ralph Malph the Pekeapoo. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest porkysmom Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Doesn't sound like they are convinced that it's an FCE. Are they treating him for the FCE? IF not, they should be. I'd hold off on the biopsy, but the neuro may be able to help set up a plan to get him on his feet again. Hydrotherapy will go a long way to getting him back on his feet. No one has discussed treatment for the FCE ... what would the treatment be? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest porkysmom Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Sending prayers. I do a LOT of volunteer work with Dove Lewis and I can assure you he is in extremely good hands. Keep your chin up. I know it's expensive at an emergency clinic. Do you have pet insurance? If you need to talk or want some company I am in Beaverton. Let me know and I can get you my contact info. Sending hugs and lots of white light. That would be great - I am in NE Portland ... I tried to send you a msg but the system wouldn't let me. I'm so technically challenged some times! Would you mind shooting your contact info to my email? You can send it to brenda@nwppa.org. Thanks! And i agree about DL, the people there were FABULOUS! Times are a bit tough right now though and that bill had some sticker shock like a lot of things these days. The neuro is at Northwest in Clackamas ... do you know anything about them? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Scouts_mom Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 I've taken my grey girls to the specialists at Northwest Vet Specialists in Clackams. They are very good. I've been there for both cancer and nerve problems. Just be aware that the neurologist who saw my Tia was very set on doing an MRI and surgery. I hesitated because I don't have that kind of money. Instead I tried pain killers and accupunture and that did the trick, but my Tia wasn't in as bad shape as your Porky. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gracegirl Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Sending prayers. I do a LOT of volunteer work with Dove Lewis and I can assure you he is in extremely good hands. Keep your chin up. I know it's expensive at an emergency clinic. Do you have pet insurance? If you need to talk or want some company I am in Beaverton. Let me know and I can get you my contact info. Sending hugs and lots of white light. That would be great - I am in NE Portland ... I tried to send you a msg but the system wouldn't let me. I'm so technically challenged some times! Would you mind shooting your contact info to my email? You can send it to brenda@nwppa.org. Thanks! And i agree about DL, the people there were FABULOUS! Times are a bit tough right now though and that bill had some sticker shock like a lot of things these days. The neuro is at Northwest in Clackamas ... do you know anything about them? Hi guys! Another Portland greyhound owner here. Sorry to be "meeting" you under such a sad circumstance. Luckily I have not had to use DoveLewis yet, but glad to know they are nearby. PLEASE, please, please let me know if there is anything I can do to help out. I'm around all weekend. I can't help much with the medical stuff, but I can certainly sit with your pup for a while if you need to go out, or drop off groceries for you, etc. Let me know what I can do, I'm so sorry to hear your pup is not well! Quote Poppy the lurcher 11/24/23 Gabby the Airedale 7/1/18 Forever missing Grace (RT's Grace), Fenway (not registered, def a greyhound), Jackson (airedale terrier, honorary greyhound), and Tessie (PK's Cat Island) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
6greyhounds Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Praying for Porky here. That happened to Queen Softee with the loss of her back legs and they thought it was a disc but it seemed as if it gradually cleared its self up after ER visit and x-rays they finally decided it was arthritis and old age Hope everything will be okay for your baby Quote It is better to have loved and lostThan never to have loved at allMissing my Big Blue eyed Bear Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Spiff Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Sending healing thoughts for Porky! The same thing happened to Spiff on Tuesday -- he couldn't walk for the entire day... but it's certainly an effect of his lumbosacral stenosis. Thank goodness, he's doing much better after getting some vitamin B and pain shots... I hope that Porky continues to improve! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest vahoundlover Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Keeping Porky in my prayers. Boss lost use of his backend 2yrs ago dx was a bulged disc. he spent 1.5 weeks at the vet. He slowly regained usage and the day after we brought him home we started acupuncture. WOW!! what a difference, I brought home a dog that evening that was pretty much walking on his own. He is still pretty weak and needs assistance from time to time, so we use an assistance harness. He wears it 24/7. He still gets acupuncture every month when it seems his backend is not cooperating more than usual. Here is the link for the harness, we ordered and received it within 4 days?? http://northcoastgreyhounds.com/store/index.php/cat_141 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest MZH Posted July 25, 2008 Share Posted July 25, 2008 Doesn't sound like they are convinced that it's an FCE. Are they treating him for the FCE? IF not, they should be. I'd hold off on the biopsy, but the neuro may be able to help set up a plan to get him on his feet again. Hydrotherapy will go a long way to getting him back on his feet. No one has discussed treatment for the FCE ... what would the treatment be? A couple of us have mentioned steroids. This reduces swelling around the spinal cord if that's what the problem is. It needs to be done immediately though. I'm surprised they didn't give that immediately but maybe they have their reasons. Marcia in SC Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest fastdogs Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Doesn't sound like they are convinced that it's an FCE. Are they treating him for the FCE? IF not, they should be. I'd hold off on the biopsy, but the neuro may be able to help set up a plan to get him on his feet again. Hydrotherapy will go a long way to getting him back on his feet. No one has discussed treatment for the FCE ... what would the treatment be? Sorry for the delay. I've been away. My guy was treated with aggressive dosages of steroids and trying to get him to stay on his feet as long as possible. Steroids & Hydrotherapy are better options, though. By this time, the steroids may not be effective. If he's still not up on his feet, it was either not an FCE or he may not completely recover from it. Hydrotherapy may still help, though. The water provided enough buoyancy to help him stay upright, yet he still gets the muscles moving and building stamina. Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
4My2Greys Posted July 28, 2008 Share Posted July 28, 2008 Just this morning I was reading a back issue of CG magazine and there was an article about a woman whose greyhound all of a sudden could not walk. It turned out that it was Vestibular Disease. Here is a link to information on VetInfo about this. Vestibular Disease The good thing about this is that only lasts between a few days and 3 weeks with few residual effects. Just thought I would pass this on in case you wanted to mention it to your vet. Judy, Mom to Nadir, Beanie, and Bruiser Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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