Irene In Icu

[Teensy]

Greyhound friends, Irene has had an accident and is currently in the ICU at our local emergency vet hospital, Dove Lewis. We were having a lovely day at the dog park. There is a very nice one close by, and we have been getting there regularly. She's fit as ever, by all accounts. She was running very fast on a straight path when her right hind leg suddenly went under her, and she was on her side. After that she was unable to stand on that leg, and she was in a lot of pain. The neuro screen was suspicious, and the x-ray didn't show any evidence of fracture or dislocation, so they suspect either central or peripheral nerve involvement. For some reason they are concerned about the possibility the she may have thrown a clot that ended up putting pressure on her spinal cord. She mentioned that Irene had been holding her head at tilt?? Not sure how the two are connected, but it seemed like she was trying to say that there might be a problem higher up. She also mentioned that she thought the right thigh was significantly smaller than the left. I find it very hard to believe that I wouldn't have noticed something like that, or any signs of her favoring that leg. She was always getting glass in her paws when we lived in Baltimore, so we are very conscious of her gait. Symptoms are 100% unilateral. She hasn't had a neuro consult, yet, but they have one on-call 24 hours/day in case her condition deteriorates. I haven't been able to talk to her regular vet, yet, either.

Thoughts, anyone?

[seeh2o]

No thoughts, just prayers being sent your way for Irene.

[Teensy]

Thanks. I'm super worried about her. When I called to check on her she was whining at a high pitch in the background. I'm afraid if nothing else, she's going to worry herself to death.

[KF_in_Georgia]

You might want to read the thread here. The thread has lots of useful links.

Edited March 18, 2013 by KF_in_Georgia

[Teensy]

Thank you. This must be what she was talking about. Seems like most of the dogs mentioned in this thread are older than Irene (8), but it sounds like a better prognosis than a disc rupture that would require surgery.

Edited March 18, 2013 by Teensy

[KF_in_Georgia]

Quite often when it happens, the injury (like Irene's fall) is caused by the FCE--not the other way around. However, the fall can cause additional bruising and pain, so even if Irene shows pain in the wrong places for an FCE the wrong-place pain doesn't rule out an FCE.

[Teensy]

Right. Even before they talked to us about her initial exam, I was wondering why it would have happened in the first place. I've seen her wipe out on corners, but this was straight on, and she was tearing it up, and then she just wiped.

[silverfish]

FCE is what I immediately thought of, too. I hope they can get her diagnosed and treated quickly, poor girl!

[Charlies_Dad]

Good thoughts for Irene.

[Scooby172]

My young grey, 4 years old had an accident while playing in the yard and went down. Could not walk, back legs were not working. Diagnosis was a ruptured disc. Bella was in a lot of pain. Best of luck to your girl, I hope they find what is wrong and she is able to make a quick, uneventful recovery. Will keep you both in my thoughts.

Linda, Jack and Keeva

[BatterseaBrindl]

 

How's Irene this morning?

[galgrey]

Sending good thoughts for a quick and complete recovery.

[GreyPoopon]

I too thought of an FCE. I've had two (one 10, the other 12) go through it and both recovered.

 

for Irene.

[moosesmom]

Prayers for your girl.

[deboosh]

Sending you healing thoughts.

[Guest IrskasMom]

Prayers and good Thoughts for Irene.

 

 

My Boy was running one time and his whole Frontleg went under . For a while he was limping , but it seems to come from the Shoulder. He is fine now.

[Teensy]

Waiting for them to call me back. They were doing rounds. Anyone have any thoughts on this head tilt the vet was talking about? She was really freaking me out with that.

[krissy]

A head tilt is generally one of several signs of vestibular disease, the others being nystagmus (the eyes flick back and forth) and circling or falling to the same side as the head tilt. Causes are either in the brain or peripheral. Peripheral causes generally have a better prognosis and include inner ear infection (in which case there is often a Horner Syndrome which involves a constructed pupil and prolapsed third eyelid on the side with the infection), a tumour, or geriatric vestibular disease which is off unknown origin and comes on very quickly and usually resolves over days to weeks with no treatment. Central causes can be things like bleeding or throwing clots in the brain, cancer.

 

FCE causes very one sided problems, generally does not cause a head tilt. Most importantly beyond the first couple hours it s non-progressive and non-painful.

 

Disc disease is usually bilateral, progressive without treatment, and painful.

[greytpups]

No advice, just hoping she covers quickly.

[fsugrad]

Sending lots of healing prayers out to your Irene.

[MP_the4pack]

Waiting (im)patiently for an update.....

[inugrey]

Hope you all have gotten some good news for Irene!

[beledi]

Prayers and good thoughts. Waiting always gives me time to think the worst..Grr.

[Teensy]

We are currently working on transferring her to specialty emergency. She's still in pain, and now losing strength in the left leg. Looking more spinal chord than nerve root. Still could be an FCE. No bowel or bladder incontinence that they could tell. She's been super anxious. My Irene does not like new situations.

[Pepperjack]

aw crap. sorry you guys are going through this.