Coon Hound Paralysis ?

[M_P]

I'm in the security line in the airport in Albuquerque and my wife just called. Our 9 mo old lab girl could hardly stand up this morning. Back legs aren't working so well. This just came on very suddenly. They are going to get her to the vet asap. Going to be a long day travelling back to Toronto.....

[Sharon]

I hope it turns out not to be serious; good luck.

[M_P]

My wife said she was better at the vet's. They have her on a round of anti inflammatory meds. Tonight when I walked in the door I was greeted by a bouncing happy pup. Need to make sure she stays on the leash when outside and cant let her run for a few days.

[Sharon]

[canthitathing]

My wife said she was better at the vet's. They have her on a round of anti inflammatory meds. Tonight when I walked in the door I was greeted by a bouncing happy pup. Need to make sure she stays on the leash when outside and cant let her run for a few days.

Wow, that’s a big relief . We should be so fortunate. We are entering week 4. The only med that continues is 4mg Dexamethasone (glucocorticosteroid) every other day for another week or so. I did hold back on two days worth of Gabapentin (for pain/seizures) as the dog never really showed signs of pain but the pills would have originally been depleted last Thursday leaving us on a long weekend with nothing if things went South.

We see the left rear leg gaining strength while the right rear is just starting to show responsiveness of any kind. It never developed further thank goodness. He now rolls himself over, belly down, but the right leg sometimes folds at a weird angle, so I move it into a more proper position. I continue to massage & work both rear legs through the day.

He has never vomited or had diarrhea through this and urination incontinence seems to be abating which is good but when he does let loose its ark building time, lol. We are using “puppy pads” through the day to contain urination. Kirkland brand from Costco are lousy but Hartz brand is good. We recently started using a “dog wrap” (a belly band diaper of sorts) overnight with good success.

His appetite seems even more voracious than before even though he has lost mass along the spine and maybe in the right thigh, so more protein and a bit more fat will be added to his diet.

[M_P]

Wow, that’s a big relief . We should be so fortunate. We are entering week 4. The only med that continues is 4mg Dexamethasone (glucocorticosteroid) every other day for another week or so. I did hold back on two days worth of Gabapentin (for pain/seizures) as the dog never really showed signs of pain but the pills would have originally been depleted last Thursday leaving us on a long weekend with nothing if things went South.

We see the left rear leg gaining strength while the right rear is just starting to show responsiveness of any kind. It never developed further thank goodness. He now rolls himself over, belly down, but the right leg sometimes folds at a weird angle, so I move it into a more proper position. I continue to massage & work both rear legs through the day.

He has never vomited or had diarrhea through this and urination incontinence seems to be abating which is good but when he does let loose its ark building time, lol. We are using “puppy pads” through the day to contain urination. Kirkland brand from Costco are lousy but Hartz brand is good. We recently started using a “dog wrap” (a belly band diaper of sorts) overnight with good success.

His appetite seems even more voracious than before even though he has lost mass along the spine and maybe in the right thigh, so more protein and a bit more fat will be added to his diet.

You feel so helpless when your best bud is ill. Hope his recovery continues.

[canthitathing]

You feel so helpless when your best bud is ill. Hope his recovery continues.

So true, M_P.

I'm only chronicling this at this point for others that may incur similar occurrence, so they can have an inkling of what they might expect, although each case may be a bit different. Following the Vets direction is of course the thing to do, but a bit of foreknowledge enables asking enlightened questions instead of just being bewildered.

My conundrum right now is that he is due for the monthly application of the topical meds for heartworm, etc. and the flea/tick med. I'm inclined to only go with the worm meds and hold off on the flea/tick med since he will not be outside for the foreseeable future. Granted, the same argument about potential exposure might be made for both meds. I have brought him out onto the veranda a couple of mornings before the heat of the day to address his "cabin fever monotony" but that's all.

[Sharon]

This is something I would definitely ask the vet about.

[canthitathing]

Yup, scheduled to communicate with the Vet on Thursday.