My dear Harry had a freak accident - just bouncing in the sitting room - and damaged a disc in his spine, with the result that his back end is totally paralysed and he's on cage rest for the foreseeable future to see if there's any hope of recovery. If not then we've already made the heartbreaking decision that he'll be sent to the Bridge, but in the meantime I was wondring if anyone else has nursed a dog with this condition and can advise me? I can make him pee, but his bowels are a bit of a problem. We know (from the x-rays taken at midnight on Friday) that he's full of poo, but the nerve damage means that it's only slowly moving along, and needs helping out at the other end. So far so good, but we're only two days in so far, and the paralysis is likely to get worse before it starts to improve (if it's going to).

So I'll need to cut his rations - he's usually very active and I can't risk him getting fat; that would worsen his condition - but still give him enough to satisfy his hunger and enough roughage to help the peristalsis action. Any advice? I badly need to help him because he's my dog-in-a-million and I want to give him every chance of recovery.

Get incontact with Chris Day the homeopathic vet.
He worked wonders for my friends Border Collie who had big problems with her back and rear legs.
He might even be able to reccomend a homeopathic vet closer to you...

Hugs

JG - is it possible to give a dog an enema?  

I knew a dog with a problem just like this. He just jumped up and must have twisted his spine as he came back down and slipped a disc and was left paralysed. It was a total shock, how something so serious could happen just by doing something dogs do a dozen times a day.

Their vets recommended an operation to sort it out. I remember it was very expensive so it was a good job they were insured.

Enemas are certainly possible, but I'd rather avoid that if possible.

We've considered the surgery route, but that really needs to be done within 24 hours of the injury for the best outcome (and even then the chances of success are very low; about 25% - 30%) and the injury happened on Tuesday evening - the effects just took some days to manifest - even the vet said it's not something she'd recommend. So we're not going down that road.

Hi Jan,

Sorry cant offer any advise really but felt really sad when i read about Harry, having been through something similar with my Baby Abbey as i chose not to try the surgery either, it brought tears to my eyes to read.

It must have been such a shock to see that happen, i do hope that he regains the feeling in his back end with cage rest and time

Sending healing thoughts for Harry and ((Hugs)) for you x

Christopher Day
( Chris Day )
( Alternative Veterinary Medicine Centre )
Chinham House
43 High Street
Stanford in the Vale
Faringdon
Oxfordshire
SN7 8NQ
01367 710324

Dear JG, you probably already know Chris Day and all about him, but, just in case, I have posted his details above. He has been known to work "miracles" on badly injured horses and many dog people speak highly of him too. If surgery is out of the question for your boy it might be worth considering this route. Chris is a very nice man and, I think, the first vet to go alternative in this country.

I wish you all the strength and the best for you and Harry at this difficult time.

You can add vegetable oil to the food to loosen them a bit, and also give liquid paraffin (but ask your vet for the dose) - and/or the vet can prescribe lactulose. I think it's actually possible just to put a bit of lubricant/ veg oil up the dog's bottom with a syringe, again just to help lubricate and make it easier for the motion to pass - again check with vet, as you'd want the lubricant they use. All-bran is good for roughage - and there's the peridale granules from the vet. I presume you already know about turning him so he doesn't get sores, and if he's leaking any urine use vaseline on the area around to protect it?

I hope that's a bit of help and not just repeating what you know; I'll let you know if I think of anything else - and all fingers toes and paws crossed here. Look after yourself JG, you know you are doing everything you can to help him. Hugs.

The tip about the vaseline's a great one, Terry - I hadn't thought of urine scald, and he is leaking (which is good, because it means the toxins are coming out and not tracking back up to his kidneys). We've been turning him - in fact when we turn him we get a tremendous squirt of urine; you don't want to be in the firing line!

Awww bless.... sending hope...

I cant offer any help and advise i'm afraid.  A close friend of mine her Cocker Spaniel tried to jump a baby gate and damaged her spine, like yours she was on complete cage rest and had to be kept clean at all times.  It was a very slow process and i have many memories of what my friend went through at that period in her life.  My friend had baby nappies on her dog to help with keeping urine away from her fur and skin.  I believe she had laxative solution from the vets but she only needed to use this for a short while as after a week she started to toilet herself.  It was hard work for my friend.  However after approx 8-12 weeks her girl showed improvement and began to walk once more. I'm not going to say all went perfect as one of her legs was permanently affected and she dragged it slightly, but her life was improved ten fold and she could walk and run once again.  I remember a sling she had made and placed around her girls back legs so she could get out into the garden after a couple of weeks as her girl hated pooing in the house. My friend carrying the back legs and her girl walking on the front.....A touching experience all round

I truly wish you all the luck in the world x

So sorry to read about poor Harry, hope he can get help and recover !

How awfull
Time can do wonders, I truly hope it works it's magic for Harry.

One of my dogs had a disc extrusion (C6-7 area) & the ventral slot op caused her to be paralysed for over 2 weeks as the op site flooded with blood (totally unexpected) but it was in a veinous area & there was also a possibility that the bleeding couldn't be controlled. She was kept in at the specialist centre & nursed as her bladder & bowels needed emptying manually. I was allowed to visit every day & it was a great day when she layed there & wee'd by herself, then she wagged her tail, then tried to sit up. All these achievements happened sooooo slowly but we had to give her a chance, my girl is also one in a million! I felt we went to hell & back.  I used a harness under my girl for 3 months as she was so wobbly. She is now 5 months down the line & had physio & still having hydrotherapy. I was sure it would be the end for my girl but when I took her for hydro they said they'd seen much worse so there is always hope for Harry.

I can't tell you how to empty his bowels but can you get him up with a harness? What some people use is a canvas shoulder bag with long handles cut down the sides which would support his body & allow you to get him out gently.  If he is upright he might try to squat. If thats not possible how about massaging his sides & tummy, like topping & tailing a puppy.  

I think you would find out more about the extent of the damage & possibility of recovery with an MRI scan. Whereabouts on the spine is the injury?

There is a Yahoo site called Neurodogs which has a lot of useful info.

Hope this helps.

Fingers x'd for dear Harry.

I am always amazed at how much animals can have the same problems as humans, and treatments are very similar.  So I hope that this is worth considering.

Years ago, I was engaged to a man that was paralysed for life.  I went down to the spinal rehab unit at odstock to learn and train.  Bowels and bladder were emptied manually. 

Bladder, obviously via a catheter.  But bowels were emptied manually every day, and lubricant was used.  If they can show you how to empty bowels on a human, I'm sure that a vet could show you on a dog?

If not, apologies, but I am sending all good vibes.

Can't offer any advice but hope for a positive outcome for Harry. Fingers crossed I am sure everyone will be routing for him

Sorry JG I can't offer any advice but am thinking of you and Harry and sending positive thoughts x

Sending white light to Harry and you

So sorry to hear this JG - Not got any advice to offer I am afraid - just my sympathy for your poor Harry.  I do remember at one time that humans could have suppositories to combat constipation - is there something like that for dogs?

So sorry to read about Harry's freak accident,  I have no advice for you but hope he recovers well and our thoughts are with you both.
Paula xx

Can offer no advice at all, just wanted to say I have my fingers crossed for him, I really hope that he will improve.

a friends dog had a similar freak accident at 4 yrs old. it was a long recovery, 3 months before ANY signs of improvement after being cage rested but the dog DID recover with the help of hydrotherapy and was back to her normal hyperactive self within 8-10 months. she lived to 17 years old full of life until the final night when she died in her sleep. hold in there its long and difficult journey and at times feels like one step forward, two back. but i promise you dogs have come thru worse and have i have every faith that yours will too.

as regards to the poop  department, have you thought of "human" glycerin suppositories. they even do them for dogs, but imagine they would cost a fair bit more for the same thing.

google lactulose for dogs. its also used for people. its recommended 15-30ml a couple times a day. not only helps with lubrication but also encourages the gut to contract and push the poop thru.

hope this helps,
take care and dont give up

meant to say consult vet first about lactulose!

The good news is that he's still able to poo by himself - although he gets very distressed because it's in his bed. His bladder control's gone so he's wetting himself, but that's better than not weeing at all. I'm sure his tail wagged briefly yesterday, but nothing today, although to be fair he's very depressed, poor love.

It's a shame the weather's so vile at the same time that our heating's up the creek, because I'm having to do so much washing of bedding and towels (nappies) and it's impossible to get it dry.

give him a big kiss from me and leo hugs heading  his way!!!

Just caught up with this.  Glad that you have some positive signs.

Sending positive thoughts JG.. hope Harry improves daily.
Much love
Donna x
(and my boysxx)

Only just read this & i really have no advice 2 give but wanted to say i really really hope harry is on the mend soon. Cant believe somethin every dog does has led 2 this, really makes u stop n think. Thinkin of u & sending as many positive vibes as possible harry's way. Come u harry u can pull thru. Hugs to u jg xx 

I had a GSD with a similar problem, so can speak from personal experience. Unfortunately I don't have much time tonight, but will send you a PM with my phone number in case you want to have a chat.

" So I'll need to cut his rations - he's usually very active and I can't risk him getting fat; that would worsen his condition - but still give him enough to satisfy his hunger and enough roughage to help the peristalsis action. Any advice? I badly need to help him because he's my dog-in-a-million and I want to give him every chance of recovery. "

I'm so sorry to hear about your boy. Fingers crossed he'll recover quickly!
To avoid him putting on weight, I'd try either grated carrots, or "Pro-Fibre", or a mixture of both. "Pro-Fibre" is manufactured by the same company as "Pro-Kolin", can't think of its name right now, and I'm at work, so can't check the jar. But it works really well, adds fibre without working as a laxative.  Grated carrots do the same, with the added bonus of tasting sweet.
My best wishes,
Karen

I cannot offer any advice but wanted to say along with so many others that I hope Harry shows signs of improvement soon and makes a full recovery.
jane

My brother's lab sufffered a disc extrusion - chasing a ball. She lost the use of her back legs initially but recovered enough to be able to walk/trot again and had a reasonable quality of life for three years. She never lost bladder-control. She could also poo, although had lost the ability to feel when she was poo-ing and this never returned properly (not a huge prob though). As others have suggested, hydrotherapy can work wonders and even if they don't have much movement, most really enjoy the warmth of the water/stimulation of water jets. Our local hydrotherapy centre (not far from Cirencester) has very experienced staff and is trusted by vets to 'swim' dogs at a very early stage post-injury.

I am sure you know this already but do keep chipper yourself around Harry - it makes a huge difference. Has your vet suggested ACP? This helped hugely in keeping my very active Tickle chilled when she broke her leg - and so did a fleece jacket (Hotterdog/Equafleece) which she seemed to find very comforting/soothing. Normally a bit of a bovver-girl, even now if she sees the fleece, she'll weave in front of me asking to have it put on. I think it works like swaddling and some vets are now using them post-op.

All good wishes for Harry.

Jemima

> (nappies)

Have you thought of getting the children's nighttime pull up pants, they might fit him in the biggest size, you would just need to cut a hole for his tail.

I was having a look at the nappies yesterday, but more along the lines of something to tuck under his willy (tried sanitary towels but they're not really powerful enough, but better than nothing) - getting him actually into something would involve manhandling him too much at the moment. Certainly a good thought for (thinking optimistically) a few weeks time though.

I think the ordianry nappies then might be helpful because they will keep him dry compared to towelling or cotton sheeting.  they coudlmbe used sideways under him and attached at the top by running a band under and tieing over back.

These may be an option (http://www.equafleece.co.uk/store/dog_shorts.html) for when he's up and about?

Would puppy training pads be an option for now?

>Would puppy training pads be an option for now?

D'oh! Honestly, sometimes I despair at myself; why didn't I think of that?! That's genius!

This is exactly where this board comes into it's own JG!!  Enough people with experience to help think out of the box! 

Glad to be of help!

> I was having a look at the nappies yesterday, but more along the lines of something to tuck under his willy (tried sanitary towels but they're not really powerful enough, but better than nothing)

Would incontinence pads for adults be any good, they do the sort that would fit into underwear, or larger pads to go under a person in bed. You can gets pads to go on childrens beds, but I doubt they are as absorbent as the ones designed for adults.

ETA, just noticed puppy pads have allready been sugested, I really should read all replies before nattering on!

Just want to add my wishes for a good recovery. There are many positive responses on here that there certainly looks to be a good chance of recovery. Keep your chin up.

Sending positive thoughts your way, and wishing Harry a speedy & full recovery. And isn't this place great when everyone puts their heads together to come up with solutions

Claire

i would say either puppy training sheets or, when as a carer i had clients completely incontinent and we used inco sheets which are the same as puppy training sheets but they may be cheaper and larger,also adult incontinence pads which are nappies designed to fit grown men and woman and actually do up like a nappy, you could ask your local chemist or even surgery for advice on where to buy them,
give him a kiss from me
jo

I'd just like to send good wishes and cuddles to Harry.

I am so sorry to hear this.  Hope it goes well. fingers and everything else crossed. x

I've only just read through your thread on poor Harry   I'm sorry I have no practical advice to offer Jan but he'll be sent healing hugs, prayers and blessings through the airwaves that he makes a full and speedy recovery.

Meantime look after yourself too - I know all too well how draining emotionally and mentally as well as physically it is to nurse a sickly four legged friend.
Words being said to Him Upstairs as I write.

God bless and give him a gentle hug from me,
Teri xx

Poor Harry Hope he improves soon x