Need a little pet advice

[GrapevineSooner]

Our cocker spaniel has little use of her legs thanks to a narrowing of her spinal column, or spinal stenosis. This condition was diagnosed last Friday by our new vet after my wife's friend (who was house sitting for us) noticed something amiss with her, called her husband over because she had to go to work, and he called us letting us know she couldn't move her legs.

Since our dog has epilepsy and is prone to having seizures, we figured she was going into one. So he tells us he has a doctor's appointment and will call my mother-in-law to come over to get her indicating he'll leave the front door unlocked...nevermind that our house has a glass door in front of the front door, which he doesn't even check.

So of course, she gets over to our house and can't get in. When she finally gets a hold of him (after 30 minutes), he opens the garage door, yells 'sorry about that' and drives off.

But his dumbassery isn't the point of my post.

Mother-in-law gets dog over the vet, they give her a steroid shot, put her on crate rest until further notice, and prescribe prednisone twice a day. Anyway, as of last night, she still had no use of her legs, but was able to go to the bathroom with assistance from me.

I'd pretty much come to the conclusion that we were going to have to put her down when we take her back to the vet tomorrow.

My wife had spent Sunday and Monday nights at her mom's house and had not had a chance to see Deja, our cocker spaniel, until last night.

And she lost it.

I lost it, too, when I could hear Deja in the bathroom, where we've set her up on her 'crate' rest, panting loudly and then crying because she couldn't get out to sit by her momma.

So while we were running errands, we had both mentally prepared ourselves for the probability we'd need to put her down when she goes back to see the vet.

And then tonight after I had taken her out to go to the bathroom, she just had to hobble on one of her back legs into the house and give us a little hope.

Still mentally prepared. But even if the vet decides putting her down is the best course of action, she's made us proud because of her fighting spirit.

But should what happen tonight honestly give me some hope? Everything I've read on canine spinal stenosis indicates that treatment will at least take 6-8 weeks. So even if she had shown no signs of improvement, it still seems a little too early to throw in the proverbial towel, right?

[MojoRisen]

If the dog has the spirit, I would give it some time if you can stomach it. Sorry to hear that bro....

[Curly Bill]

I don't know much about canine spinal stenosis, but my first thought is if it was my dog I'd give it as much of a chance as possible. Within reason of course.

[olevetonahill]

How old is she ? How much will all this cost ? Can you afford it , with out puting yerself in the poor house ?
Is the Dog Suffering ?

[bluedogok]

We faced that early last year, it changed in a day. I took her from the vet who was treating her to a specialist and she seemed to perk up. I took her back to the vet for treatment and visited her later and the staff at both seemed positive. We were preparing to have to do twice daily insulin injections (combination of Cushing's and diabetes) and they thought she might get to come home in a couple of days. The next day the vet called early in the morning and her condition deteriorated during the night, when I went to the office at lunch, I could she was was tired of fighting, the will that she had shown the prior five days was gone. I had her in my lap, she looked up at me and struggled to to get up enough to give me a lick on the chin and then just collapsed in my lap...she just seemed to say goodbye. It was the toughest decision that I ever had to make.

When they quit showing the will to fight, you will know it...they will show you.
Good luck with your decision.

[Curly Bill]

When they quit showing the will to fight, you will know it...they will show you.
Good luck with your decision.

Having gone through this myself two years ago, I think this is quite true.

[GrapevineSooner]

How old is she ? How much will all this cost ? Can you afford it , with out puting yerself in the poor house ?
Is the Dog Suffering ?

She just turned 10. And as of now, the vet has her on Prednisone. 30 day supply only costs $17, so will continue with that as long as possible.

As for suffering, she's still eating and drinking regularly. I know dogs have a high pain threshold, so it's hard to say whether she's miserable or not.

Based on her body language, she still seems in good spirits.

[olevetonahill]

She just turned 10. And as of now, the vet has her on Prednisone. 30 day supply only costs $17, so will continue with that as long as possible.

As for suffering, she's still eating and drinking regularly. I know dogs have a high pain threshold, so it's hard to say whether she's miserable or not.

Based on her body language, she still seems in good spirits.

Most house dogs can live to 15 and longer. as long as shes not suffering and has a good quality of life I say give her the pills

Hell My Black lab Knothead got his *** run over, Nothing broken but a Lot of skin gone . My doc had given ME a script of lorecet, I dint take em I cut em in 1.2 and gave him 1.2 in the morning and 1/2 at night .
Treated his Massive skin scrape off with some cut and heal. and in about a month he was back up and tinning . a Lil stiff but he worked it off . Plus he lost about 6 inches of his tail in the deal :eek:

[captain_surly]

I would wait until I was absolutely sure there was no hope or she was in obvious constant pain. There is no room for second guessing yourself in this situation.

I hope she gets better.

[GrapevineSooner]

Thanks all for the kind wishes and advice.

She's still with us, for at least another week. The vet wanted to give her at least two weeks before recommending the next action, but also said the prognosis was still poor.

He did show me the X-rays which show she has a slipped or ruptured disc in her back that is putting pressure on the receptor on her spinal cord to let her brain know her legs are back there.

That all having been said, she was able to stand up on her own this morning and tried to walk out of the bathroom before my wife stopped her.

And since we have a 6-year old, I went ahead and explained to her why Deja had to go to the vet yesterday and that we might have to put her down if she doesn't get better. Sucked to have that convo, but I figured it would be better to have it now as opposed to waiting until after she has to be put down and explaining to her why I went to the vet with her but didn't come home with her.

[Rogue]

You've done what I'd recommend, go to the vet and take their advice.