Anyone familiar with spinal cord compression and herniated disc

[greekblue]

We came back from a 24 hour emergency vet at 12:30AM. Yesterday, all of a sudden, out of nowhere, she was just standing there and she started screaming, crying from pain for a while before she let me touch her; she went nuts. She was holding her leg up almost paralyzed and she could not put it down or walk. I lift her up and took her to an after hours vet. By the time we were there she was walking fine, and she show no indication of pain, even though they did pushed her neck and legs and did hard examination on her body. We assumed, she might have gotten stepped on by the leg of the chair was next to her and she had been hurt temporarily. Today she was all fine, walking, running, playing, so tonight I took ker to Petsmart for fun. She likes it. After a while, again suddenly and out of nowhere, she was just standing there, and she started screaming / crying from pain again worse than yesterday. She fell on the floor trying to hold herself on the side, like if she could not hold her leg or legs? I went to calmed her down and hold her head and of course I was bitten up quite a lot (both of my hands were bleeding and they are still hurting) while she was literary kept screaming and crying from pain, not just crying like when you step on a dog by a mistake -- that was screaming and it lasted long time. When she calmed down, she would not put her leg down. I lift her up and I rushed her to Garden Grove (24 hrs emergency hospital). She could not get out of the car, so the nurse helped me to lift her and had to carry her inside the hospital on a metal bed. When they took her in again no indication of pain during examination and no limping. She was walking fine, but she was still very scared to walk. We had to muzzle her to carry her in, just in case she was in pain again. They gave her 2 injections for the pain, so she is drugged out at home, and I had to carry her again out of the car and inside the house (up the stairs)..

What is wrong with her?? We have no idea. The vet gave me Tramadol for her pain and antiflamatory medication. It seems to be an internal issue. Especially if the medication does not help later, she will need MRI and Xrays of her whole skeleton. She will need to see a neurologist. Just the tests, the vet estimated could run over a thousand dollars and if it is what the vet thinks, she will need surgery, which might improve the conditions or might not depending of where the problem is and how bad it is.
I was told it could be a thousand things, but it sounds more like herniated disc or spinal cord compression. Both conditions require surgery and although they can also start after an injury, the vet told me that in a large breed dog they have to do more with genetics and how the dog is built. I just read tonight that if surgery does not help or cannot be performed if it is already too late or the problem too big, the dog gets paralysis and eventualy has to be put down. The vet talked about Hip Dysplacia also, but he said that that does not have such exruciating pain, like the one Niki experiences out of nowhere, so he does not think that is the problem.


Also, I just read that these conditions happen after an injury, lack of muscular activity, and not proper nutrition.
I am trying to think what I have done wrong with Niki and there is none of these that she could have been affected from. She walks regularly, ahe goes everywhere with me, she plays at the park -- not every day -- but she does, she eats healthy diet that many people don't even dream for their dogs, and she has not get hurt as fas as I know. I have had her since she was 7 weeks old. Any help?? Is it really genetic sometimes like the vet said? I cannot see where I was at fault with Niki for her to get any of these.

[dogs4life]

Could she have slipped or lost her footing, maybe pulled a muscle, tendon or ligament? It seems strange that she showed no pain when at the E vets, did I read that right?

Did they do x-rays?

[IceyBlueSibes]

Firstly, I want to say I'm sorry Nikki is having pain. It's so frustrating when they hurt and you cannot figure out what it is. My boxer/Shepherd I had experienced something very similar. He all of a sudden just started screaming, whimpering and was frozen solid. He had been laying on the couch, sound asleep and resting when this happened. So, we ended up taking him to the vet, and they did some xrays. I believe they said it looked as though one of his discs were inflamed, so they gave him a cortisone shot for the inflammation. The spot on his back that they were concerned about was also very very warm to the touch. They asked if he had injured his back at all, and at this time we only had Sheiba and Sarge. Well, we remembered that a few days before, we took them to run at a park and Sheiba plowed right into him like a linebacker (that was her style of play). He rolled over, but never yipped or shown signs of pain. But the vet said it was more than likely from playing too rough. So, he had to rest for quite a while.

Did they do x-rays?

I was going to ask that as well. Have they done Xrays yet?

Well, I'd call the breeder to ask. They would be the best ones to consult you on that one if the vet cannot give you a clear answer. If the larger breeds (or even that particular breed) is prone to spinal issues, she should know.

You're doing good about reading over all the possibilities. This way you are best prepared for whatever may happen, and gives you a chance to ask some good questions to your vet.

I was going to suggest maybe a payment plan with them if you think that might help financially. But if it's an E-vet, most of them won't do it. If that's a no on the payments, I'd ask them if they accept carecredit. Carecredit is basically a credit card for medical things (includes vetrinary), so you can make payments, but through the carecredit.

Best of luck! I hope she feels better soon. Poor girl.. Let us know if you find out anything.

[greekblue]

We went today to the regular vet, and Niki showed no pain no matter how hard he pressed her legs, elbows, joins, etc. She was fine all day and tonight, out of nowhere she had another episode that ended just a few minutes ago. I had taken out for her business and we just walked up on the street -- a minute distance -- on the way back, she went nuts from pain. I had to wait with her on the street for over 15 minutes until she was able to stand up and walk again. The vet said it could be Pano, but if it continues we will have to check for something else. Her symptoms are similar to spinal cord compression, but he does not want me to do unecessary tests until we have excausted other possibilities. She was all yesterday on Tramadol 2 tablets 3 times a day and once a day she got Rimadyl (an anti-inflamatory) and still today she had another episode. She did not go anywhere besides the vet and her business, so she was pretty much resting for two days in a row. Also, the day we went to the ER, she got two injections of Rimadyl and she got pain killer and when we went home, she was still wimpering during the night in her sleep.

As for the breeder grrrrrr......... can you please take a look on my post about bloodlines and let me know what you think?? My vet things that she avoids to answer intentionally and that I am right that even if all the other littermates are healthy still one only puppy could have been affected by a hereditary disease passed down. I was not even blaming her or care about anything else than to see if there was anything particular I should look for. She was too rude also.... Grrrrr........

[greekblue]

We have not done xrays yet because the ER said that since she does not show pain when they move her most likely they will not be able to see anything if they just take xrays of her leg only. They will need to do xrays of her whole skeleton, but it is better to wait to see how the meds will work. My vet today said if another episode happens to taker her in and we will go from there. I do not blame them. It is really hard to know what to do when there is nothing to show where to begin.
I am soo excausted -- on top of all I have my own problems to deal with -- I ADORE my puppy. If it was not for her, I would not care.

[Sophie45]

I'm so sorry to hear about Niki-any updates?

[greekblue]

Niki is doing really well now, so hopefuly it is not what the vets are afraid of, and it is just puppyhood at its worst (like some kids get sick more often or worse than others, but eventually grow healthy and strong).
Her energy is back to normal and she eats fine. Her vet had told me to continue our work together (she is a service dog in training for me; she will become my medical assistant dog) like nothing happened and if it is something wrong with her, we will decide then if she can work with me or not, but for now he wanted Niki to continue going everywhere with me. I am still careful and I do not overwork her. After all, she is still very young; her breed reaches maturity when they are 2 - 3 years old. I stopped giving her cottage cheese and beef because I am supposed to lower her protein intake, but she still eats yogart, some Wellness Canned Turkey/sweet potato a few times a week and some canned salmon (both very low protein). Her kibble is California natural (also very simple, healthy, and low in protein). She also eats sometimes fresh veggies (broccoli, coliflower, carrots, green beans, parsley, etc).cut small in a blender, and she loves them!
I am posting on behavior / training about Niki's first shopping experience when we went at Walmart tonight.