pottydotty Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 My dog is 14.5 years old (jack russell terrier) and a diabetic. He is now blind in both eyes. Doing ok, eating etc. fine... Monday late afternoon, he was all hunched up and when I lifted his chin up he cried. The only thing I could pin point point was a bit of cabbage he ate that I dropped on the floor. I rushed him to the vet - about 6pm. Cabbage thing dismissed by vet. The vet didn't really have much of a clue but she moved his neck side to side, put fingers down his back and then opened his mouth. About 5 mins later back on the floor he seemed much better and even wagged tail. She then gave a pain killing injection and off we went home. He was given his dinner around 8pm and diabetic jabbed. By 9 pm ish all was back to normal. Tuesday was fine. This morning (Wednesday) all fine, gave him his breakfast and half way through I turned to him and he was moving away from his bowl and Monday's situation was back again. His stance is like he is just about to squat for a poo. There's pain and moving his chin upwards hurts. I sat with him for about 10 mins and then allowed him to walk to the back door and I let him out. He had a poo. He came back in and was still the same. I sat and gently massaged him, tried to mimmick what the vet did. He is still unahppy but not so bad. Can anyone shed any light on this. I am going to leave him be and if he isn't back to normal by this afternoon I shall go back to the vet... please help? Wendy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
celeste Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Poor wee chap , it does sound as if it's his spine that's the problem, I think the only way to get to the bottom of it is another trip to the vet and an X-ray., even if it shows nothing up, it will rule out some conditions such as a disc problem, if the vet thinks an x-ray isn't needed he probably will need some more pain relief . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
griff Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 i echo the vet trip, and the xray too, it could be he has a trapped nerve? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lester Posted December 15, 2010 Report Share Posted December 15, 2010 Clutching at straws really but..can you tell us more about the insulin type and method please. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pottydotty Posted December 16, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 After a while all went back to normal on Wednesday. Dinner time came and I held his dish whilst he ate and tried to slow him down - I really believed the problem had something to do with him wolfing his food. All was good. Next morning (this morning) we got up, all was good. Then I fed him exactly how I did it the night before. No sooner had he finished his meal he was in pain etc. just like before but it was worse. Rang vet to say on way after explaining and at first she thought my dog might be having a hypo. Got to the vet and she changed her mind and said she beleived he had slipped a disc and explained this. She does not think an operation would be fair on him. She gave him pain killing injection but said she didn't want to be giving too much of it since he will think he is ok when he isn't - she gave me some pain killing tablets to take away in case they are needed and we have to go back Saturday or before if need be. he is to rest and keep still as possible. I don't think we are going to win this one. Please if anyone can shed any positives or/and tell me what I should do next I am all ears? Vet suggested a cage to keep Charlie in but he has recently gone blind and he would not realise he is locked in and bump around trying to go forward? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) Please if anyone can shed any positives or/and tell me what I should do next I am all ears? Vet suggested a cage to keep Charlie in but he has recently gone blind and he would not realise he is locked in and bump around trying to go forward? Poor Charlie, he must really be in pain. I hope he's on the road to recovery soon I don't think he would keep banging himself against the crate, as long as he's introduced to it properly and made to think of it as a positive place (snuggly bedding, nice treats while he's in there). If you shove a blanket over the top, even better as it will keep the drafts/noise out. Try it with the door open first and gradually get him used to it. If he can't see he will probably like having somewhere safe to retreat to, and if he's poorly then even more so. He may shove his nose against it a few times the first time you close the door and then realise he isn't getting anywhere. I am just about to drag my crate out for my blind boy Max cos he's weeing in my living room in the mornings, so I'm going to crate him overnight. He's been in it before and loves it (he loves to be under the coffee table or inside something cosy) but I don't think I've locked him in it for ages so we'll see how that goes! Edited December 16, 2010 by merledogs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted December 16, 2010 Report Share Posted December 16, 2010 (edited) If it happens again can you take a pic so you can show the vet what you mean. Hope the meds help but would have thought your vet would have more idea what the possible causes are. If it's a disc problem then it can't be ignored. I'm assuming they are seeing how he goes on the meds. X-rays can show a lot up. Could be a number of things. Strange it's happening after eating every time though. Have you changed the diet. Could it be wind. Be very careful incase he gets a torsion (bloat. Hope he's ok very soon Edited December 16, 2010 by Jacobean Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EGAR Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 The stance reminds me of Phoebe Bassett who recently passed this: It was on the move obviously and I didn't know why she kept squatting in the house (she is bombproof) and just when I went to call the vet she passed it. A bladderstone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 If it happens again can you take a pic so you can show the vet what you mean. Or a video? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pottydotty Posted December 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 After coming from the vets yesterday, he was fine. He had his dinner at 7.30pm and insulin jabbed and all was good. We went to bed and all was good. Got up this morning. I carried him down stairs and out into the garden where he had a pee. Carried him back in and put him on the chair. Held dog dish to him whilst he ate. He didn't quite finish and we are back to him being in pain all hunched up. This time I kept him on the chair and just held him gently rubbing his back gently. He wanted to get down on to the floor but I wouldn't let him. Pain seem to ease off somewhat. After about 30mins I carried him to the garden as I knew he eeded a poo. He cried whilst carrying him. He was all hunched up. He had a poo but fell over not being to steady himself at first on back legs but then continued. Carried him back into house and put him on sofa. After a short while I gave him a quarter of pain relief tablet as he was still in pain. He is lying down at the moment. He sometimes seems not to be able to hold his right paw down properly but he can still stand on it and walk on it but there is evidence of a problem there... I do recall a couple of weeks ago he jumped off the sofa and cried as he landed and held up that leg but seconds later he was fine - I never thought nothing more as all was fine thereafter? Vet believes he has a slipped disc. Doesn't think eating has anything to do with his problem/s. She has said that she doesn't want him on pain relief for long as Charlie will then think he is well when he isn't or at least might not be? She said that what will come next his not being able to use front leg/s then back leg/s and then there's nothing else we can and we will have to make decisons. I'm at a total loss. I was scared to feed him this morning and when I did look what happened. Maybe when he eats it jolts his disc? Charlie is over 14 years old. He is a diabetic (diagosed about 5 months ago). He recently went blind. He has been fine though. Slowed down due to blindness but has been doing good and cheeky as ever. Now this thing is happening and I can't believe it. Pain relief and rest - what does this actually mean re pain relief? Rest I can do, but does he get pain relief only when he has an episode or do I give him pain relief at specific times even without him having an episode? I'm sorry to go on so long. I don't want to lose Charlie but of course I don't want him to suffer. I don't want to give up on him though if there is a possible ight at the end of the tunnel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Happylittlegreensquirrel Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 Pain relief and rest - what does this actually mean re pain relief? Rest I can do, but does he get pain relief only when he has an episode or do I give him pain relief at specific times even without him having an episode? Sorry to hear things are not great for you both you really need to talk to the Vet about the pain relief, depending on what type of medication and injury / condition is involved the advice could be very varied. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jacobean Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 The vet should have explained when you need to give the medication. If it's happening after meal times only then that should tell the vet something I would have thought. Are the poops normal? Is it straight after eating he has the problem or a short while later. If it was my dog I would take to another vet for a second opinion. She's telling you it could nearly be time for pts but hasn't diagnosed what the problem is. That's not right. Some vets do think old dog that's it thinking owners won't want to pursue. If it is time then fair enough but to me she doesn't sound like she's thinking of all the possibilities this could be and normally they would be talking about x-rays to try and determine what's going on. It could be something serious or it could be something that could be fixed with a small operation. Could be a stomach complaint. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pottydotty Posted December 17, 2010 Author Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 The vet believes it to be a slipped disc (and from description given to other on net this too have said so/similar) and vet suspects his front legs will start to give and then his back legs until paralysed. Re pain relief. As she was given him the pain relief injection on Monday (first time this problem occurred) she said she doesn't want to have to do this too many times (give pain relief) as it will mask any pain and not do him any good? I understand this but unsure? Yesterday at vets she gave another injection and gave me 3 tablets. Tablets to be given when he needs them - half once a day or a quarter twice a day - going back to vets Saturday am. When he has an episode he hunches up and neck his thick and he is in pain - head down. Looks very much uncomfortable. You can't move his head upwards as he cries out. Panting yesterday when we went to the vets due to pain. Once pain releif kicked in and he rested he was fine and was fine when we got up this morning, had his pee. I gave him his food and then we were off again. He is doing ok at the moment. I gave him quarter of tablet. I turned my back for a couple of mins and he got off the sofa and was just sitting on the floor. He was not good. I put him back and gave him another quarter of tablet. Later I took him out for a pee and he wasn't too bad. Carried him back in. He is sleeping and seems more rested. Not happy in cage but will be trying again this evenning. I will sleep down stairs with him so this might get him used to it so that he can be in it during the day? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
merledogs Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 The vet should have explained when you need to give the medication. If it's happening after meal times only then that should tell the vet something I would have thought. Are the poops normal? Is it straight after eating he has the problem or a short while later. If it was my dog I would take to another vet for a second opinion. She's telling you it could nearly be time for pts but hasn't diagnosed what the problem is. That's not right. Some vets do think old dog that's it thinking owners won't want to pursue. If it is time then fair enough but to me she doesn't sound like she's thinking of all the possibilities this could be and normally they would be talking about x-rays to try and determine what's going on. It could be something serious or it could be something that could be fixed with a small operation. Could be a stomach complaint. I agree with Michelle. I would ask for a referral to a specialist or another vet that is willing to do the necessary tests to find out what is actually going on, rather than what they think might be going on Lifting his paw doesn't necessary mean he's hurt that leg, it could be pain somewhere else in his body that's just making him hunch, which causes a reflex reaction. I hope you get to the bottom of it soon Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
blackmagic Posted December 17, 2010 Report Share Posted December 17, 2010 sorry to hear he is still having problems. RE a slipped disc, my first dalmatian bitch had several starting at her neck and going along her spine. She had seven or eight all together over the years and she ended up with her back being fused. She walked like the wooden spotty dog on the tv. This was in the eighties. When it happened she would squeal intermittently when she moved her head. Just stroking her could set it off. This may not be relevant to your dog but i will tell you my experience. Her treatment was painkillers and shut in the spare room as any movement around her caused her to move her head to look and set her off squealing. She came downstairs twice a day to eat and go to the loo and spent the rest of the time resting. The vet did explain that he only wanted to give her enough medication to take the edge of the pain as if she felt okay she would want to move around and that would cause more damage and even paralysis. The vet explained that the bulging tissue between the discs would gradually subside which would relieve the pressure on the spinal cord that was causing the pain. It was a case of waiting until that happened. In her case it took six weeks- a long time to hear you dog squealing in pain. I did at one point ask the vet about pts as I was so distressed. She did however recover each time and lived until she was 14 . My current dalmatian has spondylitis in his spine, near his tail. When he has pain from that he hangs his head and won't sit or lie down. If you are not happy with your vet's treatment then do consult another vet. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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