Swamper can't walk

I am so sorry...I don't have any experience with this at all.  If you can, though, a specialist seems to be the way to go.  You will get some advice I'm sure from the good folks here...so stay tuned.

I'm wishing you the best for Swamper.  Believe me, we all do understand the love you have for him.  (((hugs)))

 This could be tick paralysis, too, and is not necessarily a death sentence.  See: http://blogs.dogster.com/vet_blog_information_advice/tick-paralysis/ and http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/102600.htm  Ask your vet about treatment with hyperimmune serum antitoxin.  If you get another dog, please consider pet insurance.  You would have been able to get the MRI had you had it.

I have no advice  . . . . but I really hope Swamper recovers and feels better soon.

Deb W.

Since you have a young Dane mix, your vet may also want to consider Wobblers. 

One of my dobes is a wobbler.  He suffered an injury that set his wobblers in motion, but his physical symptoms were very similar...incoordination & general weakness.  Wobblers is difficult to diagnose without a MRI or myleogram.  Bevo had an MRI to confirm that he was, in fact, a wobbler. His lesion is not surgical, as a surgeon cannot get to it in order to fuse it.  We manage him, very well, with acupuncture, homotoxicology, & prednisone, when needed.  We did wrap his neck for close to 8 weeks in hopes that it would give the muscles time to stabilze everything.

I am not around the forum much anymore, but if you have questions, or need anything, pm me, & I'll make it a point to come over.

I've nothing to add but good vibes and thoughts!  If you're using pred then use milk thistle along with it and maybe a stomach protector depending on dosage.

Good luck Swamper!

ok -- I can take my heart out of my throat.  It makes me crazy when folks hear "it's been 7 days -- put him to sleep" (it's all just a scarey situation) ---- tick paralysis gives you a darned good shot.

How much experience do you have wtih pred?  That's not snarky -- that's absolutely honest as a question.  BIG long doses of pred are a big frigging deal to deal with -- Johns caution about milk thistle not only will actually HELP the liver function better (making all the meds work better) but will protect the liver big time.  Both John and I have more experience in this than we wish we did so let me help if you don't mind?

Long term pred -- first off it will head you straight into arthritis (long term it actually messes with the viscosity of the joint cartilage and can make it brittle, making it WAY more prone to arthritis than he should deal with.  It will happen but I can help you AVOID that problem with the right supplements)

Has the vet warned you about the drinking??  Don't deny him water -- he's a big guy but plan ahead for "lakes" -- he's gotta drink because that's literally the body's way of protecting itself (it's the body literally setting up it's own very very elementary form of dialysis to "rinse out" the toxic stuff from the pred from the kidneys).

So where=ever he sleeps put down a *larger* sheet of heavy duty plastic, then on top of that something absorbent.  **on top of that** MORE plastic, and then more absorbent material (preferably something you can bleach daily).  The problem with setting down plastic is urine tends to "run" and then  you can trap urine under the plastic which is the point of the 2nd 'bigger' layer underneath.  I hope that made sense, not nonsense?

But the biggest difficulty with pred is how it can "mess" with the muscles.  It doesn't affect the same two beings the same way.  some take with virtually no side effects at all -- others can find it difficult.  One of the reasons for the 'accidents' is not just that they drink too much but it can also actually make the muscles a bit unable to "hold it".  And honestly I've no idea if those muscles are problematic as well as the leg muscles.

As he begins to regain muscle control, I've got some good oils that might help rub out some soreness - let me know and I'm happy to send you a bit (hey're tiny bottles -- if you want more you can get it, but it would just let you try -- all stuff I've been sent as 'premiums' so I can just send them to you for nothing) -- you can just get either a good peppermint or wintergreen oil at the vet (not food flavoring but essential oils - they work really well).

good for you and good for your vet!!!  patience and love can do SO MUCH.  Keep working his musles if you can to keep them from getting more stiff.

s

So glad to hear that there are possible solutions for Swamper.  Keep us updated, we care.

CoBuHe

So glad to hear that there are possible solutions for Swamper.  Keep us updated, we care.

I care too.  Willow had anaplasmosis last year.  So, if there is anything I can help with let me know! 

echandler

"If you get another dog, please consider pet insurance. You would have been able to get the MRI had you had it." As much as I appreciate your reply I don't appreciate anyone assuming my financial situation. The closest MRI for dogs is 8 hours away. I cannot afford to not only pay for the insurance, pay for the time off work, pay to drive the dog, and pay to have the MRI done. Now, about this tick paralysis - wouldn't the vet have assumed that from the get go? How do they test for that? Wouldn't it have shown in the bloodwork?

I did not assume.  You posted  that you could not afford it, and said nothing about the time off from work, etc.  There's no specific test for paralysis. It's a clinical diagnosis, based on symptoms, and the finding of an engorged tick or the presence of another tick-related illness.  IMO, the vet should have considered the possibility and NOT recommended euthanasia until it was completely ruled out.  It's important, as you can see, to tell a vet *everything* that you have noticed about the dog, but I also think that the vet should ask questions, too.  Anyway, glad that you have that glimmer of hope now.  We are all praying for Swamper to make progress.