Neurological issues anyone?

Prior to this incident, he wasn't having noticeable hip issues, unless his vestibular wobbling masked it, making it harder to tell why he's walking funny. He wasn't on pain meds, and the vet said that he would need to be done with the pred before taking something else like Rymadil. I will make sure I get something to keep on hand once he's done with the pred. I've given him glucosamine for years. I'm not sure how helpful it's been, but I like to think it helped hi get to this age before experiencing problems.

With pred, or *any* NSAID -- give milk thistle. It protects the liver & helps detox it. But the BIG deal is it actually aids liver function -- so it literally helps the body process the NSAID & pred *better* so it's more effective. Now milk thistle capsules are a tad pricey -- (about $16 to $20 for 60-80 caps which is about 1 1/4 oz of herb) -- you can buy an entire POUND of it for that -- http://www.mountainroseherbs.com -- they carry Starwest which is the BEST you can buy for $14 plus shipping. Give maybe 1/2 teas. twice a day in food (no capsules -- it's just powder but it's not nasty tasting but you'll need to mix it "in" something -- to get it to stick to kibble -- but even in yogurt or anything is fine. As to neuro stuff -- it is NOT predictable. BAck when we had Pollyanna (an abuse case we took -- her abuser broke her back with a broom). Most of the time she couldn't stand much less walk. But I remember one night she stood up, and trotted out to the kitchen and back ... and then never took another step. It literally can simply be when there is ... or is not .. the ability of the body to make a certain connection. Very similiar to how difficult it is to fix a computer problem when it's "intermittent" -- or a loose wire. He'll be able to do a thing and then ... not. And he's probably every bit as surprised about it as you are. They analyze less than we do -- where we would be floord "Hey I haven't been able to DO that for weeks" -- they just get up and "do" .... and then ... get frustrated when they can't.

Just posting to say that the steroid could be a factor in any unsteadyness.  I'm currently trying to get my dog off prednisolone. Since being on it she has developed occasional hind leg tremors/weakness and a couple of times has sat down rather suddenly! I have read that this can be a side effect of steroids.

Callie, I'm going to check out the milk thistle because Brown stays on a low dose of pred for his laryngeal issue. The weather has been so disgusting here for the last two days...pouring day and night. I've never seen anything so pathetic as an old dog in the rain sitting in the yard because he can't get himself up quickly after falling during a pee squat. lol Needless to say, I have been drenched several times going out there to give him a boost. And amazingly, despite whatever pain he's in, he's still somehow managed to the peanut butter and bananas Addisen left on the table. I think Chip was his partner in crime on that one, but still!

tailwaggers

Since being on it she has developed occasional hind leg tremors/weakness and a couple of times has sat down rather suddenly! I have read that this can be a side effect of steroids.

Absolutely -- the tremors can be because of weakness or it can also be muscles spasming. Definitely pred side effects. MILK THISTLE!!! Lots of it!! You want to use 1/2 to a full teaspoon of the powder at least twice a day. Milk thistle is not a strong herb. You need a quantity of it to help not only "detox" but it actually aids liver function in a big way. Benign -- no bad side effects. It will help.

marlania

've given him glucosamine for years. I'm not sure how helpful it's been, but I like to think it helped hi get to this age before experiencing problems.

 

  I'm sure it did. We started giving Jessie joint supplements several years ago, and even though she started showing signs of pain a few months ago, my vet said that for her age, she's doing very well. He said that for most dogs her age the arthritis is much more advanced. My vet wants to avoid NSAIDS too, which is why he recommended Tramadol. Give that sweet boy some belly rubs (Jessie loves them). I'll keep him in my prayers. It's such a blessing to have our dogs live to old age, but these dear old souls can be a challenge to care for.

I just ordered a rear harness for Brown because supporting him with a towel just isn't cutting it. I also found a taller set of booties, which should help more because his current set flops around too much. Hopefully all of this will make things easier. And right now I'm looking for milk thistle.

Okay, Brett went to the store and came back with 100mg softgels of milk thistle. Apparently I wasn't specific enough, but Brown will eat anything that doesn't eat him, so I'm sure he'll take it. How much do you give a 56 lb. dog?

marlania

How much do you give a 56 lb. dog?

It's not by weight really -- it's more by what you need to do. That's a tiny amount of tincture in a cellulose (not digestible by dogs very well) gelcap. Give at least the adult human daily requirement or double it. The less processed it is the better usually -- and the big deal is truly **quality**. Longer term use the ground powder in bulk (no capsules) -- much much cheaper and typically way better quality if you get it from http://www.mountainroseherbs.com or http://www.leavesandroots.com -- give a full teaspoon of the powder two times a day (stirred into something wet usuallyl -- not bad tasting) A bottle of capsules is generally $15 - $20 or so -- and that's about 1 1/4 ounces of herb. You can buy a whole POUND of the ground herb for $15 - $20 and have it be the best quality available (at the above). Both are good reputable companies to deal with.

I will place an order for the powder. I have been busting the gel cap and squeezing out the goo into this canned food in the meantime. I was surprised to find Brown standing up in his crate when I got home. He walked reasonably well with assistance, but I don't think he ever will be the same again. He just recently started dragging his foot on his left leg because he can't flip it over. Sometimes it's okay, but most times it's not. I hope his rear harness and new booties come in sooner than expected. I'm seriously considering getting a cart for him so he can have that for stability and walk more normally.

 

marlania

He just recently started dragging his foot on his left leg because he can't flip it over. Sometimes it's okay, but most times it's not

  ((( hugs))); I'm so sorry. Does your vet know this? It may be connected to the laryngeal paralysis. Sometimes laryngeal paralysis is part of a neuropathy, and rear leg weakness and problems with the rear legs are often among the symptoms. Jessie was diagnosed with LP four years ago but so far doesn't have neurological symptoms, according to the neurologist at Purdue. Her vestibular disease was caused by strokes, which are vascular events. Are you familiar with the yahoo group for owners of dogs with LP? Here is the link;  LP : for owners of dogs who have laryngeal paralysis

  Many of their dogs have rear leg weakness and problems with foot placement. There are exercises that can help, such as placing objects like broom handles and mop handles on the floor a few feet apart and having your dog walk over them. They don't need to be raised, just placed on the floor. It makes them more aware of how they use their feet. Swimming is very helpful for rear leg weakness, but you have to be careful he doesn't aspirate water.  Walking up hills also helps strengthen the rear legs; climbing stairs doesn't help much because they can pull their front end up then jump with their back end. Almost anything you can do to force Brown to put weight on his back end is good.There are also supplements that can help as suggested by veterinary neurologists these owners have seen, such as COQ10 and Cholodin.

His LP around the time his thyroid numbers were going down, but neither warranted meds until earlier this year. His LP is much better since then, and his thyroid numbers are fine now, but once his thyroid went wacky, that's when the other stuff started happening, like the one big vestibular incident and now the random hind leg weakness. I watched a video last night of a yellow lab who was 11 and had degenerative myleopathy. Her owner got her a cart and booties for her back legs, and she was able to use those legs much more than before. I asked my vet about a cart already, and she said that she found that it was hard on older dogs because they have to work their front legs much harder. Since then I've seen many more videos of older dogs, including a 17 year old. Brown has a lot of spunk left in him and could have a much easier time getting around and going to the bathroom if he was stabilized. So I ordered a cart for him last night despite the vet. My dog's going to be mobile, dammit lol.

Just do some massage on neck & shoulders with some good anti-inflammatory essential oil -- it WILL work his front end harder but I get what you're saying.

I'm going to be excited that he can go to the bathroom normally. Imagine how easy it is to walk behind a dog using a rear harness when he's trying to poop on three legs LOL.

 Have you thought about acupuncture? It wouldn't hurt to contact a holistic vet to get their opinion about the possibility of acupuncture helping Brown. Also, if you have access to a pool, swimming is very good for strengthening dogs rear legs. Some members of the LP forum have found it to be very helpful. I agree that the cart is a great idea, but it may be possible for Brown to regain some strength and coordination with the right treatments.