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Sudden Paralysis in hind legs

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#61 ·
Newf said:
Went and got a second opinion from another hospital. Doc also suggested FCE. But he provided a much better prognosis and recommend getting into rehab. We have that appointment in a couple hours.

So as of right now he can hobble on 3 legs. And there is feeling and reflex returning to the other. Minimal movement yet. However. Pinch a toe and he will slightly with draw. HUGE improvement! May never be normal again. Wait and see I guess.
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An FCE is not a death sentence! Almost 20 years ago when very little was really known I had one go down hard. He could only move his head and even his face was messed up. This is extreme! While he never ran like a normal lab again he got back up on all 4 and loved life for another 5 1/2 years! I had to hold his head up so he could drink water or eat food for days. We were at the specialist hours away did I a mylagram (sp) etc within hours.
Anyway I get your excitement about things coming back. I will never forget the first tail wag. The first resistance to moving a leg etc. little things are huge. He ended up getting a new job. Visiting kids as a therapy dog at a local hospital.
he loved it and so did the kids.
Carolyn and the late great Mickey
 
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#63 ·
did they do any tick borne testing? Happy you have improvement!!!
 
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#64 ·
Labs R Us said:
From tears to cheers ... continued prayers for a full recovery.
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Saw your initial post & haven't been back online since. When I saw how many had posted I thought the worst. I so, so hope that you have a good outcome. It's frustrating that the financial piece has to come into things, but don't beat yourself up over that. Do everything you can within your power to give your dog the quality of life he deserves while respecting what your family needs. I hope that your dog turns around and you have a long life ahead with him bringing home his birds.

Prayers Up from Vermont-

M
 
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#65 ·
I have an FCE Lab. The first 48 hours was horrible. Quite painful at onset but it subsides moderately quickly. My dog was mid dock jump. I've been told it's one of the most common afflictions no one has ever heard of.

EVet said spondylosis and prescribed prednisone for the inflammation. My vet had reservations and told me to get to a neurologist. Neurologist "diagnosed" FCE but said to truly diagnose you have to eliminate all other possibilities. He told me "if it were his dog" he'd take her home and let her be a dog. Also said pred is a good drug and prescribed a protocol for medicating and stepping down and out.

It took a few months but she came back quite well. She was my agility dog and she did briefly return to agility and run at the AKC Preferred National Championships. Her back end came back about 85%. FCE can only happen once, and depending on the initial damage they can recover. Belle was paralyzed temporarily.

Good Luck. If you can find a Neurologist it might be worth the money. Ours charged us $200 for the visit. It was the best money I ever spent for piece of mind.
 
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#66 ·
Newf,

I just caught this thread. I'm so sorry for you and your dog's situation, but I'm glad to hear there's signs of improvement. Don't make any rash decisions. Our dogs are remarkably resilient! Give yours a chance to continue the recovery that seems to be coming.

Prayers sent from Indiana!

Swack
 
#67 ·
Prayers for continued progress!
 
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Discussion starter · #68 · (Edited)
So we saw the doctor at the rehab clinic this evening, and I am happy to say the prognosis is now looking very positive! :-D

im not entirely sure where to begin as this is literally all a blur and I am still in sort of in shock. We got to the clinic this evening around 4pm. The doctor made her assessment, and suggested that because of my quick response in getting medical help and the massage and stretching i had done the night before went a long way in assisting the recovery rate. She also did massage, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy during the session and was very happy to see that there was a response to the acupuncture. This early in the recovery process and showing these signs she said the recovery rate should be very high!

I can not tell you the feeling that overcame me when she said that! From a bleak prognosis yesterday to this extremely positive one today, it has been something I do not want to go through again. While we are not out of the woods yet it does sound promising. So I have him lined up for 2 weeks of therapy starting tomorrow. I will be dropping him off and letting the staff do their thing for the next two weeks. All fingers and toes will be crossed and prayers will be sent!

As of tonight, id like to say that he is becoming much stronger on the 3 legs, the 4th leg is improving with feeling and slight movement, he managed to pee on his own this evening and his tail even made a couple little twitches!!!
 
#71 ·
Sounds like good news. Best of luck and hope your dog recovers nicely.
What was the diagnosis???

as an FYI for anyone interested in FCE here is My opinion and experience.
FCE cannot be diagnosed 100% except post mortum. It is diagnosed by ruling out other causes.
The embolism occuring in the spine is not unlike a human stroke.
TIME (first hours) critical to more positive outcome for dog with FCE.
IF your dog goes down lame, unable to use one or more limbs, carry dog to truck and get to vet immediatelly. Make all attempts to see a neurologist within in a few hours of injury. Chasing tick born disease or stuff treatable with antibiotic isn't TIME critical. Rule out spinal involvement first.
An MRI is likely indicated and will show disk issues, emboli etc.
It is IMPERATIVE your dog recieve the lastest current prefered Steroid via IV within 4 HOURS of injury if FCE is suspected.
After IV steroid and follow up treatment the next step is to attempt to elicite grow of new nerves.
Through various rehab exercises it is possible to convince the brain that there is a Demand from a paralized limb for communication so to speak. Enough of this and new nerve pathways may develope.
Extensive damage may be irreversable, hense the early steroids, but it is possible for dog to regain use of or partial use of paralized limbs.
I'm no doctor and there's more to it but basically there is hope if you act quickly and make sure your dog gets the right care and treatment without delay.
.
One of my dogs had an FCE while away on summer trip paralizing here right rear leg. Not totaly but signifigantly. She recieved the 2nd best steroid in the early hours, had MRI, stayed 24/7 with Dr Sarah Shull in MI for initial rehab. Stayed with the late Dr John Sherman 24/7 for serveal months of more rehab. Regained enough use of leg to go back to training and competing but compensated relying on left leg. Led to CCL in left leg. After rehabbing that, sigh, she went on to be Finalist 2007 Canadian National and later won an Amateur to earn AFC.
There is hope. Just one man and his dog's experience.
 
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Discussion starter · #73 ·
Well I dropped him off this morning for 2 weeks of treatment/rehab. He will be getting a combination of hydrotherapy, acupuncture, massage, and judging from the staff...lots of attention. One of the girls there already wanted to put him behind the front desk so I think he's in good hands.

As for a physical update: last night he was hobbling around on 3 legs a little and today that was getting stronger. There also appears to be more feeling developing in the remaining limp left leg. As well as some very slight movement. Early this morning he also managed a pee on his own and a very small bit of poop. Funny how those things can mean so much at a time like this!! Then to top everything off, I had to run a short errand and when I returned he managed to wag his tail a little! I Never would have thought I would get choked up with the sight of a tail wag....

So it does seem like the recovery is in progress. Keeping the fingers crossed and the Prayers going!
 
#75 ·
Awesome news! Keep us posted. Continued prayers.
 
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#77 ·
Jeff Brezee said:
I have been following, this is great news!
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Come on Cooper dog... keep getting better, wag that tail!!

Newf, I couldn't read your story at first, having lost my best pup to a slashed spiral cord a few yrs ago. It is so tough on the heart... I'm so happy for you, please keep sharing his progress here.
 
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#79 ·
It sounds like it could be a FCE. I have a golden who suddenly went down on his way out to get a bumper. In his case, all 4 legs were impacted. It has some specific symptoms and luckily the pain is short lived. While I retried him from field training and finishing his MH, he lives a very happy life. If this is what has happened, lots of rehab, acupuncture goes a long way. I know of one golden who went back to running field trials after his FCE. Good luck!
 
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