Help - need prayers-advice-hope for my paralyzed baby

[Maruse]

Hi everyone, I am new to this site. In my desperation of searching for anything/something, I found you!

My 7 yr old Boston Terrier Butchie (large for his breed - 40 lbs) sleeps with us everynight, when we get up and go to work he crawls in with our son. Somehow on Thirsday the 5th, he fell out of bed (I think twisted in the sheets) my son called to tell me and say he seemed fine. An hour later he called to say he might be limping, another hour and he was falling over. I rushed home and took him to the emergency room. At this time he is no longer able to get up. Nothing showed on the xray, but the dr suspected somekind of cervical spine injury. He suggested an MRI, spine tap and then surgery, but even with that they wouldnt know for sure and or guarentee the outcome. I feel sick that I can't afford the 10,000. for my baby. There was 2 other options, conservative treatment or put him down. Needless to say I brought him home.
I would not be able to take him to his vet till Monday. He hadnt pee'd in over 24 hours so i took him back to the ER and they cathiterized him and said to bring him back 2 - 3 times a day. My husband took him in Friday morning for his pee release, a few hours after they came home I was laying with him and noticed he was panting and gave one little whimper.. I knew he wasnt hot because i had a fan on hime and was making sure he was drinking... then he pee'd (laying down). I was so excited - telling him good boy (since the vet had said it was a bad sign if his bladder wasnt releaseing). I think he wasnt peeing cuz he just never has in the house. 4 hours later he panted and whimpered again and I scooped him up and layed him out side and with in 2 mins he pee'd. I was elated. Over night I slept with him on a mat .. and woke in a puddle - didnt matter I was happy he was releasing. Saturday the vet said we didnt need to come back, just see our own vet on Monday.

Long story short - She is not optomistic - but recommended IV steroids for a few days. Today is his 3rd day on IV steroids with not much difference. The other vet in the office said he may release him today with oral steroids and stuff and said just to nurse him at home ..love - massage, therapy, more love. He said sometimes you just never know. He said to give it 2 -3 weeks (more if I felt encouraged).

I have a long road ahead of me. Would love any prayers, thoughts, advice anyone is willing to give.

Will add pictures as soon as I figure out how..

[KittyGurl]

A sad story to an almost happy ending! Butchie sure sounds like he is getting better. PT prayers are coming your way!

[Freedom]

Oh dear, Butchie, whatever did you DO? Prayers for you, sweet fella.

There are some options you may want to consider for financing the surgery. One is to apply through IMOM. http://imom.org/ If you qualify, that would be an outright grant.

The other thing to consider is Care Credit. http://www.carecredit.com/ They offer loans at low or no interest for the first 2 or 3 months, then at a lower rate than you would get elsewhere.

However, if I remember correctly, the surgery must be done within a short time after the injury to be effective at all. And there is no guarantee it will work. You need to understand all that better from the vet or ER, whomever would do it.

What you describe sounds much like what happened to Annabelle. You can read about it here: http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...ight=annabelle

Here is an update for Annabelle, and shows her wearing her diaper. http://petoftheday.com/talk/showthre...ight=annabelle You may want to send a PM to Kim and ask her more about Annabelle's situation, to get a better idea what to ask your vet.

Prayers for Butchie!

[crow_noir]

Would massage therapy or acupuncture be a option to try at first?

Wolf Park has had great success with Orca and massage therapy after they found him paralyzed one morning.

I don't know how different the situation is but thought I'd put the suggestions out there.

I think it would be a good idea to do x-rays first.

[Maruse]

Well we brought Butchie home last night, no better, no worse. The vet says to try physical therapy and see what happens. I am praying for a recovery.
He also gave me a referral to a neurologist and find out what he can tolerate with out making him worse. We have already bought a little wading pool and will buy a floatation device to exercise his legs in water. He does try to move his legs, they just don't cooperate. He can stretch them out straight sometimes, and go from laying on his side to laying on his belly/chest. I have hope. He has always been a tuff little dog. He was born on Christmas day 7 yrs ago, 3 months after he was born he got Parvo - and survived. At 5 yrs he got lyme disease twice - once he became lame on one side of his body (so were used to caring him out to potty) the other we caught it very quick and he only limped a day or 2, but fully recovered. So I know he is a fighter!

Thank you everyone for your kind words, prayers and concern. Thank you Freedom for the links, I asked if there was still a surgical option and I guess we are past that. Thank you crow_noir for the suggestion of acupuncture, I will be checking into that. He did have an x-ray which didn't really show anything.

Keep saying prayers for us, I will keep you informed.

Maruse = (MArv - RUth - SEan)

[anna_66]

First I'd like to welcome you to one of the best forums on the web. PT is a very friendly place with lots of knowledgeable people and I'm sure you'll get lots of advice (although I have none to offer-but I can offer my prayers).

If you'd like to attach some pictures, after you type your reply scroll down into "Additional Options" and there is a "Manage Attachments". Click that and you will be able to browse your computer for the pics you want to post.

I will be keeping you all in my thoughts and prayers.

(((HUGS)))
Anna

[flip195]

If the worse comes to the worse and he can't walk again, as long as he is poo'ing and pee-ing you could get him a doggy wheel chair, also do your own version of hydro therapy, get him a doogy life jacket and fill either a largeish swimming pool with water or even the bath and let him paddle about for about ten mins 2x per day increasing to a 20 min sessions.
Lots of massage, work his back legs for him for 5 mins each leg daily and just keep praying.... the fall may have cause some swelling around the spine, or he make well have herniated a disc.
Dog wheel chairs can be custom made here http://www.doggon.com/products/whlchr.html

[crow_noir]

Congrats on the ...decent? news.

Sounds like you have the dedication and he has the will power to make it through this or over this hurdle in life.

Best of lucky with this!

[loveallfurryfriends]

We (me & my dog Smokey) are praying for Butchie!! Please keep us updated on his progress. Hugs to you and your family.