Help Please!!!!

[Brooke]

My boxer Gizmo, who is 1.5 years old has suddenly fell to some disorder where he loss the use of his back legs. We have taken him to about 5 different vets and have come up empty handed. He had a mylogram done and it came back with nothing (no cancer, herniated disks, or compression on the spinal cord). With no answers the doctors said it was fibrocartilaginous embolus, however he had no common symptoms with this disease. When I took him to another vet for shots, they said this is a disease they give when they have no clue what is going on. Gizmo is a very big part of our family, so if anyone knows what is going on or has had the same problems, please respond.
Brooke

 

[Boxerworld]

I am sorry to hear about Gizmo's health troubles. I hope someone here can help you.

Olly

 

[Joodles]

Brooke - Can you get ahold of the December issue of Dog Fancy? There was an article about a Boxer named Torrey, who was trained in Search & Rescue. She has something called Degenerative Myelopathy, a spinal disease that gradually paralyzes the rear legs. Torrey is 9 though, and your little guy is very young.

I think my dog Butch may have had this before he died. But he was also old - 11 years. And the wobbliness in his back legs happened gradually. Gizmo's came on suddenly. Might be worth looking into though.

 

[Krikkit]

Hugs to Gizmo

I'm so sorry you have this trouble with Gizmo. This website, even though it is a commercial site, has good info and links on these types of disorders http://www.k9carts.com/ and may help you. If you look under success stories, there are some dogs who were diagnosed with fibrocartilagenous embolism so perhaps if you contact the webmaster you may be able to get in touch with others in your situation. There is also a mailing list for people who have dogs with mobility problems but I can not find the details, hopefully someone else will know. Everyone else has good suggestions too.

Will be thinking of you and Gizmo - take care.

 

[Lava Linda]

My rottweiler had hind limb weakness, and was diagnosed with spondylosis of the spine. (The bone was pressing on the spinal cord.)

 

[Nakota]

Weakness in the back end can also indicate something wrong with the heart, not enough circulation towards the rear legs, so they get numb. You might have his heart checked. Many heart conditions can be treated with medication.

 

[Brooke]

Thank you for all your advice, but I also have one more question, his lameness did actually come on gradually, but it seemed to get worse faster after he was put on chloramphenecol. Does anyone know if medicine can cause a reaction like this. If so please reply.

 

[kt]

Hi -

don't have any advice but good luck and keep trying - do you have a vetinary college near you ? they can be of great help sometimes


my thoughts are with you your family and of course to Gizmo

regards

kt