my 5yr old dashhund just all of a sudden lost the use of his hind legs,he yelps when i pick him up,?

Question

My wennier has loss the use of his hind legs over the last couple of days,he's had a hard time using the bathroom,he still has a good appetite. his anal glands have not been expressed in a while and i was told that this could be the problem? I did not see him fall but he won't/can't jump up on the bed anymore,and yesterday he was not as bad as he is today. I have no vet(had Benfield pet insurance,but it got to be more than we could afford),my husband just got home from iraq,we are a military family so our funds are very limited. Any help or advice would be great

Answer 1

Likely a disc injury. It really needs veterinary attention.

Until you can get him to the vet, keep him on STRICT crate rest, only going out on leash to pee. You can support his back end with a towel under the tummy. He must be kept quiet to keep him from making the injury worse.

Even if the vet says he needs surgery, which I assume you can't afford, don't give up. I have seen dogs recover from this, even after the vets said the dog would never walk again. As long as he has bladder/bowel control and *is not in pain* there is hope (if he is in pain and you can't stop it then it is kinder to put him down). Continue with the strict rest and anti-inflammatories (prescribed by the vet), as well as the towel walking. The vet should be able to show you range-of-motion exercises for his legs. Water exercise is good too.

If all else fails, you can get him a cart so that he can still get around. I've seen dogs with carts and they are quite happy.

Good luck!

Answer 2

Your dachshund needs to receive veterinary care immediately. Dachshunds are prone to intervertebral disc disease, which can cause permanent paralysis of the hind legs. You say he "can't jump up on the bed anymore" but the truth is, he never should have been allowed to jump up on anything. Always lift him up and down on the bed or other furniture, or provide a carpeted ramp for this purpose. Doxies are very smart, and quick to learn how to use the ramp. Dachshunds also are prone to other health issues besides IDD, so it is vitally important to have a regular veterinarian who understands the breed. The problems your dog has using the bathroom are likely due to the spinal injury; it is possible that his bladder and/or bowels are not emptying properly, which can lead to serious infection. Depending on the severity of the spinal damage, you may have to manually express his bladder in order for him to "go", but do not attempt any of this without seeing a veterinarian first! Surgery can often help in these cases, but is not always a guarantee that the dog will walk again, especially with the delay in getting treatment. Dogs who are paralyzed can live a full and happy life using one of the canine wheelchairs/carts, so please don't think he can't enjoy life without the use of his hind legs. One of my dachshunds ruptured a disc when he was 6 years old chasing a squirrel that came into the back yard. He was immediately rushed to my veterinarian, and eventually made a full recovery without requiring surgery. It is a long and slow process for a dog to return to normal, requiring absolute cage rest for several weeks, medication, and physical therapy. If you are unable to provide this for your dog, please have your veterinarian contact the AAHA Helping Pets Fund, which may be able to provide a grant to cover some of his care. The grant must be applied for by a veterinarian from an AAHA-accredited veterinary practice. Good luck to you and your little guy!

Answer 3

You do need to get this dog to a vet. This is NOT just anal glands, they do not cause symptoms this severe.

Dachshunds are very prone to spinal problems, and being off back legs is a classic sign. Your dog is not going to be able to walk again unless you get him medical attention, and eventually he will not be able to pee or poo either so basically, you have no choice.

It's a shame you gave up the pet insurance because it could come in really helpful here! Unfortunately there is no option but to spend some money here, however you can find it.

Chalice

Answer 4

Not to be rude, but if your dog can't walk, why are you on the computer rather than at the vet?

Doxies are known for back problems. The breeder should have told you of this and research should have told you the warning signs. These are the warning signs. Because you didn't bring him in when he first started having problems a few days ago, the damage may be permanent, I'm sorry to say.

Turn off the computer and get him to the vet. I know that my old military base had a vet that was very low cost. Does yours? If not, break out the credit card and get him in SOMEPLACE, asap. I thank your family for protecting this country, but the dog still neds to be brought in right away.

Good luck to you and your dog. : )

Answer 5

With small dogs like your the possibility of a back injury is very high. I dont think it has anything to do with his anal glands at all but more due to a slipped disk or works. A vet is the only person who can tell you whats going on with your little dog.
Please find a way to have him seen as soon as possible.

Answer 6

Dachshunds are prone to back injuries because of their shape. contact the Humane Society or SPCA for financial help. The Humane Society has low cost clinics. This must be addressed with a vet or your dog is going to be permanently paralyzed. He also sounds like he is in pain.

Answer 7

You need to get your dog to a vet ASAP.
Daushunds are prone to spinal issues like Intervertebral Disk Disease, that cause paralysis in the rear end. This CAN be treated IF you get him to a vet on time!

Answer 8

you can get pet insurance now for about $10-12 bucks a month here is an article about it.

I have no other ideas to offer help right now but if you could get insurance it would be helpful.

http://pet-insurance-health.blogspot.com/2007/05/pet-health-insurance.html

Answer 9

His legs are probably getting old and week, or he sprained his legs. Be very careful with him and bring him to the vet ASAP. Please hurry and make sure your dog is ok.

Answer 10

Your dog could have Scoliosis. Get it to vet if possible. Good luck!