PLEASE HELP?! My dog can't move her back legs & we have an Emergency Vet trip but we how can we get her out?

Question

This is really hard for me to type so please excuse any mistakes. Okay, I have a 13 year old Pit-Bull/Lab/Greyhound mix. We took her to an Emergency Vet trip two days ago because her back paws were knuckling. They said it was nerve damage due to old age & then they did some bloodwork. We got the results back & her Liver wasn't working right & she might have Hypothyroidism. We had a Vet appointment at 12:00 tomorrow for both things but then tonight, she couldn't move her back legs. She does have feeling in them because if you touch it, she looks back. But her joints seem to be locked. We're taking her to the Emergency Vet but we have a problem, we can't get her out of the house if she can't walk. She bites & growls when you pick her up so we can't pick her up without a muzzle. We don't have a muzzle so the Vet told us to make one. We did & she's still snappy. Help please?! Shed some light on what to do & what this could be?! Please pray that she'll be okay, her name's Tasha. <3

Answer 1

I do hope that Tasha pulls through. Try to get her onto a blanket and then carry her out that way. If there is a neighbor or someone who can pick her up without getting scared from her growling then that might help. It is different when it is not your own dog. Your upset and and that is affecting the way your dog is reacting. Get someone who is nutral and it may help.
Good luck with Tasha

Answer 2

She's hurt and scared so she's lashing out - snapping. It's not personal.

To make an emergency muzzle:

Loop 2-3 ft length of soft, strong material over the dogs muzzle. (Use gauze bandage, a tie, torn cotton sheet or other soft material as a muzzle. Only in extreme emergencies use rope, twine or other harsh materials that may injure the dogs muzzle.)

Make a loop large enough to slip over the dogs muzzle.

Quickly slip this over the dog's muzzle and tighten. Do not tie a knot.

Cross the tie under the muzzle and wrap behind the dog's ears. Tie a secure bow." --- From First Aid for Dogs by Bruce Fogle DVM.

If you have a nylon leash - you may be able to use that.

Be extra careful when you pick her up. Since she has feeling it's probably painful.

Good luck.

Answer 3

Don't use a towel, you can lose track or where her jaws are and she can bite you through it. Use long gauze, or if you have a thin scarf loop it around her muzzle (coming from behind her, she's more likely to snap if she see's you coming). Tie it off behind her ears. The best way to transport her is to get a big board (and based on her breeds, you will need a big board :)), set it on the floor behind her grab the loose skin at the back of her neck and on her rump, and AT THE SAME TIME, pull her onto the board. To secure her, use duct tape (don't put the tape side down onto her fur, but flip it over where it touches her). This keeps her back steady and is much better than the blanket especially if her paralysis is due to a degenerative back injury. I'm praying for you.

Answer 4

Can you get her into a kennel? Or put a blanket under and two people lift her up?

My dear, you must think of her quality of life. It sounds like she wants to go to heaven. She is in pain and it seems they cannot save her and make her healthy. If you cannot get her to a vet tonight, wait until tomorrow. She may have calmed down by then.

If you decide to get her out of her pain and agony, a vet will perhaps come to your home to euthanize her. Tasha can be running through the fields of the gods by tomorrow. Sometimes no matter how much money you spend, no one can help her.

I know you would miss her terribly but she deserves better than this. Bless all of you.

Answer 5

ok.. i dont want to scare you or anything but the same thing happend to my dog about 3 years ago and.....he had a tumor on his back they did surgery to take it off but it was wrapped around his spine and they couldnt get it all off w/o paralising him. So they took off as much as possible and said he had 2 months to live. He ended up living comfortably for 3 months and then.....he got bad again and we figured that the best thing to do would be to put him down :( so we did :( i feel much relief that he is in heaven now. But to tell you how to get him out...just listen to the other people they have some good ideas! we had to carry Bear out on a blanket.
I send my wishes and hope all is well and this is not Tashas case! please make another question to tell us an update!!!!!! i will keep you and tasha in my prayers!

Answer 6

You are doing the right thing for Tasha. Be calm and gentle with her, use a soft bandage/lead/scarf and loop it around her muzzle and behind her head and tie it firmly. You can cover her head with a towel to help her calm down. Use a strong blanket or piece of wood to help carry her. She is more likely to settle if you talk to her gently, be quiet and sure in your actions...

Good luck with her, be strong.

Answer 7

So sorry for Tasha....but there is help!! Make sure you know her weight before doing this, you need to sedate her by using benadryl.......1 pill for every 25LBS......give to her in food so she is not aware of the pills......wait about 30 minutes and she will be calm enough to put a nice, thick towel over her head while she is on her bed, pick up her bed with her in it....and get her to the vehicle....this will last about 1 hour....and it will TOTALLY help get her to the Vet safely.

Best of Luck!!!

Answer 8

If your dog will still eat you could try giving her some benadryl and even pain medicine to help sedate her and make her more comfortable. Ask the emergency vet for dosages--a 7-11 store would have benadryl. If she really is having so much trouble, especially with her liver failing, I may agree with previous posting about the kind and compassionate thing to do for her. All large animal vets make farm/home calls so please consider that option. God bless you and your furbaby.

Answer 9

Oh dear, this is awful. She's probably snapping at you because she hurts. Try holding her differently, if you can, and make it as quick as possible for her (while keeping her safe, of course). Good luck and you're doing the right thing with Tasha.

Answer 10

i would cover her head with a towel also. if she cant walk you are going to have to pick her up. the towel will help if she trys to bite. i had a dog that couldn't walk for a couple of months also. it was a hard time for everyone in my family. she is growling because she is probably hurting. good luck I'll send my prayers your way.