Wobblers syndrome

[Kelley]

Hi, just called them for an update, they've started physio on her and hot and cold therapy but she's still not back on her feet yet.  The nurses said that they took her outside for half an hour in the sun for a rest after her physio and she enjoyed it.

She's eating meals when fed by hand so it sounds like she feels ok in herself, i'm just waiting for her legs to start moving again.

I cant wait to see her, it's my birthday today and I was really hoping that i'd have got the news that she was up and about, it would have been the best present ever!! i suppose there's a good reason why she hasnt and its keeping her still while her body recovers.

I'll keep you updated.

Kelley

[K9 Obedience]

Kelly, have they said whether or not she has feeling in her legs, as in have they pricked her feet to see if she moves?? I would not be too worried whether or not she is eating, but more concerned as to whether she has passed urine, or faeces?
Sounds like she is ok in herself. I have been thinking of her all day today. Try to keep positive and make sure you are looking after yourself. She will need her mum to be fit and well, ready to take her out on a walk soon.
Thinking of you.

dog lover.

[Kelley]

Hi K-9

After reading your thread, i'd realised that these questions hadnt even entered my head so I decided to make a list of things to ask the vet as I just go to pieces everytime he rings as I just want her home and when he says he cant send her yet I end up upset.

I've just spoken to them now and mananged to get a few questions asked about how she's doing. 

Although she still isnt standing they now think this is due to her reluctance, rather than her not being able to as she is responding to them tickling her feet and moving them herself when laid down (all 4 of them  ).  She is eating a full meal, drinking water normally and passing urine and faeces.

They've managed to get her to balance in an upright laying down position - hope this makes sense - its the one where she's laid down but is balanced using her front legs and rear legs equally both sides and holding her head up, however as soon as she gets outside in the sun shes lolling off to one side as soon as they let her go.  This doesnt suprise me as this is all she does at home when its sunny. 
She is laying down upright in the kennel on her own, and she's earned herself the nickname of 'Diva' by the nurses, because she started crying 'very loudly' and none of the nurses could decide what was wrong, they checked her pain killer, made sure she didnt need the toilet, she had food, water etc but she still kept crying.  It was only when they realised that they had swapped her usual fleece blanket with a flannel one.  They said that she only stopped when a fresh fleece one was brought to her - sounds like my old dobie is coming back!!

They've introduced a new exercise where an inflatable ball is used in the physio and she is put over the ball to try and encourage her to use her front or back paws but shes not entertaining it at all.

We've got the option to go visit her to see if we can help now, and so i've arranged for my mum to go and i'll watch outside as she can control her emotions where as I probably wont  and I dont want Miah getting scared because of me.  I'm just waiting for the dates and times etc of when I can go see her - I cant wait 

I feel so relieved at the moment that at least we have had one piece of good news and now its down to getting her to work and get the legs going so she can come home.  It feels like we're finally moving on to the next step rather than being stuck at the same point.

Fingers crossed she'll be home soon
Kelley

[K9 Obedience]

Kelly. I am so relieved that she has movement in her rear end and everything is working properly. She is most likely feeling stiff and bruised around the op site so is reluctant to stand. Maybe she would if you called her too you? I had to laugh when you said about the crying. None of the staff there can ever have owned a Dobe or they would have realised instantly what was wrong. Only Dobe owners know just how much a Dobe can , "talk" to us. Shadow does it every day. He makes a series of huge groaning noises interspersed with high pitched whines if he is too hot or too cold or just wants a cuddle. If I stroke him he extends his neck up and makes low groaniong noises to show how much he likes it. Then huffs and puffs, blowing out his cheeks if I say thats enough. Nothing quite like a Dobe is there? Still keeping fingers crossed that Miah will be back home soon. Keep positive!

dog lover.

[Kelley]

I've just called the vet again and me and my partner are going to see her at 2pm. 

I'm going as I really cant wait to see her and hopefully if I feel I can control my emotions i'll be able to go in.  I've asked what will happen if she manages to get up and walk around tonight or tomorrow as I was concerned that she wouldnt be able to come home until Tuesday due to the Bank Holiday, but the vet has advised he is on call and so will get one of the nurses to call him to discharge her over the weekend if she gets up.

How is Shadow doing? I can just imagine the dobie face and puppy eyes given when you tell him no more tickles - Miah has the same one, which can sometimes turn to a shocked  and puzzled look that follows as if you say 'you've stopped stroking me??!!'

I'll probably update here later on how the visit goes.
Kelley

[Kelley]

I managed to sort myself out enough to go see her, and we stayed with her a good 40 mins helping with her main physio.  The nurse said it was the best response she had shown since being in.

She is definately reluctant to help herself and wants everyone else to do it for her, but I also think that it might be that she's enjoying the place a little too much as shes got an extra large kennel in heated and air conditioned room.  She's being massaged every 2 hours and is shining like a new penny with all the grooming shes had, and not to mention the 2 pillows in with her that shes resting on when shes being massaged! I wouldnt mind staying there!

Because of the good response she has shown the nurses said go again to help try and encourage her to get back on her feet.  We managed to get her up on all four legs with Paul holding her weight under her chest and a nurse at the back and she was taking some of the weight herself but she was still a bit wobbly - (nice choice of wording, how appropriate! i hate that word now! )

They're going to get her on a treadmill in the swimming pool tomorrow morning to show her she can do it on her own and try and build her confidence up with her legs again.

Seeing her really boosted my mood as I was really worried that she would be looking ill and down, but the only signs were the shaved area on the top of her neck where the myleogram was done and then underneath her neck where her stitches are.  She also had all the pain killers cut out now and there arent any signs shes in pain, just a lot of stiffness in her legs.

The only down-side I noticed was that she was panting and getting tired after just 30 mins of bending and stretching her and standing her, and so as soon as you started to get the muscles loosening up she had to have a rest again.  Fingers crossed that the hydrotherapy will help with this.  She loves water of all kinds including baths, lakes, muddy puddles etc so i'm hoping this might help lift her spirits even more too

There's finally a light at the end of the tunnel with her surgery, and although i've still got a long way to go with her recovery and then the possibility of the dreaded wobblers coming back, I am feeling a little more positive.

Thank you K-9 Dog Lover for all your kind words and support, I hope we can continue on with the updates on how both Shadow and Miah are doing and offer support to each other and at least have the comfort that we know what each other is going through.

thanks again
Kelley
x

[K9 Obedience]

If Shadow was given all that fuss and attention plus heated bedroom, he would never want to come home!!
So very happy to hear she is doing so well and may be home for the weekend. Kelly, has this all been done through your veterinary practise. It must be an excellent one if it has all the facilities you mention?

Hope you can get her home and enjoy the holiday weekend.
dog lover.

[Kelley]

No, unfortunately they arent at my vets, I was referred to a spinal specialist unit.  Its nearly a 60 mile round trip to go see her but its worth it.  I've been today too and she was sitting up on her own again but still no walking action.  They've decided to leave the hydrotherapy for another few days as her confidence and trust in the nurses still isnt 100% and I'm not allowed to help for 'insurance purposes'.

I'm not sure if I mentioned she was a rescue dog, and we think she was beaten by a man, so it takes her a lot to trust someone fully, especially with the vunerable positions shes being put in, but she's getting there.

The other dog that was treated for wobblers just before I dropped Miah off, was on her feet within a day of the op and home after 2 days, so its frustrating that shes finding it hard.  I just wish i could tell her the sooner she does it the sooner she can come home, but I guess I cant rush her and she'll do it in her own time.

I'm going again tomorrow and Monday, but then am back to work.  I only booked a week off thinking she'd be home by the time I was due back, so i'm going to plead to my boss to try and book holidays for early finishes to try and get time to see her during her afternoon physio.

Fingers crossed for a miracle to happen - heres hoping that she'll be stood up waiting for me tomorrow!!!!

Kelley

[Kelley]

Hows Shadow doing?  Is he still on reduced medication or have you managed to hold off with them for the time being?

[K9 Obedience]

Been out of touch for a few days as I had computer problems. New PC has been set up so I am back online. Shadow is having good and very bad days. Yes, I still only give the medication when necessary. Kelly did Miah have trouble with her bowels? Shadow, on bad days, does not seem to know that he needs to empty his bowels. He does all the turning round stuff and skitting about but then just stands and looks a bit puzzled. So I have woken up to a nice mess on the floor a couple of times. I havent asked the vet yet, but I was wondering if the paralysis in the neck maybe affected nerves that tell them if they have, "been"? Any update on Miah yet?
dog lover.

[Kelley]

Hi, good to hear he's having good days.

I'd not really noticed anything out of the ordinary at the time, however now you have mentioned it, I do remember a couple of occasions where i'd noticed she seemed constipated, by doing the spinning and crouching but then not doing anything.

I've just come back from seeing Miah, work have agreed that i can have 1 hour hols each day and work through my lunch so I can leave at 2pm to go and see her without having to leave my other dog on her own longer than needed.

I've met a few other nurses yesterday and today who have both done more hyrotherapy with her and said she seems to prefer this to any other physio.  One of them said that she had displayed walking motions with her front left leg on the treadmill  unfortunately the other 3 weren't going along with it  but hey its progress.

I've spoken to the vet to ask why its taking so long and he said Dobermans are notorious for trying once and then taking the easy way out of letting others do it.  They're encouraging more visits as shes really trying for me but shes so tired after 30 mins of bending that I cant do much after that.

Her neck is brilliant now, there's hardly any scar and shes moving that around when i'm there trying to lick my ears etc and she cleaned herself after water dropped on her legs.  We're now just waiting for her to realise she can move her legs without hurting.

Please let me know what your vet says about Shadows bowel movements and i'll see if I can catch mine to ask him too.

Hope he's feeling better soon

Kelley
x

[K9 Obedience]

I don't think that they give up easily more that they thrive on attention, any attention. They are also masters at picking up on our emotions and using it to their advantage. Honestly if Shadow was getting all that attention he would decide never to stand! This is why I am not noticing, (or pretending not to notice) when he is wobbling about and his rear end will not obey him. Actually if it wasnt so tragic, I would have to laugh cos he turns round and stares at his back right leg with a real dopey Dobe look on his face. The vet that I see is away on holiday so when he gets back I am going to tell him about Miah and what she had done as he hasn't told me about this option. He has only said about inserting washers. Hope Miah is up and walking soon.
dog lover.

[Kelley]

Ah bless him, he sounds sooooo cute!

I've just come back from visiting her and was allowed to stay through all her physio and hydrotherapy and while we were waiting for the pool i was left on my own with her.  It got a bit warm being sat with her and so I got up to talk to the other dogs, I heard her struggling and thought she might be trying to get a drink but just managed to catch her trying to get up doing a sort of frog hop motion.  She managed to do it twice and move out of her kennel so its looking good!!

She's not as keen on the hydro as they made out, but it looks real hard work for her so I can see why.  Shes got her right fore moving in a controlled way and is nearly back to normal as shes using it when you ask for her paw (anything for a treast - typical Dobe!), and her other legs were moving in a sort of hap hazard way on the treadmill so at least shes got the full feeling.

If you have a look on my vets website it does have some info on there about the services its www.torvet.co.uk.  Tthe official name for Miah's procedure was a ventral slot and the vet described it as removing the jelly of the disc(s) that are causing the pressure on the spinal cord .  I've searched for this on Google and it does bring up a lot of info on the op and the procedures.  Something i've read a couple of time is that it's quite a new and complex surgery and some of the vets i've read about wouldnt do it and just refer patients to specialists.

This website has quite good pictures and an explanation of when its done and how...

http://www.vmth.ucdavis.edu/vmth/clientinfo/info/neuro/discdis.html

The vet at the Torrington surgery did mention an option of a washer, however he said it was all dependant on how the discs looked after the myleogram. He also mentioned the option of screwing the vertebrae together without the disc material, which would leave them to fuse together.

It would be interesting to know what your vet says.  Did he mention the option of referal or was he going to perform the procedure himself?

Give Shadow a big hug for me, I'm missing my Dobe cuddles, my little Jack Russell just doesnt have the same affect of a 7 stone dobe!

Kelley

[K9 Obedience]

Sounds like she is getting better. Maybe the trick is to make her want to come to you so badly that she will keep trying to use her legs. My vet never told me about this procedure at all and yes he would have done the op himself as he clearly said he had done it before and that the dog lived another 13 months before becoming paralised and being put to sleep. Sounds like I need to ask for a referral or try another vet!!!
dog lover.

[Kelley]

It sounds like it wouldnt harm to try a 2nd opinion.  Maybe call Torrington to ask them if they know of anyone in your area who could help, the staff there are fantastic!! When is your vet due back?

My vet had mentioned that one of the dogs who had had the ventral slot surgery went on to live another 4/5 years.  He did say that because it usually appeared in middle to old aged Dobes, the time after the surgery wasnt always as a long time, however this was due to the dog aging and not because the surgery wasnt successful.  There is a risk that wobblers may return as the discs that have fused together can cause a domino affect on the surrounding ones, however he said that 65% - 70% of dogs never had any further signs of it for the rest of their lives. He also said if it did return it may not be as severe as I could restrict the tension on her neck with the harness and raised food dishes.

Just to update on Miah - i've been again today and she did some more of the frog type lunges to come out to see us.  She's been put in a giant dog kennel to try and encourage her to move around, and she's now being given her food in a ball that she has to work on to get it out, which must to her frustration it keeps moving away from her.  She tries to get it if its close but if it gets too far away she just gives in.

The nurses put her physio jacket on that has loops and handles on for the nurses to be able to hold her so that we could try move her back onto some physio mats to encourage more lunges and as I lifted her up she held her own weight on all fours for around 10 secs by just leaning on me.  She's also now fully lifting her paw up when she wants something, unfortunately its only her right one, however the nurses have found she'll do anything for a sausage roll and so have decided to lay her on her side and ask her 'give paw' to exercise her shoulders.  They're rewarding her with a piece of sausage when she's doing it on her own, she's loving it!

She also had hydro again which we stayed for and she tried to get out of the tank herself after they'd turned her around towards the ramp.

Fingers crossed she keeps trying!
Kelley