My boxer collapsed, rear legs paralyzed. Is vet's steroid plan best?

Try calling your veterinarian and explaining his lack of improvement. We try not to administer steroids unless absolutely necessary. Additionally, it is crucial to crate rest Barklie for at least 2-3 weeks. This means no running, jumping, or rough housing. He should only be taken out for short leash walks with a harness not a neck collar.

Thank you for submitting your question regarding Zack. When a dog is unable to walk properly, it can be due to a neurological problem, severe arthritis or even an intoxication. If you do not know of a poison he could have ingested, then this is less likely. Your veterinarian likely gave the steroid injection in hopes of treating a neurological condition. If this treatment helped, then it should be extended with oral steroid pills as well as pain medications and muscle relaxers. Arthritis typically managed with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory pain medication, but these cannot be used in conjunction with steroids. Depending on how he has responded to the treatment will dictate how to move forward. I hope this information helps!

I'm so sorry that Marcela is not doing well. myelitis is inflammation of the spinal cord. A steroid such as methylprednisolone is an appropriate treatment to try to reduce the inflammation. However, if there is compression of the cord that is causing the inflammation (such as compression for an intervertebral disc or from a tumor, etc) then the steroid alone may not be sufficient. An MRI would definitely diagnose whether or not there is compression of the cord; its very hard to see this on CT and impossible on plain film X-rays. If there is compression of the cord, surgery may be needed. If surgery is not an option (due to finances or other issues), additional therapies such as therapeutic laser and or acupuncture may be of benefit. As for the prognosis for recovery of function, I would say its "gaurded," meaning it could improve but its probably going to take weeks, and is uncertain at that. I hope that is helpful for you. Best of luck with him. Thank you for asking Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach!

I am so sorry that this has happened to Tommy. Unfortunately I cannot not say for sure if there is any chance of recovery from just X-rays. An MRI or CT really needs to be done to get the best view of the spinal cord and his intervertebral disks. Also, you may want to see if there is a veterinary surgeon who is comfortable with back surgery as this could be an option for Tommy. If not, the only other suggestion would be high doses of steroids. None of these options are guaranteed to work but they might. I hope this helps and hope that Tommy is capable of healing. Hang in there and good luck.

Poor Socks! It sounds like she may have diskspondylitis, which is inflammation of the vertebral discs due to infection. Because her symptoms return when the medication is done, she may need surgery. It sounds like her spinal cord has been severely compromised, and surgery should be considered to decrease pressure on the spinal cord. This tends to be a specialist surgery, so I would discuss with your vet if this is an option for Socks, and they can make a referral.

The Trineurosol is just a vitamin injection. That is not really treating anything. My suggestion would be to have him x-rayed. This can be a severe case of hip dysplasia or a problem with this spine (a protruding disk, a fractured vertebra, etc). He needs some stronger medications. If this is a neurological disorder then he needs steroids and if this is an orthopedic issue he needs strong non-steroidal anti-inflammatories. Start with the x-rays. This is not something you can treat at home with home remedies. Best wishes.

Poor Filamena! I am sure this is a stressful experience for you and her. I am glad she has good pain medication support. Tramadol has a wide dose range and dosing frequency range so if you feel like her current level of pain is not well-managed on the current dose or dosing interval this may be able to be adjusted with a call to her doctor. Also if you feel like she is still painful with these medications your veterinarian could recommend adding on something else in the short-term. Additionally Huskies are a very sensitive breed so she may be feeling a little bit anxious as well so you may be able to discuss a mild sedative with your veterinarian to see if this helps her rest and remain relaxed in this short-term period. It's also possible if this just happened today that she may be having some side effects from any pain medications given at the clinic which should be better over the next 24 hours. Also make sure her splint is comfortable and not causing any toe swelling that might indicate it is too tight and uncomfortable for her. I know it is hard to watch your fur baby be in pain but don't worry she will be feeling much better soon. I hope this helps and thank you for using Pet coach!