Pet Lovers

[hoosieroriginal]

My friend and I went to breakfast and were discussing my over 16 year old dog and her strange symptoms.  Sedona tends to stand on the top of her turned under feet, is having balance problems and muscle weakness in the rear.  I have taken her to the dr and they just suggested pain meds for arthritis.  My friend said to google turned under feet in dogs, that she remembered reading something about it.  Up popped Degenerative Myeloma (Lou Gehrig's disease in dogs).  Sedona has absolutely every symptom they described - the scraping of the nails when they walk, turning under their toes (they call it knuckling - which they do to help balance themselves), the crossing of the back legs when she stands.  According to all the articles I read, it is incurable - a genetic disease.  It affects the spinal cord, so eventually they lose control of their hind end (which she has), loss of bladder control (she pee'd bed first time last night).  According to symptoms she is in mid to late stages - said they are not in pain because the nerve endings die.  Just to keep them comfortable then listed symptoms to watch out for (it can affect their front legs eventually and brain).  Looked up holistic help - walking them (which I do), eggs (which I give her every day, fish oil (which she used to take but started refusing to take - but I will get more).  Thanks to my friend, I now know what I'm dealing with and when to know the end is near. 

[Mz iMac]

Have you considered getting a second opinion from another vet?  You should confirm what you found on the net w/the vet.

[Pearlee]

Please don't self-diagnose your dog from information found on the internet.  Please get another's professional opinion (other than your vet's) - hopefully from a neurological specialist. Esp. if you are thinking in terms of "knowing when the end is near" and it being incurable.   Maybe there is something a professional can do to make the dog's life easier, even if this is the correct diagnosis.  But I would never- ever - come to a medical conclusion about my dog based on my own reading.   I'd want all the testing done by professionals to corroborate. It really could be something else - several medical problems can have similar symtoms.   And many older dogs lose control of their bladder at some point, esp. females (so my vet told me when my female senior dog didl).   I actually find your post a bit distressing if you are going to self-diagnose without a veterinarian or esp. a veterinary specialist confirming it.

[goldensrbest]

@hoosieroriginalMy golden kooper is 14 yrs old  plus, he has been doing the same thing.

[seaBreeze]

@hoosieroriginal  I was sad to read your post about the possible diagnosis of your sweet Sedona .... thanks to your friend, you can tell your vet what you suspect, and begin a course of treatment on how to make Sedona more comfortable.

This is a journey none of us pet owners want to take.  Hugs to you and your faithful companion.  

[eddyandme]

@goldensrbest@hoosieroriginal

Please consult an acupuncture vet to evaluate your furbaby.  These vets also can prescribe eastern-western medicines.  I firmly believe that a combo is helpful.  

[hoosieroriginal]

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@goldensrbest wrote:

@hoosieroriginalMy golden kooper is 14 yrs old  plus, he has been doing the same thing.

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@goldensrbest - sorry to hear that - they are very specific symptoms.  Despite the negative feedback to my post, I am pretty sure this is what is going on.  You might have your dr check your dog, I think there are tests they can do, although there is no cure for it. 

[hoosieroriginal]

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@eddyandme wrote:

@goldensrbest@hoosieroriginal

Please consult an acupuncture vet to evaluate your furbaby.  These vets also can prescribe eastern-western medicines.  I firmly believe that a combo is helpful.  

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@eddyandme - they did mention acupuncture also in natural treatments (nothing will cure, but to help keep muscle tone).  At this point I will go the natural route rather than medications that may do more harm than good.  They mentioned fish oil, eggs (which she gets every day), making sure they go for walks to keep the muscle strength up. 

[goldensrbest]

I went and did some reading on this , kooper does this with his back legs ,at times but not sure this is what he has, there really isn't much that can be done from what i read.

[goldensrbest]

@hoosieroriginal, I  know you are worried about  her, getting old isn't nice.