Charlie - Spinal Stroke

C

Ccarlson

Forums Novice
Charlie our oldest Sheltie has had a spinal stroke on 12/22/11 that has left him unable to use his rear legs. Went to the vet on 12/23/11 in the morning, vet wanted to send him to a specialist that would cost $5000.00. As the vet worked with Charlie and found that he was full of life other wise, besides unable to use his rear legs. Decided that it was a spinal stroke, and immediately gave him some pretizone shot and an antibiotic for any type of infection. Gave us some therapy work to do with him. Sent him home with medication and what ever was needed for the long holiday weekend. By Christmas Charlie was able to stand a few seconds on his own. He has had improvements every day, even though we know it's going to be a long road of physical therapy that we are doing with him 2-3 times a day. He is shows us every day that he wants to walk again.
We are not sure what we are looking at in the long term, we are taking it day by day. If anyone has had the same thing happen to their loved one, sure would like to hear what you have done to help your loved one. Please share, if you want to send me a personal message and we can exchange e-mails. Thank you and Happy Holidays.
 
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I am so so sorry to hear about your Charlie.

I do believe that one of our Members, Melissa, had this happen to her dog. She would be a wealth of information for you. She has the name on here as Ontariosheltie.

I took your e-mail address out of your post, since this is the worldwide web, I thought it may be safer for you. There is a private message function, and therefore someone can private message you and you can exchange personal e-mail addresses through there.

In the meantime, I will check through some threads that we have on the subject and see if we can get you some information.

I am so so sorry.

Dani
 
How frightening! It must be painful for poor litte Charlie. I don't have any first hand experience with spinal stroke, but just wanted to say....your dedication to the physical therapy is great! Lexi had elbow surgery at only 16 months. I was religious about the physical therapy. She is 4 now and has had no elbow issues at all. That is much better than her specialist predicted!
 
So sorry to hear about Charlie. I know it's pretty scary, but I'm glad he's showing signs of getting better.

My Sheltie, Neechee had much the same thing back in the spring of 2008. I was recovering from spinal surgery, and he and I lay down for a nap. Neechee woke me up an hour or so later because he couldn't get up on his back legs.

My vet said that he had probably had a stroke. At first, he couldn't stand at all, but my vet treated him with prednizone and valium. This was on a Thursday, and by Friday night, he was standing with help. He needed a lot of help going outside, as his balance was all wonky. But after that weekend, he improved a LOT. I took him back to the vet a week later, and the vet was surprised to see him still alive - he told me he didn't ever expect to see him again, and that I'd witnessed a true miracle. (And indeed I had.)

He had a couple of setbacks - not nearly as bad as the first, but frightening nonetheless. Recovery was slow, but within a month or so, the only problem he had was a tendency to look at you sideways. Two months later, that was gone, too, and he was back to his sassy little self.

At the time, he was 16 years old. He lived another year and a half after his stroke, when he began to have seizures and was in pain. There was nothing that could be done, so I had to make that awful decision. I had to say goodbye. My heart dog was a month away from 18 years old when he died in my arms.

But as to the stroke, he recovered like a trooper. The steroids worked fantastically on him, and he was perky again in a few days. His physical therapy went on for about a month (and he needed extra help in the morning from then on), but for the most part, he was himself. At the time of his stroke, he had major arthritis with a touch of chronic bronchitis, so he was being carried up and down stairs anyway - he only weighed 12 pounds, so this wasn't a hardship.

How old is Charlie? Did your vet also consider the diagnosis of vestibular disease? I was told that canine strokes are extremely rare, and I now think Neechee's stroke was actually vestibular disease. It hardly matters, however, because the treatment is the same for both.

You and Charlie are in my prayers. Don't give up on him yet - miracles do occur!
 
Sorry that I can't help, but all of us here send big wishes for a rapid recovery Charlie.

David, Tara, Pia and Blue
 
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