14 yr old yorkie, possible stroke????

[dales53]

Our yorkie is almost 14yrs old, blind and diabetic.....I know,,,pitiful, but she is a member of the family and we all still love her. She has been taking insulin shots for nearly two years and doing ok. Tuesday night she went out and came back up on the porch and wandered off, falling a few feet into some bushes....it took us nearly 30 minutes to find her. When we did she was highly stressed, sort of limp and unable to stand on her own. We got some fluids into her and gave her some nutri-cal the next morning. While she has perked up some, she still seems unable to stand or keep her legs under her without being held up.... Since the fall she hasn't eaten anything but fluids and the nutri-cal past. She also has only urinated once since and no other "potty" activity. Any positive thoughts, theories or suggestions would be welcome...... I fear her time is running out... thanks in advance... dales53@hotmail.com

[TLC]

Ahhh honey, you might need to take your baby girl to the Vet for a check up Positive thoughts coming your way! Keep us posted

[Jeri Cunningham]

It does sound like it might be a stroke. Only the vet can tell for sure.
Praying for your fur baby.

[bjh]

I am so sorry to hear this has happened to you baby. Please take her to the vet. You don't want her to suffer. I know it is hard to let them go but sometimes that is the kindest thing to do. You could try giving her pedialite but I really feel she need vet care if she is not eating or able to walk. I will be praying for your baby. I have a 12 year old girl and I hate the thought of her getting really old and sick someday. (((hugs)))

[mscat]

How is she doing?

[dales53]

I've managed to keep her nourished and hydrated since tuesday night.. nutri-cal and pedialite. Took her to the vet this afternoon and she was alert (a vast improvement from tuesday night) still paralyzed in legs though. They ran some blood work and determined that she seems to be doing rather well. Gave me a series of injections for her b-12, diaretic, anti-inflamatory, ect. Said to keep doing what I was doing and hopefully she will continue to improve. I did some internet research on canine strokes and found that although rare in dogs, they are also not the severe issue that they are for humans and many will make a full recovery in a matter of days or weeks. After I brought her home she began to drink water on her own (something she was totally unable to do just yesterday) and when I took her outside to try to have her pee... I could tell she was trying to hold herself up in the rear,,,, legs stiffened several times all but weight bearing. Later she was even doing some leg moving inside where I had layed her down. All in all, today has been a quantum leap forward over yesterday... thanks for all the positive thoughts and prayers...I'll try to keep you all informed of her hopeful progress.... dales53@hotmail.com

[bjh]

That is wonderful news that she is doing better. I will keep her in my prayers. Please keep us updated.

[Lexi Rae]

poor baby,, im praying for her... im sending hugs to her.. i hope she
gets better

[Patti]

Praying she continues to improve

[Ladymom]

My Lady will be thirteen this year and has been a diabetic for seven years. I know how you must feel.

I'm glad she is doing better. I pray she continues to improve and you have her for a long, long time!

[SexyJessi257]

i hope she keeps improving. sending hugs n prayers

[yorkieusa]

I'm so glad she is doing better. This is something I read about many years ago, but it stuck in my mind. A customer surrendered a partially paralyzed dog to a vet. The vet lived in the country where there was plenty of room for the dog. The vet used water therapy - I don't recall if it was like a hot tub or a whirlpool - as well as massage therapy.

Anyway, I started massaging my Muffin from head to toe after I read that, even though there wasn't anything wrong with her. She loved it. The massage therapy is supposed to be great for those old bones and muscles! You might give it a try.

[yorkieusa]

Oh! By the way, the dog that was surrendered to the vet began walking and running again!

[dales53]

Thanks to all who have responded with information and encouragement. By way of review: Jazzie had a stroke three weeks ago tomorrow. When we found her she had stumbled off the front porch and was hung up in a bush, was all but lifeless and barely breathing. She was totally limp and even unable drink or swallow. We have worked with her through nutrician, vitamins, medications and therapy....... as of today she she has regained her former alert attitude, she is eating canned dog food with a vengence, is going to "potty" both #1 and #2 without issue and is trying to use her back legs. So far she hasn't been able to walk as her front legs have yet to return to normal, but with her current rate of recovery, it should be any day now. We started with liquified food given by mouth very slowly with a large surringe and pedialite along with dabs of "nutrical" and she is now all but back to her former attitude self. Along with being old, blind and diabetic, we have now discovered that she has a very low thyroid and are giving her medication for that along with her insulin. The daily swimming pool therapy sessions have gone a long way toward getting her back to using her leg movements, hopefully more to follow. All in all, it's been a very hectic and stressful few weeks, but we seem to be "on the mend"..... When Jazzie first had her stroke I did some internet research and discovered, that although rare, dogs do have strokes, but as a general rule dogs recover far better and faster than humans IF they can be kept hydrated and nourished. That seemed to be the key...... Thanks again for all the info and emails and I'll post more updates as she comes along.... Again, Thanks to all... Dale

[mscat]

You are doing all the right things for Jazzie.I'll pray for her that she keeps recovering.