[linz06]

I posted this under general discussion but now that we've been to the vet I thought I'd move it here and maybe get some more views.

Last night Layla didn't want to walk up the stairs to our second floor bedroom, so after watching her struggle, I lifted her. She wouldn't get on the bed, and just walked around with her tail tightly down. She would barely move this morning, and after we let her outside, she wouldn't come back up the stairs onto the deck (only 4 steps).

We thought she maybe wasn't feeling well and might be okay after a day of sleep. We came home and she couldn't walk. Her back seems to arch a little, and her back legs are stiff and straight. She can't sit down at all. We finally got through to a vet, and even though it was after hours, she was going to meet us there within minutes. We rushed over.

What she found is that Layla has no fever, didn't seem to have stomach pain, and didn't seem to have neurological damage (she did the backwards paw test). She suggested giving her anti-inflammatories for tonight and to bring her in in the morning for x-rays and to admit her for the day so they can watch and see if she gets any worse or better, or (and I'm hoping not) having seizures.

When we put her down as we were paying, she fell over a couple of times. One leg seems to get stuck under her and she just falls to the side. And she can't get up without backing into something to stand up again. She can walk on it with a straight leg, but can't seem to bend it or pull herself up when she's down. The vet said if it IS a slipped disk, she would be giving the same medication she gave anyway. She thought it would relax her for a bit tonight so she would sleep well.

Since we got home we tried to limit her mobility but she was walking constantly. I tried to lay her down on her side but she was very uncomfortable and her legs were sticking straight out. I got her up and put her in my lap, and she was shaking and wouldn't relax. My boyfriend just put her on her pad in case she had to pee, and her back legs couldn't hold steady and hold her up... she started to lean until he caught her.

I am crying hard. I can't stand to see her in this much pain. I love her so much.