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SnowWa · 05-10-2006, 01:30 PM

I put one of my dogs to sleep because of a back problem last October. Her problem sounds very different from yours (remember this!) She couldn't lie down for more than a minute without getting up and moving around and then trying to lie down again. This got progressively worse. And during her last month, I spent more and more nights up all night just carrying her around. When I chose to put her to sleep, I had been up with her and trying to carry her and comfort her for more than 24 hours. She was even trying to sleep leaning against a wall because she couldn't lie down.

This sounds different from your dog's problem. But, after having worked in X-ray, neurology, and other medical fields for more than 30 years, I can share with you how hard it is to pinpoint the cause of any back problem. Of course, the source of the problem isn't evident to the naked eye - and more often than not - nothing shows on an x-ray, and to make it even more difficult, our little dogs can't talk and describe their symptoms to the vet. Sometimes further testing with myelograms, MRIs, etc. can help to better diagnose - and finally with a diagnosis, surgery may be an option.

So - please never blame your vet - if they can't pinpoint the cause for any back problem.

I wish I hadn't put my dog to sleep. If I had it to do over again, I would remortgage my house to try and keep her. But, she and I were both so worn out, and she was so uncomfortable (we were beginning to be up all night most nights) - plus we were looking at myelograms, MRIs, visits to specialists, and probably surgery with costs possibly of $5000 to $6000 dollars....and I would certainly also have had to miss a lot of work getting all this done. Then there was the possibility that even with all these tests and surgery - she may have ended up no better. In my tired, heartbroken state of mind, I decided not to put her or me through all this. Very sad!

But - because there are a hundred different types of back problems - and some much more tolerable than others - from your description, I'm sure you are dealing with an entirely different problem then I was.

Just wanted to let you know - that with these types of problems - most vets would be having a problem finding the cause.

Nevertheless, steriods and pain medications often help a great deal -

Good luck - Carol Jean

05-10-2006, 01:30 PM	#3
SnowWa YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: USA Posts: 2,992	I put one of my dogs to sleep because of a back problem last October. Her problem sounds very different from yours (remember this!) She couldn't lie down for more than a minute without getting up and moving around and then trying to lie down again. This got progressively worse. And during her last month, I spent more and more nights up all night just carrying her around. When I chose to put her to sleep, I had been up with her and trying to carry her and comfort her for more than 24 hours. She was even trying to sleep leaning against a wall because she couldn't lie down. This sounds different from your dog's problem. But, after having worked in X-ray, neurology, and other medical fields for more than 30 years, I can share with you how hard it is to pinpoint the cause of any back problem. Of course, the source of the problem isn't evident to the naked eye - and more often than not - nothing shows on an x-ray, and to make it even more difficult, our little dogs can't talk and describe their symptoms to the vet. Sometimes further testing with myelograms, MRIs, etc. can help to better diagnose - and finally with a diagnosis, surgery may be an option. So - please never blame your vet - if they can't pinpoint the cause for any back problem. I wish I hadn't put my dog to sleep. If I had it to do over again, I would remortgage my house to try and keep her. But, she and I were both so worn out, and she was so uncomfortable (we were beginning to be up all night most nights) - plus we were looking at myelograms, MRIs, visits to specialists, and probably surgery with costs possibly of $5000 to $6000 dollars....and I would certainly also have had to miss a lot of work getting all this done. Then there was the possibility that even with all these tests and surgery - she may have ended up no better. In my tired, heartbroken state of mind, I decided not to put her or me through all this. Very sad! But - because there are a hundred different types of back problems - and some much more tolerable than others - from your description, I'm sure you are dealing with an entirely different problem then I was. Just wanted to let you know - that with these types of problems - most vets would be having a problem finding the cause. Nevertheless, steriods and pain medications often help a great deal - Good luck - Carol Jean __________________ http://tinypic.com/ipxhmb.jpg A Yorkie is worth a thousand words.