Pink and husband please know that all of us here truly know your pain and feel for you, I truly know how exasperated you feel right now, I truly believe this will be resolved soon, I'm so sorry your all going through this, I will continue with thoughts and prayers...

Even the bladder seems to point to a spinal issue to me. They can't pee when they can't feel their bladder anymore. It's paralysis. BMs can happen anytime, even with paralysis. It's a reflexive action, when the poop gets there, it will come out! But if a dog needs to pee, they will pee. Even a housetrained dog will pee inside if it NEEDS to go. On top of that, a dog with feeling who can control their bladder will not be comfortable enough to allow themselves to be expressed. I am worried for you and Cali. Please stay strong and keep asking questions! I know how lost you must feel and I know how it is to cry for days, weeks, even months :(

I can only imagine how difficult it is to watch Cali and not knowing what is wrong with her. I keep checking on this thread daily hoping your baby is getting better. I am praying that the doctors are able to help her. I understand how much your little girl.

I have been reading your updates and can imagine how scared you must be waiting for answers. I really hope they have find answers for you.

I said this in my original post and I say again I have to agree with Lindsey. It sounds just like Skittles when he had the herniation of the disc on his spine. I am very surprised they have not done an X-ray or MRI to rule that out. Just wanting to put it out there to you. I would think that would always be the first thing they would do especially with the syyptoms she is showing.

My prayers are with you .

Hi All,
The vet student just called and said Cali is responding to the Robaxin (muscle relaxer) in that she is more relaxed. However, her legs are still stiff behind her. I don't really find that to be good news because she is on a valium drip and now with a muscle relaxer so she should be more relaxed. She is being more social though too so that must mean she feels better. I appreciate everything the vets, students, residents, and techs are doing. I know they want to make her better for us.

After reading the responses I will ask again for an xray. Although I think they aren't going in that direction because of her stiff legs and muscle spasms do not indicate spinal problems...? I'm beginning to wonder if they see xrays as a bad thing due to the radiation. Otherwise, what would be the harm in doing it?

I don't know that I would mistrust these vets. You chose to go to a vet school and honestly, I believe that those places are among the best. They see so much more than many smaller practices. They are in the business of teaching. The vets are all board certified. A neuro exam tells a neurologist a lot more than the fact that a pup is unable to stand and/or void. That exam points to many different things.

I remember when my son was young and he had a lesion on his chest. It was a weird thing....and the doc was fairly certain that he knew what it was but wanted me to take him to Philadelphia Childrens' Hospital. He said to me that he could refer me to a local dermatologist but that the difference would be that the docs at CHOP see more things than local docs and he did not want a local doc to be messing around with it, doing biopsies and all. Said that the docs at CHOP would probably know what it was based on my description without even examining him. True enough...that is exactly what happened! They did not have to biopsy it or do any testing at all.

I know this is all so stressful, but I just have a feeling that they are on the right track. Maybe if you just ask them for a diagnosis so that you can look it up and understand it? I know they don't know for sure since the tests results are not in, but they could give you an idea of what they are thinking?

Just my thoughts. I could be wrong of course....we all could. But...you know we are not vets and we only know some symptoms. Veterinary medicine takes into consideration a whole lot more.

Oh...and as for the stiff legs, that does sound muscular!

I just have to say that a spinal injury can def cause stiffness in the legs and muscle spasm as well. Also Chiari can cause both symptoms but I would guess they have considered both of these things.

No update just yet...coming soon. But I did want to share this video b/c Cali's back legs looked very similiar to this dog in the video. She never had foaming of the mouth or change in facial expressions but her legs did exactly what this dog's did. Also, she couldn't move them but it really could be from the strong muscle rigiditiy..they are just 2 stiff pencils hanging off the back of her body. Then she would have spasms of them AND she had the hyperexcitability that he mentions in the video. Anyway, just wanted everyone to have a idea of what her legs are doing.

Hope things are going ok with Cali today...

UPDATE: no changes through the night although she is definitely having less spasms in her legs. More blood work was done and I asked about an xray. The vet student assigned to her felt it would be OK to do but said without an MRI or CT there would be little they could tell from the xray. I told her just to ask the resident to please consider it for our peace of mind. I have a few pics of Cali & Mia from this trip:

This was Cali this morning. The yellow/orange thing is the legboard to keep her leg from bending the IV.
More to come (I'm going to try and get her legs this afternoon so ya'll can see).

It is such a worry. I would ask to speak to the in charge vet about your Cali. Don't worry about being honest, but you might like to ask what direction they are going in, what do they think might be wrong? Hear what he/she says. So you might say something like"; "okay if I understand correctly, you think that her symptoms are more in line with condition a/b/c, and with those conditions, the rule outs do not include Xrays, or MRI's or CT or ultra sounds? At what point in the diagnostic process would you consider any of the forementioned?

I hope that your Cali's root problems are found soon. Hang in there we do know how tough it is when our pups are unwell.

I agree.

My assumption is that they are on the right track, because after all, they did the exam. My other assumption is that they haven't done it because they 1) don't want to take your money needlessly or 2) they believe that they would need a ct org MRI and that it's too early to do a test that isn't definitive.

It is ok to trust them. It's also ok to question them. Do what you are comfortable with. In this situation, I'd do it personally because it would be out of my comfort zone not to. But then I have a dog with extensive back problems and a general X-ray was enough to show it. Sometimes you don't get that lucky because discs don't show up well. But there are other things to look at besides discs...

I would talk to the vet, not the student, and just ask if they are absolutely certain that they are headed in the right direction as a start. If she was improving, that would be different. But that doesn't sound like the case.

Oh, I thought she had asked the vet previously....as she said she would äsk again". Guess I am not following this well.

Prayers for Cali. She is a little doll.

UPDATE: Not many changes but they did take her outside today and let her sniff the air. Also, she seemed genuinely happy to see us and more alert. Her legs are still stiff-as-can-be but the spasms are "much less" to "none". I was noticing that she can actually move her back legs but they do not bend cause of the rigidity so now I'm with the vets...don't think it's her back/disc/etc. Given her presentation & onset (5 days), they really think it is a toxin but are stumped as to how she could possibly contract a toxin & which one it may be. They sent titers off today. We don't even take her outside unless it's from car to house. I am trying to upload pictures so everyone can see what they look like. I'm definitely happy with the care she is receiving and her resident posted a video of her to a listserv to elicit any feedback from colleagues. Also, the team is operating under Dr. Shores...renowned for his neurology work and neurosurgery. I'm definitely comfortable with them.

I would like to say: Thanks for all the support and prayers! I'm so happy I got to love my little girl a while ago. I held her and let her sniff everything in that family room...even the garbage can! She was happy too.

Sounds like you had a wonderful visit with her. I keep coming back and checking on this thread, hoping you have a definitive answer as to what caused this. If it is a toxin, you may never know which one, I'm sure it is frustrating. Here's to her continued improvement!

Hi all! Thanks so much for checking on us. Here are pictures of Cali from our last visit. Note how her legs are stiff and toes pointed down. She does attempt to move them and she can bend them slightly at the hip...like a dolphin-type move. More updates as I get them...I am so going to hate leaving her here on Sunday. That's a 4 hours drive in tears for me & my husband.

what a little trooper Cali is, she must be such a sweetheart to put up with all this, I bet everyone has fallen in love with her. My heart just breaks for you and you DH (((((hugs)))))) and prayers to you all and try to get a good night sleep.

What city is the hospital in, perhaps there are some Ytalkers that live near by that can pay her a visit when you have to leave. I know if she was in MI I would do that for you.

Have you recently bought her any new toys ? as Petco has removed some of their toys from the shelves due to toxins found in/on them that nearly killed a dog. I am confused as to the (it not being a spinal issue ) & it may not be but a spinal issue can come on suddenly or slowly over a few days to months. I do agree that an x-ray of the spine will most likely Not show anything as they usually do not.
I am praying that they figure it out very soon whatever it is.

((((((((Pinkdog, husband, Cali and Mia)))))))) I so hope there is resolution very soon....

Just checking in on sweet brave little Cali. Sending prayers for a definitive diagnosis and treatment. Best wishes to Cali and the whole Pink family.

Yes, the vet student that has been assigned to her this week has really fallen for her. She called tonight and said that Cali is starting to get excited when she cares for her...Cali is getting to know her and giving her kisses and such. I gave this particular student a note to put on her cage or chart (whichever they could) and it read as follows:

Hi! I'm Cali. Things I like are:
1. my ears scratched
2. giving lots of kisses, if you'll let me
3. being loved
4. playing ball with my daddy and little sis, Mia
Please help me get better so I can go home and play ball with my family. Thank you, Cali

When the student called tonight, she told my husband she scratched Cali's ears for us!!! :D:D:D

We are at Mississippi State University Vet School in Starkville. I am very pleased with what they are doing. We love it here. I thought Louisiana had friendly people but the peeps here are soooo nice and personable. We haven't encountered a rude person yet and this includes at the fast food drive-thru, LOL!

Thanks for that info...I'll be checking in to things. The only new toy we have in the house is Kong tennisair balls (which my husband has been buying for years when they wear out). Cali loves squeaking those things but the squeaker tends to come out so my husband throws them away to prevent any choking issues.

Your note brought tears to my eyes. I know how hard it is to leave them like that. Sounds like she is getting top notch care....and some loving, too! :) That is the one really nice thing about the vet schools. The pups each have a student assigned to them so that they get so much more individual attention...and that is not counting the techs and nurses. It really does sound like the neuro team is excellent...I am sure they will figure this all out for little Cali.
I am sorry you will have to leave there on Sunday. Did they give you any indication how long she may be there? When do all of the tests start to come in?
She is a cutie pie! :) Love her pictures.

Atlantoaxial luxation?
 

I haven't logged in a long time as I now have a toddler and have been super busy! I logged in today to post about my sweet boy Georgie's surgery and a condition that is genetic in small breeds (never even knew about such a condition). As soon as I logged in I came to this part of the forum and saw your post. I posted the link below in Maryland Dog Magazine about Georgie's successful surgery to repair the Atlantoaxial luxation in his spine. He was diagnosed at 6 which is older than most but he has the issues with standing up, slipping and generally looking like he had been drinking. He was much more lethargic, he would still eat but wasn't his usual self. Post surgery he is 100% recovered and is doing amazing! I am not sure this is what is going on with your furbaby but I thank God we took Georgie to a specialist because the vet said arthritis, luxating patella you name it...and none of them were the correct diagnosis. If you are able to and there is a specialist in your area I recommend you go there. Best of luck and please keep us posted!

Dog Orthopedic: The Spine Center at VOSM

Sincerely,

Georgies Mommy:)

Hi Georgiesmommy,
Thank you for the link...how precious! I'm so glad that things worked out for ya'll. I'm so grateful I had this place to come to for help. Everyone has been so great with their words of encouragement and suggestions.