Neurological problems, "wall walking" and "soldier stepping"

[Buster Brown]

Sending best wishes to you and Spike!

[Kate Kate]

Originally Posted by Spikes Mommie

"Sorry this turned out so long!!!"

Hi all,
Thank you for having me. This is my first post here and I wish it was on happier terms. I felt it necessary to write this due to the lack of information I found on the internet when researching my Spike's problems.

Spike is my 11 year old love of my life. Up until this point I thought he was a healthy little Yorkie. He's led a pampered life, always goes to the vet for routine check ups, eats a very expensive raw diet, basically he's a little king

Throughout his life he's been a "wall walker" - rubbing against the wall, the couch, my pillows when I get out of bed, anything he can rub on. He also rubs his face with his paws and when he walks his little front legs make him look like a toy soldier. They're a bit stiffer than normal but it gives him the most adorable saunter when he trots.

Fast forward to a few weeks ago. His back legs started becoming weak. He was falling going up and down the step from our kitchen to family room. He has luxated patellas so we figured it it was orthopedic and I made an appointment with an orthopedic doctor.

The day of the appointment he was laying on my lap sound asleep and woke screaming. His body curved backwards, his head tilted towards his spine, he began paddling with his legs and eyes rolled back. I rushed to get my keys while holding him and when he relaxed I put him on the floor to put on shoes. He was out of it, walking in a circle.

When I got to the vet they rushed him into the back and I fell apart. I waited what felt like forever and finally they called me in. A neurologist came in with Spike and sat on the floor with him. Spike had lost use of his right back leg. Dr Glass said he felt an MRI was needed to see what was going on because this wasn't orthopedic.

The next day I went to the vet to get Spike and the results of the MRI. To my horror Spike has a fluid buildup in a sinus in the brain so large that it pushed the tonsils of the cerebellum down into the spinal cavity. He has such degenerative disc disease that there's 6 herniated discs ... The MRI of his spine looked like a pearl necklace. The dr said this is not something that just happened, rather it's been with him all his life. The discs have been herniated for a long time also, otherwise Spike would be in agony. Basically he's learned to live with it.

Dr Glass began asking questions -
Does Spike rub or walk along walls?
Does Spike rub his face a lot?
Has Spike walked with stiff front legs all his life?

Yes, yes and yes. The dr explained these are signs of neurological issues. The front legs are sometimes referred to as "soldier stepping". He said we would wait two weeks and revisit this. In the meantime if he has another episode it's not an emergency unless he's not coming out of it.

I took my baby home and cried... And cried, and cried. How could I have him 11 years and let him be in pain? How long did he suffer before he got used to the pain?

He wouldn't move without my aid for a week. He was scared and confused and when he did get up he would fall back down. I held his right side so he could go to the bathroom without falling in it. I hand fed him. Then one day when I put him on his blanket in the morning he got up and followed me while I made his breakfast. He was slow and fell a few times, but he followed me. The next day was a little better and I even took him for a walk. He would hop on three legs. A few more days and he was putting pressure on the leg. By time the dr appointment came around last Friday he was almost walking normally.

The dr was so happy to see Spike walking and exclaimed, "My little man with the fluid on his brain has his life back!" He explained that the fluid can buildup or drain and if it gets bad we can begin steroids, but he's hoping Spike can hold out another 5 or 6 years without it. He will never be normal nor will this ever go away, but take it one day at a time. If he was younger they could do brain surgery to correct it, but with Spike's age the dr didn't think it would be a good idea. I told the dr if there was even the slightest feeling that surgery would be good I wouldn't care if I needed to sell my house, we would go ahead. Not needed at his age I was told.

So as I write this Spike is once again on my lap, where the story began. I take everyday with him as a gift. This 6lb creature has given me more joy than anything ever has.

I wanted to write this because throughout his life I've searched the internet about wall walking and his stiff legs. I never saw anything about it being a possible sign of neurological problems. This is not to say every dog who does this has a problem, but don't rule it out if there's lethargy, other odd behaviors, or what seems like a seizure involved.

Again, sorry this turned into a novel... It was healing to me as much as it is something I hope helps another Yorkie mommy or daddy out there.

I have off and on searched for help and today I came across your post. I have set here and cried because for once something finally describes my issues I'm having with my beautiful yorkie girl Kate. Kate will just be 5 in January but we have already been through so much together. This past year I've spent the whole year with her while she lost her eye sight which has been a real challenge but the last month or so I'm trying to figure out why she is having trouble walking standing etc... I love her dearly and my heart aches for her. I do not believe she is in pain. I have taken her to an ophthalmologist and she has that degenerate eye disorder which can not be fixed. Her follow up appointment is in January.
I appreciate you posting and let me how your yorkie is doing. I do believe support is great and helps you to know your are not alone

[connie3dogs]

many years ago my first irish setter Red who was 10 yrs old had a sudden ''turn''. He was in the garden and suddenly started walking against the fence. He was also walking round in circles. I took him to the vet who thought it was degeneration of his hind legs!.He did some bloods etc with sedation and from what I can remember they were normal. He was very bad on his legs after that..I took him to a veterinary teaching hospital who diagnosed a hind brain lesion. They tried a course of steroids which made no difference. This was in the 1980's so brain surgery was never an option. After a few weeks it was so distressing for Red that we made the decision to have him put to sleep. I remember that day at the vets writing the cheque for euthanasia over his dead body crying my eyes out. Needless to say I never went back to that vet.


Good luck with your little one


Shirl

[Doodlebug]

Welcome to Yorkie Talk! Thank you for sharing your story about Spike. He sounds like a wonderful little guy who is very much loved. Looking forward to hearing more about Spike and pictures, of course! I wish you many more years with your precious little guy.