Paralyzed Rottweiler.

Dr. Marie replied:

Hi Michelle. I am so sorry to hear that Jake is going through this. This must be so difficult for you.

While it is very difficult for me to try to come up with a diagnosis without seeing him I will do my best to give you a few ideas.

It does indeed sound like this could be a disc issue. While some disc issues are obvious on xrays, not all are. If it is a disc issue and he has some feeling in his legs then there is a decent chance that he could return to normal. The fact that he is showing improvement is excellent!

Another possibility is a condition called a fibrocartilaginous embolism. This happens if a small piece of cartilage breaks off and causes a lesion in the spinal cord. However, most dogs with this do not tend to make any improvement, so this is less likely. Unforutunately the only way to diagnose this is with an MRI.

Do you live in an area where there are a lot of ticks? Some ticks can excrete a toxin which can cause paralysis. It's a good idea to mention the possibility of tick paralysis to your vet. If this were my case and I lived in an area with lots of ticks I would definitely treat with a tick medication. If a dog has this condition it goes away within 12-24 hours of getting rid of the tick.

I have also seen dogs have similar symptoms because of a bleeding tumor in the abdomen. However, this should be obvious on xrays and bloodwork.

It does sound like your vet is doing the same things I would do. I really hope he improves!

I will be heading out on the road soon. If you have more concerns, just hit reply and I will respond within the next few hours.

Dr. Marie.


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Dr. Marie replied:

The blood in the stool could very well be caused by the stress he is going through. It may be nothing to worry about.

My first thought about the breathing is that it could be because he is in pain. You may want to ask your vet if they feel more pain meds are necessary.

It is also possible that the paralyis is moving further up the body which would not be good news.

It would be good to check to see if his gums are pink or very pale. If they are pale this could be due to blood loss which could be tied to both the blood in the stool and breathing. If they look pale another vet visit is a good idea.

I really hope he does ok! I willl be unavailable for several hours but if you have more concerns I can reply later tonight.

Dr. Marie