Dog with urinary incontinence and behavioral changes
My dog, Jenni (8yo Poodle/Lhasa Apso mix female neutered), has been suffering from general weakness/pain in her back legs for about three weeks now. History: 2 years ago, Jenni was put on a hormone for urinary incontinence. We took her off the hormone after about six months because the hormone affected her behavior (she became whiny, clingy and nervous), and the leakage did not return. Several months ago, however, we took Jenni to the vet for a urinary tract infection - she was leaking bloody urine. She was placed on an antibiotic, but the leaking continued, so she was put back on the hormone. After two days on the hormone, her back legs became painful and stiff, and the vet said her reflexes were poor. The vet took Jenni off the hormone, but there was no change in her legs. The vet then did an x-ray to check for spinal/neurological injuries and found none. Lyme disease test came back negative. No sign of bladder stones or cancer. Blood work normal. The vet put Jenni on dexamethasone 0.25 mg, and the leg pain/stiffness has somewhat decreased over the past two weeks, but Jenni is still uncomfortable - she is also behaving oddly, hiding in dark rooms and cowering after she goes to the bathroom outside (someone has to go out and carry her inside). The vet isn't sure what to do next, and we live in a rather rural area with no veterinary specialists nearby. Any ideas? |
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Dog with problems walking
When I came home from work yesterday, Sparrow(6yo female neutered mix breed), who stays in my basement with access to the crawl space under the house, was having trouble going up the stairs. She seemed sick - hot nose & depressed. She has a knot midway up her tail about the size of a quarter. Her hindquarters are slightly swollen and tender. Her behind was dirty with dust, some fecal matter, and little black dots that looked like flea eggs (she doesn't have fleas - she's on med from the vet.) It seemed she had been dragging her bottom on the ground. My gut feeling is that she may have been bitten by a spider or god forbid a snake (in my basement?!!) but I'm also worried that she's hurt her back. She can still walk - even jump on the bed - but she is not moving correctly. She is still eating and drinking. She's not any worse this morning, but no better. She's not limping, but she acts stiff - is not moving her hind legs with ease, but I don't see where they look out of whack. For example, when she goes up steps, she just goes one step at a time, very slowly and carefully when she usually bounds & skips steps. It doesn't look like she's knuckling over, and her feet and legs look normal. Another thought after babying her this morning - she has had trouble in the past with her anal glands being blocked. Usually I try to massage & expel them when I bathe her. I haven't noticed her dragging her butt, which usually happens when her glands are filled and need expelling, but is it possible this could be the problem? Or constipation?
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