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TrustedHer ( member #23328) posted at 12:49 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
((hurtbs))
((big doggie))
I used to have danes.
I understand.
Take care of yourself. There's a great future out there. It won't come to you; you have to go to it.
miadianna ( member #10516) posted at 1:03 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
My 12 year-old labrador had those symptoms and it turned out to be laryngeal paralysis. He couldn't catch his breath after taking him for walks and would pant for a very long time afterwards. They told me it was just from old age.
Me: BS 60Son: 34years oldDaughter: 32 years old Divorced 4/10/08XH passed away 6/24/16
jo2love ( member #31528) posted at 1:26 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
lost_in_toronto ( member #25395) posted at 1:35 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
(((hurtbs)))
I honestly feel overwhelmed for you, so much has been coming at you lately. I hope life settles down and your dog is feeling better very soon.
Me: BS/48
Him: WS/46
DDay: August 23, 2009
Together 23 years.
Reconciled.
hurtbs (original poster member #10866) posted at 1:38 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Yes... it has been a really crappy month in so many ways.
Me - 40 something. WXH DDay 2006, Divorced 2012
WBF DDay #1 9/2022 #2 11/2022
Single
woundedby2 ( member #18522) posted at 2:28 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
(((hurtbs)))
Sending hugs and doggy mojo.
In 2010 I divorced the NPD assclown who cheated on me with my best friend.
Everybody, soon or late, sits down to a banquet of consequences.
~Robert Louis Stevenson
hurtbs (original poster member #10866) posted at 3:15 AM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
She's drinking now, but she's struggling to get around. Largely, she has difficulty getting up. So once she lays down, she kind of stays there.I think that she has some type of paralysis or weakness in her hind legs. She is tripping over them...
Me - 40 something. WXH DDay 2006, Divorced 2012
WBF DDay #1 9/2022 #2 11/2022
Single
tushnurse ( member #21101) posted at 1:12 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Hurtbs - It sounds like what my Golden had, there is a neuromuscular disease the larger breeds, and long backed breeds get, can't think of the name now, but basically it's compression of the spinal cord, and this causes pain, or decreased sensation, or both. It makes it hard for them to control the back legs, and they really struggle to get up.
Good news is they can usually keep the pain at a minimum, and they can develop their front half muscles to compensate. Kinda like when they get hip dyspasia when they are young. The one true diagnostic thing that catches it is they will walk with the effected toes turned under, usually just on one side, and progresses to the other.
My Harry had it and canine lupus, but he had 10 great years, and 1 not so great. So when he got to where he needed help getting up daily we knew it was time.
Good luck today.
Me: FBSHim: FWSKids: 23 & 27 Married for 32 years now, was 16 at the time.D-Day Sept 26 2008R'd in about 2 years. Old Vet now.
Spirit13 ( member #31758) posted at 6:05 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
One of my BFF has a mastiff about the same age and he had very similar symptoms. It was a disc in his back. Steroid shots, oral painkillers and a dramatic weight loss program has been all that brought him back. Plus, he can't jump on anything at all. No more jumping or stairs.... ramps for everything.
Good luck!
Men were deceivers ever; one foot in sea and one on shore, to one thing constant never.
nowiknow23 ( member #33226) posted at 6:14 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Thinking of you and your furbaby. Hope today brings improvement for her and you. ((((hugs))))
You can call me NIK
And never grow a wishbone, daughter, where your backbone ought to be.
― Sarah McMane
hexed ( member #19258) posted at 6:36 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
just thinking of you and the big guy today.
((hurtbs)))
But that's just a lot of water
Underneath a bridge I burned
And there's no use in backtracking
Around corners I have turned
“Many of us crucify ourselves between two thieves - regret for the past and fear of the future.” -foulton oursler
caregiver9000 ( member #28622) posted at 6:42 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
(((hugs))) to you and the big guy.
Thinking of you today.
Me: fortysomething, independent, happy,
XH "Stretch" (and Skew!) ;)
two kids, teens. Old enough I am truly NO CONTACT w/ NPD zebraduck
S 5/2010
D 12/2012
hurtbs (original poster member #10866) posted at 6:43 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
She's definitely not worse today - a little better, not hugely. She is getting up and drinking water, but still just laying down.
On top of it, my little sister (who doesn't own dogs) was giving me shit for not spending $600 on tests for the dog!
Me - 40 something. WXH DDay 2006, Divorced 2012
WBF DDay #1 9/2022 #2 11/2022
Single
sadtoo ( member #2027) posted at 9:44 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Hurtbs,
I am a Mastiff mommy too. I have 3. One is 11, so I feel your pain. The other 2 just turned a year old.
Mine have done this in the past when they have gotten into something rotten and eaten it. (like a dead animal or something)
Mastiff's have a very, very sensitive tummy. And it seems even the slightest thing will throw them off.
Have you tried boiling some chicken (just plain chicken) with some plain white rice and giving that to her? Try that for a day and then gradually start to mix that with her dog food and see how she does.
*Edited to add
Never mind. I missed the post where you said she started eating.
[This message edited by sadtoo at 3:55 PM, August 8th (Thursday)]
hurtbs (original poster member #10866) posted at 9:56 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
@sad - she doesn't have intestinal distress. She's got mild paralysis/weakness in her left hind legs.
Me - 40 something. WXH DDay 2006, Divorced 2012
WBF DDay #1 9/2022 #2 11/2022
Single
sadtoo ( member #2027) posted at 9:58 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Got it.
It sounds like she has what my Stella has.
Has she been dragging her back paw nails? Like have you been hearing her back nails on the sidewalk?
sadtoo ( member #2027) posted at 10:05 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
Stella has Canine degenerative myelopathy.
It's a degenerative spine disorder.
I began to notice something was wrong a few years ago when she wasn't picking up her back feet right. Like they were getting kind of tangled up or something. Then when she would get up and moving, the movement in the back end was exaggerated. Sometimes her toes turn over and she has a hard time getting them back on the ground.
There is no cure. But this started with her about 3 years ago. I started her on asprin and gluclosimine. And she went on a diet. Sometimes she needs a little help getting up, but for the most part she has been doing quite well considering.
When I read the part about your dog not "feeling" her tail being cut, I had a feeling this could be it. Stella has no feeling in her tail either. 
hurtbs (original poster member #10866) posted at 10:14 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
@sad - Yes, that is my thought and concern as well. What is so concerning to me, however, is that this "Malaise" came on so suddenly. Not a slow decline. Literally two days ago she was running and playing, then bam - she is hurting.
Until now, she has not had problems dragging her feet. Matiffs (due to their breeding) tend to have a high pain threshold.
I'm glad that she seems to be slowly mending... but I'm watching her closely. I hate that she can't tell me what's wrong with her.
[This message edited by hurtbs at 4:15 PM, August 8th (Thursday)]
Me - 40 something. WXH DDay 2006, Divorced 2012
WBF DDay #1 9/2022 #2 11/2022
Single
heartbroken_kk ( member #22722) posted at 10:37 PM on Thursday, August 8th, 2013
FBW then 46, XWHNPDPAFTG the destroyer of my entire life. D-Day 1 '99, D-Day 2,3,4,5,6... '09-'11, D '15. I fell apart. I put myself back together. Forgiveness isn't required. I'm happy and healthy now, and MY new life is good.
sadtoo ( member #2027) posted at 12:24 AM on Friday, August 9th, 2013
You know if I remember correctly, this seemed to come on quite suddenly for Stella too.
But the one thing that seems off is the pain. This doesn't have any pain involved.
But there is a mental frustration and fear that they suffer in the beginning when they realize they can't do what they used to do. Then it seems they begin to adjust.
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