Thank you Peggy, I am sure it is difficult for anyone who has not been through something like this to understand how gut-wrenching and heart-breaking it is.

Update (for anyone interested): we took Hoss to our own vet today and he does not think it is DM. He recommended a Myelogram if his condition does not improve within a few more days.

Hoss seems to be doing a little bit better today. He was able to balance and stand for short periods of time -- doing this seemed more difficult for him yesterday.

Oh, I SO hope that your vet is right!

I'm keeping everything crossed for a good outcome. I always feel compelled to relay my experience regarding DM.

Many years ago I had a GSD diagnosed by my regular vet as having DM. At the time he said some dogs go gradually & some go very fast. Mine went relatively gradually, I had over a year beyond diagnosis with him before paralysis.

12 years later, I had another GSD display the same symptoms. The same vet told me that although it looked like DM, he wanted me to take the dog to a neurologist/neurosurgeon for a 2nd opinion. Luckily I did, the myelogram showed the dog had damaged discs which were successfully surgically repaired.

My regular vet had tears in his eyes as he told me he wondered how many dogs (including my previous GSD) had been misdiagnosed & subsequently improperly treated.

If it were my dog, I would opt for the myleogram ASAP even though they are a bit pricey because if there is disc damage, the swelling & bone bits rubbing on the chord can continue to cause further damage until it is repaired.

We've experienced simular symptoms with our GSD several years ago. It turned out to be a ruptured disc in her back. After surgery our girl recovered fine. We finally lost her at 13.5 years old.

Asked specifically about the possibility of a ruptured disc as ours was mis-diagnoised by two different vets before it was correctly identified.

I wish you the best of luck.

Connie - I do too.

Susan and Wes - thank you for the advice. We have scheduled a Myelogram for this Friday.

In the mean time, it seems like Hoss continues do a little better. He is now able to get around a little bit on his own without assistance. His right side is still not working much but he does seem to be able to balance his weight on his left side. We can't decide whether his condition is actually improving or he if he is simply adjusting to the lack of function on his right side.

good luck mike,

to me, sounds like trauma, not dm, because of sudden onset, and effect on one side of body, when dm usually presents at both rear legs. certainly hope you have good news.

Thank you Polly -- actually that is the same conclusion our vet came to on Monday. Our vet called us back yesterday and said he had consulted with another vet and they believe the most likely cause of the paralysis is a spinal stroke (also known as fibrocartilagious embolism -- a piece of cartilage lodges in the spinal column and causes the surrounding tissue to die). We hope this is the case because the prognosis for this is much more hopeful than DM. Thanks again to everyone who offered advice and support.

Another update: I took Hoss to the park with me this morning (this has always been his favorite activity). With some difficulty, he was able to squat on his own and get around some, he fell a couple of times but was able to get back up.

I hesitate to be too optimistic but considering the fact that when I picked him up from the Emergency Vet Clinic on Sunday afternoon, the vet and I had to carry him out on a stretcher, it does seem like he is making progress.

We still have the consultation and Myelogram scheduled for this Friday. I will plan on posting progress for anyone interested.

Hi Mike, How did it go?

Hi Susan,

Thanks for checking in. We have had a total of five vets look at him now and the current consensus is that he did have a spinal stroke or FCE. The vet at the consultation on Friday was able to rule out some other possibilities and also told us that he is 80% sure about this diagnosis. This is very good news for us!

We have started therapy with Hoss and he already seems to be making some progress. He has lost about 10 pounds and is very clumsy as he is beginning to relearn to use the right side of his body. I have been taking him out twice a day and he trying very hard so recovery looks very hopeful right now.

Thanks again to all!

I'm glad to hear the news, the outcome could have been much worse. You must be positively giddy! I know it's still not going to be easy, but you guys will get him back where you want him. It sounds as if he is making great strides considering where he was just a few short days ago.