Lori, Leah and Mary, Thank you so much for responding.

Our regular vet did suggest a neurologist and he had a specialty clinic call me to set up an appt. She said that the neurologist was booked all week and that the surgeon (I am assuming a neurosurgeon) was available for a consult this Wed.
I guess I panicked and made the appt with the surgeon because I was told that it would be better to get her in sooner rather than later.

Our funds really are limited, so I think we will cancel the appt Wed. and see about getting in to see the neurologist next week.

I just need to know what we are dealing with here. Since I do not know what actually happened to her when this whole thing happened. That, and I want to make sure that our care of her is in line with what they advise.

Right now, we have her on total bed rest, with her being able to go outside for potty, that is about it.

This morning, she popped up and actually stood up on all 4's so hard to tell if this is a sign she is getting better, or is she just learning to cope with her condition?
Poor girl, she is getting anxious to move around and I can tell she wants to play.
I just make her lay back down, and we play lay down catch!

I just want to thank you girls for taking the time to give me your ideas/advice. It is really hard knowing what to do.
Of course the ultimate decision lies with us to decide, however, I am so grateful for the kind people here at LB.
The knowledge and information that I have received here has truly been very deeply appreciated.
I will continue to update this thread, so please keep up with me, as I value your opinions.

Joyce,

I forgot to mention in my post that you should be keeping a close eye on the weak limb. Since she may not have full feeling in that leg, she might not react to an injury in the usual way. And with diminished balance, may be more likely to incur an injury. Finally, if the limb is feeling "funny" she may even chew on it.
Just a thought.

Hi Joyce,

Here's another game for you to try with her, if she likes to tug and you can keep her quiet on her rug (or whatever).

I called it floor tug. I'd have my pup/dog in a down, and we'd play tug with some little rubber toy or stuffed thing or whatever was handy. You don't have to tug hard or vigorously, it's just a gentle kind of playing. If she started to get up at all, game stopped...she'd go back into a down, game starts up again. Besides having something to do with them that's quiet but fun, it's also great for bite inhibition.

We'd play this when either one of us was laid up (I was on crutches for 8 months when she was very young and I had to come up with stuff to do with her while I was prone).

Also, if the surgeon specializes in neurology, that may not be such a bad idea. When you just said "surgeon," it sounded too general to me. Bad to make assumptions (that's me, not you!).

Glad she's seeming a bit better...

leih

 Quote: leih merigian

.... Glad she's seeming a bit better...

leih

Me too!

Glad to hear that she is doing better!
hang in there!

 Quote:

I forgot to mention in my post that you should be keeping a close eye on the weak limb. Since she may not have full feeling in that leg, she might not react to an injury in the usual way. And with diminished balance, may be more likely to incur an injury. Finally, if the limb is feeling "funny" she may even chew on it.
Just a thought.

This is exactly right Mary. I am usually one or two steps away from her when she is outside standing because there have been times when her leg will fold because she gets tired from holding up while she hops on the 3 good legs.
I am still there to support her while she does her business too.
Everything you wrote here is so true.

Thanks for the suggestion Leih( finally got your name spelled right! :blushWe played lay down tug last night as well as tonight. I think tomorrow we will have to have a frozen stuffed Kong for entertainment because she really is getting bored.
I am going to have to come up with more things to keep her mind occupied while laying there. I should get some more bully sticks too. Anything to help pass the time in between naps.

Thanks Connie and Willie!

 Quote:

I am going to have to come up with more things to keep her mind occupied while laying there.

Joyce, check out the thread called Scent Games for Beagle Mix Puppy. I was thinking about the video that had been posted here a while back, but was clueless...Marcia Blum kindly cited it herself in this thread (I'm worthless at that kind of thing, alas). Her link is called Shell Game, I believe...you can't miss it.

I was thinking you could do a version of this game...your dog could use its nose to indicate the right container, so could do it from a prone position. It's fun marker training...

leih

I was going to suggest the same thing.
You could teach her to indicate with a nose touch.
If you do it, we will of course need to see a video........

We are going to have to try the "Shell Game"
It looks really fun! I've got to find some smaller containers that are opaque. Right now most of the ones I have are clear see through kind... sort of defeats the purpose yeah?

Sorry Willie, we don't have a video camera or I would for sure tape this, it would be cool.

So, today while she was laying on her bed looking outside, I wanted to see if she responded to any sensations on the lame leg/foot. I gave a light pinch, right behind her paw and she did move it a bit, so I know she has some feeling in there.
She did not do this on Saturday, so I hope this is a good sign.
But still she has moments where her leg still goes straight and folds under her so I continue to be worried.
It is a roller coaster of emotions.

We have an appointment with a neurologist on Tues. of next week.

Joyce,

I've been reading your posts and just want to say that I'm so sorry she's ill. I'm sorry for all the stress and worry you're suffering. I hope she recovers fully.

Meredith