Bouvier rear leg paralysis

Hello and thanks for investigating this important question!

An embolism is somewhat low on the list of things that can cause this symptom: embolisms are usually accompanied by a great deal of pain.

In older dogs (especially larger breeds) there are a number of injuries or degenerations of the "Caudal Cervical Vertebrae" (spinal bones in the lower neck) that cause damage to the spinal cord nerves. These syndromes are often called "Wobblers". The effects are felt from the location of the damage-downward toward the tail (pain, weakness in the legs, etc.).

The causes of these nerve injuries include, but are not limited to:

1) Congenital (genetic illness expressed since birth);

2) Arthritis of the spine or other degenerative changes;

3) Bacterial or Viral Infections;

4)Tumors.

Similar problems can occur in the lower spine (lumbo-sacral vetebral degeneration, degenerative myelopathy, etc).

It is also possible that there has been direct damage to the sciatic nerve in this leg.

If this nerve condition is not confined to the leg, but has originated somewhere in the spinal cord, there can be further problems with nerves that control your dog's other leg, bladder, bowel, and so on.


You might ask your vet at this stage if it would be best to go directly to a Veterinary Neurologist for a complete and specific work-up. This can be expensive, and so many regular docs don't like to feel they are pushing folks into a commitment they can't make.

I would consider this more urgently since you are having so much trouble with his appetite! Baytril can cause some digestive irritation, but Bouviers usually EAT.

Here are some links that give additional details about spinal cord issues:

http://www.petplace.com/search.aspx?q=knuckling&c=1&x=11&y=6

http://www.petplace.com/dogs/cervical-vertebral-instability-wobbler-syndrome/page1.aspx

If you need help finding a specialist, here is a link that can help you do this:

http://www.caninegeneticdiseases.net/ataxia/Neurologist.htm

I would be glad to give you any additional support...just Click "Reply".

Edited by GenB on July 13 2006 at 1:25pm

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Hi, Thanks for your reply. There was no sign of any trauma in the xrays. His calcification is normal for a dog his age and all discs are evenly spaced with no signs of slipping. I am going to try to entice him to eat with some boiled chicken and brown rice. He has taken his pills with some sliced turkey and has shown his normal "wolf it down" attitude. He has no problem voiding and his general demeanor is unchanged. Thank you for the links which I will read through! Every bit of information is helpful if only to eliminate some of the possibilities. I am going to accept but wanted to thank you!

I'll be keeping a good thought for you all...do ask your vet what you can use to help Max manage any possible stomach side effects of the antibiotic therapy so that you can figure out if this is the cause of his lower appetite (I have a dog that stops eating after ONE Baytril dose!).

Some lesions are small, and problems such as degenerative myelopathy do not show up on xrays, so just keep watching him and seek a specialist if he show no improvement soon!

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Hi again Gen B
I boiled some chicken, cooled and picked with no fat or skin and mixed with some brown rice and veg all. Max ate it all (about 3/4 cup). Didn
t want to overdo it after a several day fast. I think he's decided that Mom needed some additional training in regards to feeding a "sick" dog. After all he has me well trained in other aspects of Bouvier care. I have made plans to go to Gainesville to the University if there is not definite improvement within the next week. MRI first since the xrays didn't show anything and proceed from there. Thanks again

Well done Max! Take it easy, big guy!

Well done Mom! Keep up the good work!

Fingers crossed!

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Your concern has touched me--if you have follow-up questions, or need to clarify your case, please let me know right away! Your "Accept" helps me reach out to others!