The ABC's of Caring for a Paralyzed Pooch
Tips, Pointers, and Gereral Guidelines from Molly's Human
by Mandy Evans
A little over four years ago, I left for a business conference with mixed feelings: sad to be leaving my new puppy but excited to see old friends. I left my dog with my mother, with no worries at all until I received the phone call to come home immediately. Molly had become paralyzed practically overnight, due to a congenial twisted spine leading to a pinched spinal cord. I did not know at the time how common rear paralysis was in dogs, and I had no idea where to find information on how to care for her.
I think it goes without saying that I personally believe taking care of a special dog is extremely rewarding. The human/dog bond continues to develop into a wonderful loving relationship. This does take an enormous amount of commitment which should not be taken lightly. I am absolutely not encouraging anyone to put their dog to sleep because of their paralysis. But if you do not think you can properly care for your dog, call a breed rescue or no- kill shelter in your area as they would be happy to help find your dog a wonderful home. Paralysis does not mean you and your dog can not live a full happy life! In time your new routine will be normal. I hope the information below will assist you if you are discovering your dog is losing the use of his back legs.
Come on lets go for a walk
Hopefully your dog has very good use of their front legs and a cart will assist them in a normal outdoor life. When Molly got her cart it took us two days to get her to use it. Once she finally took her first steps we never looked back. It has allowed her to run and exercise in a cart which is not only healthy but good psychologically as well. When ordering your cart the company will ask you to take precise measurements and send them in. This allows for the cart to be a comfortable. proper fit. If you are interested in obtaining a cart or you have specific questions, please click here for more information www.doggonewheels.com. If your dogs front legs are weak, talk to the cart company for some suggestions. Carts are also extremely helpful in preventing the
scrapes and cuts your dog's legs can acquire through dragging their back end. Molly has developed calluses on her legs that actually help since she rarely uses the cart at home. No more rug burns for her! There are also slings available that wrap underneath your dogs hindquarters, which you can grab to help them along. If you don't have a sling, a towel can be used as well. This is a great tool when performing physical therapy on your dog.
Let's get Physical
I brought Molly to about 5 sessions of physical therapy. At that time, the cost prevented me from continuing with the treatment but the therapist was wonderful. She showed me what to do at home to continue Molly's development. We now do hydrotherapy in our bathtub, and we massage and exercise her muscles everyday. I will try to describe how I perform the massage and movements but I would recommend you speak to your vet or a licensed therapist to get the most accurate plan for you; especially, if your dog has had broken bones, joint issues and/or arthritis. I take Molly's foot and work her leg through "normal" motions. I work with the base of the foot and fold her leg into her side. This is emulating the movement of standing, then sitting. This usually lasts about five minutes on both back legs. The massage is light, rubbing on the muscles in her leg and lower back near her tail. She loves this. I do this while watching TV at night.
I gotta go to the bathroom!!!
Did you ever think you would be buying diapers for your Dog? Neither did I! How to handle both fecal and urinary incontinence is really up to the owner and depends on the dog. One of the main factors to remember is your dog can not clean or care for its private area. This will be up to you. Frequent baths (every other day for us) are essential to your dog and home's cleanliness. Every time I don't want to give Molly a bath I think about when I was very little and I would wet my pants and how uncomfortable it feels. Urine is highly acidic and can burn your dogs skin causing a rash or "urine burn". Throughout this process remember your vet can help you if your dog starts to have dry skin or a yeast problem. Diapers are commonly used to capture your dog's urine and feces. I personally use pampers but if you have a large dog you can also consider using Depends or other adult incontinence products. I have found baby wipes to be a savior especially when we are traveling. I also learned recently that you should NEVER use Zinc Oxide on your dog. If they lick it, it can be toxic for them and possibly other pets in your home.
Is it Bedtime?
Molly sleeps in diapers which are held on by four legged dog clothes or baby clothes. This works great for smaller dogs but also increases the responsibility to keep your dog very clean. Diapar rash can occur and there is an increase to potential bladder infections due to the greater risk of feces entering the bladder. You can also purchase an orthopedic bed which can be crucial for a dog that has very limited mobility. Orthopedic beds are designed to protect pressure points from bedsores. When purchasing the bed you should purchase one that can easily be washed in a washing machine. A second bed would be helpful for your dog to have while the other bed is being washed.
Does this smell funny or is it just me?
The main medical issue we manage on a daily basis is Molly's bladder infections. I have gotten to a point that I can tell if Molly is suffering from one by her attitude and the stinky smell of her urine. Most people assume their will be blood in the urine. This is not always the case so if you think your dog's urine smells different or looks different call your doctor immediately. You do not want to leave an infection untreated. Kidney infections are not fun nor are the other issues that can accompany it. You can significantly help your dog by expressing his bladder 3 times a day (minimum). Your vet can show you how to do this. This helps keep your dog's bladder empty. The other added bonus to expressing is if you can learn your dog's potty cycle you can leave diapers off of him after he has done the dirty deed. There is actually a positive in this… when your dog goes to the bathroom in a diaper you simply take the diaper off, flush the mess down the toilet and throw the diaper in the garbage. Viola! No walking the dog at all hours of the day or at night. I LOVE IT!
I hope this information is helpful and doesn't scare anyone off. I'm sure it sounds quite intimidating and there is certainly an added responsibility. However once we made the adjustments it became relatively simple for us. And keep in mind that our dogs probably don't feel self-pity and adjust to these things much easier than we do. I wouldn't trade my experience with Molly for anything in the world.
If you have any information you want to add, I would love to hear it.