This is my buddy Scooby.
He is an almost (Oct 2nd) 10 year old Rott/Beagle mix.
(which is weirder than it sounds, since the mom was the Rott!)
I got him from Pet Refuge as a present for my ex b/f, who looked like Shaggy, ergo Scooby.
He had mange and is blind from birth in one eye.
(see choice of b/f's to make your own conclusions about bringing home mutts)
I didn't like dogs, always had cats, but hey, people grow up.
And now I'm worried.
Week ago last Sat, he couldn't get up. After some coaxing, he did and his hind end wobbled like it had gone to the bar without the rest of his body.
He progressively got better (rear end still tipsy) thru the week until I could get him to the vet on Friday.
Vet only said that it was a herniated disc, and until his rear legs were paralyzed there
was nothing to do except keep him from jumping.
(He also found a heart murmur at the same time)
Okay, until this past Saturday morning when Scoob was incapacitated again.
He drug his rear around the house
(he has a bad habit of needing to follow me wherever I go).
I called
the Emergency Clinic ($70 to walk thru the door).
Then I put it off because of the $, and he started to get better.
So I surf on Sunday seeing what I can do to help him. (I've been massaging & stretching
his back a bit, and it seems to help) I find a site that says that joint supplements
and steriods (to bring down inflamation from the herniation) help.
So why the f**k didn't my vet tell me this?
When I called the vet this am, the Dr said that the supplements were fine, but the steriods would only work if they were given right after
the "injury". Now surfing sites for info on this type of thing only gets you so far, before you have to buy something, sooooo.....
(Long way to go for one question Paddy...)
I'm not asking for definitive answers or opinions,
I'd just like to know if this thing about the steriods sounds right to a vet, and/or if any vets or just plain dog people have any good ideas about what else I can do for my bud.
My other dog would really appreciate it, she thinks he's getting way too much attention.
UPDATE; Okay people, someone be extra snarky or something 'cause I just had to go have a good cry.
And don't worry, if someone reccomends I sacrifice the cats and have Scoob eat their tail fur, it doesn't mean I'm going to do it. I just wanted knowledge and options. I'm getting them in spades. THANK YOU.