Rudi's Luka 7/4 Conservative Neck Husky S. Africa

Rudi, images need to first be uploaded to any server…Flicker, our photo gallery, etc. Then you just copy the URL (adddress) of the photo from your browser and paste into your forum post.

You should have much better luck with boot staying on than we do with our small breed dogs. Other options are to laydown rug runners for Luka's common paths in the house to give needed traction on smooth floors.

We look forward to seeing your new ramps! The cost sounds very reasonable.

Here is Dodgerslist gallery if you do not already have a commercial photo gallery to upload and copy the url. dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/260/upload-photo-dog

Hi Marjorie.

Yes, they are the PAWS shoes. I think they work better for smaller dogs. They helped Luka, but because their in such a bubble shape, I also had to tape them up every morning. Because Luka has some neuro issues (getting better), when turning around, he use to step on the other foot's shoe, and he sometimes almost tripped over his own feet. It just became such an effort to tape them up with duck tape every day. And, because the duck tape is sticky, the shoes actually started to look really really bad because water couldn't wash off the stickiness.

When I researched doggy shoes, I saw allot of socks with those rubber dots underneath. Maybe you could try those. I know they work better with smaller dogs. The shoes I bought come in sizes XS,S,M and all the way up to XXL. they're not AS flexible as the PAWS rubber shoes, but, their actual shoes that can breath and you can adjust them with the velcro. Log in to Google, and type in, Non slip shoes for dogs, and you'll find loads of options. And actually, there are more shoes available for dogs abroad, than here in SA.

The ramp I made was built over 2 big steps going down. Basically one landing going down the steps ending on a horizontal landing that is level with the last step, and then another one going down from the horizontal landing to the grass. Won't work building a ramp that starts at the top and runs down all the way to the ground. Ill post photos soon!

Weakness in the hind legs would be nerve damage..which can take time of month(s) to self heal. Also with crate rest you would expect some muscle weakness to also develop which will come back after crate rest when it is safe to do some walking.

Pain could also be IF he might have some arthritis going on. So you do have a difficult time in zeroing in on what the pain is stemming from. Is it  arthritis or is it still a disc pushing on the spinal cord.

Can you bring us up today on the meds"
1. was Rimadyl stopped and was the Neurontin (gabapenin) stopped at all? Stopping both of those is to see if shivering, yelping or any other signs of pain surface. It is swelling in the spinal cord that causes a lot of pain. Doing a test to stop all of Luka's meds is to clarify if a disc is still causing pain by pushing on the cord. The hope is that the disc would shrink away from the cord and allow the nerves to get used to an intrusion indicated by no pain. At this point with graduation day to be Aug 29, his disc should have formed some really secure scar tissue and allow you to safely begin a slow and gradual introduction back to physical activity.

If Luka has arthritis, that could account for rising up slower and yes Tramadol would relieve that type of pain. Also with arthritis the more you move about the better is is to lessen pain. Mornings arthritis can be more painful and as the day goes on with movement the better it is.

IF the disc has not yet shrunk back enough to make the spinal cord happy and you are not going to do surgery, it may be that Luka would need some meds to help give comfort for the rest of his life…. or at least until enough shrinkage had happened.  And IF this is arthritis then do use pain meds…. if tramadol or other med will do the trick it can give her a new lease on life.

Can you do a test now of stopping all her meds Rimadyl and Gabapentin and Tramadol to get a clear picture on pain in the spinal cord  before graduation on Aug 29?

Hydrotherapy underwater threadmill is often used to help expedite coordination of the leg muscles, the nerves to learn the art of walking again. This therapy will not do any harm it.  Since Luka can walk... the treadmill in Luka's case could be used as a PT challenge for his muscles to strengthen. Same as if you walked her along a pond walking in water is more work. You can do the same by also just slowly building his stamina, her muscle strength on daily walks starting on graduation day.

I'm sorry you and your vets are having such a challenge to figure out exactly where his problem is, if he has had two problems at the same time (arthritis and disc) or just the disc all along.  

Let us know how the underwater treadmill works in September.

I would not push on the spine either… just observe with your eyes how acts…his normal perky self, no shivering, no tight tense tummy muscles. Is there is any reason you can't do the test today so you know the results well before Aug 29?