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kotewaa · Apr 17, 2011, 04:36 PM

My 5 yr. old Bichon, within the last few days, has stopped in mid-walk, hunches her back like a cat and shakes like there is a muscle spasm. Even when called, it is like she can't move. Is there a back problem?

Wondergirl · Apr 17, 2011, 04:41 PM

What did your vet say?

kotewaa · Apr 17, 2011, 04:43 PM

We have not taken her in being that it is Sunday. I just do not know if we should call him tonight or wait until morning.

Wondergirl · Apr 17, 2011, 04:49 PM

Originally Posted by kotewaa

We have not taken her in being that it is Sunday. I just do not know if we should call him tonight or wait until morning.

If this were happening to my mother, I would call the doctor.

kotewaa · Apr 17, 2011, 04:51 PM

I am not talking about my mother... A Bichon is a dog.
Thanks for the thought.

Wondergirl · Apr 17, 2011, 04:54 PM

Originally Posted by kotewaa

I am not talking about my mother....A Bichon is a dog.
Thanks for the thought.

Oh, a dog. Just a dog. I see. If it were one of my five cats, I would call the vet. (You don't get a feeling that this problem could be serious?)

JudyKayTee · Apr 17, 2011, 05:21 PM

I have no idea what you're talking about but apparently it's serious - call the Vet tonight.

shazamataz · Apr 17, 2011, 09:39 PM

There are quite a few things it could be. Muscle spasms certainly is one of them, disc issues is another, may even be related to the legs and the dog is trying to stretch... there is quite a long list.

If it has been happening for a few days I would say you are safe to wait until the next day if your vet is unavailable tonight. Just keep the dog confined to a crate and limit movement as much as possible until you can see someone.
Carry the dog out the toilet every few hours and feed inside the crate.

paleophlatus · Apr 18, 2011, 02:09 PM

Can you offer a little more info? For instance: Is she a jumper on and off things? Does she chase and fetch things you may throw for her? How is her general activity, like up or down stairs, or onto furniture (footstool)? Is she more 'deliberate' in how and where she moves? Does she have problems with her eliminations (more deliberate, or cautious in positioning). Eating, does she show any reluctance or hesitation to lower her head to eat or drink?

Stopping mid stride, and arching her back, are not typical signs seen with a back problem. There can be IV disk problems at both ends of the spinal canal as well, with different signs for each. In case it may be a disk problem, please DO NOT try to help with any 'pain killers' like aspirin. Pain, to any degree, is really a protective response of the body to refrain from doing whatever it is that hurts.

jmupright · Nov 20, 2012, 11:01 AM

I am going through this with my 6 year old Bichon now. The vetssssss are telling me it is a disk problem. They put her on presidone and tramadol, it seems to be helping. They are also telling me surgery is inevetable. She is such a Happy baby (no pun intended) as her name is also Happy. We are just taking it day by day and following the doctors orders to see how she progresses. I hope everything turned out well with your Bichon.

paleophlatus · Nov 20, 2012, 12:54 PM

If response to meds is the only rational your vets are using, that's a big thin, to my way of thinking. Suppose you agree to surgery? Just where on the spine would they operate? An X-ray could possibly indicate the right place, but equally possibly not!
If meds control the problem (for a while), you likely have a mild disk protrusion, which doesn't usually call for surgery, but at least a change of 'habits' to minimize a recurrence of problem, often more severely, would seem in order.
Finally, my experience in treating 'back problems' with only symptomatic treatment is... 'don't'. Reducing pain without curtailing activities that led to the problem initially makes the dog feel 'normal' again, and it returns to normal activity. Too often, some of these dogs reappear at the clinic with more severe locomotion problems, even paralysis, due to suffering a complete rupture of the disk and possible damage to the spinal cord itself.
Jumping off things, usually furniture, is the most common cause of disk (back) problems. Worsening of signs when on treatment is cause for reevaluation of the problem. Sudden paralysis is suggestive for immediate surgical intervention to hopefully prevent severe cord damage.

This can't be considered diagnostic info. At best, it is a suggestion and rationale for another vet opinion, maybe with a veterinary school clinic (hopefully close to you). Someone needs to give you a treatment plan and explanation of the problem as it actually is with your pet. Meds alone, without any further care and prevention suggestions is simply an inadequate approach to this potential problem.