[hausfire]

I have a 9 year old Boxer Rocky. At 5 years he tore his ACL for 1300 Dollars I had it fixed 3 months later it tore again. I could not afford to fix it and the vet said It could heal the old fashion way, by resting for about 6 to 8 weeks. I did my best but trying to rest an active boxer is like trying to stop a kangaroo from jumping. Anyway it healed in time after he kept reinjuring it.
   Now he slips all over the place and he cannot walk in my house without falling down. I am not sure if this is a result of not fixing it or if he just has slippery pads due to old age. Out side he is a little wobbly but does not fall that much. mabee some one can let me know if their dog does this. or if I can buy him some non slip pads for his hind legs.
                    Rocky's dad

 

[memy]

I don't know ask Sharon

 

[Newcastle]

It could be any number of things, but with Boxers the first thought connected to loss of hind limb control is Degenerative Myelopathy.  Unfortunately DM is a 'rule everything else out' diagnosis at this point.  Some friends of mine recently lost a bitch to this, and put up a 'photo progression' page to help others learn more about the disease - it's not easy to view, but it does do a good job of illustrating the loss of rear function with DM.  

http://www.cinnamonboxers.net/molly.html

(Molly's spine was donated to the current research project to find a genetic marker for DM.)

You can use dog boots to help with traction and to prevent sores/scraping on the tops of the feet.

 

[Leanne]

Aww poor Molly...That is so sad...

 

[Guest]

Jennifer, that is truly a horrible disease.  That poor Molly, I would cry watching her struggle like that!

 

[Newcastle]

The thing that is a blessing - and a curse - is that DM is not painful for the dogs.  (A blessing, obviously, but a curse because it makes it that much harder to watch them deteriorate, and to make the decision to let them go, when they're not in pain and their mind is still clear....)  It's considered similar to MS in humans.

 

[Guest]

I just looked at the site about Molly.  What a horrible thing to have to deal with.  I sat and cried looking at those pictures.  It has to be so hard to see your dog go through that and not be able to help.  Makes my heart ache.  


I would take Rocky to the vet and have him looked at again.  It is more than likely a result from the injury, but I would want to know what was going on.  Keep us posted.

 

[sharonL]

I am just catching this thread....and yes you could use booties to help with the area in which is becoming sore....I would discuss DM with your vet because that certainly could be a consideration, along with issues resulting from or relating to the previous ACL issue...in addition to hips issues and arthritis...Unfortunantly the way you describe it, it sounds very similiar to DM.....discuss with your vet about ways to make him more comfortable and boosting his immune system.

 

[kungfumonkeyb0y]

Hi everyone, I'm new to the forum. I've been trolling and doing a lot of research on what has been inflicting my boxer. He's about 4 years old and about 2 months ago we started noticing his hind legs giving out. We've been to the vet and spent hundreds on tests (fungus, etc) and x-rays (all negative). We've been giving him pain meds and meds for joints, but he seems to get progressively worse.

I did some research on DM, but I couldn't really find a visual. So I kind of ignored it and hoped it wasn't DM, because he's so young. After seeing the images of Molly, I'm absolutely devastated because the pictures are exactly what my dog, Cody, is going through  

 

[Zhanna]

Henry is just getting over a partial tear of his ACL and he is only 19 months old!
Sharon - is this something I have to watch for in the future?

 

[owenowlsnest]

Does anyone know anything about Progressive Axonopathy in Boxer dogs?  I just found it when I did a search under nerve conductivity testing.  It sounds like it would be something that puppies would present with.

 

[sharonL]

Henry is just getting over a partial tear of his ACL and he is only 19 months old!
Sharon - is this something I have to watch for in the future?

Tearing the ACL and if it heals properly does not automatically mean you will have more issues in the future......but, at the same time any of our boxers could joint and bone issues and arthritis etc symptoms as they age...I think that is why it is important to suppliment with them......

 

[sharonL]

[quote="owenowlsnest\";p=\"112453":13zhqzd1]Does anyone know anything about Progressive Axonopathy in Boxer dogs?

 

[samsonsmom]

Kungfumonkeyboy, altho there are no tests that can be done to confirm DM, there are things to eliminate it..First would be x-rays of the spine, then an ultrasound..This is the route that I was headed as well, but thankfully Samson was just diagnosed with moderate arthritis(he's 11)...If both come back clean, you may want to ask your vet for a referral to a specialist, generally it's someone that is attached to a university, in my case it would have been either Auburn or Univ of Miss.....Good luck to you, this is a very hearbreaking thing to watch progress

 

[Guest]

poor rocky - i hope you can find out what's wrong with him.

no way - i can't look at the molly link  

 

[Boxer_Love]

Sorry to hear about Rocky...hopefully you can find out what is wrong with him!

 

[jasonl]

ACL  surgey having a blk lab few years back i went through surgey 1200 in a few months same thing ,
i found a old school doctor he actually removed a tendon from her front leg and used it to repair the ACL said he just tied if off both sides half the price and better results
unfortuanly this is old school and many vets are not willing to try this . ACL is common in labs   try to find a vet that deals with mostly hunting dogs mabey they will help
put him on glucosimne joitn suppliment .
we call this scooby doo when my dogs hit the laminate floor they spin their wheels trying to get traction .
Good luck

 

[hausfire]

Rocky is doing real bad. The vet said it is not DM. and said it is neurological, she said his brain is not telling his legs what to do. He is falling all the time. but is normal otherwise and doesnt seem to be in much pain. I am going to have to make that dreadful decision real soon . I am just not sure when to do it. this sucks. Can someone who went through it please offer me some advice, on when its time
Thanks Rockys dad . Eric

 

[HannaBanana]

I have seen dogs with hind wheel units.   IMO (this is if it were me) I would take advantage of some of the great break throughs such as a wheel chair if everything else besides the legs in the dog were ok.   If the mind is still there, and there is no pain.  Just gotta alter the lifestyle a bit.

However please note that its your tough decision to make, and would not want to be in your shoes.   Think everything out, and sure you will come to the right one for you and your family.

 

[HannaBanana]

http://www.wheelchair-dogs.com/?page=home

http://www.dogkarts.com/


Some links - also maybe contact a local university pet hospital - see if maybe they have done some studies on what Rocky has.  Also maybe they have some alternatitve things they are studying that maybe Rocky could try - who knows, he could help other dogs with the same issues