Special Needs Dachshund foster

[dachshunds4me]

We got in this pup last week and I thought I'd share her here...maybe get some thoughts on her situation.

First off she's drop dead beautiful.

But she's a bucket of problems!
Layla was being dumped on Craigslist. I saw an ad for "albino Dachshund" and my heart went out to this poor creature. I had to meet her. But when I saw Layla, it was apparent she is not an albino but is a double-dapple, none-the-less. Her prev. owners also said "she died at birth, and had to be resuscitated and therefore she has hip dysplasia". Well that made no sense at all...HD isn't caused by hypoxia...! However, having owned Dachshunds for the past 7yrs. or so, I recognized the signs of back injury and sure enough, Layla's got some very serious back problems which cause her to have nerve impairment from about her ribs down.
Two of her vertebrae are fused (looks like one long one) and another set has reduced space between them, like the cushioning is gone. Our vet said "she might make a nice pet for someone but she's going to have pain at some point and this (pointing to the fused vertebrae) will get very costly (??)"

She has significant impairment with her anal tone and also her ability to walk correctly, and to make matters worse, it is apparent she did have some hypoxia at birth. She was really underweight and had no drive to drink water upon arrival, but now that we're feeding her and making sure she eats, she's regained some drive about water.

Our vet basically doesn't think it's worth our time or money to spay her, but did recommend a dental
Not that I don't want to do one but if I'm going to knock her out, it'll be for a spay.

Two more pics

 

[Izzy's Valkyrie]

OMG what a beautiful dog!!!! *sigh* I hope she has a wonderful life, she looks like she's got a lot of love in her.

 

[WackyJacki]

Wow, she is gorgeous! Poor dog. :/

 

[dachshunds4me]

She's doing much better now than she was last week when we got her

 

[RD]

She is SO pretty! Is she at a good weight in these pictures?

Is her front end coordinated? I wonder if you could rig her up some wheels for her back end if her back problems get worse.

 

[Crazy Dog]

Awwww, she is beautiful and looks like a sweetheart! *sigh* The poor thing. Well, it sounds like she is in good hands now. Sending healing prayers her way.

 

[dachshunds4me]

She is SO pretty! Is she at a good weight in these pictures?

Is her front end coordinated? I wonder if you could rig her up some wheels for her back end if her back problems get worse.

No, she was barely 6lb. when we got her and she's a good 7lb. now. She was underweight AND dehydrated.
We mix canned in with kibble for her and she wolfs it down - they told us she "doesn't eat much" or "doesn't eat good" whichever it was, and she eats FINE but you have to work at it.
Now that she's gained and been eating, she drinks water voluntarily too.
I don't think the idiots helped her neuro condition at all, and probably made it worse, by not feeding her correctly...I've never seen an adult dog without an illness dehydrated like she was, skin tenting and all.
She really has improved since being here and I'm flirting with getting her spayed in a week or so if she stays on this course.

I guess my concern is that her neuro condition may degrade if put under anesthesia.
Does anyone have experience with this at all?

 

[dachshunds4me]

She is SO pretty! Is she at a good weight in these pictures?

Is her front end coordinated? I wonder if you could rig her up some wheels for her back end if her back problems get worse.

I'd not be opposed to a cart, I think our vet's primary concern was pain if something goes wrong in her back.
Tristan, my black/tan dappled boy, came to us completely paralyzed and had a cart for almost 4mos., but regained the use of his back legs after being in that cart a few mos.
He walks around without it now.

 

[milos_mommy]

WOW. I love this little girl. Do you think you'll be able to find someone willing to take her? Or do you think she'll be a foster failure? How old is she? Please keep us updated.

I know a member here, I believe named Dana (not sure her username) had a doxie named Jackson Brown who went through neuro problems. Last I remember she had spoken to great neurologist or neuro-surgeon and Jackson was doing very well. I dunno if she still posts but it might be worth trying to contact her to ask about her experience.

Do you think a neurologist would give you a free consultation just to ask about putting her under for a spay, since you're fostering? I'm sure you could find one who would give you some advice.

 

[dachshunds4me]

I don't know - we're so very isolated from specialty care vets, very rural here.
She fits in well here, just an extra one to tote around and find care for if we decide to vacation, we'll see though.

And good news - she's up to 7lb. 10oz today, up from barely over 6lb. when we got her!

 

[milos_mommy]

How old is she?

I'd call around....it might be tough to say over the phone, but if you fax over vet records and stuff to a neuro, they might at least have an idea of whether anesthesia is safe for this girl.

 

[dachshunds4me]

Well it's hard to say - she's at least 18mos - and maybe 2yrs.
I mean the people who had her were just real trophy material.
To cap it off, every time poo falls out of her hiney, (as is wont to do with dogs with back problems), she starts shaking and falls over when you approach her to pick it up. I know they hit her when she'd accidentally poo

 

[darkchild16]

Baby diapers!!!!! They are a god send for that! I had a pittie with a neuro issue who couldnt use from her mid back area back and she used baby diapers. Cheaper and hold more. We just used the plain Walmart brand took a knife or scissors and cut a tail hole. Then wipe if you have to with sensitive wipes.

 

[Juicy]

Omg I want her ;( so pretty poor girlie