!0 year old issues
Submitted by mrhig2004 on September 14, 2014 - 12:14pmMr. Higgins is now 10. Until recently he has been in fairly good health for a guy who has a long history of medical issues. A month ago he was diagnosed with IBD. He started on canned Hills I/D, then I started cooking for him. It was a vet recipe with chicken, rice, red kidney beans and supplements. At the time of starting the canned food, he began urinating indoors.I thought it was the water content of the canned food. He kept doing it on the homecooked food. The only other time he has done this was years ago when he had crystals in his urine causing UTIs. It has been determined he does not have a UTI. Then, he suddenly went lame on his right leg 5 days ago. Vet xrayed and noticed his vertebrae has fused in a lot of places, also titanuim pins have migrated out of the knee (previous luxating patella surgery at one year) Vet does not believe the pins are causing pain as we knew about the pins years ago. He has arthritis in both knees as we expected. He is on crate rest for 3 weeks. I brought the stroller out of storage.
As of the past 3 days there is no indoor peeing. (dry food) He is on Rimadyl (previously well tolerated) He will walk around a bit when it is potty time but when standing still he puts all his weight on his other leg.
My thoughts: Could the fused vertebrae (spondylosis) be pinching nerves causing leg pain and/or the inabilitly to hold urine?
Has anyone had these issues with their elderly bully?
I have not posted for a long time but used to a lot and have always appreciated other`s opinions.
Thanks, Deborah and Mr. Higgins
What a cutie!
Oliver is 10 1/2 now and we are seeing a lot of changes in him also. He seldom stands upright on his back legs, instead he bends them like it hurts his hips to stand up straight. Sometimes when we walk him, he looses a few 'nuggets" as it's hard to him to squat down. He has always suffered from colitis. We took him for a check up and they just feel it's arthritis. He gets a very small dose of meloxicam and he seems to feel a little better on it. I am sure that problems with vertibrae could cause some incontinence as could just getting older. It's really hard to watch them go from playful puppies to seniors with all the problems that come with it. Good luck with your boy, hope you find some answers.
awww......no advice or experience, just wanted to send
ador-a-BULL Mr. Higgins some ((( hugs ))) and hope things get better.....!!!
Our sweet Archimedes "MEATY" Bones (or as we say...boneSHHH!) ---born 11/28/08---- our first bullllyyyy!!!
And SOPHIE Bubbles *Rapscallion* (LOL!) ---born 4/3/11----our second bulllllyyyy!!!!
update
After weeks on crate rest and stroller, he is no longer limping. He does still hold the back right leg behind the left side when standing but will walk on it. He is enjoying his walks and being weaned off Rimadyl. Still a mystery and x-rays showed nothing.Previous luxating patella surgery and ACL repair. We knew the titanium pins have migrated out of joint, but vet says it should not bother him. Re: peeing indoors- after 2 courses of antibiotics he only does it occasionally. It seems to be at night and he pees in his bedding. Sometimes a week goes by, no peeing, then he does it.I could video cam him at night since I have one. That would tell us if he is incontinent in his sleep, or waking up and purposfully peeing. I have taken him to the vet 7 times since Aug 12 for IBD and now these issues. I think I will just watch him for now. I won`t allow any more antibiotics.
Anyone with similar issues please contact me, thanks so much.
Deborah (Mr. Higgins too)