Many orthopedic or neurologic conditions affecting dogs may worsen over time. Spinal stroke in dogs, also known as fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), is just the opposite. Often a side effect of strenuous play, this type of stroke requires an astute dog parent and prompt medical attention, but has the potential for a happy ending. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby shares what you need to know about spinal stroke in dogs: its symptoms, treatment, and prognosis.
“I just don’t get it, doc. Jasper was fine this morning. Ate his breakfast like normal, went outside to play fetch, and now this.” Jasper’s distraught owner relayed his account of that morning’s events to me. Jasper, a five-year-old Bernese Mountain Dog, had been the picture of health.
But then—when he’d jumped to catch a tennis ball—he yelped and fell. He needed help getting up, and his dad knew immediately something was wrong and rushed him to the vet clinic.
Looking at Jasper sitting in my exam room, I wouldn’t have thought at first anything was wrong. He still had the same goofy, slightly drooly grin he always greeted me with. His eyes were bright, and he wasn’t whining or acting painful. But my initial neurologic examination made me very concerned. Jasper had a hard time rising in his hind end, and when he walked, his right hind leg knuckled and dragged behind.
“This looks serious,” I told his owner. “I’m glad you got him in so quickly. Let’s start with some tests.” Jasper’s bloodwork and X-rays were completely normal. He didn’t give me any signs of pain anywhere. This wasn’t an orthopedic injury; there was definitely something wrong with his nervous system. I advised his owner to take him to the local veterinary neurologist for an MRI. He did so right away.
Unfortunately, Jasper’s MRI confirmed my suspicion. Jasper had a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE), sometimes referred to as a spinal stroke.
Spinal anatomy in dogs
To get a better idea of what happens in a spinal stroke, first we need to review some anatomy. Dogs’ spinal cords are protected by a series of bones called vertebrae. Between each vertebra is a cartilaginous intervertebral disc. These discs are there to cushion the vertebrae and to allow the spine some flexibility and movement.
What is a spinal stroke or FCE?
Like other types of strokes, FCEs occur due to an obstruction in a blood vessel. But a spinal stroke in dogs is unique because material from an intervertebral disc—not a blood clot—clogs the blood vessel.
A spinal stroke in dogs occurs when a piece of a disc breaks off, enters the bloodstream, and blocks blood flow to a portion of the spinal cord. The location of the blood vessel that is obstructed determines which portion of the spinal cord is affected and therefore what clinical signs are noted.
Which dogs are most commonly affected?
Most dogs with this condition are relatively young (three to six years old) and healthy. FCE occurs more commonly in giant and large breed dogs and is typically associated with some sort of mild trauma or physical activity like playing fetch.
What are the signs of an FCE?
A spinal stroke results in a rapid onset of clinical signs—usually weakness or paralysis in one or both hind legs, although front legs also can be affected. Depending on where the FCE occurs, one side of the body may be affected more than the other. Although the initial injury causes discomfort, FCE does not result in long-term pain.
The following signs may be seen in dogs who have experienced a spinal stroke:
- Loss of coordination (ataxia).
- Characteristic knuckling gait where they are unable to right the paws. (See how to test for knuckling in dogs by watching this video: Knuckling in Dogs: How to Test A Dog for Conscious Proprioception.)
- Weakness in one or more limbs.
- Complete paralysis in one or more limbs.
- Signs that are more profound on one side of the body than the other.
Keep in mind that the signs may vary depending on the severity and location of the spinal stroke.
Is there hope for dogs who suffer a spinal stroke?
If your dog has suffered a spinal stroke, I want to offer you two pieces of good news that may give you some peace of mind.
- After the first 24 hours, the clinical signs associated with FCE typically won’t continue to progress. Things may look bad on day one, but remind yourself that you are seeing the worst of the worst. From here, your dog’s weakness or paralysis will either stay static or improve.
- Unlike some other conditions, a dog who had a spinal stroke is not at an increased risk for it happening again. Once you and your dog make it through this episode, you shouldn’t have to lose sleep over the potential of it reoccurring.
What is the treatment for a spinal stroke?
Unfortunately, there is no specific medical treatment that can reverse the effects of an FCE. However, that doesn’t mean that there isn’t hope. Supportive care and rehabilitation go a long way in helping these dogs regain strength.
If your dog has a spinal stroke, ask your veterinarian about rehabilitation options. Many general veterinary practitioners offer some degree of rehab services, or they may refer you to a veterinarian who specializes in physical therapy and rehabilitation. Also, the American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians maintains a searchable database to help you find a rehabilitation professional.
Underwater treadmills assist with walking and build strength
An underwater treadmill is a wonderful tool for dogs who have suffered a spinal stroke. The buoyancy of the water allows the patient to go through the full range of motion required for normal walking without the added stress of full weight bearing. Moving through the water also gives the muscles some resistance to improve strength.
Think about the last time you tried to walk in the swimming pool. The water made you feel lighter but it was harder to walk. The same goes for dogs on an underwater treadmill.
Laser therapy reduces inflammation
Laser therapy for dogs can also be very helpful in reducing inflammation and improving blood flow. This is beneficial as the body heals from the spinal stroke.
Ultimately, every case is different, so work with your veterinarian to find the recovery plan best suited for your dog.
What is the prognosis for FCE?
An individual dog’s prognosis after a spinal stroke varies depending on where the FCE occurs, which parts of the body are affected, the severity of the initial signs, and how quickly treatment is initiated.
The goal of rehabilitation and supportive care is to regain as much function as possible. In many patients, improvement occurs in as little as three to four months. Some dogs make almost a complete recovery. You’d never know anything ever happened, except for a shuffling gait now and then. Many dogs go on to live otherwise normal lives.
Challenges of caring for a paralyzed dog
Other dogs, unfortunately, must deal with long-term issues related to their paralysis. They may need ongoing therapy to assist with movement and strength. Because they may not be able to reposition themselves well, they are also prone to secondary issues such as skin infections or bedsores.
Paralyzed dogs could have difficulty urinating and defecating, and may rely on their owners to express their bladders. This can lead to other issues such as frequent urinary tract infections in dogs. Dogs with more severe paralysis will need frequent follow-up visits with their veterinarian as well as diligent at home care to stay on top of their recovery.
Additional ways to assist your dog’s recovery
Depending on your dog’s specific needs, your veterinarian may discuss slings or harnesses to help with support and movement.
Traction is also key in getting around on hard flooring, so Dr. Buzby’s ToeGrips® dog nail grips can be immensely helpful for dogs recovering from FCE.
In addition, ToeGrips may also enhance conscious proprioception—the body’s ability to sense the position of the limbs and placement of the paws. Dogs who are recovering from a spinal stroke need to have their ToeGrips glued on because dragging/scuffing the paws will tug the grips off the nails. Here is a short video to explain how, when, and why I recommend this…
Back to Jasper
I am happy to report that Jasper is doing well. After working with the neurologist to diagnose his FCE, we collaborated with a veterinary rehabilitation facility to tailor a treatment plan to Jasper’s needs.
Compared to some, his condition was relatively mild, affecting only his right hind limb. We used a combination of medication, an underwater treadmill, laser therapy, and range of motion exercises at home.
Now Jasper gets around without much help and still chases his tennis ball after breakfast every morning. He hasn’t let FCE slow him down one bit, or put a damper on his love of life!
If your dog has suffered a spinal stroke, don’t lose hope—even if the prognosis seems bleak at first. Work with your veterinarian or rehabilitation professional to develop a plan, and take it one day at a time.
Has your dog had a spinal stroke?
Please share your story below. We can all support each other.
5 weeks ago I thought I might lose my dog. My 7 year old sweet shepherd mix was playing in the yard when she let out a sudden, blood curdling cry. We found her in the yard trying to move by dragging herself. I knew right away, her back legs were paralyzed. But why? What was happening? We rushed her to the emergency vet which was a painful,almost hour away drive. An MRI told us that she experienced a spinal stroke. The diagnosis made my heart drop. But then the neurologist explained that with time, she could regain some and possibly all function. It was a tough first week. She couldn’t move or walk or even wag her tail. She was incontinent of bowel and had trouble starting a urine stream. She was depressed and refused to drink for a day and I became very concerned. But still, we kept on. I put water in her food because she did not refuse to eat. We took her outside with a sling every few hours to promote elimination. We turned and repositioned her around the clock every 4 hours no matter day or night. We performed passive range of motion exercises four times a day. Then, after about two weeks, one of her legs began to move. Gradually she needed less and less assistance to move. And then she got her spunk back. She was able to stand with some assistance, and make walking motions with one foot. I am happy to say that after 5 weeks, our girl is now able to get up, stand, and walk! She’s a bit clumsy and one leg has some work to do still but we are confident that she will be back to normal after another month or two. It’s been such a joy to watch her quickly progress and nothing was better then the first time she was able to wag her tail again. I hope our story brings other pet parents hope and comfort during a scary, unpredictable time.
Hi Christianna,
This is such a heartwarming story! I am so glad your girl is improving and finding joy in her days. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and offering this hope to others. Wishing you continued success and many happy years ahead. Bless you and your sweet girl! ♥
It is 1 am and I am desperate for hope for my 6 year old shih tze, Louie, who had a trauma 12 days ago but seemed fine this morning and then started to throw micro emboli. He squealed in pain and then was unable to move his rear legs and right front. I took him to the vet. but after 2 hours no progress so brought him home. after 12 hours he could sit up. I am going to follow your treatment plan, include prayer. and keep your story close to my heart. Thank you for sharing this story of joy.
Dear Cindy,
My heart goes out to you as you face this emotional situation with Louie. I understand your concern and can only imagine how worried you must be. Don’t forget you can always ask for a consultation with a specialist if needed. Praying for healing and comfort for your sweet boy. Bless you both. ♥
We were very fortunate in that our 5 year old boston terrier cross who suffered a mild spinal stroke last week is already starting to move around. She is still unable to navigate stairs or jump on her favourite couch and has a very bad limp and poor balance, but she is in much less pain and starting to get her personality back. She was our fastest dog, super agile and playful before PCE struck, but we remain hopeful for a full recovery and are so grateful it was not more severe. Thoughts and prayers with everyone who may not be as fortunate.
Hi Eloise,
I am sorry your girl experienced this painful episode but so glad to hear she is making steady improvements. Thank you for offering sympathy and encouragement to others. Praying for healing and wishing your sweet girl the best of luck!
It happened with our 5-1/2 yr old German Shepherd. She was playing and just collapsed. We went to the vet immediately and they told us about spinal stroke. So we got her home and carried her 96 lbs into the house. After about a week she developed a bad utility with a lot of bleeding. We took her back to the vet and they got it stopped with antibiotics, we left her there for two days and then took her home.
So Sunday morning, two weeks later I got out of bed and went to see her. We had her in the living room on a tarp with a pee pad. I went to sponge bath her and while wiping between her butt and pee pee, and a hole opened up and about a pint of infectious fluid poured out of her.
The vet met us at their office and said the muscle down to her knee and across her back was all neurotic, dead meat. We looked up at the vet and said she has to go doesn’t she, They said yes, no hope for her, so i held her as she went to sleep. Ill never forget the look in her big brown eyes as she looked at me as the drugs to put her down were administered.
Our lives are forever changed,I loved Sandy like a child. She was more than a dog, she was my companion. Its been weeks and I cry as I write this. I pray that none of you has to ever go through this,
Dear David,
My heart breaks for you as you grieve the loss of Sandy. It is clear she was a big part of your life and offered so much happiness and joy to your family. I know you would have done anything to give her more time, but you made the only choice you could to offer relief and peace. I am certain your presence during her final moments was a comfort and she knew how much you loved her. I hope with time your heart will begin to heal. May her memory be with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life. ♥
I’m in the UK, my Frenchie x pug ( 2 at the time) had a spinal stroke in 2019, he had a scan and hydrotherapy and was fine, maybe a little weaker in his hind quarters but otherwise fine. Then almost exactly 12 months later he had another, this time he recovered, mostly but was particularly weaker on his left back leg. And now (2024) he’s had a 3rd. My pet insurance won’t pay for treatment as they say its a reoccurring incident. So I’m trying to treat him with medication from the vet. I’m concerned this time more damage has been done, as he seems incontinent. But due to extremely limited finances I’m just praying that he pulls through this time too.
Dear Abbie,
My heart goes out to you as you face this emotional situation with your boy. I am sorry he is struggling and getting the care he needs is proving to be very difficult. I wish there was more that I could do to help, but please know you are in my thoughts. I am praying his body will heal and he can make a full recovery once again. Your pup is very lucky to have you taking such good care of him and advocating for his health and well-being. Keep up the good work and give your sweet boy a hug for me. ♥
Our 16 week old Great Dane, Dice, panicked on Thursday morning and couldn’t get up. he wasn’t injured in that moment. he did fall a week prior and was a bit clumsy. He’s been in the ER for over 4 days now and the neurologist isn’t really sure yet what exactly happened but FCE is one of the potentials. He has feeling but unable to move his rear hind leg. his front right leg is weak and his right eye dropped badly. we are devasted and battling fighting for him and not knowing if he will improve. Hes super frustrated and wasn’t in pain after the first 24 hours. he is not attempting to put weight on any of his legs which is odd because it’s only the back right one that he can’t use. He lays in his enclosure and cries. His blood work was all healthy as was his X-ray and spinal tap. MRI showed some bright spots and grey. not major but has stumped his medical team.
Dear Julie,
My heart aches for you as you watch your puppy struggle with these neurological issues. I am so sorry for all you both have endured. Praying the medical team will make a breakthrough and find a clear path forward with treatment. Hoping your sweet boy can keep fighting. Feel free to leave an update as things progress. Bless you both. ♥
Hello! My 6 year old mutt Yeti loves to chase the ducks of course in our neighborhood. One day about a year and a half ago he took off running to the ducks and collapsed in the road and yelped out of pain. We rushed him to the vet the next day and he was diagnosed with FCE.
He was basically bed ridden for a month, we carried him to go the bathroom (he’s 85 pounds) and basically did everything for him for that month. Through the month we saw him slowly be able to stand on his own but his right hind leg still dragged quite a bit. We watched him carefully every day and then we started seeing him be able to turn his paw over on his own.
The hardest part really was seeing him depressed, you could just see it in his eyes that he wanted to be able to chase the ducks again. Eventually he was walking around on his own and didn’t need any assistance but has had a limp ever since. After walks now or if he plays with other dogs then sometimes he does need help getting into my car because it’s lifted and he can be uncoordinated at times especially playing in the snow or icy trails with other dogs. If he hops up on the couch then sometimes it takes a little while for him to get that hind leg up on there as well. My question is, is the limp just part of the neurological disconnection or is it because he is in pain? My vet said to refrain him from jumping on the couch but it’s always been more his couch than my own lol. She also said that walks really aren’t recommended and rest is the only option. He went almost four months without really a walk and I did see major improvements but his depression was killing me.. I hated seeing him look out to the trails and the ducks and just look at me with those eyes of need of freedom. Of course I want to do what’s best for him and maybe I was wrong to start walking him and taking him places again so that’s my ultimate question, is the limp because he is in pain? The limp hasn’t gotten better or worse so I’m wondering if that’s just the most he will recover or should I really be trying to get him to a full recovery? I will do what it takes to help him, I just am not sure if I should be stressing so hard because of what our vet said.. He’s been his happy self again and it’s been a year and a half but constantly in the back of my mind, I am always stressing about if I could do more for him or if I’m causing him discomfort or making things worse. Thank you so much in advance for any advice!
Hi Ashley,
I understand your concerns about Yeti’s recovery and his lingering mobility issues. While rest is best initially after an injury like this, it is good to start slow controlled walks and start working in some physical therapy over time. The saying “if you don’t use it, you lose it” is very true. I would not think the walks are causing discomfort. Of course, without examining your pup myself, I can’t make specific conclusions. I assume Yeti has regained what mobility his body is capable of, and this is probably the best it will be. If you want to know for sure, I highly recommend you schedule a consultation with a veterinary rehabilitation professional. Physical therapy can do miraculous things and there’s no telling what is possible when working with a rehab vet. I hope this gives you some peace of mind and maybe some things to discuss with your vet. Wishing you both the best for a very happy future!
we have Buddy a lovely harmless wee-Chon , he’s 10yrs old and was playing with our daughters dog in another room
we heard a cry from buddy and found him limping on his front leg . 20 mins later he was walking on it ok and thought nothing of it .
later in the evening he was laying next to me he got up and did a reverse sneeze and crying very loudly, then collapsed on his front legs into me
and just stayed there.
I layed him on the floor with him panting and in distress.
Contacted the local vets and was told to bring him straight down. Buddy had zero movement by now , the vets gave him pain killers and run tests and said it was a spinal injury and had no use with all his 4 legs or body . Not sure what to do from this point and was given an option to operate the next day at a estimate cost of 5 to 8k plus extra costs post opp or putting him to sleep … he loved walks and running around and couldn’t bare to see him paralyzed or in pain for the rest of his short life.
we miss him terribly but hope we did the best for Buddy .
Glad I found your website it’s been a nightmare for us
Dear Alan,
I am so sorry for your loss of Buddy. I can only imagine how difficult it must have been to have faced such an emotional decision about your beloved pup with so little time to process what was happening. You definitely did the right thing for your sweet boy by allowing him peace and relief from his suffering. I have no doubt Buddy knew how much you loved him and that your presence was a comfort during his last moments. May his memory stay with you always and continue to be a blessing in your life.
I’m afraid my story already has a sad ending, but today being what would have been my boy’s 8th birthday, I found myself once again looking for answers and came across spinal stroke.
He was a beautiful blue Great Dane, 6 years 9 months old, called Tank. He’d had issues with his cruciate ligaments in his hind legs (surgery in both) but he was doing really well. His last day ironically he was better than ever. We walked on the beach, he wanted to play with me doing a little ‘zoomie’ even, he ate breakfast.
I came back from having lunch and he’d been vomiting – I presumed he’d drank sea water – but it wasn’t getting better and he was lethargic so I took him to the vet.
There was nothing obvious but he stayed in for observation and fluids. When they were happy for him to go back home, I came to collect him, but a wobble in his hind legs made the vet worried. I walked him around the foyer a little, but then he just collapsed. His front legs both gave way and his eyes glazed.
He never walked again and 5 hours later, stopped breathing.
Reading this today I wonder if it was a spinal stroke. There was talk at the time that it might be a stroke, but ultimately we’ll never know. I hope this story might help in some way.
Dear Mike,
My heart goes out to you with your loss of Tank. It sounds like he was a magnificent boy. Without having seen him myself, there are just too many possible causes to make specific conclusions. While a stroke is definitely possible, I would also be suspicious about a splenic tumor that may have ruptured. This can happen with little to no warning and cause a dog to pass very quickly. No matter what the cause, I am glad you were able to be there with him. I am sure your presence was a comfort. Thank you for being willing to share your story with our readers. This may be the bit of information someone else needs to make sense of their own difficult situation. May Tank’s memory live on to be a blessing in your life.
I’m so sorry for your loss! The vet thought my 13 year old pit lab had a spinal stroke. He referred me to Louisville for Neurologist appt. I never made it there because it was going to be really expensive and I didn’t have the money. so I was working and saving to take him but my baby passed today also! He was fine one second, and then I noticed he wasn’t breathing. Just a real deep one every so often. I watched my baby slip away and I couldn’t do anything about it. I called the vet but by the time we got ready to go, he was slipping away. I decided to lay with him as he did. he was my first dog by myself. I trained him and we did everything together for 13 years. I’m so lost right now. and so sad. I’m so sorry about your baby, I just wanted you to know, I’m right there experiencing the same thing💔💔💔
Dear Cherron,
My heart aches for you with your recent loss of your pup. I can only imagine how much you miss him but am so thankful you were able to be by his side during his last moments. I am certain your presence was a comfort and have no doubt he knew how much you loved him. Thank you for being willing to share your experience and offer sympathy to others in a similar situation. May the memories of the good times with your sweet boy be a blessing. Wishing you brighter days ahead.
My girl had a sudden injury, we are not sure what. She previously had oddly swollen paw right after play for years. Now fast forward to this past weekend when suddenly she stopping sitting pretty. This is her go to for treats. Then she wasn’t sitting. And now she’s walking but part knuckling and part awkward gait. It stresses me out because she is such a go all the way and play kind of girl. She’s 6 and a pit/shepherd mix with predisposition to hips and knees but the emergency vet checked and those are good. Should I fear a stroke? And what are my options? We see her regular vet tomorrow.
Hi Brandice,
This is quite puzzling. Without examining your dog, myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions. I would not suspect this to be a stroke, but of course it cannot be ruled out without some testing/imaging. It definitely sounds neurologic in nature and needs some investigation. What did you find out from your vet? You may end up needing to see a specialist to get a definite diagnosis. I hope your girl is doing better today and you have found the answers you need. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
My large mixed breed (Great Pyrenees mix) male dog, Clancy, suffered an FCE when he was 5 years old. He’s now a geriatric 13 year old but I was telling my oncologist today about his original diagnosis as she too has dogs and is a “dog lover” and had never heard of an FCE. My doc and I spend more time talking about dogs than anything else at my appointments!
I’m commenting here on ancient history for Clancy primarily so anyone reading this with newly diagnosed FCE in their dog will realize recovery can be either virtually total or very, very good for their dog, just as it was for us.
Clancy was a healthy middle aged big dog and while chasing cows one day at my friends ranch in his typical “weekend warrior” mode, he suddenly sat down in the field and stopped moving. He wouldn’t come when I called to him so we drove my truck to get him, picked him up (not too easily only because he weighed about 120 pounds at the time!) and off to the vet. At first he seemed to be in no pain at all so I was very puzzled as to what was going since it was obvious he had no control over either of his hind legs. Long story short, he was diagnosed with an FCE and although both back legs were originally “paralyzed” my vet told me he had a good chance of recovery in his back legs. Even though she was a personal friend as well as a great vet, I thought she must be crazy and was just saying stuff to make me feel better. I certainly did not believe he could have a full recovery. Well, turns out she was completely correct (excellent vet and since we were also good friends I never told her I doubted her!) and within 3 or 4 months Clancy didn’t even have a limp, gait problems, or anything else wrong. I did have to use a sling with him as he went through his recovery but I did not take him anywhere for rehab classes, etc, I just worked with him to walk and slowly exercise every day with his sling and he eventually recovered with no extra expense to me, This is not to say dogs with FCE don’t need some sort of rehab but since I had a vet friend keeping tabs on Clancy we had a relatively easy recovery period.
Fast forward to 2023 and he now spends most of his time on his bed next to mine and walks slowly and arthritically to go outside but he’s almost 13 and it’s just “old age”at this point in his Golden Years. He has lived a normal, happy life and the FCE never reared its ugly face after those few months many years ago.
Just an old story with a very happy ending which is apparently not uncommon for his type of diagnosis.
From Rebecca and Clancy-dog
Hi Rebecca,
Thank you so much for sharing Clancy’s story with us! I am sure this will be exactly what someone else needs to hear to bring hope to a difficult situation. It makes my heart happy to know Clancy made a full recovery and has lived such a long and joy filled life. Give your sweet boy a hug for me! Bless you both. ♥
Needed to hear this! We’re waiting for the MRI on my dog who suddenly lost use of her hind leg. No explanation so I’m hoping this is the answer and she won’t need surgery. Thank you!
Dear Lori,
Praying you received good news and there is a clear path forward. Wishing you and your sweet girl the best! ♥
Hi from Australia. Thank you for this. Our 12 yr old chocolate lab Pippa, collapsed and was paralysed about a month ago. We were devastated and took her to our vet thinking we would be putting her down. He said he thought it was spinal stroke. He said as long as she continues to improve there is hope… A month on she still cannot stand and walk on her own but can turn herself 360 deg if necessary and shuffle along to get food.. We towel walk her outside to toilet and we play food games.. She is not unhappy and wags her tail a lot. We pray she will walk again. So great to find this support page. Thank you!
Hi Diane,
I am sorry Pippa has experienced this tragic condition but glad to hear she is still fighting and has a decent quality of life. If the towel walking is becoming difficult, there are some great harnesses that allow you to offer support to the hips and can be left in place so they are ready to go when needed. The one I like the best is the Help ‘Em Up Mobility Harness. Here is a link to an article that mentions this device and others that might be beneficial for your girl: Hip Support for Dogs: 7 Solutions
Praying for continued healing for Pippa and wishing you all the best!
Hello from Brazil, my pinscher dog, 14 years and six months old, I think he had spinal stroke, he has three herniated discs and problems with his spine. He is cardiac, he has heart failure in the most advanced stage with mitral valve regurgitation problems. This week he was walking normally, he didn’t show any alarming signs of fatigue, however, last Tuesday he was coughing a lot, but he was anxious to walk, when he was walking through the grass he screamed and fell. When he fell, he went totally rigid, his eyes were looking like they were going to pop out, and right after he started to convulse, his tongue turned blue. I took him to the vet and they found that it would be cardiogenic pulmonary edema, he was hospitalized until Thursday.
We noticed that he was no longer able to walk properly, his legs were bent over, it takes a lot of effort to get up, he gets tired just getting up, and he can’t even take a few steps, which he was able to do before and he feels a lot of pain. We took him to the cardiologist on Friday, and she said that these mobility problems in the legs, paws and hips have nothing to do with the heart problems. The cardiologist just said it must be his herniated disc. He is taking a variety of medications, apart from the ones for the heart, for the spine, he’s taking tramadol, glucosamine and omega 3, he only urinates when I carry him out to the yard and hold him, and he’s having a really hard time defecating, his paw is fully curved when he tries to walk, not steadying on the ground. In the state where I live, there are still no such therapies for dogs, such as hydrotherapy. Then, the only thing he does is rest… The cardiologist said that it was not good for him to try to walk because of his heart condition, but he really wants to walk but as soon as he tries to walk for a few staggering he falls sitting down and sometimes he falls down and gets tired.
Any advice for us? Thanks for the amazing article full of information, it was through it that I found out about the existence of Spinal Stroke. And, thank you for giving me hope about his legs, I think what makes it worse is that he is elderly and has an advanced heart condition…
Hi Gabrielly,
I am so sorry your dog is struggling with so many issues at once. It sounds like you are doing what you can to maintain his health and wellbeing. Since I haven’t examined your guy myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. My best advice is to make sure you are taking into consideration your sweet boy’s quality of life. We want so badly to keep our beloved dogs with us as long as we can, but sometimes saying goodbye can be the most loving option and the only way to give them peace and rest. Make sure you keep your vet up to date with how things are progressing. It is never a bad idea to discuss palliative care. Here is an article with additional information that may be helpful: Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your senior boy. Wishing you both the best.
Hey Dr my 10 year old Labrador retriever we think suffered a FCE she woke up dragging her back end one leg paralyzed the other still moving our ER vet said either FCE or LS disease but they wanted us to go see a nurologisg fit MRI we had already reached a money cap! So I’m reaching out because she was 10 older and had althritis already we tried inflammatory meds and steroids for 3 days no improvement so we chose that it was best to euthanize could have we done anything different? She had lost function of her bladder and colon
Hi Rob,
I know it is hard to make decisions when you don’t have all the answers. It sounds like you did everything you could, and your senior girl was still suffering. Choosing euthanasia may have been the most loving way to give her peace and rest. Try not to dwell on the “what ifs” and allow yourself some grace. I hope with time your heart will heal. May her memory be with you always.
my 5 year old black lab was having a typical day however right before dinnertime. he was zooming around as dogs often do when he yelped a blood curdling yelp. he was down panting and paralyzed. he made the 1 1/2 jour trip to the emergency vet. because yes. it was sat evening and that was our closest option. how could this serious. injury happen in out living room. ?
four months later …. he s regained movement in both his rear legs. he will always have a disability in his tear right leg i fear but i ll take it. what a nightmare but lucky for hoovie it had a happy ending. he suffered a fce we had never heard of this before. thanks for listening
he still looks a little puzzled when his leg “shorts”
out but it hasn t slowed him dowb and i am thankful for his recovery ….
Hi Karen,
I am sorry you had to endure that scary and traumatic event with your sweet boy. What a blessing he has made almost a full recovery and is back to living his best life. Thank you for sharing your experience with our readers as this may give someone else hope in a difficult time. Best wishes to you and your pup.
I’m so glad I’ve found this post and reading the comments has been very comforting. Four days ago while at the dog park, our Siberian husky dropped and let out a big sequel that we’ve never heard before. He has lost mobility in his hind legs. We rushed him to the local vet who had performed tests and an X-ray which looked fine. We then were referred to a nearby emergency hospital where he had a CT Scan done. After concluding that there was no problems with his spine the vets said that it’s most likely that he suffered from an FCE event.
He spent one night in the hospital and has now been at home for the last 3 days. I’ve been doing physical therapy with him 3x daily including light stretching and range of movement exercises. His right hind leg is almost completely paralysed while his left hind leg is at about 75% strength Id say.
He’s got to the point where he can pull him self up and I’ve even seen him hobble on 3 legs however the immobilised right leg is bothering him. We are going to book him in to hydrotherapy sessions soon and hopefully that helps with his recovery.
Dr Buzby, One thing we’re struggling with is his urination. on the first morning after we picked him up he had a big pee but by yesterday afternoon (about 35 hours later) he still hadn’t gone again and we took him down to the local vet to have it extracted. We are unsure if he is just anxious to pee not being able to do it in the places he normally goes or if he’s lost control of his bladder. I’ve tried manually expressing him but have had no luck and being a larger dog I’ve been told that this is much harder to do. Is there anything we can do to get him to pee more regularly without having to go the vet?
He also hasn’t defecated since being home however the vet has given us some Duphalac laxative that hopefully will help.
Thank you
Hi Joel,
I am glad you are seeing some improvement in your Husky and the hydrotherapy sessions will be a wonderful addition! You are right to be concerned about his urination and defecation. Since I haven’t examined your pup myself, I can’t make specific conclusions. But I am suspicious it is all related to the nerve damage and not behavioral or due to anxiety. As your dog continues to heal, these issues should resolve as well. In the meantime, please make sure your vet is aware you are having difficulty expressing the bladder at home. They may need to prescribe a muscle relaxer to make the process easier. Also, urinary catheters are not ideal as they increase the risk of a bacterial infection in the bladder, but this may be needed temporarily if no other options seem to be working. The rehab/physical therapy vet you will be seeing for hydrotherapy may also be able to provide some direction in how to handle this issue at home. I hope your boy is feeling well today and pray he makes a full recovery.
Good Morning,
My 8 year old very lively cocker spaniel Oscar suffered an FCE coming up to 11 weeks ago now, he was on complete crate rest for 4 weeks 3 lots of tablets a day, we had to carry him everywhere. He started Hydrotherapy and has now had 10 sessions, this has made so much difference to his progression and balance. He is still limping and dragging is left hind leg but is much happier and is now running round the garden wanting to play. I am still a bit apprehensive of taking him out for a walk just yet as i also have a 19 month old cocker. When would be the best time to start taking out on short walks and would it be best to take him on his own at first. Will his limp completely go after time. Thanks.
Hi Yvonne,
I am so glad to hear that Oscar has improved since starting the hydrotherapy. I can only imagine how happy he must be to be mobile again! Since I haven’t examined your pup myself, it is difficult to make specific conclusions about prognosis and recommendations on progression of therapy. Are you seeing a veterinary rehabilitation professional for the hydrotherapy sessions? If so, this would be the best person to ask. A rehab vet can let you know what goals are attainable based on how Oscar has progressed thus far. They can also give you recommendations on what exercises are safe to do at home and how to keep slowly increasing the difficulty to make sure Oscar is being challenged in a positive way. Make sure your vet is aware of how things are going at home and any concerns you may have. I hope your sweet boy can continue working hard to make a full recovery. Bless you both!
Hello there,
I’m glad I came across this website and the posted comments are recent which is great. Our 6.5 year old large Pomeranian (?cross.? Rescue dog so we aren’t sure) was diagnosed with FCE yesterday after presenting much the same as the other stories. He is quite lethargic and quiet which is likely from the gabapentin. There hasn’t been any sign of improvement, although we think we saw him wag his tail a bit when he saw my husband this morning. The incident happened Saturday evening so less than 2 days ago. Are we being unrealistic to expect any hopeful signs at this point? I am right to understand that it can take 5-14 days for beginning signs of improvement? Like other people’s dogs Skipper is a happy, playful dog who loves walking the trails with me. Seeing him like this is so sad.
Thanks you Yvonne..
Hi Shawna,
I am sorry your dog is struggling with the symptoms of a spinal stroke. I don’t think it is wrong to be hopeful that you will see some improvements soon, but also don’t get discouraged if you don’t. This may take some time and just because you aren’t seeing progress yet doesn’t mean it won’t happen. Make sure you are staying in close contact with your vet and keep them updated on how this recovery process is progressing. Praying for a full recovery and wishing you the best.
On Monday, we took our dogs to the dog park. My 8 year old Boxer was his lovable self. He went hopping towards another dog when we first arrived, gave a yelp I’ve never heard and collapsed to the ground. We thought he might have hurt his leg and immediately took him to the vet. Nothing was broken but they said his X-ray looked like he had a compressed neck and treated him to reduce pain and inflammation etc. the next morning, he could not stand, both front and hind legs could not move, he could not pick up his head. Immediately took him to the vet for a full day of tests etc and he was diagnosed with a spinal incident or FCE and he may have something else going on with one of his vertebrae, I’m not sure. We brought him home, carried him outside every four hours to pee, which he did, but after 48 hours still cannot stand, move his body or raise his head, even with round the clock care. He is back at the vet today and no signs of improvement and they say we may not see any. So, it has become a quality of life issue. Boxers are a very special breed, high energy, fun loving, lovable, almost human. He is the sweetest baby I’ve ever had. I want to continue to hope that he could be a success story if given time, but not sure about prognosis with this severe of injury, and age. I need help but not sure what to do next.
Hi Kristin,
I am so sorry your Boxer has suffered a spinal injury. I highly recommend you get a referral to a veterinary neurologist as soon as possible. They can let you know if additional testing needs to be done and offer you the best treatment and/or surgical options. How is your boy doing today? I am hoping he has improved and is resting comfortably at home. Feel free to leave an update as new information comes available. Praying for a positive outcome.
Hi
So sorry to hear the sad news, I’m in the very same position with my Boston Terrier who is only 3 years old, the only difference being is he never yelped or made a noise just seemed to have fallen over on his front left leg. Within hours he was fully paralysed, this happened on 20th October. He lost all feeling in this leg and wasn’t withdrawing his front right leg when being prodded. He seems to have some feeling back now and showing slight signs of improvement. He still cannot stand or even balance himself yet but I’m hoping this is something that will come with time. Please update me on your case and give me some hope that my boy will get better!! and for that matter, hoping yours will too🤞
Hi Ebony,
I am so sorry your young pup is struggling with these neurological complications. How is he doing today? If you still aren’t seeing the improvement your vet was hoping for, it might be time to schedule a consult with a specialist. Praying there is still a chance for your sweet boy to make a full recovery. Wishing you both the best.
Last Saturday my healthy 6 year old papillon, Brockley, who is a talented agility dog, started chasing a chipmunk and yelped. After this she seemed very quiet but was walking okay. I fed her her dinner and noticed she wasn’t her usual bouncy self, although she devoured dinner as usual. Afterwards took her on a leash walk and she seemed to walk okay, but was quiet, and at home I noticed she had difficulty going up stairs. I picked her up and she did no more stairs.
The next morning she was having trouble standing on her back rear left leg . Since it was the weekend I took her to vet emerg. I though maybe she had torn a cruciate. The emerg vet could find nothing wrong with knees, joints etc. so we were sent home with gabapentin and told short leash walks only. Her X-ray also showed nothing abnormal.
Brockley seems to be improving every day. She now has no problem squatting to pee or poop and is walking well on leash for short distances but her back leg still slides on slippery floors.
Went to our vet today to get Brockley re-checked. Our vet thinks it may be FCE, and is referring us to a veterinary neurologist and has prescribed Metacam.. I was shocked as I had never heard of this condition and was hoping to get Brockley back into agility soon. It may take a few weeks to see the neurologist . In the meantime should we see about starting physiotherapy? What is the prognosis for getting back into agility.?
Hi Diane,
I understand your concern for Brockley and this new neurological issue. I am glad your vet has started the referral process and hope you will be able to see the neurologist soon. Without a definitive diagnosis, it is hard to make specific conclusions about prognosis and recovery time. Because your pup has very mild symptoms, I am hopeful that she will make a full recovery and be able to return to agility. Rehabilitation/physical therapy is a great idea! Unfortunately, without knowing the cause of the rear limb issues, therapy may have to consist of mostly treatments to decrease pain and inflammation. Exercises to strengthen muscles and retrain neuro pathways may have to wait until an exact cause is known in order to prevent causing additional trauma and unwanted side effects. I hope you able to find the answers you need to get your sweet girl back living her best life. Praying for a positive outcome and a complete recovery.
Hi there. Our 6 year old female Great Dane, Wrigley, was totally fine as of Wednesday night (4 days ago). In the early hours of Thursday morning, she woke me and I assumed she wanted to get up on the bed, as she sometimes does. She tried to jump on the bed and I could tell she was struggling with her hind legs. Couldn’t get comfortable, and a couple hours later, we could tell something was really wrong – knuckling (as we soon came to know the term) on her paws and dragging all 4.
Took her to the vet and her blood work all came back normal. Had a CT scan done and the results came back with basically a compression of multiple vertebrae in her cervical spine – basically diagnosed her with Wobblers, which came as a surprise to me, since she is 6 (almost 7), and I know that Wobblers presents much earlier. . The vet allowed us to take her home and put her on prednisone, which seems to be helping. Still dragging her left paws – front and back – but not as bad as before.
After doing some research online, I’m wondering if she may have suffered a spinal stroke, as the symptoms I’m reading on your site seem so similar to our girl’s? Wondering if it’s worth going back to our vet and asking. They basically told us to keep her on the steroid regimen for a couple of weeks and see how she does.
Any advice for us? Thank you for a wonderful article (and for providing us with hope for our sweet girl!) We just want to make sure she is not in pain!!!
Hi Kellie,
I understand how worried you must be about Wrigley. I am glad to hear that she has made some improvements over the last few days while taking the prednisone. You are right to be concerned about her pain level. Even with the prednisone on board she may need an additional medication to help control pain. It would be a good idea to talk to your vet and give them an update on Wrigley’s pain levels. Be sure to ask if there is an additional medication they could prescribe that would be appropriate for your dog’s specific situation. Also, while the symptoms you are describing could be related to a spinal stroke, I don’t think that is the case with Wrigley. Since compression of multiple vertebrae were noted in her cervical spine, you have a definitive diagnosis. With spinal stroke (FCE) you do not see compression of the spinal cord or vertebral instability. It might be a good idea to have her evaluated by a veterinary neurologist to see if she is a good candidate for other treatments or surgery to correct the issue. I hope your big girl continues to heal and makes a full recovery. Best wishes to you both!
My 3 year old pup recently suffered from losing mobility in his hind legs. I was at work and came home to find him in a sitting position, legs straight out. I rushed him to the emergency VCA who told me he would need surgery after not running a single test. I decided to take him home and provide care until I could take him to see a neurologist. Now I’m finding out about spinal stroke by searching the web for answers. Everything that is mentioned about FCE makes me believe that is what happened to my boy. We will see the neurologist on Tuesday and will hopefully be given a definitive answer. It’s been a week since it happened and he has gained mobility but still has trouble fully walking on his own. I’ve been expressing his bladder but the more mobility he gains it seems that his bladder is becoming harder to express. Could expressing his bladder become more difficult once he starts gaining more mobility because he wants to go on his own?
Hi Jennifer,
I am sorry your pup is having these issues, especially at such a young age. I am glad you have seen some improvement over the last week. You are correct that as the neurological function starts to return, it can make the bladder more difficult to express due to your dog having more sphincter control. Ultimately, the neurologist will evaluate everything and let you know what to expect and how to proceed. I hope your appointment today went well and was productive. Praying your sweet boy makes a full recovery and gets back to living his best life very soon.
My 8 year old English Mastiff had what our vet suspects is an FCE a couple of weeks ago. First couple of days after the stroke it was looking pretty bleak, no movement in both of her back legs. On the third day she was actually up and trying to walk, then the 4th day she was walking but was staggering quite a bit and was really tired. Now a little over two weeks in and she is walking and trying to run. Our vet told me to keep her confined for a few more weeks and try and take her for some short walks just to try and build up her strength. Crazy how they can go from fine one minute to being paralyzed within a span of a few hours. Looks like my big girl is on the mend, fingers crossed!
Hi Rod,
I am happy to hear your Mastiff girl has recovered so quickly! What a blessing to have her back wanting to run and play. Thank you for sharing your story with our readers. This may be the encouragement someone else needs who is in a similar situation. Best wishes to you and your sweet girl.
Dr. Buzby,our German Shepard was diagnosed with fce 2 1/2 weeks ago.. She has stayed at the vet hospital all this time . During this time she has had a uti and had nose bleeds and that’s why we’ve kept her there. Just a few days into her stay she’s moved her back legs,they removed her catheter,she urinates on her own. My question to you is…she has the toe knuckle in her front paws and hasn’t shown any improvement there,she doesn’t react with me putting my fingers in between her toes either. She sits up on her sternum by herself now,she eats and drinks on her own now(she was getting syringe fed) she’s very alert and definitely wants to get up but can’t. Out of all the cases I’ve read about fce,never was there one where front paws were paralyzed. Our vet believes her fce(injury is clear up to almost her neck. What are her chances of getting use of her front paws? I know you haven’t examined her but is the 3-4 month recovery go for her case too? I guess my question is have you seen a case where a dog has become paralyzed in the front(from fce) and recovered? We bring her home today and I will be trying to do therapy (physical) with her but it’s so hard to see a very active dog just laying there,that’s not the life we want for her. Just so you know,we’re not in a position for a neurologist or a physical therapist. We reached a dollar amount we never thought of reaching and we have kids we’re raising,that’s why I’m asking your advice. Thank you, Michelle Marney (Kentucky)
Hi Michelle,
I commend you for taking on all the difficulty that comes with being a caregiver to a dog with FCE. I am glad that your girl has made some progress and was able to come home yesterday. I know that without higher imaging such as MRI or CT it may not be possible to get a definite diagnosis of FCE but is usually diagnosed based on symptoms and ruling out other issues. As long as your girl had an FCE and not some other spinal cord issue, the probability of recovery should be the same no matter the location of the FCE. I hope your shepherd girl continues to improve and has many happy days ahead. Praying you will have the strength to endure and that you can hold on to hope even when the days seem long. Wishing you both the best. ♥
Hi Julie, In the early hours of this morning my 3 year old Australia Kelpie Rocco was lying at the foot of my stairs. When I called him he initially he wasn’t able to move himself, but after few minutes he stood up and attempted to walk towards me. His hind legs were weak. I rushed him to an emergency vets and after assessment have suspected Rocco’s had an FCE. I have him at home now and the vets have prescribed pain medicine and loxicom which I think is an anti inflammatory. Rocco was absolutely fine the previous day.. I’m so worried about him, He’s been my best friend and has helped to get me through the loss of my beautiful wife to cancer only in July last year. I’d be totally lost without him. I did get him to stand since being home and he can support his own weight without my help. So I’m hoping that’s positive. He’s walked briefly at the vets. I place a towel under him to provide support. It’s seems that it’s predominantly his left side rear leg. Im reaching out to you for your advice. Thank you
Hi Nigel,
I am sorry you had such a scary experience with Rocco the other day. I am glad the vet is suspecting an FCE instead of other more worrisome issues. It sounds like you have some good medications, and he is doing pretty well so far at home. My biggest recommendation would be to talk to a rehabilitation veterinarian in your area. They can assess Rocco’s specific needs and formulate an at home exercise plan to help his healing progress. They also have access to other treatments that may be a great benefit such as laser therapy and underwater treadmill. Praying you will see Rocco make a complete recovery and enjoy many more happy years together. ♥
Hi so very sorry to read your story. I hope rocco is doing much better now.
I have a similar story,I adopted Charlie a 4yr old Dalmatian 9 years ago almost.my husband passed away and I decided to get a dog to make me see the outside still exists. So Charlie arrived and has been my life source ever since,he is covered in arthritis and has nerve damage from injuries he had prior to myself adopting him but none the less it very painful for him at times,he has various medicines for his spinal problems & arthritis but 8 weeks ago I walked in the house and he was just sat looking at me apposed to the normal stuffing his head in my bag to find something that must be in there for him! Haha,anyway he couldn’t get up and I called out the emergency vet who diagnosed he had indeed had a stroke, amazingly he was back walking again within 48hrs and a week later you wouldn’t know anything had happened. He is 13 very soon and those last week has been a real struggle again for him,his back legs are going and is starting to take short cuts to avoid standing etc ?..he has 3 lots of pain relief per 24hrs but feel he is going down hill fast this week.
I will do what I have to for his sake when the time comes but wanted to let you know the recovery & longer term for your younger dog is going to be just fine plenty of swimming & shorter walks for a while,never to early to get bigger dogs taking yumove for joints it’s excellent and I would definitely recommend it and I’m convinced that is why Charlie has gotten to his age as Dalmatians normally don’t live passed 10 especially large males like Charlie is.
Good luck and enjoy many more years with your little soul mate.
Dr. Buzby, my almost 9 year old labradoodle suffered sudden right sided paralysis 2 days ago. The vet stated that it is most likely FCE. He has since got some of his mobility back quickly, still using a harness on him, but he continues to have a head bobble off and on. This effect hasn’t been mentioned regarding FCE. Is the head bobble possibly a sign of a more severe stroke?
Hi Dawna,
I am glad you have already seen some improvement in your sweet boy. It sounds like he may make a full recovery given more time. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is hard to know for sure what his head bobble means. I recommend you let you vet know about this persisting symptom so they can monitor it closely as your pup continues to heal. If it does not resolve, it might be a good idea to get a referral to a veterinary neurologist. I hope the healing process is going well and that your senior guy will be back to his normal happy self in no time. Good luck and best wishes!
In the Prognosis section of this article, you state that prognosis includes how quickly treatment is initiated. Is 6-7 hours after the first signs considered quick?
My pup, who was staying with me ex, suffered a spinal stroke. It’s been over a week, and he still has almost complete paralysis. What are the odds of physical therapy NOT working on him?
Thank you
Hi Colleen,
I understand your concern with your pup and the lack of progress in his recovery at this point. Each dog is different, and it is very hard to know what will and won’t work, especially since I haven’t examined him myself. I recommend you talk to the veterinary rehabilitation specialist that would be treating your dog and get their opinion. You may need to have your dog examined by a veterinary neurologist or have some higher imaging done to get all the answers. But yes, having treatment initiated within 6-7 hours of the incident is very fast. I hope there are options that can restore your sweet boy’s quality of life. Wishing you both the best as you walk this difficult path.
Last night I was walking Luke ( 14 year old healthy Shih Tzu) home from the beach. As usual I picked him up to cross a very busy street. When we got to the other side I was bending over to put him down on the grass. He wiggled out of my arms and dropped probably 10 inches, landing on his feet and yelped.
He tried to start walking but both back legs were paralyzed.and we’re dragging. I picked him up and carried him about 100 ft and put him down. He was able to stand on his hind left leg but not the right. He did not appear to be in any pain.
I carried him about 1/4 mile home intending to grab my car keys and take him to the 24 hour emergency hospital.
When I got home and put him down, he started walking like nothing happened.
I took Luke to his regular vet this morning and the doctor preformed an exam along with Xrays. The X-rays don’t give a lot of info on herniated/ruptured discs, but do show the spacing between the vertebra.
The doctor did see the usual degeneration of discs common in older
Dogs, and felt comfortable with a FCE diagnosis. We came home with anti inflammatory & ( pain if needed )meds and will monitor him to make sure there is no regression.
It was the scariest moment I’ve had with Luke in his 14 years but comforted by the fact his prognosis is very good.
Hi Kevin,
I can only imagine how scary it must have been to see Luke go through such a traumatic event. I am glad you were able to get him to the vet so quickly the next day to have everything evaluated. It makes my heart happy to know he received a positive prognosis! I hope he continues to recover uneventfully and is restored to his usual joyful self. Thank you for sharing your experience with us and I wish you both the best.
Our 15 year old Sadie, mini long hair Dixie, was perfect one second and unable to use her hind legs the next. Rushed to emergency services and we were told, it’s not discussed, probably Neuro muscular. She did not improve as hoped her regular vet diagnosed FCE. He told us she will never regain movement in her back legs. She is scheduled for an evaluation for hydrotherapy The therapist gave us a glimmer of hope based on results from patients with similar diagnosis. Being totally paralyzed now, is it unreasonable to have some hope for movement?
Hi Marilyn,
I am so glad you are getting your girl into rehabilitation. I really think you will see many benefits for Sadie, even if she doesn’t regain the ability to walk. But it is definitely NOT unreasonable to hold onto hope! Give the therapy a good chance and lets just see what Sadie can do. I am praying for you and Sadie. Please keep us updated on her progress!
My Greyhound Jet had a spinal stroke 6 weeks ago on a sunday multi greyhound walk his back legs just went thank god he was on the leash at the time as we were walking past horse fields like the comment before he was sitting down back legs sticking out thank the lord we was in an area we could get a car to him off straight to the vets where he was diagnosed with spinal stroke i had never heard of it before he stayed at the vets for 5 days but was standing up the day after the episode had to help him empty his bladder with a catheter for a week he’s getting better every day but still not 100% he poos while walking and have to stop him walking off while peeing or it goes all over the front legs he has weekly laser treatment which is relatively cheap £17 not bad he’s hasn’t started water therapy yet but will very soon I’m so glad i found your site its really put my mind at rest i was panicking like crazy the first night and thats when i researched the condition yours was the first i found thank you so much for your help
Hi David,
I am glad to hear Jet is recovering and has a good prognosis for the future. It sounds like you have partnered with a great rehabilitation team, and they have a good plan in place. Thank you for sharing your story with us. Best of luck to you and Jet for many happy days together in the future. Keep us updated!
My 5 year old female welsh terrier suffered sudden rear leg paralysis in late August she was just hanging around the house. She is a very active dog. We immediately went to the neurologist and did the MRI. The emergency vet thought it was a FCE but after the MRI it turned out to be a ANNPE- Acute Non-compressive Nucleus Pulposus Extrusion. Similar symptoms and similar treatment- physical therapy, laser and underwater treadmill. She got herself up on her fee the next day and was walking on her own in 11 days. She now wears Dr. Buzby’s toe grips to protect the middle nails on her affected limb from getting scuffed up. II has been 3 months and she is walking, running and playing. We are continuing physical therapy to get her to as close to 100% as we can. Don’t give up on your dog. Here is her recovery video- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dI36HuptSb0
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for sharing Chante’s story with us! Your video is amazing and it was great to see her running and playing again. Best wishes to you both for many more happy years together.
Our 8, almost 9, year old shepherd/boxer mix just had this occur. She was fine Saturday, walks, playing in yard and at 4:20 am, starting dragging her left leg/paw. Scared me so bad. My sister and brother in law came to help. My husband has dementia. Emergency vet said FCE. Called my vet Monday and got us in with a neurologist surgeon. He ran a real tests, CT, and ruled out many things.,
Says is probably FCE. I am a bit overwhelmed, but will get Dixie started in PT asap. I’m hopeful she can get use to walking on 3 good legs. Pls say a pray for me as my hands a full with my husband as well.
Hi Tammy,
I am glad to hear that your girl was diagnosed with FCE instead of other more life-threatening possibilities. It’s much easier to tackle a problem when you know what you are facing! It sounds like you have a good plan in place and a great veterinary team to lean on. I am hopeful that your dog can regain more mobility and a good quality of life. My heart goes out to you with all you are dealing with on a daily basis. Caregivers have the toughest jobs. Remember to take care of yourself and don’t hesitate to accept help from those around you! Best wishes to you and your family.
My Frenchie had an episode where she lost control of her back legs , walking like a drunk, Being a Frenchie I thought she had IVDD and rushed her to vet. She didn’t think it was her back cause she could not find a source of pain. I had had a dog that was paralyzed even after the surgery before because we did get it in time…. so I knew time was an issue so I took her to another vet and they agreed that it was her back and referred me to a neurologist. I could not get in right away and in the mean time i had been keeping her quiet , with crate rest and meds. She had been getting better each day and the neurologist said he could find no damage , he suspected that it was a spinal stroke. I felt so relieved.
Hi Darlene,
I am glad to hear your Frenchie is going well and didn’t suffer long term effects. What a relief it must have been to get such a positive diagnosis! You were wise to act quickly and to stay persistent searching for answers. Give your sweet girl a hug from me. Best wishes!
On Sept 30th my Siberian Husky who was 11 years old and 4 months suffered a spinal stroke and was unable to walk again. When he attempted to get up and walk, he continuously fell down and yelped in pain. He had been fine previously all day when I took him to the dog park. When I took him to my vet, she attempted to do some tests but was unable to finish the tests. He died in the office. This was so heartbreaking and it left me baffled with his paralysis knowing he was fine all day!
Dear Therese,
I am so sorry to read of your loss. Thank you for sharing your experience with all of us. I hope you are able to find his memories blessing. Hugs to you.
Finn, our beautiful White Swiss Shepherd, suffered an FCE in October 2020 at 1 1/2 years old. My husband was playing with him in our family room, when all of a sudden Finn yelped and sat down on the floor. A visit to an emergency vet and an MRI confirmed the stroke.
Initially, both of Finn’s hind legs were affected, but about 48 hours following the stroke, he began to regain mobility and with a combination of exercises and time, he recovered very well. A year later, we only see an occasional small offset wobble in his right hind leg when he’s tired.
We know we were extremely lucky – it was so scary. For anyone out there going through this now, be patient and hopeful!
Hi Nina,
So happy to hear that Finn recovered well from his FCE. Like you said, it is definitely scary to watch and recovery is sometimes a slow process but thankfully there is often some light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks for sharing his story and for your words of encouragement to others.
Can bladder control be one of the symptoms associated with FCE? My pup seems unable to realize when he is urinating. He will walk around as he urinates and many times in the house. He is a 5 month old Irish wolfhound and had an FCE episode about 8 weeks old. He has recovered some but still struggles with his back left leg and the urination issue. What is my next step? Can something be done to help with the urination issue?
Hi Charles,
Sorry to hear that your Irish Wolfhound puppy had a FCE and is still having some urinary issues. Without examining him and performing some tests, I can’t say for sure if this is related to an issue with his neurologic system (such as residual damage from the FCE) or a problem with his urinary system (such as urinary incontinence from an anatomical issue) or due to another reason. I would recommend following up with your vet so he or she can do a full neurologic exam and potentially some other testing to try to get to the bottom of this. Best of luck with your big furry guy!
Hi,
My Border Collie Dora suffered a spinal stroke four weeks ago while I was walking her on the beach. Dora is ten years old. As it happened on a Sunday we had to take Dora to see the
emergency vet. We were told that Dora had suffered a spinal stroke, she lost the power in her back legs. The vet did the scan and could not find anything so thankfully surgery was ruled out. Dora stayed at the vets for six days and was put through all kinds of physio. The vet sent us videos everyday of Dora doing her physio. When we brought her home we had to us a sling to help her walk. It all felt very daunting and scary. After about three days we noticed that she
was trying to push herself up. Dora started to shuffle around the floor on her bottom. After
four days she was lifting herself up and doing a few steps. We were told by the vet to walk
Dora six or seven times a day and after three weeks being home she is walking, she still has
some weakness but her back legs are getting stronger, she is on the beach at least three times a day. We were told that walking on the sand is good for the balance. So we are not
using the sling but when we take Dora out we always carry the sling. Her recovery has been
fantastic as the vet said that we may see an improvement in six weeks. So there is light at the end of the tunnel for anyone who is going through this with their dog.
Hi Jackie,
Thanks for sharing Dora’s story of hope with us! I am so glad to hear that she has made such amazing progress! What an encouragement for other dog parents who are facing the same scary situation. ❤
So, last night, my cousin/roommate’s dog yelped when he was running with my great dane. He is an 8 year old Australian shepherd. When we ran over to him, his back legs were sticking out straight and he was sitting as straight as he could. After the initial Yelp, he seemed to be in no pain at all, but could not move his back legs.
My cousin is between jobs and cannot afford an MRI for him. We ruled out snake bite and injury. I had never heard of this condition, bit everything fits for what happened. We got him back inside and laid him down on his bed. At 3 AM he was able to get up in his own and walked out the door to potty. His movement is awkward, but he’s doing well 24 hours later. 4th of July weekend, I am so fortunate to know a former vet. I see their advice, Merlin is doing a LOT better today. It’s amazing the recovery we’ve been seeing in him.
Hi Valerie,
What a scary experience you and your cousin had with Merlin. I’m so glad to hear that he is doing better today and I hope he continues to make a full recovery!❤
My 14yo dobe/ rott mix suffered what turned out to be an FCE last Tuesday. Rushed him to the emergency vet and thats where he was diagnosed. The vet had high hopes and said most dogs recover just fine after s couple week, but age of course plays a factor. That Friday we followed up with our regular vet and he to agreed it was FCE. He said to give it until this past Friday and if he didn’t show improvement we could try prednisone. He has been on that and has shown improvement, but still having issues. We have woods floors which helps with his accidents but not walking. We did buy your toe grips and they have helped, although because his still curls the toes on the one leg, they do fall off, but they have really helped. A few more days on prednisone and hopefully he shows improvement. I really appreciate all the info your site provides. Gives me hope he will get better.
Dear Arthur,
I am glad to hear your senior boy is showing some improvement since starting prednisone. Thank you for the kind words about the articles and the ToeGrips. I really appreciate you taking the time to share your experience. Praying your sweet guy will have a full recovery and many happy days ahead. Best wishes to you both. ♥
My 11 yr old lab pit had an FCE 5 years ago. He was at UC David for a week where they ran tests and helped him get mobility. She recovered well except one hind leg had remained weaker than others. A year ago he had a tumor on his paw that exploded after being aspirated which resulted in him almost having surgery. The vet at the last minute after sedation decided that she would not be able to do it without cutting his whole leg which would result in bad quality of life. We decided to pick him up and heal his paw which we were told would never heal. He has had mostly good days but yesterday his leg that has always been weak is weaker and he can barely stand. No longer eating and I feel he had another stroke. I do not know what to do. I have to help him stand and even lay down.
Dear Maria,
I am sorry you are in such a difficult situation with your senior boy. How are things today? If your dog’s condition is declining or there has been no improvement, I highly recommend you get him to the vet as soon as possible. There are too many possibilities for me to make specific conclusions. I hope you are able to find the help you need to restore your dog’s quality of life or make some hard decisions about letting go. Praying for your strength and comfort.