My dog has nerve damage from car accident. How long to regain tail/bladder control?

Hi, sorry to hear that your cat got hurt! Sometimes neurologic injuries (injuries to the spine) take months to heal. You may have to feed him a soft diet and give him enemas to help him defecate for some time. Also, your vet can show your how to feel your cat's bladder and express it when necessary, usually three times daily. If he is regaining movement in his tail that is a good sign. You must be patient if you wish to save him. I have known cases that have taken 4 months to heal and regain function. It is a big job and you must be come his nurse for a while, but if he is regaining movement already that is a good sign. I cannot promise he will regain function but would not say all is lost until a few months have gone by. Good luck, I hope this helps!

I'm very sorry Sammy had to have surgery for a traumatic accident. Depending on the severity of her injury, it make take longer than usual for her to fully recover. Typically after spinal surgery, full recovery can take four to six months, but I'm guessing her injury may have been pretty severe. You have to be prepared that she may never regain bowel or bladder control. I'd speak to the vet who did her surgery to find out more information on her prognosis. I hope this helps Robert.

If he regained ability to walk (did not understand if he had surgery or not), there are good chances that urinary incontinence and tail movement will improve up to a point were he will be self sufficient. Time and treatment options would depend on what he had as treatment so far so please do not hesitate to contact us again on the forum or by requesting a consultation to give us further details about him.

I'm so sorry to hear about Maggie Mae's injury and this difficult situation you are in. There's no perfect answer here. I would let the vet know you're considering euthanasia, and ask them what they think her prognosis is. If she has a good prognosis but is struggling being it the crate, there are medications for sedation and anxiety that are very very helpful for extended cage rests. It sounds like this was probably a pretty recent injury, so one approach (if the vet thinks her prognosis is ok) would be to try the cage rest and other management for a week (or even just 2-3 days if a week seems unmanageable) and then reevaluate her condition and your options. Wishing you both the best of luck.

I am sorry to hear about Major. Without knowing the cause of his paralysis we are not able to determine what may help him walk again. I am not sure what you refer to when you mention a "bone disorder" as there are many different things that could be considered a bone disorder. Unfortunately in most cases of paralysis, if they have been going on for months a return to normal function is not likely. Treatment options will truly depend on the underlying cause. If it is an issue with damage to the spinal cord then a return to normal function after several months of paralysis is not likely.

It sounds like your dog is likely in extreme pain, and he needs veterinary attention immediately. He may have fractures, internal injuries and bleeding, and may even have neurological issues from being hit by the car. If you mean that he is unable to urinate, that is a medical emergency, and requires immediate veterinary care. Your vet will assess him and recommend appropriate treatment, which will likely include pain medication, imaging and possibly surgical repair. Do not give pain medication to him without checking with your vet, as pain medications for humans can be toxic to dogs. Good luck, and I hope he feels better soon!

Poor Georgia! Unfortunately it is possible that she may have permanent damage due to her accident, especially since her injury occurred while she was a puppy and still growing. However, there may be a few things that may help her, including acupuncture, massage, chiropractic treatment, rehabilitation exercises and physiotherapy, as you mentioned. It's also important that you keep her at a lean body weight and don't let her get overweight, as that would put extra strain on her joints. Talk to your vet about joint supplements to help support her joints, as the rest of her joints and legs will be taking on extra strain due to the fact that she cannot use her left front leg, which can make them more prone to injury and arthritis. Your veterinarian may also want to prescribe pain medication, as the fact that she cannot use her leg properly is likely causing pain in the affected limb and other limbs, as described above. Some types of pain medications are particularly good for nerve pain, and may be a good option for Georgia. The links below can help you find rehabilitation and acupuncture therapists near you that may help. Good luck, and I hope Georgia feels better soon! http://www.tcvm.com/Resources/FindaTCVMPractitioner.aspx http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/Find_A_Therapist.html