Can anyone help as we are so worried.  On wednesday night one of our 5 1/2 week old bitch puppies suddenly lost the use of her hind legs.  She has had lots of tests at the vets - xrays, blood tests etc.  She has no bone damage to the spine but they cannot rule out nerve damage.  they think she either has an infection that has migrated to the spinal fluid, or she has somehow damaged nerves in her spine.  We were with her for an hour before it happened and she didn't cry or fall and was running around with the other pups.  Has anyone experienced this before?

The only time Ive seen this was in a friends boxer puppy many years ago and it proved to be a condition called Progressive Axonopathy. This genetic disease is thought to have been eradicated in the breed in the UK... A central cord axonopathy (a disorder disrupting the normal functioning of the axons - the long fibrous part of the nerve cell) has also been described in young Labrador retrievers.

We had this with an older dog and it turned out she had an infection of her synoval fluid.

How awful for you! This happened recently to my neighbour and it turned out it was muscular dystrophy. I hope this isn't the case for you. All her bloods and xrays came back normal. It was only when she saw a specialist vet in neurology in Bath and had scans that he made the diagnosis. I wish you all the best with your poor pup.

Hi Helen

Have emailed you some information on Neosporosis, have been googling like mad and symptoms seem to add up. Have been so worried about this little pup since I heard. I truly hope you can find out what's wrong and she makes a full recovery...

Take care, positive thoughts coming your way.

Tanya

Hi I don't usually post only read but felt I had to reply to you on this one as just a few weeks ago I had exactly the same  with one of our pups who was diagnosed with a fibrocartilaginous embolism which would give all of the symptoms that you have described, our vet was dealing with the neuro's in Bristol and spoke to 2 different specialists who both came back with the same diagnosis, basically from what I understand this can be caused by a slight knock even in a young pup and it causes what is potentially a blood clot within the spinal cord which can (it's about 75% likely) just reabsorbe into the body and the pup can then regain complete use of the hind legs but it can take up to 6 weeks (although not normally that long) there is also the chance of partial recovery so don't give up hope! Good luck and keep us informed please.

hi i had a litter just over a year ago, and 1 of the pups did the same sort of thing but i saw mum jump on her pup trying to get to a fly pup cried out so i knew she wouldnt walk ,took her to the vets and couldnt find anything wrong they said to wait and see :( but after 1 week she started to walk again and has been fine ever since, fingers crossed your pup is ok (((hugs))) it worried me sick xx