Frost has been with us since April. He is a friendly senior who has done well with staff and volunteers and has been to outside visits. Recently it has been noted that he was having difficulty standing up and getting around. Today his condition declined rapidly. He was able to stand and walk this morning, but this afternoon he is completely immobile. He can stand on his front legs if his back legs are supported, but cannot move forward on his own. This is an emergency situation as he is also urinating on himself and cannot rise and move around his kennel. He needs to be taken directly to a neurologist to be evaluated to see if there is anything that can be done to help him. His notes from today are below. If your organization has the resources to provide him the medical care he needs please contact us immediately. He will be evaluated again at 5 pm today. If he is doing worse he may be compassionately euthanized at that time. If he appears stable he may be held overnight. He needs rescue commitment by 9 am tomorrow.

Recheck:

Patient was pulled by staff member for examination but was unable to stand. Became fully splay legged on all four limbs. Crying out. 

Shelter staff moved to medical kennels. Went to kennel to examine. Panting RR 60, P: 120, Red mm. 

Completely nonambulatory on all four limbs, splay legged- moving limbs but paddling only. Laying sternal with head up. 

Reflexes present but no CP- unable to evaluate as patient is not standing

Crying out, whipping head around for any exam or palpation

Increased drinking, increased urination (yellow-clear). 

A: Concern for progressive spinal arthritis, discospondylosis that has fused and caused ruptured discs and bone formation with nerve pain, or any combination of the above. This appears to be end stage arthritis and pain medication is not controlling any type of pain at this point. Unclear if there is any treatment available, given patient’s lack of response to tx. 

Provided Hydromorphone for sedation and ideally some pain control- continue BID.

Send rescue plea for sooner- EOD since patient is not weight bearing and in active pain but will check on patient at EOD to see if patient is comfortable enough to wait until 9/4 EOD. However, this is a very unstable patient and concern for urine scalding, fecal scalding, further worsening of pain- will have all staff monitoring very closely. Patient may have to be euthanized prior to deadline time.