Unknown Soft Tissue Injury (Spinal?) After Being Bitten By Wasp
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Hi there - it's been a while since I posted last, and I hope everyone's pets are doing well! My current basenji problem is really difficult for me, and I'm wondering whether anyone has ideas:
To wit, my boy Grady just recently turned 7 and was of perfect/ideal health and vigour. About 5 weeks back, he was randomly bit by a wasp or bee on one of our walks, and immediately stopped and screamed in ways I'd never heard (nor ever want to hear again!). Since then, he has been extremely lame with a curved spine and tail that rarely goes back to its curl. X-rays, blood work, and ultrasounds picked up nothing, so the vet has always thought it was a soft-tissue injury. Problem is, after some initial success with anti-inflammatories and muscle relaxants, he has returned to being almost "lame", with a curved back and very little strength in his hind legs. His stomach is always "taut" too, which leads me to assume he is "flexing" for pain reasons. Finally, he often grimaces/growls now just moving about.
As x-rays can't seem to find any structural issues, I'm left wondering what on earth could be afflicting him? Did his violent reaction to getting stung make him pull a muscle in his back? Did he give himself a slipped disc (although I'm unsure why x-rays wouldn't catch that)? Could there be some sort of spinal damage that's rendered him barely mobile? He has always been completely up-to-date in medical and vaccine terms, and so this mystery is killing me.
Currently, he is on an anti-inflammatory/painkiller, and there was soon relief in the early days - but he has reverted to not being able to stand on his hind legs or want to use them for any power (ie. jumping up on a sofa). As it's been 5 weeks, I'm at a complete loss as to what further to do or how to think about his healing - will our walks be forever changed to just going around the block?
I guess I'm just putting this out and wondering whether healing takes more time, or what alternatives I might want to pursue (steroids? massage? surgery?). Again, the vet and I have zero idea what this might be, but 5+ weeks now seems like a long time for a soft tissue to not have healed up. Would anyone happen to have any ideas or thoughts as to what I may be dealing with? (doesn't seem "neurological" as his personality seems intact - only weird difference is that he's too "timid" now to not even get annoyed by things that used to make him cranky, like being petted to much - he seems to actually crave that now).
Thanks SO SO much, and my apologies for taking so long with this!!
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(just thought I'd quickly add that despite his lameness, he has no issues with incontinence or going to the bathroom - it makes everything that much more mysterious, as he tries his best during walks, but his hind legs' nails are often dragging due to the weakness)
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No sore spots whatsoever - though his stomach is almost permanently "taut" or flexed, unless he's had his anti-inflammatory meds. He eats well and can go to the bathroom well, but as days pass his hind legs are getting worse and worse (to the extent I'm sure he'll just end up permanently lame if I don't anything more). I am praying/hoping/wishing that laser therapy can provide some assistance, as his one session of a few weeks back resulted in him being almost "back to normal" for about 4-5 days! If I can get another miracle result, I think I will look into multiple treatments until he seems better. This is such a stressful time, but I'm grateful for your condolences/suggestions - everything helps - thank you so much!
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