Expert: Dr. Louis N. Gotthelf - 12/7/2011

Question
Hi.

I'm just asking this question to get Other opinions.  I know this isn't your "expertise" but I'm still going to ask.  My 7 month old catahoula leopard/plott cross puppy was hit by a car Friday around 8:30 pm.  She was totally comatose, brought to an ER vet right away they xrayed her and she has no obvious injuries, so they're sayin either brain/spinal cord.. she got dexamethazone ( I know that's not the correct spelling) and other meds, she remained comatose all day Saturday, my plan was to give her until Saturday at 8:30 (24 hrs) and if she was the same to have her put down.  Well Saturday around 3:00 pm I called to check on her and she was still not moving much but alert, responsive, she ate, wagging her tail.  So Monday morning we had to bring her to our regular vet who said she wasn't moving much because she was so high on morphine, so he decreased her morphine and she is moving around a little bit but there is definite weakness on her left side... She won't stand on her own and she really can't even stand with assistance right now.  She moves both right legs and she does move her left rear leg when you pinch her toe but won't put much pressure on it... We were told basically she just needs time.  In a perfect world we could take her to get an MRI, but we don't have the $2000-$3000 to spend on it on top of the $2100 we spent at the ER vet, and however much our regular vet will charge us.  Really I just don't want her to be suffering if chances are slim shell walk again.  Our vet doesn't think she is in much pain but she was so active before and now I know she misses being with us.  Basically I'm just looking for other opinions...

Answer
Neurological problems can take a long time to resolve.  Nerves grow very slowly and nervous tissue is protected from inflammation and swelling by the body.  So with good nursing care, it may take several months for her to return to somewhat normal.  There may always be some weakness or neurological problem from permanent damage that was not resolved.