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Do any one of you know about FCE?

Biker John

Biker John

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Last Saturday, my Whippet Folly was running round like her usual idiot self near tea time. She then suddenly screamed and could not control her back legs properly. A panic ring to the vets and taking her in followed. She was kept in over night and saw a specialist vet on Sunday. Put simply she has been diagnosed with Fibrocartilaginous Embolism, (FCE). I had never heard of this so I am asking if any one has experience of it, and what to expect.

I have been told to slowly build up her exercise and tailor it to how she is. Since Sunday she is slowly improving, by now her gait is not to bad, in fact quite a few people wouldn't tell she wasn't right but she hasn't got the fluid movement she used to have.

The only real problem I have is she is determined to carry on as normal, like bed time she obviously still thinks she should be upstairs with me, but she does not want to be carried. Fortunately she doesn't struggle when I pick her up but she does her best to get to the stairs before I can. So far I have managed but as she improves she will most likely get their before me sometime, I can only hope that by then she can manage the stairs ok.
 
I'd not heard of it,so looked it up,spinal stroke. Can be caused by simply running,sounds like she may of had a get out of jail card in her back pocket mate.
 
Many years ago one of my lurchers experienced something similar, my vet said it was due to the hard hunting /running life he'd had, he was 8 at the time, I retired him there after to a life of luxury, he was a pain in the backside for my wife because had to to leave him at home when I went out with the other dogs hunting, though he did enjoy what was brought back ,tasty. I limited the amount of free running he had on his walks, and I recon he enjoyed his retirement, he carried on for another 4 years bless him. I always think of a long bow when I see a running dog in full flight, the flexing of there spine is poetry in motion.
 
It's just dawned on me,that's what they were testing my boy for I think. I've mentioned before I had a disabled dog (bless him) well he went from being normal to dropping and being unable to walk,his legs were shaking all over the place.
I know they took spinal fluid samples from him + other samples for toxicology reports. Bloods came back clear for poisoning but no conclusive answers on the spinal fluid.
 
R&R is the order of the day, difficult it may be for an active dog. Hope all goes well for you and Folly.
 
Sorry to hear that. Can you sleep downstairs until the acute stage has subsided?

All good wishes for a speedy recovery.
 
Have you thought of putting a temporary stairgate up to prevent her legging it upstairs? (If sleeping downstairs as Hemlock suggested is not an option).. Really sorry to hear this, resting a usually active dog is tough going..wishing you both well and Folly a gentle but speedy recovery.
 
Thanks all, I was just hoping someone had experience and could give me some pointers to go along with the vets. As to the stairs yes if it came to it then I would sleep downstairs but so far I can manage her. And yes her racing days are over, though the vet did mention that with her not being over weight and having a good muscle tone should help her, so its possible that racing in the past will help her now. With all I have found out it will be a long slow process but with a bit of luck she should end up fully fine.
 
Biker John said:
Thanks all, I was just hoping someone had experience and could give me some pointers to go along with the vets. As to the stairs yes if it came to it then I would sleep downstairs but so far I can manage her. And yes her racing days are over, though the vet did mention that with her not being over weight and having a good muscle tone should help her, so its possible that racing in the past will help her now. With all I have found out it will be a long slow process but with a bit of luck she should end up fully fine.
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Swimming worked a treat for my boy,without it,it would of been a very long hard struggle
 
Rinkydinydo, I think Folly would have a heart attack if she was put in water, she hates getting wet, wont even let a paw get wet if she can help it.
 
@Biker John my boy was like a duck in water. He was really bad though,he had to have a Life jacket on while the therapist worked his legs. She worked wonders with him,I'll always be grateful for what she did for him. The good news was,he lived to be 16 and had a good happy life. Thats him as my avatar... one special dog he was.
I'm glad Folly is in a better situation by the sound of it.
 
I have to say how happy I am, over the moon springs to mind. Folly has come on a lot, in fact I think most people seeing her walk now wouldn't know their was anything wrong. OK a true dog person especially one with sight hound experience will notice that she hasn't got the true fluid movement she used to have and should have. But honestly she has already improved more than I originally could have hoped for. If she does not improve any more than I will be more than satisfied.
 
fantastic, great news, don't we just fret over them, but there worth it.:)
 
Bringing everyone up to date, Folly has carried on improving, slowly but that's to be expected, so that now she is walking properly. By that I mean she has the typical sight hound, free moving springy step. I have noticed this coming on for some time, initially when she was walking slightly faster but now its still there at all speeds, in fact today when we were out a lady, (with a friendly lab type), said 'Oh I do like watching Whippets walk they are so smooth'. So to say I am happy with her would be a big understatement.
 
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