Coonhound paralysis…(YUCK!!!!)
I just had a dog come down with this, he has had it for 9 days as of today (5-10-10). He has not become fully paralyzed, he can move his legs, turn himself over and kind of crawl/flop around. He also still has his voice.
Here are some questions:
1; Has anyone ever had a dog with CHP only get this bad and not go fully paralytic? How long did it take that dog to recover?
2; Did you ever coon hunt the dog again? If so did the dog ever get bit again? Did the dog ever develop CHP again? Was the dog the same mentally and physically afterwards?
3; Around the time that your dog got sick (maybe within a year or less time frame) did any other dogs hunting in the same general area get CHP? I ask this because another person I know had a dog come down with CHP in January. They were hunting, probably not more than 10 miles, as the crow flies, from where my dog was hunting when he got ahold of the coon that made him sick.
4; What, if any, kind of treatments did your vet try?
5; Anyone in California heard of anyone else’s dog coming down with CHP in the last few months?
Any other words of advice on caring for a dog with CHP? The hardest thing for me is getting him to go potty, he doesn’t always want to go because he can’t get away from it very well. The crappy weather right now isn’t exactly helping either. He is pretty upset about it, I wish there was some way to tell him he’ll get better. Spivey and myself would appreciate your prayers and thoughts, Thank you!
Coonhound Paralysis...
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Redwood Coonhounds
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Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
How's he doing? I wasn't there Saturday to see him go home.
To be honest I think CHP comes down to the individual dog, more so than anything else. Possibly something lacking in the immunity. Seems like once they get it, they are at a higher risk of getting it again.
Willie Granderson's old Hank dog has had CHP 3 or 4 seperate occasions. Each time a little worse, but he eventually pulls though. Seems to be the same once he's over it. He's got to be going on 10 years old now. Seems like he can almost catch it now just from looking at one, while there are plenty of other dogs that get bit by the same coon, no problem. Hank has also sired a few pups that have gotten it. Seems more than a coincidence. He still hunts him, he just never lets him have any part of a coon. If they catch one, get in there and get him out of there.
I have never had a dog get it, and I hate to say it out loud, but my dogs take care of every coon we've ever harvested. Worst I've gotten is an abcess or two.
I mean think of everyone you know that coon hunts and lets there dogs fight coons, and how many have had CHP? I don't think it has anything to do with the coon.
To be honest I think CHP comes down to the individual dog, more so than anything else. Possibly something lacking in the immunity. Seems like once they get it, they are at a higher risk of getting it again.
Willie Granderson's old Hank dog has had CHP 3 or 4 seperate occasions. Each time a little worse, but he eventually pulls though. Seems to be the same once he's over it. He's got to be going on 10 years old now. Seems like he can almost catch it now just from looking at one, while there are plenty of other dogs that get bit by the same coon, no problem. Hank has also sired a few pups that have gotten it. Seems more than a coincidence. He still hunts him, he just never lets him have any part of a coon. If they catch one, get in there and get him out of there.
I have never had a dog get it, and I hate to say it out loud, but my dogs take care of every coon we've ever harvested. Worst I've gotten is an abcess or two.
I mean think of everyone you know that coon hunts and lets there dogs fight coons, and how many have had CHP? I don't think it has anything to do with the coon.
Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
Coonhound paralysis is an acute neurologic disorder in dogs affecting the nerves controlling the muscles of the fore- and hind limbs, the muscles of the neck, and the muscles that control breathing and barking.
What causes coonhound paralysis?
Coonhound paralysis is suspected to be associated with an overstimulation of a dog's immune system, which may be secondary to contact with a raccoon (and especially raccoon saliva) or another stimulating agent such as a vaccination, a viral respiratory infection, or a viral or bacterial gastrointestinal infection.
What are the signs of coonhound paralysis?
Signs will begin 7 to 14 days after contact with a raccoon or other stimulating agent. Initially, affected dogs have a stiff-stilted gait in all limbs that rapidly progresses to various degrees of limb and body weakness, or even paralysis. Voice loss or voice change is also a common early sign. Occasionally, dogs develop weakness of the facial muscles. This will consist of drooping lips, sagging eyes, and an expressionless face. Breathing difficulties may develop in severely affected dogs and, on occasion, this can lead to a complete inability to breathe. Signs progress for 4 to 5 days (occasionally up to 10 days) before the disease stabilizes. However, most dogs will not show immediate improvement in strength at this time. Muscle weakness or paralysis will continue for several weeks and perhaps for up to 4 months. During this time, affected dogs will lose considerable weight due to general muscle wasting.
Despite severe signs of weakness (or even paralysis), most dogs remain in good spirits and continue to be responsive to their guardians, even being able to wag their tail. Affected dogs will also be able to eat and drink normally if given the opportunity and will be able to urinate and defecate However, some dogs may be unwilling to perform these tasks in the first few days of the disease.
How is coonhound paralysis diagnosed?
Coonhound paralysis has classic clinical and neurologic signs that are often recognized by your veterinarian after a neurologic examination is performed. No routine blood tests are available to confirm this disease. Your veterinarian may recommend more sophisticated tests to confirm a diagnosis of coonhound paralysis that can only be performed by a neurology specialist. These include electrical testing of your dog's nerves and muscles, muscle and nerve biopsy, and a spinal tap.
How is coonhound paralysis treated?
Unfortunately, no specific drugs are available to treat coonhound paralysis. High doses of immunoglobulins may shorten the disease course, although they have yet to be proven in dogs and are expensive. Excellent nursing care and physiotherapy are the best treatment. Dogs need frequent turning and a thick, padded bed upon which to lie. The bedding must be constantly kept clean of urine and feces. This will help prevent pressure sores and urine scald. Physiotherapy in the form of passive limb movements and swimming (when your dog becomes a little stronger) are essential to help stimulate muscle strength and movement as well as to limit the degree of muscle wasting.
What is the prognosis of animals with coonhound paralysis?
The prognosis is good to excellent, with most dogs going on to full recovery. Severely affected dogs may have mild, permanent neurologic deficits. The most important thing for the guardian of a dog with coonhound paralysis to remember is that the dog may take up to several months to recover from coonhound paralysis. Unfortunately, dogs do not build up resistance to recurrence of this disease if reexposed to the same offending agent.
Polyradiculoneuritis is characterized by paralysis that begins in the hindquarters and moves forward, eventually involving the entire body. The disorder was first observed in coon dogs and thus is called "coonhound paralysis." The cause of this disease is unknown, but about half the affected dogs are bitten or scratched by a raccoon 1-2 weeks before the paralysis appears.
Most dogs with coonhound paralysis recover fully, though a few develop permanent wasting (atrophy) of some muscles. Mildly affected dogs recover within a few days, while dogs with severe cases may take several months.
No immunity results from the disease, and recovered dogs may be affected again at a later date.
Important Points in Treatment
1. Treatment in the early stages of paralysis usually requires hospitalization and intense supportive measures. This includes feeding the dog by artificial means, maintaining eliminations, providing physical therapy for the muscles, and preventing infection. Your dog will be discharged when treatment can be successfully maintained by you at home.
2. You may have to hand-feed and water your dog in some cases.
3. Exercise: Start exercising your dog as soon as it can stand. Initially, exercise periods should be short and frequent: 3-5 minutes, 4-5 times daily. Gradually increase the exercise periods to 15-20 minutes.
4. Environment: Keep your dog on warm, soft bedding while it is incapacitated. If "bed sores"develop, apply padding to protect those areas.
5. Additional instructions:
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
* Your dog's paralysis returns or worsens.
* Your dog cannot urinate or have a bowel movement.
* Your dog develops body sores.
* Your dog's general health changes.
What causes coonhound paralysis?
Coonhound paralysis is suspected to be associated with an overstimulation of a dog's immune system, which may be secondary to contact with a raccoon (and especially raccoon saliva) or another stimulating agent such as a vaccination, a viral respiratory infection, or a viral or bacterial gastrointestinal infection.
What are the signs of coonhound paralysis?
Signs will begin 7 to 14 days after contact with a raccoon or other stimulating agent. Initially, affected dogs have a stiff-stilted gait in all limbs that rapidly progresses to various degrees of limb and body weakness, or even paralysis. Voice loss or voice change is also a common early sign. Occasionally, dogs develop weakness of the facial muscles. This will consist of drooping lips, sagging eyes, and an expressionless face. Breathing difficulties may develop in severely affected dogs and, on occasion, this can lead to a complete inability to breathe. Signs progress for 4 to 5 days (occasionally up to 10 days) before the disease stabilizes. However, most dogs will not show immediate improvement in strength at this time. Muscle weakness or paralysis will continue for several weeks and perhaps for up to 4 months. During this time, affected dogs will lose considerable weight due to general muscle wasting.
Despite severe signs of weakness (or even paralysis), most dogs remain in good spirits and continue to be responsive to their guardians, even being able to wag their tail. Affected dogs will also be able to eat and drink normally if given the opportunity and will be able to urinate and defecate However, some dogs may be unwilling to perform these tasks in the first few days of the disease.
How is coonhound paralysis diagnosed?
Coonhound paralysis has classic clinical and neurologic signs that are often recognized by your veterinarian after a neurologic examination is performed. No routine blood tests are available to confirm this disease. Your veterinarian may recommend more sophisticated tests to confirm a diagnosis of coonhound paralysis that can only be performed by a neurology specialist. These include electrical testing of your dog's nerves and muscles, muscle and nerve biopsy, and a spinal tap.
How is coonhound paralysis treated?
Unfortunately, no specific drugs are available to treat coonhound paralysis. High doses of immunoglobulins may shorten the disease course, although they have yet to be proven in dogs and are expensive. Excellent nursing care and physiotherapy are the best treatment. Dogs need frequent turning and a thick, padded bed upon which to lie. The bedding must be constantly kept clean of urine and feces. This will help prevent pressure sores and urine scald. Physiotherapy in the form of passive limb movements and swimming (when your dog becomes a little stronger) are essential to help stimulate muscle strength and movement as well as to limit the degree of muscle wasting.
What is the prognosis of animals with coonhound paralysis?
The prognosis is good to excellent, with most dogs going on to full recovery. Severely affected dogs may have mild, permanent neurologic deficits. The most important thing for the guardian of a dog with coonhound paralysis to remember is that the dog may take up to several months to recover from coonhound paralysis. Unfortunately, dogs do not build up resistance to recurrence of this disease if reexposed to the same offending agent.
Polyradiculoneuritis is characterized by paralysis that begins in the hindquarters and moves forward, eventually involving the entire body. The disorder was first observed in coon dogs and thus is called "coonhound paralysis." The cause of this disease is unknown, but about half the affected dogs are bitten or scratched by a raccoon 1-2 weeks before the paralysis appears.
Most dogs with coonhound paralysis recover fully, though a few develop permanent wasting (atrophy) of some muscles. Mildly affected dogs recover within a few days, while dogs with severe cases may take several months.
No immunity results from the disease, and recovered dogs may be affected again at a later date.
Important Points in Treatment
1. Treatment in the early stages of paralysis usually requires hospitalization and intense supportive measures. This includes feeding the dog by artificial means, maintaining eliminations, providing physical therapy for the muscles, and preventing infection. Your dog will be discharged when treatment can be successfully maintained by you at home.
2. You may have to hand-feed and water your dog in some cases.
3. Exercise: Start exercising your dog as soon as it can stand. Initially, exercise periods should be short and frequent: 3-5 minutes, 4-5 times daily. Gradually increase the exercise periods to 15-20 minutes.
4. Environment: Keep your dog on warm, soft bedding while it is incapacitated. If "bed sores"develop, apply padding to protect those areas.
5. Additional instructions:
Notify the Doctor if Any of the Following Occur:
* Your dog's paralysis returns or worsens.
* Your dog cannot urinate or have a bowel movement.
* Your dog develops body sores.
* Your dog's general health changes.
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Liz ODell
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Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
Hey Cassandra,
Well, he's still probably the same as the last time you saw him. I am thinking his cooning days are over which really sucks as he was a pretty decent coon dog out there in the briars and tules.
I really can't imagine another coon being worth going through this again, there have been a few times when I was able to get to the dogs on a ground catch before it was over but not many. I just don't think its worth it, maybe if I had a place to hunt that was rolling hills and big trees and the coons actually treed more often. All my dogs took some hits that night (it was like a Jery Clowers story) but Spivey is the only one to get sick. I haven't heard of or seen any other dogs related to him getting sick so maybe there was something going on with him that I didn't know about (weakening his immune system). Maybe it has something to do with getting bitten so many times this year? I have no idea, for now I'm working on building his immune system. Yeah, I just think he'll have to be making more trips to the big woods during the summer...but he is not going to like sitting at home in the evening while everybody else loads up.
From everything I've read they have not been able to find anything in any coon or in any dog that points to a reason for CHP happening from a coon bite. Or seen anything relating one dog to another as far as susceptability. They have kind of proven that once a dog gets CHP they are more likely to get it again.
Its basically an auto immune thing, I guess they can even get it from a vaccination reaction (humans are most likely to get 'their' version from the flu shot).
However it would still be very interesting to find out if anyone else has had a problem with this around the area lately...you never know when we might find the 'missing link'.
Hopefully more research will be done on CHP, hopefully we won't hear about anyone else having this happen as I wouldn't wish it on anybody.
Well, he's still probably the same as the last time you saw him. I am thinking his cooning days are over which really sucks as he was a pretty decent coon dog out there in the briars and tules.
I really can't imagine another coon being worth going through this again, there have been a few times when I was able to get to the dogs on a ground catch before it was over but not many. I just don't think its worth it, maybe if I had a place to hunt that was rolling hills and big trees and the coons actually treed more often. All my dogs took some hits that night (it was like a Jery Clowers story) but Spivey is the only one to get sick. I haven't heard of or seen any other dogs related to him getting sick so maybe there was something going on with him that I didn't know about (weakening his immune system). Maybe it has something to do with getting bitten so many times this year? I have no idea, for now I'm working on building his immune system. Yeah, I just think he'll have to be making more trips to the big woods during the summer...but he is not going to like sitting at home in the evening while everybody else loads up.
From everything I've read they have not been able to find anything in any coon or in any dog that points to a reason for CHP happening from a coon bite. Or seen anything relating one dog to another as far as susceptability. They have kind of proven that once a dog gets CHP they are more likely to get it again.
Its basically an auto immune thing, I guess they can even get it from a vaccination reaction (humans are most likely to get 'their' version from the flu shot).
However it would still be very interesting to find out if anyone else has had a problem with this around the area lately...you never know when we might find the 'missing link'.
Hopefully more research will be done on CHP, hopefully we won't hear about anyone else having this happen as I wouldn't wish it on anybody.
Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
i just had my year old red dog come down with it. nursed him back for 2 months...........it has been about 3 months since he came down with it now and cant even tell he ever had it and he still hunts.
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Liz ODell
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Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
Are you coon hunting him again? Where were you hunting at when he got the coon that made him sick?
Its been 27 days now for mine, he can now sit up by himself if you help him to the sitting position and is finally starting to get s little feeling/power to his back legs but it looks like it still might be awhile before he can walk. Hopefully he'll be fully recovered and muscled up (his rear legs atrophied pretty badly) for bear season.
Its been 27 days now for mine, he can now sit up by himself if you help him to the sitting position and is finally starting to get s little feeling/power to his back legs but it looks like it still might be awhile before he can walk. Hopefully he'll be fully recovered and muscled up (his rear legs atrophied pretty badly) for bear season.
Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
difficult for me to tell where he got it from i hunted him 5 days strait from the delta to creek and river bottoms and up in the mountains on some fox when he came down with it. few days after he could run again i hunted him and he treed himself a coon. his muscle aint back to 100% yet in his rear legs but i think he should make a 100% muscle recovery every day he looks and feels more muscluer
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Liz ODell
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Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
Finally walking, not very good but we are pretty happy about it, he can walk a little better everyday! Now I really have to watch him as we have been having some kinda varmint in the yard some nights and he tries to trail it out of the yard...kinda hard for him when all he could do was crawl with his front end, yesterday he made it into the alder patch before I got to him. At least his voice is back to normal...I'm still not sure about the coon hunting thing, I think he'll just be a bear and cat dog now 
.Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
I know I'm alittle late on this one but, I had a dog come down with it. Day 1 couldn't get up in the back hips. Day 2 about the same. Day 3 Couldn't get up in the front. Day 4 could only lay and lick water I poured in my hand. Day 5 took to the vet. Day 6 dead after alot of trying by the vet all night long. I know that's probably not what you wanted to hear.
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bearman
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Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
Hunter: you probably waited to long? should've gone sooner
Re: Coonhound Paralysis...
you are very much right sir. I should haven't taken so long. I have wished a 1000 times I had taken him the first or second day and maybe he would have pulled threw.