More advice needed - worried and sad

[helpyhelperton]

Can't link to old thread but 11 yr old mini schnauzer couldn't stand a few weeks ago and let out some poo in the house. Turns out she was in severe pain for her kissing spine.

So, she's now managing her pain well with daily gabapentin, metacam and the librella injection once a month. Even though we were back at vets last week as her front leg was still giving way and sore. This is arthritis.

The problem is we found another bit of poo on the sofa this morn and a bit at the back door last week (plus the one a few weeks ago),

This is a bad sign, isn't it? It can't just be the meds because she started doing it before all the tablets.

The vet thought the first accident was her back pain not allowing her to crouch.

She seems much more pain free at the moment - she's pottering around more loosely and seems happier.

I will tell the vets but I'd like some advice on here too - thanks.

Any dog with issues with their back can get nerve damage which means they are not aware that they need to poo. So they just poo with no feeling.

It is not necessarily a bad sign or that the problem is getting worse just a symptom of the back issue.

It depends on you and the dog how you want to proceed. Many dogs are not bothered at all as they have no sensation other dogs do get stressed about it.

Thank you for this. The vet didn't think she had any nerve damage - just the vertebrae touching.

She seems Ok - being as obnoxious as usual....

I love her so much, I can't imagine a life without her in it. But I won't let her suffer. I wish they could talk (I mean she shouts all the time, but have no idea what she's saying, it's probably sweary).

Is the kissing spine not something they can operate on , I know they do surgery for horses with it .

She's 11 - I'm not sure she'd tolerate that and they haven't suggested it?

Her front leg is the worse thing at the moment and that's the arthritis - stopped giving her metacam on Sunday (as there's not enough testing to say it's safe with librella long term).

I just want to make her a wheel stilt or something to help support it.

She's a bugger tho - the most stubborn creature I have ever met and you can't stop her from jumping on the sofa and off again. She loves the sofa - I can't block it off either.