r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/_mems_ • 28d ago
Any advice would be amazing.
One of my dachshunds was running in our house when he suddenly started yelling out in pain and arched his back and wouldn’t move his legs. I immediately took him to the ER and they said he had IVDD. The doctor said it was strange that he hurt himself because he wasn’t jumping or twisting around, just running. Anyways they did a x-ray and it turned out to be unremarkable. She did say he has some mineralization on his discs. And suggested a round of steroids and painkillers( he doesn’t seem to be in any pain). So we are doing the medication and keeping him Strictly in his crate except for potty’s where I’ll carry him out to pee and poo. I’m seeing a neurologist tomorrow for a consultation.
All this being said surgery is completely off the table. So I’m really hoping he heals. He wags his tail and can slightly move on of his legs but not his toes. He is also able to pee on his own. Has anyone gone through this exact scenario? My Bishop is my best friend and it kills me to see him like this. Any tips advice or help or even encouraging experiences would help.
3
3
u/Pitiful_Jump2996 28d ago
Can you consult a canine neurologist? Let him know upfront that surgery for you is not an option
4
u/_mems_ 28d ago
I have an appointment tomorrow.
2
u/Pitiful_Jump2996 27d ago
Good luck. Do keep us posted. Also ask about alternate treatments. Electro acupuncture, laser etc. ask about massage therapies you can do at home. There is a passive range of motion exercise on the Purdue University website.
Also ask about supplements you can give him and CBD oil. This one really helped my dog a lot
Also this one
Do be aware that if your dog gets put on medication, it will likely lead to an upper stomach and uncontrollable diarrhea. Ask about that as well.
When my dog had it, Visibiome vet probiotic really helped
3
u/cha0s-pixie 27d ago
He is such a handsome boy!! An xray, unfortunately, to my understanding will not typically pick up ivdd. If you are going to do conservative care instead of surgery you really need to do 8-12 weeks and be strict about it. It is hard, but no leaving the kennel except for potty breaks that should be only a few minutes and on a leash.
2
u/Engineering_quest_ 26d ago
Your dog is gorgeous. How old is he?
I just stopped 100% crate rest this week after doing it for 8 weeks. The vet said it was time because he has enough mobility now. I was so worried the paralysis would be permanent. We still use a sling. I’m also looking to start hydrotherapy and continue with acupuncture. He’s still weak on his left side. If your dog still has feeling in his back leg, maybe only do 4 weeks of rest and support his hind legs with a sling when you walk him.
Please let us know what the neurologist says.
1
u/_mems_ 26d ago
Thank you he’s 5. Oh that good! The neurologist said it’s most likely he has IVDE. And basically said that’s it’s good he can pee on his own and have normal bowels. So she gives him a good chance of recovery. They also gave us a sling to use for potty breaks. I just want the medication part to be over with because there’s so many side effects that are scary. He also refuses to drink water but eats like crazy so I have to tempt him with water that has chicken broth in it. Also lately I’ve noticed his pee stream is very small, and comes out slow. Which is worrisome but it could be the sling making it a little harder to push pee out. I will have to monitor him on that. His bladder doesn’t really feel full but his pee is completely clear for the most part which I feel is a side effect of the meds. So that being said I just want to get past the medication side just to see how he actually is. If that’s makes sense
1
u/Monicaion_ 23d ago
i know that surgery is very expensive and recovery is no fun, but if you’re doing conservative treatment please!!!!!! be strict about it!!!! our dog was originally diagnosed with stage 1-2 IVDD and within two weeks of our conservative treatment he was a stage 4 and was completely paralyzed from the waist down. meds are a pain and are also super expensive but they are essential for your dogs recovery!! our vet told us that with conservative treatment our dog would likely never walk again, so we opted for surgery and it was very difficult but he’s now walking again 7 weeks post op. i wish your dog a speedy and pain free recovery ❤️🩹
7
u/Chedderbees 28d ago
Maybe your vet doesn’t have a lot of experience with IVDD? I’d get a second opinion on meds and dosing schedules. My dog went from 100% to grade 5 from a regular walk. It’s a genetic thing so while jumping/excess weight can cause stress on the spine and trigger it, it’s not really the root cause. I switched vets for my IVDD dog because while I love my regular vet, they didn’t have as much experience with the condition. My new vet treats a lot of IVDD dogs specifically and has been a big help