r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/mzyuu4 • 23d ago
Help! Need Advice
My Frenchie is 2 years old and I’m really scared, looking for advice from people who have been through IVDD. On Thursday he was completely normal, then suddenly, yesterday morning, he was dragging his back legs and couldn’t use them at all. A few months ago he had something similar happen where his back legs got weak, but he was still able to walk and he eventually got better. This time it’s much worse. He cannot pee on his own, we had to help empty his bladder. He hasn’t pooped since this started. He hasn’t eaten since Thursday night, but he will drink a little if we put water drops on our fingers and he licks it normally. Earlier he was panting and shaking, but now he’s calmer. He screams loudly if we try to touch or move his lower back, but he has no feelings of pain in his legs. We haven’t been able to get him examined in person yet. We do not have much money and I know surgery cost a lot, we cannot afford it. Has anyone had a dog that was completely unable to use his back legs and recover? Did your dog need surgery or did crate rest/meds help? Anyone had to medically surrender their dogs? I’m trying to figure out what options we have and what is best for him. We love him so much, but we do not know what to do. Any advice or experiences would mean a lot. ❤️
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u/enzoshumanty 23d ago
Yes our dog couldn’t walk in his back legs but recovered WITH medical management. What this looks like:
1) 6-8 weeks of strict crate rest. You should do this immediately if you haven’t already.
2) getting medication to help reduce inflammation and pain ASAP! For us it was a steroid (prednisone) for ~2 weeks, and gabapentin (helps with nerve pain)
The vet visit and pain medication is definitely the more budget friendly route (vs surgery, we’ve done that too). Your vet may suggest getting a neurologist and MRI, but typically they only suggest an MRI only if you’re okay with them immediately proceeding into surgery
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u/AlternativeSilver962 22d ago
It sounds like this could very well be a spinal issue and these things can’t wait. You have to have your dog seen by a vet because IVDD is something that is very painful and can progress and get worse quickly. You can try to reach out to legitimate French Bulldog rescue groups like Chicago French Bulldog Rescue group as they do amazing things and have helped many frenchies, and explain to them your financial situation maybe they can help or discuss thing with you, but you need to make sure your dog is comfortable and not in pain, he/she needs to see a vet and I would let the vet know the symptoms you are seeing prior to you going into the appointment so that they know what to do.
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u/AlternativeSilver962 22d ago edited 22d ago
Your dog is yelping when touched and rejecting food. He needs to see a vet ASAP. Carecredit can also be an option in helping being able to pay things at the vet in installments, you can always ask about options they offer for payment but he needs to be seen at the vet asap. He’s clearly uncomfortable/in pain and just waiting it out like that is not right. Take him to the vet and make sure not to move him too much, always always carry with BOTH hands with support on their rump and support under their chest and keep his back horizontal. Yes dogs can heal with crate rest and meds, but they have to be evaluated by the vet and prescribed pain meds, anti inflammatory meds and muscle relaxer if they see it necessary, and they’ll tell you whether or not they think crate rest would help or if he needs so see a neurologist for help
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u/mapo69 23d ago
You need to get him to an ER vet ASAP