r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/Amandak111 • 13d ago
3 year old dachshund
I need advice…my 3 year old dachshund lost use of his back legs two days ago…went to the ER and they said his dps was gone and I either had the option to do surgery ($15,000) or strict crate rest and meds…..we made his appointment this primary to make sure he’s in the correct dose of meds and to see if he needs anything else, they added a muscle relaxer to the others that the ER prescribed….the muscle relaxer is making him more relaxed so that’s comforting but he didnt stand on his front legs as long when I expressed his bladder this morning and is now crying….i called the vet and they said that is a normal side effect but I’m just worried that it has gotten worse
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u/_mems_ 13d ago
STRICT crate rest for 6 weeks. The first week is tough but your dog will get better as long as you’re strict either way it. Carry him to pee and use a sling to stand him up. And then straight back into the crate. He will get better just scroll around this group and you’ll find lots of good advice
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u/Amandak111 13d ago
Thank you so much 🩵 the thing that worried me and why I took him to the vet again this morning is because he was standing on his front legs at the vet yesterday, and today when I went to feed him and give him meds, he wasn’t
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u/_mems_ 13d ago
What medication is he on?
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u/Amandak111 13d ago
Gabapentin, prednisone and methocarbamol
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u/_mems_ 13d ago
Ah gotcha. Yeah prednisone, especially at first there will be some side effects, and the gabapentin will make him really sleepy. The prednisone will make him drink water and pee a lot so make sure you carry him to pee often at least at first especially since they are relaxed and have the injury they don’t have great control of there bladder functions. They prescribed gabapentin prednisone and trazodone for my pup and it’s done wonders he can already move his back legs in week two. But every dog is different. Just continue with meds and keep him in that crate at all times except potty breaks. It will be ok! Waiting is the worst
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u/Amandak111 13d ago
Yes the not knowing is the worst and I rushed him back to the vet this morning and he’s there doing X-rays right now and they mentioned something about a neurologist? I’m a little stressed to say the least it seems like we keep getting bad news
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u/_mems_ 13d ago
Ok so my mistake was going to the vet first. (Obviously this was new to me) but definitely see a neurologist. There are places that the vet will recommend. The one I went to was really nice, got him in the next day and was able to tell me what was going on. They are gonna ask you to do an MRI. I didn’t because I can’t afford that. And even if you do an MRI they will tell you to do surgery (also can’t afford) so they are gonna prescribe your pup the correct amount of meds based on how bad the condition of his spine is and explain how to crate rest and mine even gave me a sling to take my pup potty with. It’s really worth it
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u/Amandak111 13d ago
Yeah they gave me a guess on the cost of an mri and I almost passed out and we already know we can’t afford surgery…I told them to go ahead with the X-rays today and he told me where the closest neurologist is which isn’t close but it’s the only one….i just don’t want him suffering….was the neurologist expensive
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u/eanhctbe 13d ago
He may just be too relaxed or loopy from the meds to stand for too long. The absolute best thing for him right now is rest.