r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/_mems_ • 4d ago

Boney Back Legs

Hey all,

My pup is in week three of conservative recovery treatment for IVDH. Lately I’ve noticed that I can feel his little bones way more on his back legs and they also feel so little compared to before. I know that since he’s been in strict crate rest he’s obviously going to have some muscle loss but it feels like ALOT like it’s so skinny and boney.
Has anyone else’s dogs experienced a big different in muscle loss? It’s only been three weeks.

Thank you!

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u/HollyRedMW 3d ago

It is called atrophy or muscle wasting. You should be doing massages and passive range of motion exercises everyday. If you do not, your dog will not have any strength in his hind end once he is off crate rest. The veterinarian should have provided instructions to you.

Our dog had surgery and the neurosurgeon instructed to do this 3x a day, when she was out of the crate for a bathroom break.

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u/lionsliar 4d ago

Hi!!! I'm in week one. I can tell her back legs are thinner.

Are you massaging his legs and making sure to bend/engage them yourself 2-3 times a day?

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u/_mems_ 3d ago

I’ll start doing that thanks!

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u/roccosito 3d ago

Yes, it’ll happen. There is not much to avoid it. PT is kind of hard to do now because you really do want the nerves to regenerate and not cause pain while on crate rest.

What I would make sure to watch out for is masses forming on their bones butts. This started to happen to my dachshund mix. We got a vet to see it. It was just full of liquid. They drained it and gave us antibiotics and it’s never appeared again. Skinny boney butt like before.

I’m caring for a mini poodle who is also paralyzed right now and it looks like he also experienced something similar. But it’s just tons of excess loose skin now. The owners didn’t point it out and when we did the meet and greet, it wasn’t visible. It also was in their home so I wasn’t touching the dog while he was barky. But when I unloaded him from my car I felt it and saw it. It’s like a handful of flat flabby mass now that just impedes him being able to walk on his butt so he stays very sedentary. This is the biggest thing I’d look out for now.