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The doghouse

If you're worried about your pet's health, please speak to a vet or qualified professional.

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Original poster

Dog with 2 slipped disc

47 replies

JacksonvilleJaguars · 25/03/2019 18:36

Hi all, just wondering if anyone has any experience of a dog with a single or multiple slipped disc?

We've had the MRI today, all our vet can tell us is there are 2 slipped disc. The scans are being reviewed by a specialist before we'll know damage/Surgery or treatment options etc. Unfortunately the specialist will take 3 to 4 days to review them so I'm just reaching out to see if anyone else has been through this

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Minxmumma · 25/03/2019 20:40

We have just lost our boy to a disc injury that progressed. His prognosis wasn't great as he was a giant breed so imobilising him wasn't possible.

My only advice is strict crate rest and lots of love. If you have a smaller breed then surgery is probably a good bet.

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 25/03/2019 21:11

I'm really sorry to hear that Minxmumma.

We have an extremely active Staffordshire bull terrier who is 11 this year and still as active as when he was a pup. I'm really worried about keeping him immobile but I'll do everything I can. Just worried it's not going to be good news

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Minxmumma · 25/03/2019 21:14

Thank you x

Fingers crossed your neurosurgeon has some positive news.
We were advised to restrict activity to prevent it getting worse. It's all very daunting - I felt utterly helpless

rosinavera · 25/03/2019 21:20

My jack russell slipped a disc when she was three. She had surgery and then came home about a week later. She came home not being able to walk properly - she was sort of walking on her elbows. We had to make sure that she didn't jump up on anything. We were shown how to do physio with her at home. We had to gradually progress exercise by five minutes each week - it was a long hard slog. She also had regular physio and hydrotherapy at the vet hospital. It took about six months for her to get back to normal.

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 25/03/2019 21:33

Yea that's exactly how I feel - helpless

He's such a sick note too, he's had multiple surgeries for tumour removal, 2 within 8 months and the last tumour removed from his eye. Every time I feel broken for him, I just don't know what to do right now

That is really good Rosinavera, although I can appreciate going through all that must not have been easy

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rosinavera · 25/03/2019 22:08

Oh yes it was a very positive outcome! :-)

rosinavera · 25/03/2019 22:09

Good luck and let us know how your boy is getting on! x

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 26/03/2019 07:45

Oh I definately will, thank you both x

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DevonshireDarling · 26/03/2019 12:34

My beagle had slipped discs, they pushed so much on her spinal cord that she became paralysed in the back end (legs and tail) it happened very quickly (on Boxing Day of all days!) and she had to be rushed to our local animal hospital where they said she was grade 4 out of 5 (5 being the worst...but she was 4 as she still had deep pain sensation) she underwent spinal surgery and they removed 4 discs I think and fused them together. It was one of the most stressful times. She was in the hospital for 2 weeks then came home and had strict crate rest for 8 weeks. No jumping etc and using a belly band to support her back legs. Luckily she was able to walk again but nobody could predict this although the vets at the hospital said the op was routine they did so many it them! I was told she probably won't run again or climb stairs or walk far but luckily she does all3 but walks a bit funny. She scrapes her nails at times so sometimes has to wear booties (called paws) but she's done better than i thought that was when she was 9 she's now 13 and still going strong! It's a stressful time and the surgery cost us over 4 grand luckily the insurance paid. You may not need the surgery though, as some get better with crate test and steroids. But do listen to your vet. It's amazing what dogs can overcome

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 26/03/2019 13:11

Oh bless her DevonshireDarling, I'm really glad things have worked out ok despite it being such a long journey to recovery.

Our vet is amazing, just typical he was on leave when the symptoms first presented at the beginning of March, another vet thought a tumour given my boy has a history of them. I'm so worried all this waiting has caused more damage. On Wednesday he started limping and dragging his right hind leg and we went back to the vet immediately. Ultrasound Friday and MRI yesterday. He's on such strong pain medication he thinks he's fine.
Our trouble right now is getting him to eat, which he'll eat very, very little and he has bad diarrhoea. He's a bit incontinent with it too which is really upsetting him. I have chuckled at him because most of it is sharting (farting and following through) and he just cannot get to the garden quick enough sometimes bless him.
Vet is worried about that and I've got to go get some antibiotics shortly. All so worrying, am a bit beside myself to be honest

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rosinavera · 26/03/2019 13:46

Yes, DevonshireDarling's experience was just like mine - she expressed it better!! Is the pain medication Metacam? Only they had to take my russell off Metacam because it gave her terrible runs. They then put her on paracetamol and she was ok then. It was a very stressful time and it cost about 4 and a half grand five years ago (covered by insurance) but she's made a full recovery (a little bit wobbly in the back legs).

I'm concerned that she's still home though - as soon as my dog had been diagnosed she was kept in the vet hospital and had the op the next day.

rosinavera · 26/03/2019 13:47

Sorry, just noticed your dog is a 'he'!!

Bookworm4 · 26/03/2019 13:51

Sorry to hear about your wee lad, Im owned by staffies; had 3 but lost one to cancer last year. The time are remarkably stoic dogs and they do mask their pain well, if he does have surgery it is strict crate rest unfortunately for him as Im sure he's a busy wee boy. Whatever the results reveal you have to make the decision based on what quality of life he will have with/without surgery.
I'm awaiting biopsy results on my 7 yr old girl, I'll be biting my nails with you.

Bookworm4 · 26/03/2019 13:51

*they are not the time

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 26/03/2019 14:25

He's on gabapentine. We've stopped one of the pardale as vet thought it could be that but he's had 3 accidents today so maybe it wasn't that. We've spent £3k so far, we do have insurance but the boy also has spondylosis in his spine and you know how fickle insurers can be (I worked for one for years). Hopefully the claim will go through, no idea what costs we're looking at for treatment or surgery as need the specialist to advise the exact issue. I know they are busy but the waiting is killing me!

Aww Bookworm4 this boy certainly has me in my place I tell you haha. We lost our other boy to kid at failure, he made it to 14. I'm so sorry about your loss. Our dogs rule our hearts don't they. Here's hoping the biopsy results for your girl are good news

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Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 26/03/2019 14:28

I meant kidney failure...

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Bookworm4 · 26/03/2019 14:30

@jaguars
Thank you 💙
Everything crossed for your boy 🤞🏼

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 27/03/2019 14:02

So the boy is now in the vet hospital. Pain killers didn't seem to be strong enough, couldn't get him to take his other medication, was having issues with getting him to eat and he still had a dodgy tum. Our vet wasn't happy with how he's been especially as he will require surgery and isn't well enough for it. Was worried he'll only deteriorate further.

He's been there about 2 hours and I've just spoken to the hospital. They tell me he's in a great mood, he's taking his medication and is eating just fine!! In fact I'd go so far to say the nurse sounded a bit like I was making it up? At £1200 for this and £4.5k so far (which we've had to settle already) I'm hoping it's the drip and the IV pain meds improving his mood and making him want to eat. Pets hey

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Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 27/03/2019 14:04

He also had new medication last night plus blood work this morning to check liver etc (all ok) I'm a bit taken aback by all this spending and no real answer yet as the specialist isn't getting back to us until tomorrow

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Toddlerteaplease · 27/03/2019 14:09

I think I'd be thinking very carefully about putting an 11 year old dog through such major surgery and immobilisation afterwards.

Bookworm4 · 27/03/2019 14:19

Glad he's picked up, hopefully the specialist has some positive news.

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 27/03/2019 14:32

Oh yes definitely Toddlerteaplease, it's not the surgery we are worried about as such as his last OP was only a few months ago for a tumour in his eye, it's the recovery.
He's a high energy, happy, loving bundle of fun that you wouldn't know is 11 shortly. It's because of this we've got a lot of talking to do when we finally hear from the specialist.
We know he's slipped 2 disc, what we don't know yet is the condition of the rest of his spine

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rosinavera · 27/03/2019 17:06

The surgeon will go through everything with you tomorrow then - fingers crossed that's it's positive news xx

UrsulaPandress · 27/03/2019 17:16

Good luck. BastardSpaniel is just recovering from cruciate ligament surgery (£3400, not insured) and has developed some pain in his back. I thought he had twisted as he tried to jump out of the car instead of using his new carpet covered ramp and I was holding his collar, so he is having acupuncture. I do worry he has deterioration of his spine in some way hence why I opened your thread. He too is 11 but decided that the operation on his leg was worth it. I think his ball chasing days are well and truly over though. I can't afford for the ligament to snap in his other leg.

Bloody animals. They steal your heart then crush it...

Original poster

JacksonvilleJaguars · 27/03/2019 17:28

Good luck to you too UrsulaPandress and of course BastardSpaniel
This boy certainly puts me through it, he's always ill with something but then I get the goofy grin from him and all is forgiven

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