IVDD. Prayers and thoughts needed for JoshDog.

[JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam]

JoshDog (aged 4) has developed sudden IVDD and is currently 50/50 as to whether she’s going to survive.

Vet said if she didn’t pass urine today then she would need to return tomorrow to be PTS. All day I have tried and she finally passed urine this evening (and it was controlled by her rather than just bladder opening because too full) which means she still has bladder control. She is currently paralysed from waist down but has some feeling in her toes and tail.

We cannot afford the surgery (quote of £8k upwards) and I let her insurance lapse earlier this year because of life getting on top of me. Please don’t kick me when I’m down about this, I already realised what a shit move this was.

She needs every prayer, thoughts and we’ll wishes you guys can muster.

Oh no so sorry to read this ☹️ you can have all my good wish thoughts for this evening x

I'm so sorry. What a difficult position to be in. I hope she is kept comfortable.

So sorry, what a terrible stress and worry :( poor Joshdog, hoping a positive outcome will be possible ❤️

Oh wee joshdog. Fingers and toes crossed for her. I'll be thinking of her.

Are you on any of the IVDD FB groups? I saw one last week where a poster had a very similar situation and was directed to a free trial.

The other option if she's a specific breed is to contact a breed specific charity to see if they can help?

Have you considered contacting The Red Foundation? They do take in emergency cases in such situations. It would mean rehoming, but better that she can access surgery before being rehomed rather than being PTS.

OP: sadly, it won't help you now with this dog, but maybe a good time to get insurance for the puppy if you haven't already? That way, you at least know you won't be hit with more vet bills whilst you try to tackle this - from them eating something they shouldn't, for example

Fingers crossed for your ddog - I hope the night went well. It's horrible when they are so ill

Sending all positive thoughts Joshdogs way. X

We are going through IVDD now with our dachshund- she is 8 weeks post op. She was totally paralysed from the waist down and needed surgery otherwise she wouldn't recover- I think honestly once they are paralysed this indicates the disc is damaged and they cannot recover naturally.

I really hope everything went well overnight and I'm sending well wishes

JoshPup is currently insured, as she’s only a baby I haven’t had to renew yet. JoshDogs lapsed at renewal.

@HiHoHiHoltsOffToWorkWeGo i am not rehoming her, she’s a much loved family pet and it would break me.

I will look at the IVDD Facebook pages. She’s part French bulldog part Jack Russell but she’s built and looks a lot like a Frenchie.

DH and I have discussed a doggy wheelchair if it comes to it, but I think we are a way from that yet.

@JoshLymanIsHotterThanSam

How is she today? Any improvement?

Her back left leg appears to have some residual use but her right is doing nothing. She has weed and eaten so that’s good. I can’t get her to drink out of her bowl for some reason.

Could it be too low and bending her neck Dow to drink isn't possible?

It may be that. She can bend down to eat. We have managed a drink out of her bowl this evening-we have a strap harness to hold her back end up and she will have a little potter around the garden.

She has done both a wee and a poo this afternoon which is great as it means she has control of both her bladder and bowel.

I thought I’d pop back and update on JoshDog and her progress. She is now able to walk and tries to run! She does not have 100% use, she’s a little wobbly on her right rear leg and so can look a little drunk when she’s waddling round the garden. Vet has given permission for her to walk around a little in the house now and she can go for very short sniffy walks as long as her back end is harnessed for support (I am using a luggage strap for this which is surprisingly effective). She has hated the enforced crate rest, despite being crate trained and quite happy to take herself to a crate in the past. She’s made a mess of her back paw licking it but vet said could be a combination of frustration and nerve tingling/pain down the leg because of the IVDD.

She’s on meloxicam and gabapentin and looks like she will be for a few weeks yet. But all in all she’s doing really well all things considered.

That's brilliant! Considering you thought it was 50:50 to survive at the start it sounds like joshdog is more than surviving. Thanks for keeping us updated!

Thanks for the update. That's great news

The vet was very reluctant to give her more than 50:50 when she first saw her, so even she has been really impressed with her progress. It’s been a real learning curve for us, regimented medication 3 times a day for a previously very healthy dog has been hard for her as well as us. And making sure she can’t get near stairs or sofa has been the hardest, but she has started waiting for us to lift her up on to the sofa to sit with us after she’s come in from the garden.