My French bulldog has IVDD. It’s the second time in 5 months and this time he cannot use his back legs at all and has no bladder or bowel control.
Surgery is not an option.
He is on gabapentine and meloxydyl but was in a lot of pain before the painkillers started working fully.
The vets says unless we see an improvement in 3 to 4 weeks then he is unlikely to recover.
This has come at such a bad time. I am really poorly and due to have surgery in 6 weeks, which means I am going to be unable to care for him. I am totally exhausted due to my illness, but added to that I am constantly having to wash towels and sheets, due to his incontinence. I have got nappies but they don’t stay on.
I am a single mum with two kids, one at college and one in secondary school. They are helping as much as they can, ddog won’t eat unless we hold the bowl up for him, sometimes we have to feed him with a spoon (or I’ve had to hand feed him). He just wants me all of the time. He is crated a lot, as per the vets advice, but we take him out for an hour in the morning and in the evening, before and after work. We take it in turns to sit with him and have cuddle time, but if my kids are sitting with him and I walk past he will whine and try to follow me by dragging himself.
I have set up a pen with his crate in it, plus a bed for him next to a cushioned area for us to sit/lay with him. My back is killing me, my living room stinks and to give ddog a sponge bath because I’m worry about him getting sore because he is peeing on himself.
Luckily I have an excellent dog walker/sitter who comes every day when I’m at work to check on him and change his bedding, I’m home by 2.30. I got ddog 4 years ago when I worked from home, he loves the dog walker, stays at her home when we go away and was booked to stay with her for a couple of weeks when I have my op.
Any advice? Has anyone experienced IVDD or disability with their dog?
I want to wait for the 4 weeks to see if he improves but I’m not going to be able to look after him properly and it will happen again.