How to manage 2 weeks rest for 4yo dog with suspected disk problem

[Polyethyl]

He's a breed that is prone to IVDD. Whilst sleeping the other night, he woke me crying in pain and refusing to move. 2 vet visits later, and we suspect a disk problem at T8. He's been put on three pain and anti-inflammatory meds and we've been told to strictly enforce two weeks rest, to try to nip this in the bud. Otherwise in a fortnight, if he hasn't recovered, the options are MRI/surgery. Now that he's on the meds he feels better and doesn't understand the need for rest. We live in narrow, tall house, and most of our living space is on the 1st floor. So, we are fitting stairgates and carrying him down to the front door, when he needs to go out for loo breaks. So, I'm faced with carrying a 10kg dog up and down stairs multiple times a day for the next fortnight.

Please may I ask for advice on how to manage him for the next two weeks.
And hopeful stories that 2 weeks rest is a full and complete recovery route, with no further issues for your dogs.

(Obligatory photo, from an occasion when he was trying to persuade me that he needed more food and not a bath.)

We had a similar problem with a very active Belgian Malinois who nearly ripped her leg off impaled on a branch and was very lucky the vet surgeon was able to save the leg. Strict crate rest for four weeks minimum. We moved ourselves into the kitchen where the crate was for the duration and she was only allowed to be taken outside for toilet breaks on a lead. She hated it but it was the only way. She weighed 34kg so not able to lift and stairs were out of the question. Once the pain meds kicked in she wasn’t happy in the crate. It was hard but worth it.

Sweet looking dog by the way xx

Yes, I'm very reluctant to crate him, due to the misery it causes.
Years ago I crated my cat for 6 weeks, after she broke her leg. It changed her psychologically, she never recovered her personality. I wish I hadn't done it.
So, how to get the balance right?!

Our greyhound recently sprained his neck and was on strict rest for 2 months. It was pretty brutal to be honest, he needed to be sedated for the first couple of weeks which wasn't great but definitely the better option for him.

Dogs are different to cats though. By the look of it, your dog is already crate trained so it should be easier.
My dog has just done 11 weeks of crate rest. She had a long lasting chew and a frozen licky mat each day. And she was allowed 4 ten minute on lead walks a day.

When my dog had disc surgery, I was told I could keep him confined to a small area in the house, eg, a small bedroom, utility room, cloakroom, rather than a crate. I eventually put him in an open topped puppy pen which he was fine in. Before his surgery, he had many episodes which he recovered from with rest and painkillers, but eventually was too bad and needed an op. Your boy could well recover from this with rest, but also don't be afraid of an op should it come to it. My boy was like a different dog after his op so I think he had been in pain for many years, sadly.

Ok. Into the crate he's gone. Neither of us are happy about it. 4 ten min walks to the Green, on lead, per day. And carrying him up and down the stairs it is! And I have replaced his collar with a harness.
I hope this does work. Discipline now for long term gain. 4 years old seems awfully young to start having back problems.

@Polyethyl My spaniel will be 5 years old in a few weeks time. She has had three operations on her leg and was diagnosed with arthritis when she was 3. She's only allowed to do half hour long walks. She's still loving life though. 🥰

I hope the crate rest helps and no further treatment is necessary. 🤞

Have a look on Google for crate games / enrichment. Even simple things help, for example if you feed kibble, spread it over an old towel and scrunch it up, then let him sniff it out. As pp said I would also consider a puppy pen if the vet approves, it's easier for you to have some interaction with him if he's in a pen rather than a crate. Good luck. The time will pass quicker than you think.

My spaniel had TPLO surgery on a busted cruciate ligament so we had 8 weeks in a crate

i bought one of these https://www.petsathome.com/product/pets-at-home-dog-play-pen-black-large/36306P?productId=36306&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=google_shopping&cm_mmc=Google--CPC--%20google_shopping-_-google_shopping&ita=1976&ito=google_shopping&cq_src=google_ads&cq_cmp=21174999029&cq_term=&cq_plac=&cq_net=x&cq_plt=gp&gclsrc=aw.ds&gad_source=1&gad_campaignid=21168052722&gbraid=0AAAAAD7tV9pWyqlo7w_JXM-hNxMAa9d_B&gclid=Cj0KCQjw_vnQBhCxARIsADcZyxKIqLTABUqhal7nl9LFVxG2NIOwci4IC7YT8_mYX3kphGjjqtGUauYaAohyEALw_wcB

Bit bigger and more comfortable than a crate and we could get in there and sit with her and due to the way it folded, we could set it up so that it fit properly in our living room