Summary: In part II of this series on IVDD in dogs, a miniature Dachshund named Tango receives conservative medical management to treat intervertebral disc disease. Integrative veterinarian Dr. Julie Buzby recounts Tango’s non-surgical treatment plan and shares why surgery for IVDD correlates to the severity of IVDD symptoms. For Part 1 in this series, please read, “IVDD in Dogs: Why it Happens.” The answer may surprise you.
Can a dog recover from IVDD without surgery?
The answer is a conditional “yes.”
IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) is graded on a scale of 1 through 5, based on symptoms. In grade 1, the dog is painful but has no change in gait and no neurologic deficits. In grade 2, the dog experiences pain, weakness, and decreased conscious proprioception (sense of body position). Grades 3, 4, and 5 worsen incrementally. By grade 5, the dog can no longer move the back legs (and front legs too if the disc is located in the neck), cannot urinate normally, and does not feel his back legs. (Note: If your dog has lost the ability to walk, do not wait. Seek make an emergency vet visit immediately. Time is of the essence.)
As an integrative veterinarian, whether I recommend conservative medical management or surgery for treatment of IVDD, directly correlates to the severity of symptoms a dog is displaying.
The best way for me to illustrate this decision is by continuing the story of Tango, a 4-year-old miniature Dachshund whom I diagnosed with Grade 2 IVDD. (In Part I of this series, IVDD in Dogs: Why it Happens, I introduced Tango, shared why IVDD occurs, and explained the neurologic examination that led me to an IVDD diagnosis.)
Tango’s IVDD treatment plan: 3 critical non-surgical solutions
Tango’s mom sat in my exam room trying to hold it together. Understandably so! Her dog was in a lot of pain, and, as a Dachshund owner, she knew back surgery might be in Tango’s future. Not only is surgical treatment of IVDD invasive with a long recovery period, but it also costs $3,000 to $8,000.
“Can a dog recover from IVDD without surgery?” Tango’s mom asked.
“Yes,” I replied encouragingly. “And I would not recommend surgery for Tango at this point. Since this is Tango’s first IVDD episode and since it is a grade 2, I think medical management is reasonable.”
Tango’s mom looked visibly relieved.
But I needed to create realistic expectations, so I continued, “However, if Tango worsens, then we will talk about the next step, which would be surgery.”
She nodded solemnly. Having provided that disclaimer, I proceeded to explain how we would treat Tango.
Treatment of IVDD without surgery involves three critical components:
- Strict rest
- Pain management
- Supportive nursing care/physical therapy
1. Strict crate rest is critical to managing IVDD
My plan to treat Tango was simple. The most important aspect was REST. In my experience as a veterinarian AND a pet owner, I have come to appreciate how hard it can be to crate rest a dog. Some dogs do fine in a crate, and some dogs enjoy lying around sleeping all day.
Tango was NOT one of those dogs.
He’d never been crated, and he was super active. He typically spent his days chasing squirrels in the yard and dashing through the house barking like a madman as the guardian of his home.
Crate rest with a herniated disc is absolutely the single most important aspect of home care. Without rest, the disc can cause more trauma to the spinal cord, leading to paralysis and a need for emergency surgery.
As a result, Tango’s mom and I had a long conversation about Tango’s lifestyle. Since he was so used to being active and he’d never been crated, we decided to treat him with a combination of gabapentin and trazodone.
Medications to promote relaxation and sedation
Gabapentin for dogs is a drug used in humans for seizure control. It also has anxiety relieving, sedative, and analgesic (pain relieving) effects. It seems to particularly help relieve pain associated with the nervous system (neuropathic pain), which is much of where the pain of a slipped disc originates. The disc is compressing the spinal cord, resulting in pain. Gabapentin is a perfect choice for treatment of IVDD since it helps an anxious, active patient rest, and it relieves nerve pain.
Trazodone for dogs is another drug used in humans, mostly as an antidepressant and anxiety-relieving medication. Used in combination with gabapentin, the additional sedation and relaxation can help keep an active dog still and calm.
That took care of the most important aspect—strict crate rest (for at least one month).
3. Medications to treat the pain of IVDD
But I wanted to make sure that Tango’s pain was well controlled too. To manage the pain associated with IVDD, I prescribed a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAID). This class of drugs decreases inflammation and relieves pain. NSAIDs are similar to aspirin and ibuprofen for humans (which should NOT be used in dogs). Drugs in this category include carprofen, meloxicam, firocoxib, and piroxicam. I chose carprofen for Tango.
As an aside, when I graduated from veterinary school 20 years ago, the popular treatment for IVDD dogs was steroids. Older editions of veterinary pharmacology manuals advise doses of dexamethasone for IVDD. However, this information is outdated. There is no scientific evidence that steroid dosing improves outcomes for dogs with IVDD. Thus, because of lack of efficacy plus potentially serious gastrointestinal side effects, steroids like prednisone for dogs are no longer recommended for dogs with intervertebral disc disease.
Muscle spasms often contribute to the pain associated with IVDD in dogs. So I added a muscle relaxant—Robaxin (methocarbamol for dogsl )—to Tango’s treatment plan. In my experience, this is one of the most valuable drugs for managing IVDD in dogs, especially for IVDD in the cervical region (neck).
3. Supportive care
Tango’s mom was ready to do whatever she needed to do to help him. I explained to her the importance of the following instructions: he could not be on furniture, he could not run and chase squirrels, and he needed crate rest—to stay in his crate at all times except for potty breaks on a leash.
Post-recovery for IVDD dogs: Putting a plan in place for lifestyle modifications
We discussed adding ramps to the house for when Tango was recovered—up to the porch, onto the couch, and into the bed. This would help him avoid jumping and further injury. We also revisited his weight problem, which I’d discussed with her at previous visits. I hoped that this would now make Tango’s plight clear, and we could follow weight management tips to get the extra pounds off.
The last thing I did was apply ToeGrips® dog nail grips, to help give him traction on hardwood floors. It would prevent him from slipping and falling, possibly worsening the herniated disc.
Tango’s mom left that day with a bag of medications and two pages of instructions. As I watched her go, carefully carrying Tango in her arms, I hoped very much that I wouldn’t be seeing them back any time soon.
How can a dog recover from IVDD without surgery?
You may be wondering, how can a dog recover from IVDD without surgery? How can the disc just get better? Why didn’t Tango need surgery to remove it?
In some cases, the body will break down the herniated material by a process called phagocytosis, relieving the compression on the spinal cord. Additionally, as the inflammatory process resolves over time, healing occurs.
Exciting new research in non-surgical IVDD treatment
Interestingly, this concept of breaking down the disc to resolve IVDD is the basis for a clinical trial being conducted at Texas A&M Small Animal Teaching Hospital. The trial involves injecting a specialized enzyme into the disc of small breed dogs who, due to IVDD, have been unable to walk without support for less than 48 hours. This enzyme effectively dissolves the disc in a matter of hours, relieving the spinal cord compression.
It has already been successful in one dog, a dachshund named Oscar (whose story is told in the article linked above). I’m excited to see where this leads in the future! Hopefully it provides a less expensive and less invasive alternative to surgery with comparable results, but it is too early to know for sure.
Hyperbaric oxygen treatment for IVDD
Though I have no personal experience with it, I also want to mention that hyperbaric oxygen treatment is reportedly quite helpful for dogs with IVDD. Oxygen therapy has a long history of success in treating neurologic conditions.
Teri Swanson, CEO of All Creatures Hyperbaric Care in Salado, Texas, reports dramatic success with hyperbaric oxygen and conservative medical management for IVDD—almost 200 successful outcomes, six partial recoveries, and only two “failures.”
To learn more about hyperbaric oxygen treatment, please watch this before-and-after video of Bristol, a dog who suffered a spinal injury and was paralyzed. With no time to spare, Bristol was rushed to All Creatures Hyperbaric Care for treatment as recommended by his veterinarian. The amazing results in this video were seen after only five treatments.
Success rates for IVDD surgery and medical management
I want to stress again that the reason my answer was affirmative to Tango’s mom’s question, “Can a dog recover from IVDD without surgery?” was because he was grade 2 on the IVDD scale and it was his first episode. Since Tango was only suffering pain and weakness—but could still walk and control his bladder—he was a good candidate for conservative management.
Had Tango been a grade 5, I guess the answer might technically still have been yes, but a full recovery without surgery would be statistically much less likely. Surgery would have been my recommendation, and here’s why:
Studies have shown that with surgery for Grade 1-4 cases, more than 90% of dogs recover successfully. However, with Grade 5 IVDD, success drops to only 50-60% if the surgery occurs within 24 hours of symptoms. Additionally, if surgery is performed after that initial 24-hour window, the success rate drops dramatically.
Contrast that with medical management for cases where dogs have Grade 1 IVDD (ie. pain only). Studies suggest a 50% success rate, a 30% rate of recurrence down the road, and a 20% “failure” rate.
Tango’s return to the exam table
Sadly, we will see the latter in Tango’s story. Despite the best intentions, Tango’s parents were unsuccessful at confining Tango to strict rest.
In part III of our series on IVDD in dogs, Tango returns to my exam table unable to move his hind legs and we explore surgical management of IVDD. Don’t miss out! Please sign up for Dr. Buzby’s Barkworthy, my weekly dog health email, so you’re sure to receive “the rest of the story” delivered to your inbox. Plus, when you sign up now, you’ll receive my free e-book, Seven Ways to Love Your Senior Dog.
What questions do you have about non-surgical treatment of IVDD in dogs?
Please comment below. We can all learn from each other.
I have a 5 yr old Frenchie with mild IVDD. He was crated when he was younger, but hasn’t been crated in years. He is a bit of a couch potato. Is it possible for him to be on the couch if I’m with him to ensure he doesn’t jump off instead of crating? He also sleeps in the bed with us. He sleeps next to me and doesn’t move around during the night. Thank you!
Hi Kathleen,
I understand your concern for your Frenchie and think it is great you are reaching out for advice. The goal of crate rest is to ensure activity is limited to allow the inflammation around the spine to decrease. If your pup is willing to rest and be still when out of the crate (and you can ensure proper supervision) then I see no issue with letting him sleep on the couch or the bed. Hoping this helps a bit. Wishing you all the best of luck and praying for a full recovery for your boy.
Hi my 17 year old maltipoo they believe has ivdd. Obviously at this age no surgery.and no going under for mri. Definitely arched back and muscle degeneration in mid back. Haha stumbles mostly in back leg when walking. Can’t get up stairs which we now don’t allow. She’s on steroid for ibs and now gabapenten. She while is not crated really sleeps majority of the day, walks mostly for potty and water. What else should I do? I got paw stickies which helps. At night sometimes she thinks her back leg like spasm. Is that pain? She never cries or yelps but hates when I touch it. Just trying to see what else I can do? Is it recoverable? Or am I just managing so she isn’t worse? Are there braces you used to help keep the back straight and more stable?
Hi Aleaha,
I understand your concern for your pup and am so sorry you are facing this difficult situation. Without personally examining your girl it is hard to make specific conclusions and recommendations. My best advice is to talk with a specialist (neurologist) and see if they can offer insight to these leg spasms and give any additional information on treatments that may be available. If surgery is not warranted at this time, you may also see a great benefit from working with a veterinary rehabilitation professional. There are no back braces for dogs that I am aware of but there are several different kinds of devices and harnesses that can help with rear limb weakness. Hoping you can find the answers you need to ensure your girl maintains her quality of life. Wishing you all the best and praying your pup can make a full recovery.
Hi Dr. Buzby,
My 3 year old mixed terrier was diagnosed with stage 5 IVDD, 3 days ago. He was perfectly healthy and fine and then bam, this freak accident. He is paralyzed from the waist down. Can’t walk, stand, or go to the bathroom in his own. He’s in pain. I love animals, and I don’t want them ever to be in pain, usually I’d put him down, but because he’s so young and I’ve been working with him every day, every minute, and today he ate a lot and drank a lot of water. There was a some movement in his tail. I was talking to him in his sleep, and his tail kept moving. I know that’s a great sign. Unfortunately surgery is out because across the globe. I go back to the vet in 4 days for check up. What are his chances at recovery? I know it could take months but I don’t want him suffering. Also , how can I get him to go potty, other then applying pressure on his bladder? Any other home remedies I can try? Please let me know what you think and what would you do if you were in my shoes?
Thank you kindly
Megan, NV
Dear Megan,
My heart aches for you as you face this tragic situation with your young pup. Without the proper function of the nerves from the spinal cord, there won’t be any way to get your boy to go potty by himself. The only way to empty the bladder is to apply pressure and express it manually or have a urinary catheter placed (higher risk of infection). With the severity of his injury, the odds of him making a recovery are very low, but there is always hope! My main concern is that you mentioned your boy is painful. If his pain cannot be controlled, I do think it would be cruel to wait months for signs of progress. I know you want to do anything you can to keep him with you as long as possible, but we wouldn’t want to have him suffer needlessly. If you can ensure your boy is comfortable, then I’d say give rehabilitation a try. If not, then saying goodbye may be the most loving option. Hoping you can get the advice you need to find a clear path forward. Praying for strength and clarity. Bless you both.
Hi Dr. Buzby,
It’s Megan again, and my 3 year old spunky, stage 5 IVDD. I have amazing news. Today my boy went to the bathroom, 1 and 2 by himself. And it seems that his pain is controlled by these drugs.
He’s on Rimadyl 25mg and Gabapentin 100mg. I give him CBD oil as well!!! I’m trying to get the faith that he will recover! How’s that for a faster recovery?
Hi Megan,
Yay!!! This is the BEST news! Your boy definitely has a shot at regaining some function and I am thrilled that his pain is under control. This could be a good time to connect with a veterinary rehabilitation professional and see if they can give you some exercises to work on at home to help strengthen those weak rear leg muscles. Praying for continued healing and forward progress. Please keep us updated on how your sweet boy is doing!
Will do. Thank you so much for responding back and all your advice. Really appreciate you! 🙂
Hello, so some bad news… he hasn’t been eating and drinking since yesterday… we go to the vet on Tuesday… I also wanted to ask you, he lost his voice, when he tries to bark there’s no sound. What does that mean?
This whole situation is so hard and sad. We will probably end up putting him down on Tuesday. It just really sucks because he’s only 2 years old and he was so healthy prior to this. 😥
Hi Megan,
Goodness, your poor boy! I am so sorry he is facing these setbacks. Honestly, the loss of his voice has me puzzled. I am used to seeing that with older dogs when they develop laryngeal paralysis, but they usually have many symptoms before this occurs (extreme panting, gagging, trouble with coughing when eating and drinking, etc.). I am not sure what the next few days have in store for your pup, but I am hoping he can keep fighting. I understand you may have to make an impossibly tough decision at the appointment on Tuesday. So just in case, I wanted to share some links to other articles that may offer guidance and peace. Praying for strength and clarity. Bless you and your sweet boy. ♥
1. Using a Quality of Life Scale for Dogs
2. How Will You Know When It’s Time to Euthanize Your Dog? 5 Caring, Heartfelt Messages
3. Dog Euthanasia: Knowing When to Say Goodbye
4. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Dr. Bushy,
I have the worst news. So my boy passed today at home. He was laying in his bed and twitched two times and then he was gone. 😓
I’m left so heartbroken and confused to how this disease could kill a 2 year old dog. It took 7 days exactly. IVDD FOR 7 days and then BAM, dead dog! Does this happen often? How is this possible? It just makes no sense and it really just gets under my skin that something so tragic can happen so quickly!!! I’m left heartbroken, confused and he just went downhill in the blink of an eye!!! 😓😓😓
Dear Megan,
Oh, how my heart is just broken for you. I am so sorry for the unexpected loss of your boy. Without seeing him myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions, but I am suspicious about a condition called myelomalacia. It is when the damage to the spinal cord starts to progress forward toward the head and eventually causes paralysis of all the muscles including those that are responsible for breathing and the heart. This is rare and usually only seen in dogs that have suffered a grade 5 injury. I would not have expected this for your boy since he initially showed that little bit of improvement, but things like this just can’t be predicted. Please don’t blame yourself for how this progressed. If this was truly myelomalacia, then there was nothing you could have done to prevent this outcome (not even surgery). I hope with time your grief can begin to fade and your heart can start to heal. Take comfort in knowing your boy was deeply loved and I am certain he knew how much he meant to you. May his memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
Hi
My 7 year old Cockapoo Jax was very healthy, but after jumping onto the bed one morning it was obvious he was uncomfortable and by 3am the next morning we had to rush him to emergency in severe pain, arching his back very stiff, and panting terribly. The hospital gave him pain medication, no tests, but suspected IVDD. They prescribed Gabapentin, steroids and trazadone . The vet subscribed 4 week crate care which we did when ever we were out of the same room as Jax. Jax’s walking was wobbly for a couple weeks, but could still do the bathroom stuff on his own. He had an enormous appetite and thirst from the steroids, We used a buggy for out walks, carried him up and down stairs and restricted furniture and bed jumping. It has been 6 weeks now and have just started to take him for shorter walks. We still carry him up and down stairs. It seems as though he is back to normal, but we do not know how much we should be restricting him from normal dog activity. We have a bed ramp now that he uses and steps to all the furniture. He has about 5 more days of Gabapentin left and we are alternating days at this time. Please advise what we should still be restricting. Is it ok to let him start on stairs or should we always restrict this. What level of IVDD would Jax be classified in. Thank you in advance for any advice 🙂
Hi Tracy,
I am sorry Jax experienced this painful back injury, and I understand your concern for him moving forward. Without examining him myself it is hard to make specific recommendations. In general, after having an IVDD episode, it would be ideal for him to avoid stairs until all the inflammation has resolved. You could err on the side of caution and just not allow him to climb stairs anymore, but I understand in some circumstances that is not an option. Jumping on and off furniture is probably one of the activities that would put him at highest risk for another issue. Here are links to other articles with more information:
1. IVDD in Dogs: Why it Happens
2. IVDD Surgery: When Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog
Hoping Jax is doing well and is on track to make a full recovery. Best wishes to you and your sweet boy!
Hi! Came across this article while doing some research! I have a dachshund, 12 years old. She had well managed grade 2 for about 3 years. This last week took a turn, starting limping so I immediately did crate rest for 48 hours, until Friday when she lost function of her back legs. Still has bowel/bladder control, no pain, totally herself just no function of her back legs. When I squeeze her back feet there’s no response. She was on meloxicam for many years. The vet told me to stop the meloxicam and just use gabapentin and a steroid to see if that will work. Would the NSAID not help the steroid?
She’s comfy cozy, no pain and unfortunately surgery isnt offered in my city we’d be travelling 6 hours.
Would love thoughts!!
Vanessa & Daisy
Hi Vanessa,
I am sorry your Dachshund is experiencing this worsening of her IVDD. If she has truly lost deep pain sensation, then the odds of her regaining function without immediate surgery are very low. Some dogs do great with carts/wheels and can go on to live happy lives. I would recommend you have your girl evaluated by your vet to confirm the situation and then you can make a plan for how to proceed. The reason your vet wants you to discontinue the NSAID (the NS stands for Non-Steroidal) is they interact negatively with steroids and can cause stomach ulcers and severe GI bleeding. Hoping you can find the answers you need to ensure your pup maintains a good quality of life. Best wishes and feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
my long hair doxie had no deep pain researched and surgery is not always answer took her to an amazing vet who does choirpractor care Lazer and acupuncture we started water therapy now she can stand for over a min has deep pain and can feel someone touching her fur lightly don’t give up
Hi Lorie,
This is such good news! Thank you for this encouraging and hopeful comment. I appreciate you being willing to share your experience and offer support to others. Best wishes to you and your sweet girl. ♥
Dear Dr Buzby:
MY 12.4 year old lab was diagnosed with IVDD last month. He is currently on amantadine and galiprant. He was taking gabapetin twice a day (100mg) but was having increased wobblyness so the vet said to stop it. He has now gotten worse (wasn’t give the staging) is gabapetin worth reintroducing and also does adequan injections help with IVVD? Any other thoughts on treatment. He went thru rehab underwater treadmill laser and did some physio exercises. He took at turn for the worse after we did a physio class with the vet and did some of the exercises at home the next day and the day after he was losing his hind end and scissoring his legs when walking. We now are using a help him up harness for walks. The vet suspects the exercises were too much for him and said he appeared inflamed and that it could take several weeks for him to get better. So my question is-Can physio exercises make dogs with IVDD worse physically in some dogs?
Thanks, Lidia
Hi Lidia,
I am sorry your senior Lab is struggling with the symptoms of IVDD. I am not sure I have ever personally had a patient of this breed develop IVDD! It is common for gabapentin to cause wobbling and ataxia during the first few days/weeks. This side effect usually resolves on its own as the body adjusts to the medication. Also, it has been found that the side effects are milder when given at higher doses (I know that sounds backwards) and that smaller doses have greater side effects. So, if you wanted to give gabapentin another try, I would say to ask your vet about increasing the dosage a bit and then just trying to be patient and give it several days to see how your boy’s body adjusts. Adequan could be helpful to the injured spinal disk but could also be protective to the others (most dogs have more than one affected). Any exercise can cause issues if it is done too frequently or if it is too intense for the patient’s current situation. I agree with your vet, I don’t think there is anything wrong with physical therapy, but your boy may have over done it a bit or was pushed a little too hard. Thats the tricky part of PT is you have to push to get results but there is a fine line between helping and causing inflammation and sometimes the only way to find that line is to step over it once. Please make sure your rehab vet is aware of the setback that occurred after that last visit. Hoping your boy will continue to improve and wishing him all the best of luck for making a full recovery.
Hi Dr Buzby. Thanks so much for your post on IVDD. My vet suspects this is what my 15YO dachshund mix has. Based on write up, Id say he is stage 2 because he can still walk though he has a wobbly gait.
I wondered if you could clarify this statement: “Studies have shown that with surgery for Grade 1-4 cases, more than 90% of dogs recover successfully. However, with Grade 5 IVDD, success drops to only 50-60% if the surgery occurs within 24 hours of symptoms.”
If outcomes are so good for dogs in stages 1-4 and then dramatically decline in stage 5, why wouldn’t surgical intervention be recommended? If I can afford it, is it something I should pursue for my pup to give him the best chance at recovery?
Your posts seem to recommend against surgery, and that’s what my vet and rehab vet have said as well. But if the results are so good, I’m no longer sure I fully understand why surgery wouldn’t be recommended more often.
Thank you!
Hi Karen,
I am sorry your senior guy is dealing with the effects of IVDD. While surgical intervention is the gold standard for treatment for any dog with a grade of 2 or higher, we usually reserve surgery for more severe cases. This is because surgery is extremely invasive and very expensive. If possible, I would rather offer pain medications, anti-inflammatories, and rest and allow the body to heal itself. Since medical management only has about a 20% failure rate and surgical treatment has about a 10% failure rate, I think you would be ok to pursue either option. If you want more details about surgery, you can ask your vet about a consultation with a veterinary orthopedic surgeon. Hoping you can find the advice you need to feel confident in moving forward with any treatment you choose. Best wishes and good luck!
Reading your response to treating IVDD just breaks my heart because I just recently was advised by the emergency vet that euthanasia was the best option for my 2 1/2 year old Frenchie. My girl woke up last Sunday and unable to move her back legs. I immediately rushed her to the vet and was told my dogs quality of life would not be good because she would be paralyzed, I was told if I opted for surgery which I would have to drive a few hours away for would have a 5% success rate but basically my dog would not live a good life if surgery was a success. I was very distraught and overwhelmed with emotions. I was alone and crying the entire time not thinking or even able to process everything correctly. I took the advice of the vet and said my good byes to my precious baby girl. This is a regret I will forever live with. I’ve been doing so much research and now know my baby could have lived a happy life even if she was paralyzed with my help. IVDD doesn’t have to be a death sentence. I wish I had just did some research before I took her to the emergency. I just wanted my baby to get help because she was in pain and scared. Thank you so much for explaining all of this information to every pet parent, and I hope they all get the help they need for their fur babies.
Dear Cindy,
My heart is broken for you with the recent loss of your beloved Frenchie. Since I was not personally involved in her medical care it is hard to make specific conclusions. But there are some instances where surgery is really not an option, and the most loving choice is to let go and say goodbye. When the emergency vet did their exam, if your girl had a lack of deep pain perception, then I would agree that surgery would be the only chance at providing a good quality of life and the success rate dramatically drops as well. There is also a condition that can develop called myelomalacia. This is where the spinal cord begins to degenerate, and you can start to see a rapid and progressive paralysis that moves up toward the front legs and head. It can progress until the muscles that control breathing are affected as well and the dog can eventually pass due to an inability to breathe. I am not sure about the details surrounding your girl’s situation, but I have to think that the vet was offering heartfelt advice that they thought was in your pup’s best interest. I can only imagine how much you miss her but am certain she was well loved and lived a happy life by your side. I pray that as time passes your heart will begin to heal and the grief can be replaced with peace. May her memory stay with you always and be a blessing in your life. ♥
Does myelomalacia happen frequently when surgery is not performed? We just lost our 14y/o Shiba Inu to myelomalacia after a serious back injury. She had paralysis in one hind leg but still had deep pain sensation. The lame leg somehow switched from the left to the right after rushing her to the ER Vet. Due to her age and lack of pain, I opted for conservative treatment, and she improved over the following week before relapsing into extreme pain and needing to be euthanized 10 days later. Now i will forever regret not rushing to surgery asap bc even if the outcome was the same, at least i would feel like i did everything and know that i didn’t contribute to the damage getting worse.
Dear Scott,
I am so sorry for the loss of your senior girl. Since I was not a part of your pup’s medical care team, it is hard to make specific conclusions. I can share my suspicions based on the information you provided, and I want you to know that you did not fail your girl. I could not find any information on the incidence of myelomalacia (MM) in dogs that did not undergo surgery for their IVDD. While the specific mechanism that causes MM is not well understood, it is known to only occur after a severe injury to the spinal cord in the lumbar area in which the dog loses all pain/deep pain sensation. The progression of MM does not seem to be painful but is rather a slow creeping loss of sensation/paralysis. Since your girl had deep pain sensation and became more painful in the days after the initial injury, I am more suspicious that the original disk injury was probably a mild one and then a few days later the disk ruptured further causing extreme pain and exaggerated symptoms. This was not your fault, and you made the same choices as I would have for my own dog. I can only imagine how much you miss your girl but am certain she lived a good life and knew how much she was loved. I hope with time the grief will fade and you will be able to set aside the burden of guilt you are carrying. May the memories of the good times you shared bring you joy. Bless you.
Hello, recently our French bulldog Gryffin was doing fine but progressive got more and more stiff in the neck region we woke up to him paralyzed in the hind legs, took him to the vets immediately where we found out he has a slipped disc our vet doesn’t do surgeries there to help this and the closes one who does is 3 hours away we don’t don know these doctors and don’t feel very safe bringing our boy there. Also the amount it cost to do so and to put him under the knife stresses us. We are currently doing laser treatments to help with the slipped disc. Is this a viable method? I’m scared he’ll never walk again he’s on a a lot of pain meds and muscle relaxers he seems happy though getting lots of rubs and rest, he doesn’t have control over his urination or poop. However he feels us rubbing his back legs and scratching them so he has some sensation. Sometimes rubbing his feet too they will move back in the position they were originally in. Is the odds on our side that he’ll walk again or is surgery the only way to guarantee that? We are getting him scheduled with a rehab center this week to help as well. Any inside would be amazing. Thank you!!
Hi Noah,
I am sorry Gryffin is experiencing the symptoms of IVDD. There are instances where surgery could be the only option to give your boy a decent quality of life, but without examining him myself, it is hard to make that determination. I am glad you are taking him to a rehab center this week. The veterinary rehabilitation professional would be a great person to talk with about how to proceed (surgery vs. rehab/medicine). Even if you decide to pursue surgery, I recommend you do rehab as well. Hoping you can get the advice you need to make the best choice for Gryffin. Praying for healing and a full recovery.
Hi Dr Buzby,
My 8 yr old dog woke up one day paralyzed in her left rear leg ( dragging it behind her and constantly knuckling the paw) we took her to the vet immediately who organized a MIR and a consultation with a neurologist.
The diagnosis was that she had herniated discs at the lower end of the spine but she didn’t need surgery as the neurologist was confident she would make a full recovery without it..
After approx. 2 weeks she stopped knuckling which was a relief. However, in the last 5 weeks her recovery has seemed to have plateaued. Unfortunately, I haven’t seen any more improvement. She doesn’t seem to be in any pain but she walks with a stiff shuffle and seems to have difficulty squatting when passing stools (but no issue in squatting when urinating).
The vet insists on not doing physiotherapy but just giving her acupuncture and to be patient with the recovery process as it could take months. On the other hand, could not providing physiotherapy in these early stages be detrimental to her healing/recovery process. What are your thoughts on her current course of action?
Looking forward to your response.
Hi Dean,
I understand your concern for your dog and think it is great you are searching for advice. Your vet is correct that achieving a full recovery can take months. With that being said, I absolutely recommend physical therapy! It is great for every case of IVDD. I even recommend it prior to surgery for most orthopedic cases as it helps to reduce inflammation and pain. Your girl may recover just fine without physical therapy. But I am certain it can help speed up the healing process and most times helps to restore a more complete range of motion in the affected limbs. If you are interested in therapy, ask your vet for a referral to a veterinary rehabilitation specialist. Your girl is lucky to have you advocating for her health and well-being. Keep up the good work!
Hi, I think my dog is in the stage 4/5 – most likely stage 4. He has lost the use of his back hind legs, but he is able to drag himself a little bit and I’ve seen his toes and legs twitch a little bit. I went to the vet er immediately but the price was not in our reach. When did I start giving him physical therapy and how long can I do the crate rest?
Hi Nathly,
I am sorry your pup has endured this injury to his spinal cord and is not able to walk. Without examining him myself, it is hard to know what to recommend for crate rest. It is needed until the inflammation around his spine decreases, which is hard to determine without physically touching a dog and evaluating their back. If you are wanting to pursue physical therapy, then go ahead and reach out to a veterinary rehabilitation professional and get established as a patient. The sooner you start the better. Hoping you can find a way to restore your pup’s mobility and quality of life. Praying for healing and a positive outcome.
Hi Dr.Buzby
Our french bulldog Hugo has a problem with his back paws, he walks bent over and obviously has a pain on his back. A month ago it was the front, now the back. The vet said he has a problem with his disc, he gave him an injection, if it doesn’t get better by tomorrow, he said he will give him an infusion and then he will have to have an operation, which I don’t want in any case. The bulldog is not overweight, he is 3 years old, he is muscular and very active, please help him to be our good old Hugi again.
Dear Vladimir,
I am so sorry Hugo is having these severe symptoms and is facing an uncertain future. From what you describe, it does sound like surgery may be the best option. Have you considered talking with a veterinary neurologist? Or even a veterinary rehabilitation professional? They could give you more details and let you know if there are other options for treatment. How are things today? Hoping your boy has stabilized and isn’t struggling with pain. Wishing you both happier days ahead.
Hi Dr Buzby,
My 13yo Dachshund Zoey started having some trouble with her hind legs last summer. I took her in to see her vet and he told me she had a disc issue in her mid (thoracic) and lower (lumbar) spine. He gave her meds for a week or two and started her on some joint supplements, and that combined with us carrying her up any stairs and trying to prevent any jumping. she recovered. She’s been playing at the beach and living her best life! However this last weekend she began to lose use of her hind legs again, much worse this time. She cannot walk or stand on them at all. She still has bowel, and I think bladder, function. I can tell she is really sad and in some pain, but she’s still eating and cuddling as normal. I took her into the vet right away and he confirmed that she has a compressed disc in her mid back. She is currently on Carprofen, Gabapentin, and a muscle relaxer along with strict rest. I am gently carrying her when she needs to be moved, and otherwise have her resting in her bed. I have a follow up with the vet in two weeks, and I keep doing the toe test (which she continues to react to, which is good). But he said if she doesn’t get better, or gets worse, that usually surgery is the next step. However because of Zoey’s age, I am terrified to put her through that. It is breaking my heart to see her like this, but surgery feels worse. I have her on a whole food, clean diet and some good supplements, which I have been doing for years. I’m looking into pet acupuncture, and I also have a cold laser I’ve been using. I’ve done hyperbaric in the past and will reach out to see if anyone in the LA are does it for pets. Is there anything else you recommend? Considering her age, should I rule out surgery? I am staying as hopeful as possible that she will recover (although I know relapse is probably inevitable), because other than this she is vibrant and healthy and nobody EVER guesses she is 13 because she is so lively. Any insight you can give me into what is best for my baby girl would be so helpful! Zoey means everything to me. Thank you SO much <3
Hi Sidrah,
I am so sorry Zoey is dealing with IVDD. It sounds like you are doing all the right things and I am hopeful you will start to see some improvement over the next few days. While there are many factors that can make a dog a poor anesthesia candidate, age alone is not one of them. Here is a link to another article with more information and great comments from other readers: Is My Dog Too Old for Surgery?
Without examining Zoey, myself, I can’t say for sure if surgery is the best option. But if things don’t improve, there may come a point where you have to choose between surgery and saying goodbye. I hope it doesn’t come to that and it sounds like you are doing a great job of advocating for your sweet girl’s health and well-being. How is she feeling today? Wishing you both the best for a positive outcome and many happy days ahead. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
I wanted to post this for all IVDD. My dogs back legs were not working at all. He was eating , and resting and didnt appear to be in much pain. However, I could not get him to walk at all.
My family uses ice baths daily. I was hesitant but put my pup in the ice bath for 1 minute 3 times a day. After the first bath of 42 degree water no difference. After second bath walked across the garage. Two days in and he is walking to the neighbors house.
Thought this could be helpful
Hi Pat,
What a blessing your pup was able to regain his motor function! Thank you for sharing your experience. Best wishes to you and your sweet boy!
Hi there!
My 2 year old rescue mix of [maybe] corgi and chihuahua had a grade 5 T12/13 disc rupture and had surgery within the 24 hour window. It has been almost 10 months since his surgery and he still suffers from a very weak right hind leg that sometimes crosses to the left when standing and trying to walk. He gets around fairly well most of the time, but you can definitely tell he has lasting paralysis to the rear. Recently he seems to be getting weaker in that right hind leg. Do I need to take him on more walks to strengthen the muscles of that leg and also his lower back? Do you have any recommendations on muscle strengthening or anything that could help with the nerves? Also, I’m looking into getting a backpack to carry him in while we go on longer walks, but I’m so afraid that the position he has to sit in could possibly worsen his current symptoms and even possibly cause another injury. The backpack I’ve been looking into is the K9 Sport Sack Plus 2. What do you think of that backpack? Do you recommend anything different? Should I only consider a stroller at this point? Thank you for all your help.
Hi Shannon,
I am sorry your little guy had to go through back surgery, but very glad to hear it was successful! It is not uncommon for there to be some lingering deficiencies after spinal trauma and surgery such as your dog has endured. I do think you should mention to your vet that the leg seems to be getting weaker. They may want to reassess his neurological status and make sure a new disk isn’t causing a problem. It might be a good time to get your pup started with rehabilitation and physical therapy. You can ask your vet for a referral if needed. I took a look at the backpack you mentioned. I would not recommend that style for your dog. I would avoid any situation where he is sitting vertically due to the increased pressure on the spine. I don’t have specific recommendations for packs, and without knowing the exact size/length of your dog it makes it hard to choose. But I would think a backpack style carrier that is made for him to lie down inside would be best. Strollers are great options too! I hope this helps a bit. Best wishes and good luck!
Hi my dog is a Italian greyhound and is 13 years old, she’s been having episodes which last for around 10/20 seconds of yelping in pain and walks sideways holding her neck to the right and holding right leg, after doing this she returns to normal and walks fine again until she has another episode, we took her to the vet and she was given metacam tablets and tralieve but these didn’t work, took her back and she had an x ray that showed she a split disk and an exploded disk which has disintegrated in neck she’s been given Cortezone but these are also not working what can I do
Hi Kayleigh,
I am sorry your little pup is struggling so badly with neck pain. If the pain is not well controlled with medication, then it may be time to move on to the next step. You can talk to your vet about getting a referral to a specialist/neurologist. The neurologist can discuss if more testing is needed and what treatment options are available for your dog’s specific case. They may recommend surgery. Please make sure your vet is aware of your concerns and that your dog is still extremely uncomfortable. I hope you can get things sorted out quickly and find the best way to restore your sweet girl’s quality of life. Praying for you both and for a positive outcome.
My 14.5 year old doxie suffered IVDD of the neck twice when he was 5 , over 3 months of crate rest ,meds , acupuncture .Benn 8 years but now all of a sudden wife stepped on his paw , yelped and yelped , Took him to ER and they said it was neck , followed up with his vet and we are treating again with Pred, Methacarbol and Gabapentin . He’s confined in small bathroom not going anywhere . .Has some good days then one little hiccup and yelp .
Question how long before the pain or inflammation subsides , been 5 days .He is moving his neck like no tomorrow , is this a neck issue ?
Hi Edward,
I am sorry your senior guy is dealing with IVDD again. What a blessing he was able to go 8 years without a recurrence. There really is no magic number for when the inflammation will subside. It is very different for each individual. Many times, there will be a specific neck movement that will cause pain, and this can be different for each dog. Some dogs will be able to move their neck side to side without an issue but flexing it or extending it upward may be more of a problem. If you have any concerns about how the recovery process is going, I highly recommend you talk to your vet and see if they want to schedule a recheck. They can evaluate your sweet boy and let you know if the inflammation is gone and when you can start to increase his activity level. Praying for a positive outcome!
Hi! Thanks for all the helpful responses!
My dog is recovering from his second episode of IVDD…both of which have been surgically managed. He’s my baby and I remain very concerned for future episodes, as he’s only 4 years old. Prior to his second injury, I already wasn’t allowing him to jump or use stairs.
Are there any other activity limitations I can implement? He goes to doggy daycare and loves running around.
Also, what are your thoughts on percutaneous laser disc ablation?
Hi CG,
I am glad your pup’s second IVDD surgery was a success, and he is in the recovery stage. I am not sure there are other limitations to recommend at this point. Further restricting his activity is no guarantee there won’t be problems in the future, and he needs to be happy and be able to be a dog! I would hate to think how he would feel about not being able to run or play. I am not very familiar with percutaneous laser disc ablation. It sounds like a great way to prevent future issues if your dog is a good candidate. From my understanding, it is only available for discs in the lower back (thoracolumbar) region. This type of procedure is limited to certain referral/specialty facilities. I have not had the personal experience of having this performed on one of my own patients. I hope your sweet boy continues to heal and can make a full recovery. If you decide to pursue PLDA, please give us an update!
My 5.5 year old Puggle had a C2-3 disc herniation and symptoms progressed to tetraparesis with mild L front leg symptoms and neck pain in the beginning. Vet started her on antinflammatories. Then over the next week, ataxia and tetraparesis developed . We opted for ventral slot surgery (done 11 days after initial injury). We are 1 week out after surgery and she is showing very slow progress. She does not feel between her toes being pinched on t3 legs. She yelps with certain neck movements at times. I am assuming she has some spinal cord bruising and we are hoping for her to regain her ability to walk. Most of the information I have found online shows exercises for the back legs, but other than supported standing and ROM, is there anything more that can be done with the front legs? Also, wanted your opinion on prognosis and when to expect improvement? Surgeon thought 85-90% chance of improvement. I am worried that we are not seeing more than we are since the spinal cord was decompressed. Thanks for your input.
Hi Robin,
I understand your concern about your Puggle and her recovery process from ventral slot surgery over a week ago. What you are describing sounds like normal progression but since I haven’t examined your dog myself, I can’t say for sure. I usually defer to the expertise of the surgeon or specialist when trying to give advice about prognosis. If your surgeon expected 85-90% chance of recovery, then they must have been pleased with how things looked during the procedure. I am hopeful that with more time you will start to see the results you are expecting. It is a good idea to get your pup established with a veterinary rehabilitation professional. They can help guide you in the recovery process and offer exercises and therapies to help the healing process along. There are many options for physical therapy in the front limbs and a rehab vet will know which ones are best for your dog’s specific situation. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance. Wishing you both the best.
hi I have a 4 year old male French bulldog. we took him to the vet with suspected ivdd, he was lame in his front leg and neck hunched. vet said it was infact ivdd he needed an mri and surgery. we can’t afford surgery so are trying the conservati route on crate rest and pain meds ect. we have been told to take him back this Thursday so it will have been a week, and that if he hadn’t improved we needed to consider euthanasia. 2 days ago he couldn’t walk at all, although he can feel you touching him legs and paws and there is dps. today he is a little better is pushing himself up a little in the crate so this is a small improvement. can he make any sort of recovery from here, with just crate rest and meds. we are hoping to give him laser therapy and possibly acupuncture. we want to give him the best possible chance just cannot afford surgery. the medication he is on is pardale v and meloxicam. is this enough it seems very minimal, and to be honest our vet was completely uninterested once she knew we wouldn’t be doing surgery.
Hi Victoria,
I understand your concern for your little guy and there is no shame in having financial limits. I applaud you for being upfront about your financial concerns and asking for other options to restore your pup’s quality of life. Some doctors are more comfortable with alternative medicine than others. I think it is definitely worth a shot to try laser and acupuncture. I highly recommend you contact a veterinary rehabilitation professional and see what they think would be the best therapies to start with. Also, when making decisions about treatment verses euthanasia, it is never wrong to get a second opinion. Is there another vet in your area that could evaluate your dog and possibly give you recommendations on other pain medications? Praying for a miracle for your sweet boy and cheering you on the whole way. Keep us updated!
Hi there,
My frenchie some how slipped his disk in his neck early yesterday, but I was able to get a Dr. over to check him out. He was able to slightly move around enough to hold himself up to go pee (even though he couldnt raise his head up), I later gave him gabepentin, an inflammation med and trazedone that the Dr. prescribed. He is currently able to move his legs around but isn’t strong enough to hold himself up on his own. My question is, will it be normal with him on this medication to be very lethargic, and unwilling to eat/drink? I am just nervous about what to expect, but also trying to have faith he will get better.
Thank you for your time
Hi Alisa,
I am sorry your Frenchie is struggling with the effects of IVDD. It was a smart move to have him evaluated by a vet so quickly after the onset of his symptoms. You are correct that the medication can make them very lethargic and not want to eat due to sedation and ataxia (wobbliness). With that being said, the same symptoms can be a sign of uncontrolled IVDD pain or worsening of your dog’s neurological condition. It is best to stay in close contact with your vet and keep them updated on the recovery progress. They may need to do a follow up exam or recommend you schedule a consult with a neurologist. I hope your sweet boy is able to make a full recovery. Best wishes to you both.
Hello, 4 year old spaniel was diagnosed with a grade 2 slipped disc 2 weeks ago, she was put on Gabapentin and Metacam and has been absolutely fine. 2 days ago she woke up and was in a lot of pain again so we went back to the vets who were not too worried but gave us more meds. For the past 2 mornings she gets up fine, we go out for 10 minutes for her to go to the toilet, but then when we come pack she is in pain and it takes about an hour for her to be able to lie down. She’s ok for the rest of the day after this. Do you think this is normal in the recovery process? Thanks
Hi Katy,
I am unsure if what you are describing is to be expected at this stage of recovery or not. Without evaluating your pup myself, I can’t make specific conclusions. Is she being overly active during her 10-minute potty break in the mornings? I think this is something you need to discuss with your vet. It may be time to schedule a consult with a veterinary neurologist and see if other testing is needed. Also, your vet may recommend getting your dog started with physical therapy to help the recovery process. Best wishes and good luck!
My dog Kylo was diagnosed with ivdd five days ago was given gabapentin and trazadone along with rimadyl and methocarbol and he has been doing better he is pooing and peeing just fine and he want to move but he yelped in pain just tonight when he went to get water and laid down he was able to move make to his crate but he is crusting his left front paw weird should I be worried and take him right back to the vet
Hi Victoria,
Yes, I would recommend you take your dog back to the vet as soon as possible. It sounds like Kylo may have re-aggravated the injured vertebral disk that initially cause the IVDD, or a new disk may be starting cause a problem as well. If medical management is not able to maintain your sweet boy’s quality of life, you may need to schedule a consult with a veterinary neurologist. They can let you know if surgery should be considered. I hope Kylo is doing better today and resting comfortably. Feel free to leave an update if you have a chance.
My dog To we is confined to rest from IVVD. I’ve been told if his toes turn under that’s a sign he will never walk again on his back legs. We faithfully give him his meds and keep him con fined to a small kennel. The only time he comes out is to do his business. Tobee is a Havanese and was very active. Thank you for your time.
Hi Janet,
I am sorry your little guy is struggling with the effects of IVDD. It sounds like you are doing all the right things and giving him the best chance at a full recovery. Don’t worry too much about the toes turning under! That is actually one of the FIRST signs of IVDD and a very mild issue. This is just what is seen when the nerves are not communicating fully with the spinal cord. Basically, the brain doesn’t know exactly where the toes are being placed. This is a reversable symptom and can completely resolve as healing progresses. Keep up the good work and make sure to keep your vet updated on Tobee’s progress!
Dr. Buzby,
Our two year old Morkie, Bella, was jumping in her room almost two weeks ago when she yelped then quit jumping. By the end of the evening she was no longer able to use her back legs. I took her to the ER vet that night and they put her on Gabapentin and Meloxidon and diagnosed her with IVDD. They said she would probably need surgery but we could try the crate rest for at least 2 weeks and to follow up with our vet as quickly as possible. We followed up with our vet who didn’t hold much hope of her improving at all. Over the next week she was able to have bowel movements but not pee on her own. She was very lethargic that first week but she is back to her hyper self now, but she still doesn’t have the use of her back legs. She is wanting to move all the time. She is currently on Gabapentin and Prednisone, but we are at the end of the prednisone treatment. Is there a possibility of her regaining the use of her back legs and should we continue to keep her crated during most of the day or can we let her roam around the house?
Any advice is appreciated.
Hi Michelle,
I am sorry your little pup is struggling with the effects of IVDD. Unfortunately, since I haven’t examined her myself, I can’t make specific conclusions or recommendations about her treatment. If the inflammation around the spinal cord has not resolved, then you risk making her condition worse by allowing her to increase her exercise and movement. The only way to know for sure what stage of healing Bella has reached is to have her evaluated by your vet. They should be able to assess her pain level and neurological status/reflexes and let you know what is safe. Also, if Bella is not using her back legs well and starts to drag herself around more, she may be at risk of developing wounds on her rear legs that could cause her condition to deteriorate. I hope with the partnership of your vet you can make some decisions about what treatment is best for you and your sweet girl. Praying she can continue to heal and make a full recovery. Best wishes to you both.
Hi Dr. Buzby,
Thank you so much for this great resource! Its been super helpful to get an understanding.
My Labrador, Visky is 7 months.
In April 2021, we found him unable to get off the floor and use his hind legs. I live in India where access to vets (especially in the Covid 19 lockdowns) was close to impossible. However, with a miracle, we were able to get him help from a vet who administered the steroid injection and absolute rest and within 15 days he was able to recover.
In November 2021, in the middle of the night when I was checking up on him I found him in a state where we were unable to get off the floor. A few hours later in the morning, he would only be able to move one side of his hind legs with assistance. The vets conducted an MRI, X-ray, cerebral fluid, etc, and concluded that it was probably an IVDD at the neck.
Post a long dose of oral steroids, he has improved greatly and runs about but still limps often and I can tell he is in pain. I am also afraid that it could lead to another episode. Although I try to minimize his jumping, he is an extremely active dog who loves running. Do you have any recommendations on how I can reduce the chances of reoccurrence and reduce the possible pain he is in? I live in fear that something could jerk resulting in another disk trauma.
Hi Nidhi,
I understand your concern for Visky and his recurring IVDD episodes. You are correct that there is an increased risk of this happening again at some point in the future. The goal of treating IVDD is to minimize inflammation around the spinal cord and keep the spinal “joints” healthy. This can be done with the same medications and supplements used for dogs with arthritis. If you think Visky is staying mildly painful, I highly recommend you talk to your vet about starting an anti-inflammatory medication that can be given daily. Also, I like for all of my IVDD patients to be on a daily joint supplement such as Encore Mobility. There are many good options out there and I am sure your vet has one they prefer. Another thing to consider is the use of a harness instead of a collar when taking your dog for walks. I hope Visky will continue to thrive and live his best life. Best wishes to you both!
Dr. Buzby, we have a 13 year old black lab. We were told he was having some inflammation last week when we took him in for some issues with his back legs giving out. He was given a shot and medication to give at home twice a day. Now this morning he woke up and is unable to move at all. We brought him in to the vet again immediately. The vet gave a few options, one being surgery, one being IV medication, and last choice would be to put him down. We know given his age that we are not going to do surgery. Any advice on what to do or if a recovery is even possible given that he progressed so quickly while on medication?
Hi Sarah,
I am so sorry you are dealing with such a tragic situation with your senior Lab. Since I haven’t examined him myself, it is hard to make specific conclusions and recommendations. Generally, once the IVDD has progressed and there is complete loss of function and deep pain, surgery is the only option left to try and resolve the issue. Here are links to other articles that may have additional information:
1. IVDD in Dogs: Why it Happens
2. IVDD Surgery: What If Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog?
3. IVDD in Dachshunds: Lady Penelope’s Experience
I highly recommend you talk to a specialist/veterinary neurologist about your dog. They will be able to give you more specifics on the risks verses rewards for the different treatments that have been recommended. They can also let you know if your pup is not a candidate for surgery. Ultimately, you may be facing the most difficult decision of whether to say goodbye. It is ok to choose hospice and palliative care and give your sweet boy the gift of peace and rest. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your Lab. My thoughts are with you and prayers for strength and comfort.
Hello Dr. Buzby,
My 5.5yo dachshund/pug mix Kevin was diagnosed with IVDD on New Years Day after I noticed he had weakness in his rear legs on Friday and Saturday (he wanted to jump up on the couch but couldn’t), and then by Sunday, he was having trouble walking with his rear legs. We took him in immediately, and aure enough the vet diagnosed him with IVDD after a physical exam. He’s on gabapentin, a muscle relaxer, and carprofen, but I’m relieved to say that despite the neurological symptoms, he doesn’t seem to be in any severe pain.
He’s thankfully crate trained, so crate rest has been relatively easy. But he’s feeling better (on potty breaks, I can tell his leg strength is returning), and I’m wondering how long rest is needed for a possibly mild case? I want to be conservative with his rest, but his quick response to the meds and rest has me questioning things. I do have a follow up vet appointment scheduled with his regular doctor in a week to have him evaluated and talk about next steps/rehabilitation/continued care.
Also, any advice for (safe) enrichment activities during crate rest?
Thank you!
Hi Allison,
I am glad Kevin seems to be improving and responding to his medications and crate rest. I would continue to keep things to a minimum until he is cleared by your vet. It sounds like this is the exact topic your vet is planning to discuss at the follow up appointment. I am glad you will be considering rehabilitation/physical therapy. While on crate rest, you can offer your pup toys that can be filled with treats such as a Kong. The treats should keep him excited and entertained but not much movement is required. Also, you can put him in a doggy stroller or other type of carrier (dog backpack?) to allow him to go on walks without having to actually walk. The stimulation of sights, smells, and sounds can do wonders. I hope Keving is doing well today, and he is on the path to a successful recovery. Wishing you both the best!
My 6 year old dachshund mix slipped a disc last week. He was in excruciating pain. I got him to the vet and they have him a few pain meds (gabipentin) and muscle relaxants. They didn’t say he had to be in a crate or on strict bed rest but he sleeps most of the time anyway. I did let him walk in the backyard to go to the bathroom. The meds say they make him uncoordinated.
But I notice he is having a hard time walking straight when he does go potty in the backyard for the few minutes he’s out there.
Should I let him walk a bit to find his potty spot or is that not allowed. It will be a week on Sunday since he’s been hurting.
Should he be getting some improvements or is this how it will be for a few more weeks? He sleeps day and night except for the 2 times he goes potty and those are just 5 minute outside breaks that I carry him out to.
Is this normal?
Hi Terry,
I understand your concern for your dachshund. IVDD can be complicated, and recovery can take a long time. I do think you should call your vet and update them on the recovery process. Let them know if you aren’t seeing any improvement. They may want to do a follow up exam or have you schedule a consult with a veterinary neurologist. The specialist can let you know if things are progressing as expected or if surgery is needed. Also, it might be a good idea to talk to a veterinary rehabilitation professional. I think the walking outside is ok as long as it is slow and controlled and just to find a potty spot. The hard time walking straight sounds like the side effects of the gabapentin making him uncoordinated, although IVDD can cause that all by itself. I will attach links to other articles that may offer additional information. I hope your little guy will continue to heal and make a full recovery. Best wishes to you both!
1. Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs Are Nothing to Fear
2. IVDD in Dogs: Why it Happens
3. IVDD Surgery: What If Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog?
We’ve got a 14 year old heeler, without doing any lab work or x-rays the vet figures it’s a ruptured disc. Before we went to the vet she was able to walk, not well or long distances. Since getting robaxicin and gabapentin she struggles more to pick up her hind end. The problem started Monday afternoon, she went to the vet Tuesday it’s now Wednesday evening. What should we expect?
Hi JB,
I am sorry your Heeler is struggling with IVDD and mobility issues. It can take several days to weeks to see the hind limb weakness improve. Also, the muscle relaxer and gabapentin can cause some wobbling (ataxia) and weakness when the medications are first started. After several days, the body adjusts to the medications and the side effects should resolve. Here is a link to another article with more information about gabapentin: Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs Are Nothing to Fear
Make sure you keep your veterinarian updated on the progress you are seeing or lack thereof. If things do not improve you may need to discuss the possibility of surgical intervention. It is never a bad idea to a specialist. A veterinary neurologist might have additional recommendations or testing that could be done to help guide the course of therapy. I will attach links to other articles with additional information on IVDD. I wish you both the best and pray for a speedy and complete recovery for your senior pup.
1. IVDD in Dogs: Why it Happens
2. IVDD Surgery: What If Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog?
3. IVDD in Dachshunds: Lady Penelope’s Experience
Hi, about 3 wks ago my 6 year old Puggle Molly, had suddenly became weak in her hind legs and began to wobble and tip over while walking. From the beginning she has had full bowel and bladder control, as well as being able to move her hind legs intermittently and could wag her tail. We took her to the vet that day where she was given a steroid injection of prednisone and then given a script for the same as an oral med. since then we have had her on strict crate rest and have given her 2 doses of prednisone a day. Since then she has regained some strength in her hind legs and is able to stand in her own. She also is able to move her hind legs in attempts to walk when we take her out to potty. We use a sling that helps support her hind end when taking her out: but like I said she can mostly hold herself up and walks her hind legs as we move forward. I am just curious if you could give a rough estimate on her IVDD grade. After research I seamed to think she was somewhere around a grade 3. But am curios on your expert opinion. And weather or not you think our current treatment will continue to show results since we are unable to afford surgery.
Hi Brady,
I am glad you are seeing steady improvements in Molly over the last few weeks. She does sound like her IVDD could be a grade 3, but I have no way of making a specific conclusion without examining her myself. There is hope that her current treatment plan could allow her to make a full recovery. I understand that finances can sometimes dictate just how much you are able to pursue. If possible, I highly recommend you get Molly established with a rehabilitation vet. They can continue to monitor her progress and make sure she has the best chances of recovering without surgery. I hope things continue to go smoothly. Praying that before long your sweet girl is back to her normal happy self. Best wishes and good luck!
Hi Dr. Buzby,
My 13 year old corgi began to drag her right leg last night, as if a sudden injury or tweak occurred (for she was acting completely normal that morning and afternoon). We took her to the vet today, and they thought she may have a herniated disk. We then took her to University of Tennessee Vet School (where we are from) and the ER vet decided to give her crate rest, 100-200 mg of gaba, remidil, and trazodone and only letting her out of the crate to potty. The vet showed us a video of Georgia walking while being assessed, but now that she’s back home with us, she isn’t walking. Upon reading this article, it seems she is a grade 4/5 and now I am panicking since the vet sent us home. She told us to contact neurology if she we see a decline/Georgia doesn’t pee, but i am SO fearful in not knowing that she should improve a tad in a few days, or rush to have the surgery. All of her vitals were perfect, but she is tender around her L4-5 area. Please help and any advice would help, Georgia is my childhood dog and best friend. Thank you.
Hi Sarah,
I am glad you were able to get your senior girl evaluated by your vet and treatment started so quickly after her symptoms began. I understand your concern about her not walking since she returned home. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is hard to make specific recommendations. I am suspicious that she may be experiencing some ataxia (wobbling and weakness in the legs) as a potential side effect from the Gabapentin. This side effect is not dangerous but could make her want to lie down rather than try to walk while being unstable, especially since she already is having mobility issues from the IVDD. Here is a link to another article with more information: Gabapentin Side Effects in Dogs Are Nothing to Fear
With that being said, I think it would be best for you to call the neurologist and discuss your concerns. Anytime you are dealing with injuries to the spinal cord and neurological issues of this severity, it is better err on the side of caution. I hope you were able to get the answers you needed to make the best choice for your Corgi girl. Praying that she is stable and resting comfortably at home. Feel free to leave an update if you get a chance.
Hi Doctor. We returned from a 3 day trip and picked up our 12 year old Jackchi from boarding. She was intermittently shrieking and favoring her neck area, but she was mobile, evacuating, and eating.
She was diagnosed with likely IVDD at the emergency vet, given steroids and a muscle relaxer. (Maybe it was a pain pill, my husband handles the meds).
She improved dramatically within days–so much so that it was hard to keep her calm. Still, we crated her when we weren’t around. We began relaxing the crating around week 5.
Not sure what happened, but she re-tweeked herself. Eight days later, she is doing badly. She’s still walking, eating, pooing, and peeing, but she’s shrieking more. She’s not on steroids at this time, as she was titrated down last time, and our next vet appt is not until next Tues.
We are very stressed out and my husband and I don’t do well managing crisis together. He feels steroids are bad for her….she has a right sided heart murmuer. But I say she needs them. I feel she’s not perking up because she’s not on them. Please advise us to what we should do next. We are not doing surgery at her age. However, im unnerved by her behavior and I’m sure our sweet girl is sick of this too.
Hi Sarah,
I am sorry your senior girl is struggling with IVDD. Once a vertebral disk has been damaged, it is very common to have trouble with that same disk or others again in the future. When a flare up is occurring, it is extremely important to try to minimize the inflammation as quickly as possible to prevent more severe damage to the spinal cord itself. Since your girl is not currently taking steroids or muscle relaxers, I highly recommend you call your vet as soon as possible and not wait till your appointment on Tuesday next week. I understand your concerns with medication side effects and your dog’s heart murmur; however, the goal is to prevent her from being completely paralyzed from the neck down. I hope you can get the help you need to make your pup comfortable and pain free. Praying for a complete recovery and many happy days ahead. Best wishes.
Hello, my 7 year old dachshund was diagnosed with IVDD 2 years ago, they didn’t tell what stage it was since she still had a but feeling in her back legs. With a lot of rest, medications and home therapy she began walking the next week. She still wobbles a bit but walks and runs fine since then. Is it normal for her to walk that way? She doesn’t walk normal since then, she has a little wobble. I was wondering if she’s still in pain?
Hi Guadalupe,
I am glad your dachshund girl recovered so quickly and has been doing well the past two years. Anytime the spinal cord is compressed or injured, there is a chance that they may not regain 100% normal function. The wobble you are describing may be exactly that. I doubt she is in pain but may have a very mild lingering deficit from her neurological injury. With that being said, if you have any concerns that your dog is in pain, I highly recommend you have your vet examine her. Also, it is always a good idea to keep up with rehabilitation and physical therapy and talk to your vet about joint supplements such as my Encore Mobility. I hope your girl has many happy years ahead. Best wishes to you both.
Hi Dr. Buzby,
Our 5 yr old Maltese mix injured his back somehow. He was fine one day, and the next we noticed he wasn’t walking right. By day 2 he could barely walk at all. We were able to get him to the vet by day 3 and she prescribed the same meds and rest. Since his condition worsened so quickly, would you suggest taking him to a neurologist sooner than later? Our vet said they would probably recommend the same treatment since it had already been more than 24 hours, but I feel like I need to do more. Any advice would be appreciated . Thank you!
Hi Stephanie,
I am sorry your little guy has injured his back and is struggling to walk. Has he improved since starting the medications and resting? Since I haven’t examined your pup myself, it is difficult to make specific conclusions and recommendations. It is never a bad idea to get an evaluation by the neurologist. Even if the symptoms are not severe, they may be able to offer guidance on whether to pursue surgery or not. They will probably recommend advanced imaging such as CT or MRI, but ultimately it is your decision how far to go with diagnostic testing. I hope your sweet boy makes a full recovery and can get back to living his best life. Best wishes to you both!
Hi Dr. Buzby. Last October, our 3 yr old Frenchie/Boston Terrier mix had IVDD surgery. Now after reading your article and reading other people’s comments, I wonder if surgery was the right call at the time or perhaps we could’ve tried the non-surgical interventions first. We weren’t given a grade 1-5 for how severe his IVDD was but he had gotten to the point where he wasn’t walking very much and seemed to be in a lot of pain. In any case, we were new to the IVDD world and it absolutely wrecked us to watch him go from a happy, active boy to being in so much pain, hunching his back, dragging his hind legs along so we went ahead with the surgery. We were warned that there is a chance that IVDD could reoccur but we didn’t expect it to happen just six months after the surgery. He started exhibiting similar symptoms 6 days ago and we called for an appt immediately w/ his neurologist. His appointment is this afternoon but I wanted to get your opinion on whether or not this will be his life moving forward. He’s very young and very active normally. I read your article about Tango but I worry about his liver if he has to be on a lot of medications. Would you suggest a second surgery? Thank you.
Hi Nathalie,
I am sorry your pup is struggling with IVDD at such a young age. While there is always a chance for recurrence (with or without surgery), it breaks my heart to know that it happened so quickly with your little guy. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is difficult to make specific conclusions. I am glad you were able to get an appointment with the neurologist. I hope you were able to voice your concerns and get the answers you needed to make the best decision for you and your boy. I do think your pup would benefit from rehabilitation no matter which choice you end up making about surgery. Rehab can help with the healing process and also promote core strength and decrease inflammation and pain. Praying your boy has a good outcome and many happy days ahead. Wishing you both the best!
Hi Dr Buzby
I have 6yr old German Shepherd, I took her into ER last week because I noticed her back was hunched and noticed her walking was a bit wobbly. They took xrays of her abdomen and back, and labs, everything was normal except the xrays of back. They said she has a calcifed disc in L2 and and L3. They recommended I take her through ER at UC Davis to have an MRI done, they also prescribed galliprant. I called UC Davis for an estimate, it starts off at 3000. Are there any alternatives? I have been researching and seen physiotherapy, laser therapy, underwater therapy on treadmill can help. I did have her follow up with her regular doctor from er visit but also because my dog was not able to use her back legs, or sleep, and panting a lot. She prescribed a muscle relaxer but she too recommended an MRI to see if she does have Ivdd. She did a deep pain test on toe, which my dog was able to jerk so I assume that is a positive thing? She did not let me know the level of case. I’m not sure on what steps to take. They also did some laser therapy. MRIs are very pricey, would it be ok to try the therapy first? Manage with pain meds? Any advice would be appreciated
Hi Denice,
You are right to be concerned about your Shepherd girl. I am sorry she is dealing with back pain and mobility issues from presumed IVDD. I definitely think physical therapy/rehabilitation is a great idea. I am concerned that you mentioned your dog is not able to use her rear legs. Since the IVDD has progressed to this point, the odds of regaining complete function are less than if she was still walking. It is ok to decline MRI and surgery as long as you understand the risks. Physical therapy may be able to reduce the inflammation around the spinal cord and help the muscles and nerves in the rear legs begin to function more normally. But if therapy shows no improvement or your dog’s condition worsens, you may be faced with making a decision about euthanasia. As long as you are aware of the risks verses the potential rewards, I think either choice is valid. It is ok to not want to go into financial debt over diagnostic testing and that doesn’t make you a bad dog mom. If you have any lingering questions or need more advice, you can always schedule a consult with the veterinary neurologist or a rehabilitation vet to get their professional opinions. I hope you find the answers you need to make the best choice for you and your sweet girl. Praying for a positive outcome!
Hi Dr. Buzby!
I have an 11 month old male golden retriever who one day randomly ran away from us yelping and crying in pain and hovering close to the ground. In about 10 seconds he was back to his normal ball playing self. After another 2 incidents the following days we decided to take him to the vet. He began his course of pain meds and rest. He hadn’t had an “incident” of yelping in pain in about 5 days on the medications, we were ecstatic. Then, as we were letting him out of his kennel a few days later he got so excited and started jumping up and down and as you can imagine went running in pain for a much longer period of time. This time yanking at his back leg and screaming in pain. We immediately took him into our emergency vet where they did X-rays (which were unremarkable thankfully) and gave a potential diagnosis of IVDD (with MRI confirmation potentially in our future). He is now on 3 medications, 2 of which you mentioned in your story about Tango, and strict crate rest. NOW you can imagine any dog, let alone an 11 month old golden, crated for just about 23 hours a day in torture. He sleeps when he is in there without protest, but when he comes out and we take him to the bathroom he gets nippy and tries to jump up to us. I’m assuming this is because he has so much pent up energy. Do you have any suggestions on things to keep his mind busy besides Kongs and Licki mats? I’m assuming feeding him extra food when his physical activity level has gone from 2-4miles a day to maybe 100 steps isn’t a great thing. I also am curious if you have found success in other rehabilitations for IVDD such as acupuncture, laser, or hydro therapy?
Thanks!
Lexi
Hi Lexi,
Your poor boy! I know he has to be going crazy wanting to run and play. You are doing the right thing by keeping him confined even if it is making life difficult for everyone involved. And YES, rehabilitation is exactly what I would recommend. Acupuncture, laser, and hydrotherapy are all great options for dogs recovering from IVDD. I recommend you talk to a rehab vet in your area and see if they can start working with your boy. They can make sure the therapies and exercises are tailored for the stage of healing he is in to maximize recovery and prevent further injury. Also, once he is cleared for hydrotherapy, he can get some of his energy out in a safe and controlled way. I hope you can find the answers you need to help your pup heal and restore his quality of life. Wishing you both the best. Keep us updated!
Hi I was hoping to get your opinion. On Monday 4/4 my 4 yr old French bulldog started losing function In Her back legs and was limping and falling on them. We had her on a steroid and muscle relaxer from a prior slipped disc incident in September 2021. The next morning she had lost all function of her hind legs so we took her to the vet and she has no pain sensation in most of her toes. She only flinched when pinching the inner toes and no response on the knee tap. The neuro said her chances are even less than 50 % with surgery now due to her lack of response and now she is on steroids and pain meds and we are unsure how to proceed because the vet said with less than 50% and a 10k surgery it would not be worth it. Do these dogs ever recover from the stage 5 with just medication? What are your thoughts on her ever walking again? She is pooping but it seems to just come out whenever and her urethra is too closed for her to urinate so we had to get meds for that as well. Thank you.
Hi Brieann,
I am sorry you girl has suffered such a devastating neurological injury. I know you want to do what is best for her and hold on to hope for a complete recovery. While she may have a chance to heal, the odds are unfortunately not in her favor. It would be very rare for a dog that has lost deep pain sensation to return to normal without surgical correction. You may want to schedule a consult with the veterinary neurologist who would perform the surgery just to make sure you have all the facts and have your questions answered. Even if surgery is not pursued, you can look into rehabilitation and physical therapy for your girl to help improve her chances of recovering some function. There is also the option of a cart, like a wheelchair for dogs. Some dogs do great with a cart and run and play and live a great life. I hope you can find the information you need to make the best choice for you and your sweet girl. And please know that if her quality of life is poor, and she is having trouble using the bathroom, the most loving option may be to let go. I pray you don’t have to face that decision at this time but want you to know that it is an option. It is a loving and selfless act to allow a beloved dog to find peace and rest rather than suffer. I always think it is better to say goodbye one day too early rather than one day too late. My thoughts are with you during this difficult and trying time. Wishing you comfort and peace.
Hi Dr. Buzby, I have a poodle that is 7 1/2 years old and weighs 20 pounds. 11 days ago I noticed he would try to jump up on the couch but couldn’t. The next morning he couldn’t get out of bed. He was shivering and his back was hunched over.. I carried him outside to potty. Everything was normal on that part. He was walking but you could tell he was in pain. I took him to the vet right after that. They took an X-ray and you could see where one of the vertebrae looked as if it was bone to bone. In the middle of his back. The vet said she couldn’t tell if it was from a trauma or degenerative disc disease. I’m giving him Prednisone and Gabapentin.. He has 5 more days of the prednisone. The morning time is worse for him when getting out of the bed. About an hour after I give him the Prednisone and Gabapentin he acts almost like himself again except for being able to jump up on the furniture.. It will repeat again every morning. He ran out of the Gabapentin over the weekend and I could tell he was in pain. I got another refill for a week of the Gabapentin today. I gave it to him this morning and about an hour later he was more like himself again. When taking the Gabapentin he can walk up and down a few steps but slowly . Since taking the Prednisone he hasn’t improved nor has he gotten worse as long as he has the Gabapentin. What should I do next.? Can he continue taking the Gabapentin over a long period of time? Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thank you for your time.
Hi Marie,
I am sorry your Poodle is having so much trouble with back pain. I am glad the Gabapentin seems to help offer some relief. Yes, Gabapentin is a medication that can be used long term, but if your little guy is not improving it may be time to discuss other treatment options. Medical management can be a great solution for some dogs while others will need surgical correction of IVDD. It might be a good idea to get a referral to a veterinary neurologist. They have access to testing and treatments that are not available in general practice. Also, they can let you know if surgery is recommended for your boy. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your dog. In the meantime, it is probably best for him to avoid stairs and jumping on and off furniture all together, no matter how good or bad he feels at the time. I wish you both the best of luck!
My dachshund has been told he has suspected Grade 1 IVDD in the neck. He was in slight pain mainly when he was sleeping and changing position, this only lasted for about 2 days and with meds he seems back to himself however we are doing crate rest for 6 weeks, he obviously has a little walk about when going to the toilet etc to stretch his legs. i just have a few questions…..
Does grade 1 IVDD always reoccur or get worse or has their been cases where dogs don’t get reoccurring issues and its just a 1 off. i just don’t want him to have really restrictive life where he is wrapped in cotton wool i want him to enjoy it.
Also we have been giving him a chew toy for around 30mins as a little treat and to try and keep him stimulated is this ok to do.
Thankyou
Hi Lauren,
I am glad your boy seems to be doing better since starting the medications and crate rest. Yes, some dogs do manage to avoid future issues with IVDD after the initial episode. I hope your guy is one of the lucky ones! As long as the chew toy doesn’t make him twist his neck into a position that would aggravate his injury, I don’t see anything wrong with it. Best wishes to you both!
Our little dog (a spitz/terrier mix) has recently had pain. On Tuesday evening, after a lap cuddle, he started yelping horribly when trying to get up. Being picked up and put on the ground as well and for about 10 minutes after he had yelps at some touch. But after he walked it off, he seemed fine. Wednesday passed with no incident. We figured it must’ve been a pinched nerve or maybe his legs falling asleep. Then yesterday he had a couple random yelps, but nothing that really worried us. But Thursday evening was horrible. He had some cuddle time on a bed, then wasn’t able to get up without yelping and crying a lot. He usually sleeps in a crate, but he seemed in too much pain to be moved. Being picked up seemed too painful for him too. In the morning we were finally able to pick him up enough to get him to the floor. He was limping on his front feet. But then he was able to walk it off again and seemed fine. He went on a walk without any yelps. But after returning and getting comfy, his yelps started again when he tried to get up and down. So we knew for sure his pain wasn’t getting better. We were worried about a slipped disc (we had been careful about making sure he didn’t jump off couches/beds but he did sneak jumps in when he could). We left our island to take him to the vet in town. The vet couldn’t say for sure what’s going on with him but figures it’s probably back/neck related. Her worry is also that it’s a slipped disc. So now Mote is on strict rest for at least two weeks (maybe more depending on his recovery). As well as on medications for the pain. We’re hoping this all works and that he’ll feel better soon!! Does that pain sound like IVDD or something else? We’re treating it as if it’s IVDD. His first full day of rest (yesterday), he didn’t have any yelps. But today he’s made a few small pain noises (it’s midday). It’s been tricky to keep him from moving about when he’s excited to see people. He is used to a lot of snuggle time and is especially searching out love when he’s been left in crate.
Hi KC,
I am sorry your little guy has had so much pain and discomfort this past week. I am glad the strict rest seems to be making a difference. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, I can’t say for sure if his symptoms are from IVDD or some other issue. Pain medications and rest are exactly what I would have started with as well. If you don’t see improvement, it might be a good idea to have a consult with a veterinary neurologist. They have access to advanced imaging techniques and treatments that may not be available in general practice. I hope your sweet boy is on the road to recovery and can get back to living his best life. Praying you find the answers you need and wishing you the best.
Hello Dr. Buzby,
I have a 13 year old dachshund who has always been very energetic and playful. Everyone has always been surprised by her age when they hear. Recently with in the last 6-9 months she has started slowing down and was diagnosed with pancreatitis. In the last couple of days we’ve noticed that her back legs have started to slip on the floor, just slightly. She’s also acting a little off, for example she usually sits at my feet while I do dishes but the last couple of days she’ll sit in her bed. But she doesn’t seem to be in pain. We recently purchased a ramp as she’s getting older to try to prevent any issues but she doesn’t seem to like it and doesn’t get very good traction on it. We aren’t sure if it’s just her age catching up with her or something to be concerned about as possible beginning of IVDD. Any feedback is much appreciated.
Hi Stephanie,
I understand your concern with your senior girl and these new symptoms that have recently developed. Since I have not examined her myself, I can’t say for sure if IVDD is playing a role in her troubles. It does worry me that she is acting off and sitting in her bed more frequently. I think it would be a good idea to call your vet and discuss these concerns. They may want to do an exam to help rule out IVDD and might need to do some lab work to make sure the pancreatitis is under control. Anytime a senior dog starts to behave differently a vet visit is in order as soon as possible. I hope you can find some answers and help your sweet girl get back to feeling her best.
Hi Dr. Buzby!
Your article has been so informative so thank you! I’m hoping you can confirm my concern with my pitbull, Nala. She is 9 years old and the worlds biggest baby. I noticed a few weeks ago she was slipping a lot on our wood floors and having issues jumping on the bed the past couple days. Earlier today she was running in the house, slipped and did a split. She didn’t yelp in pain or anything, just carried on. A couple hours later I noticed she wouldn’t get off the couch, literally refused even after bribing her with salami (I still gave it to her). Shortly realized she could not use her back legs. I tried picking her 70 pound self up to sit her on the floor and she could hold herself up with her front legs, but still wouldn’t attempt to stand. I put her in her bed to rest and She can move her back legs slightly, she wiggled the opposite direction to get comfy in a ball. I never put two and two together that she started peeing an abnormal amount (like a lake) a couple weeks ago (just thought she was drinking too much) but after reading other signs of IVDD, apparently this is one of them as well? I feel so foolish for overlooking the small signs up until now and feel like it’s too late to avoid surgery even though this is her first ever health issue. She’s still very alert, eating but will not drink. Not completely concerned of that since she’s only been like this for a few hours. I have an appt for her tomorrow but was wondering if you had any input on if this seems like IVDD? And if she refuses to use her back legs but can still somewhat move them, do you think surgery can be avoided? She does not seem to be in pain, even when I picked her up. She just seems sad.
Thank you!!
Hi Rachel,
You are right to be concerned about Nala and these new symptoms that have developed. Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, it is difficult to make suggestions or specific recommendations. What you are describing could be IVDD related but these are also symptoms of other neurological issues as well. I am glad you had an appointment with your vet the other day. How did it go? You may need to think about scheduling a consult with a veterinary neurologist. They have access to higher imaging techniques such as CT and MRI that could help get a definite diagnosis and rule out a tumor. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for and restore your sweet girl’s quality of life. You are doing a good job advocating for her health and wellbeing. I wish you both the best and if you have time keep us updated!
Hello I have a 12 year old Jack Russell who was diagnosed with cervical ivdd a couple years ago. She has about 2 ruptured disc’s a year since then. Then today I seen it happened all over again.. head hanging low ..in pain.. I started her on her usual regiment on pain med..prednisone and muscle relaxer. My question is at what point or does it ever get worse or when do I need to start looking into surgery. Or do I just keep non surgericaly treating her? Please send advice thank you!
Hi Donna,
I am sorry your senior girl has had so much trouble with neck pain due to IVDD. When a disk has started bulging or pushing on the spinal cord, the goal is to reduce the inflammation around the spinal cord to allow the nerve to heal and return to normal function. Once a disk has been damaged it makes it more susceptible to flare up again or even progress to rupturing. Every dog is different. Some damaged disks will never go on to fully rupture and some do rather quickly. If your girl has had repeated episodes over the last couple years, she may be a good surgical candidate. I would think she would have a better prognosis with surgery now rather than after a disk has completely ruptured and severely damaged her spinal cord. But to be sure, I highly recommend you schedule a consultation with a veterinary neurologist. They may need to perform some higher imaging such as CT or MRI to truly evaluate the disks in your dog’s neck. I hope you can find the answers you need to make the best decision for you and your sweet girl. Good luck and best wishes to you both.
hello currently my dog is paralyzed in her rear legs her vet suspects that it is the IVDD and that it is a stage five because she has no deep tissue feeling in her hind legs. A MRI and seeing a neurologist is out of the question for me because it is up to $10,000 and I do not have that money. Her vet suggest that I do put her down but I want to know if there is any hope at this point I understand that she most likely will not regain feeling in her hind legs but will she ever heal or not be in pain I just really want there to be some hope I don’t want to put my dog down she’s really special to me
Hi Sylvia,
I understand how badly you want to help your girl and that you are not ready to say goodbye. Unfortunately, with the absence of deep pain and surgery not an option, the outlook is very bleak. There is a risk of myelomalacia which means the paralysis could start to creep forward and end up affecting all four limbs and even possibly her breathing. Also, you will have to deal with preventing sores from dragging her hind limbs, possible fecal and urine incontinence or fecal and urine retention, and she will be at an increased risk for infections (UTI, skin ulcerations, etc.). Since I haven’t examined your dog myself, I can’t say for certain if she is currently in pain or if the pain will resolve. I feel like you might want to talk with a vet that specializes in hospice and palliative care. They can let you know if there are options to keep your sweet girl comfortable or if euthanasia is truly the most loving decision. I will attach some links to other articles that might offer new information about deciding when to “let go”. I am so sorry you are in this situation with your pup. I pray you can find an answer that is best for you and your girl.
1. Dog Hospice Care Can Bring Peace and Dignity to Your Dog’s Final Days
2. Signs Your Dog is Dying: A Caring Message to Bring You Peace
3. Preparing for Your Dog’s Euthanasia: 10 Thoughts for Peace
Hi Doctor, I am from India and my baby shihtzu who is about 3 yrs old has been diagnosed with ivdd. We stay on 3rd floor and he went alone down stairs on 31st Dec 2021 night. After about 40min when we realized he’s missing I went down and found him sitting near the elevator gate on ground floor. When I brought him back he couldn’t climb my bed. I had no idea what happened to him but by 2nd morning he couldn’t walk. I took him to my vet and after examining him and getting x-ray done he said his left hip joint is mild displaced. The vet started his treatment with steroids and pain killers. To take the second opinion I took my baby to a vet hospital here and his CT was performed. But to everyone’s surprise it’s all clear in CT report. Today is the 7th day ofhis treatment with steroids but my baby is still not able to stand. Passing the stool and urinating is a big problem. Kindly suggest what should I do next. I will be really grateful to you ?
Hi Anoop,
I am sorry your baby boy is having so much trouble. I understand your concern and how difficult it can be to watch them struggle. Since I have not examined your dog myself, I really don’t have enough information to make specific recommendations. I do think it would be a good idea to reach out to the vet hospital and discuss your concerns with the vet that saw you last. You can find out if they recommend surgery for the IVDD or if maybe it just needs more time and rest. Make sure you let them know about the urination and defecation issues as this could become an emergency if your little guy cannot go on his own. I hope you can find the answers you are looking for and the help your dog needs to get back on the path to recovery. I wish you the best.
Good day Dr Buzby,
I found this article very informative and wish any dog owner going through a similar situation all the best, it is difficult situation for everyone involved in the recovery process.
I have a 14 year old dachshund who has always been energetic and ready to play with our 6 year old Boston terrier. He has been a warrior through and through, but unfortunately we were left devastated when our Max’s hindlegs just gave in. He had no mobility and we were at a loss. He was kept on cage rest and by the 3 day he still had not urinated on the fourth day however we were notified that he had showed signs of expressing and that gave me some hope. He had been getting physiotherapy everyday with some anti-inflammatory medication. On the 6th day the vet signed him off to come home cause of his ability to express and gave him some anti-flamitory medication as well as medication related to his secretion. Now he is home and I have been doing 0hysio with him for about 5 to 10 minutes. He did have an incident however that made be worry about his recovery process as he has such strong front legs that he got out of his crate and crawled to my 0arents bedroom. We have restricted him even more and hope this incident hasn’t cause more damage.
If Dr has any advice/recommendations please would. You be so kind as to assist me. I also don’t want my dog to suffer or be seen as a burden and hope he will show some progress.
Thank you and kind regards
Sabrina
Hi Sabrina,
I am glad to hear that you are seeing some improvement in your little guy. My best advice is to talk to you vet about continuing the rehabilitation and physical therapy. There may be a veterinarian in your area that specializes in rehab and could continue to see your dog on an ongoing basis to make sure he reaches his recovery goals. Also, a rehab vet can assess the healing process and assign different exercises that can be performed at home to keep the healing process moving forward. It sounds like you are doing all the right things and are being a great advocate for your boy’s quality of life. I pray he will continue to improve with time. Best wishes to you and your family!
My 4 year old dachshund/beagle mix, @mypupsaje, slipped his disc about 2 1/2 months ago. With strict bedrest his ataxia has improved. We have ramps now in place for couch and chair and thankfully he is on the mend without surgery. I certainly found the dog stroller to be of great use when he was well enough to be picked up. My question is, in your experience, are dogs who’ve had such issues ever able to run again?
Hi Jennifer,
I am glad to hear your dog is improving! Using a stroller for him is such a great idea. The answer to your question is yes, sometimes. Some dogs do go on to a complete recovery with no noticeable symptoms. Other dogs may retain some neurological side effects and a certain level of pain, and the possibility of the IVDD worsening and becoming life threatening is always a concern. I highly recommend you look into a vet that specializes in rehabilitation and physical therapy. They may have exercises and other treatments available to help ensure your boy is living his best life. I hope you and your dog have many wonderful years ahead. Good luck!
Hi Dr. Buzby,
Thank you for your article. I have an adopted 4 year old mini poodle mixed dog. He was diagnosed with IVDD and surgery was recommended. Long story short he was surrendered at the local shelter and I fostered + adopted him. We worked with the rehab team and gave him the necessary attention (hydrotherapy, laser, massages, exercises for the core). He was bound to a wheelchair for sometime as when he was diagnosed his back two legs had given way and he was dragging himself around. With all the help, one fine day he started walking around. My concern is more about recurrence. He does tend to drag his back two feet a little when walking and we use products to protect his nails and booties when he allows it. Now and then he has stiff legs. Not sure if this is a spasm. He shows no sign of any pain. Is this of concern? What more can i do from my side to avoid a recurrence.
Thank you so much and looking forward to your response.
Hi Natasha,
I am happy to hear that your dog made such a dramatic recovery. A good rehab team can really work miracles! The symptoms you are describing sound normal for a dog that has previously suffered an IVDD episode. You are right to be concerned about recurrence as this is unfortunately common. All the treatments you mentioned, that were used when your boy was going through rehabilitation, are also great at helping prevent a recurrence. I recommend reaching out to the rehab vet or your full service vet and discussing your concerns. They may have new ideas of therapies to try or a supplement to start. I hope you find the answers you are looking for. Best wishes to you and your boy as you navigate the future together.
Hi doc!!
The saddest thing in our case is that no vet knows how to treat IVDD here in the Philippines. We even talked to several veterinary school for help to no avail. Our toy poodle, 9 years old, is in too much pain on her back and neck. We suspect IVDD but we cannot confirm because yet again, no one here in the Philippines know how to do a MRI Scan for this 🙁 I was browsing in the internet for any success story for non surgical treatments but I guess we should expect for the worst 🙁
Dear Ji,
So sorry to hear of your 9 year old toy poodles pain and possible IVDD. It sounds like you have worked very hard to find someone who can help. It can definitely be discouraging to know what your dog needs but be unable to find someone who can do it. Is your dog on any pain/anti-inflammatory medications currently? I’m not sure which medications are an option in the Philippines, but hopefully your vet (or the vet school) can find a combination of medications that can help control her pain so she is more comfortable. You didn’t mention if she is able to walk or not, but that is a factor that also plays into the chances of recovery. While an MRI is the gold standard for diagnosing IVDD, I have successfully treated many dogs over the years with suspected IVDD that never had an MRI to confirm. I don’t want to give you false hope, but sometimes, with pain meds, muscle relaxers, and strict rest, dogs who don’t have significant neurologic deficits (i.e. dragging the legs, unable to walk well, etc) do sometimes make a good recovery. However, without being able to see your dog, I can’t say if she fits that category or not.
While it isn’t a treatment for IVDD, I do often suggest putting dogs with suspected IVDD on our product Encore Mobility. It has some anti-inflammatory properties as well as being great at supporting joint health. You can learn more here :Encore Mobility. Also, have you looked for any support groups on Facebook yet? There are several you can join. Find them by typing IVDD support in the search bar.
I hope you are able to find someone who can help you and your sweet pup and that she gets some relief soon!
Doctor, In your response to Ji you said you’ve successfully treated many dogs without an MRI. My dog was just diagnosed with a slipped disc. At 1st she could barely walk but the next day she was doing better but drags her hind leg. She’s on Gabapentin & Levafen. I don’t know what stage it is. How do you determine the stage without an MRI? This is day 5 since we noticed & yesterday we took her out to go potty and she bolted (she goes out on a leash now so she can’t do that again) also today she dropped down and rolled in the grass. That freaked me out and I don’t know how to prevent that. She’s 13.5 and financially an MRI and surgery are not an option. She’s a rescue and was in 4 or 5 shelters before the previous owners got her and because she’s dog reactive they were going to euthanize her. Not on my watch!!! She’s very sweet and I work around her issues and I’m trying to do the best I can to give her a better life. Any light you can shed on what stage she is would be greatly appreciated or any other advice or helpful tips so I can help her through this. I do have a follow up scheduled next week.
Hi Sheri,
I am glad to hear your girl is feeling better and able to walk again since starting the Gabapentin and Carprofen(Levafen). Since I was not the vet that preformed the initial exam of your dog, I really can’t say what grade IVDD she might have been diagnosed with initially. The goal of strict rest and anti-inflammatory medications is to reduce swelling around the spinal cord and allow normal function to return. It sounds like these medications did the trick and your girl’s return to function was fast. The grade of IVDD can change as the healing process progresses or if she experiences a recurrence. Currently, if she is not painful, I would not put her on the grading scale. If you have any specific questions about her treatment or the plan moving forward, I encourage you to reach out to your vet and discuss your concerns. I hope your girl continues to live a pain free life full of joy.
Hi my name is Justin two years ago for Christmas I got my wife a French bulldog puppy she has been a joy of our life she goes everywhere with us and she’s definitely part of the family even though I was a little easy on training and she’s super spoiled but a loving dog and part of our family a week ago she started having pain so I took her to the vet and I found out that she has stage 2 IVDD i’m giving her the medication that the doctor gave me making sure she rests but I’m not seeing any signs of improvement and it seems like she still in pain it’s breaking my heart I don’t know what to do unfortunately due to things going on I’ve been laid off of work and kind of tight on cash so getting surgery probably going to be out of the question for now I just don’t know what to do because she’s in pain if anybody has any suggestions please let me know [email protected]
Dear Justin,
While it is so great to hear how much your dog is loved and a part of your family, I am so sorry to hear of her pain and your work situation. If the medication does not seem to be working, I would first recommend reaching out to the vet that prescribed it for you to discuss expectations and timeline for healing. That feedback is important to them and may just need to be handled over the phone initially, although recheck exams are invaluable to assess progress. Sometimes medications need to be adjusted or changed, and those are very low cost solutions. Also, there are great support groups on on the internet and Facebook for IVDD. I will include a link to one that I recommend here: https://dodgerslist.com/
I hope this is helpful, and I commend you for being so proactive in your dog’s care.
Hi. My wife and I adopted a 6.5 year old Pomeranian 3 weeks ago. Going into it we were told that he was having issues with his back legs. We got him a MRI and was told that he has a slipped disc and that some bone cartilage might be fused to his spine. Other than he kind of walks funny, there’s no indication that he’s having any issues. There’s no indication that he’s in pain. He runs and jumps with no issue even though I am stopping him from doing it now. It has been about 3 months now since the prior owner first noticed his hind legs with issues.
I would 100% go the surgical route if there was no risk of him coming out worse but I know that’s not possible with any surgery. The neurosurgeon today said that even though he’s not having any issues now other than walking a little funny, he will most likely have more severe issues in a few years. I was just wondering if this was your dog what you would do? I want the best quality of life for him as possible so cost isn’t an issue. I’m just afraid that something could go wrong during surgery.
Hi Quinn,
I love that you and your wife adopted this sweet little guy! It sounds like he won the lottery with wonderful parents like you. ❤ It is definitely difficult to know what to do in these sorts of situations. It is true that there are always risks with surgery (even very routine surgeries like spays and neuters) and that is scary to think about. However, surgery can also have great benefits for his quality of life in the future if all goes well. I am not a neurosurgeon and can’t see the MRI so I will ultimately defer to the advice of the specialist you saw because he or she has seen tons of IVDD cases. Did he or she recommend surgery now? I don’t know this for sure, but I would imagine that it may be less risky to deal with the disc before it starts to compress the spinal cord further rather than doing the surgery if/when the signs start to get worse.
You could also consider asking for a copy of the MRI results and making an appointment with another veterinary neurologist to get his or her opinion. Sometimes it can be helpful to hear different specialists perspectives on an issue so that you can feel more confident about the decision that you make (if they are in agreement) or have a different way to look at things (if they don’t agree).
It sounds like you guys definitely have his best interests in mind, and I am confident that you will be able to figure out the best direction to go. ❤
Hi,
Our 5 year old mini is suffering from IVDD. During the vet visit when she did the test for deep pain sensation, Our dog didnt yelp in pain but her back legs did twitch a little kind of giving me the feeling of someone being electricically shocked. We opted for the conservative treatment and about 4 days ago we noticed that she has began wagging her tail, Not as strong as before her injury but all in all wagging it from side to side which she couldnt do the first 12-14 days. Also when laying on her right side once for no reason at all her back left leg began moving back and forth. Prior to either event she has stood up on her shaky back legs on her own while in her cage on 2 different occasions. However, in the past 4 days we have noticed nothing. In your opinion is there going to be recovery or since nothing has happened since the events i mentioned could any gains we were delighted to see actually be false hope?
Hi Mark,
Sorry to hear that your pup has IVDD. It can be so difficult to closely watch for any signs of improvement and be unsure what the prognosis will be. Without being able to do a neurologic exam on your dog, I unfortunately can’t tell you if she is going to recover or not. The tail wagging and moving her left leg could be good signs, but since I can’t evaluate her, I don’t want to give you false hope (or alternatively dash your hopes). I think that the best way to get some clear answers would be to schedule a recheck with your veterinarian. That way he or she can compare the results of the neurologic exam now to the results at the time of diagnosis and see if there has been a change. I hope the appointment will give you good news, but either way, it will help you have a better idea of what to expect. ❤
Hello Dr. Buzby
During the course of a few past weeks I have noticed my beloved daschund (11 years) losing strength on her back legs, this Friday I noticed she was reluctant to finish her daily walk, and also she was walking very slowly; as soon as we returned home she just let her legs drop in exhaustion even though the walk was not that long.
I picked her up and avoided moving her anymore as her legs were trembling, I took her to her vet yesterday because she already has a story with IVDD (she had surgery in 2017) and acute pancreatitis (one episode this may). Vet recommended recovery without surgery as she is able to walk, but wobbly, she is in pravastatine/gabapentine/tramadol and I was told to look for signs of worsening.
I know this is only our second day in meds, but my question here is when should I see some kind of recovery, she walks and I carry her to pee, but I notice her legs tremble just from doing that. I’m really worried and was wondering if I should take her once more to the vet or how long to wait, she is in strict rest only to stand to relieve herself.
Which other signs should I be aware of? I know she’s in pain if her legs tremble from standing, so could this be because she’s not responding to meds? I’m sorry, I’m just too stressed and fearful about overlooking something and not acting out rapidly.
Thanks for all the info you gave us in this article.
Hello,
So sorry to hear that your sweet dachshund is struggling with an IVDD episode. It can definitely take time for dogs to get back to normal (or as close to normal as they will get) after the episode. Unfortunately without being able to examine her, it is hard to know if her legs are shaking due to weakness, pain, or a combination of both. If you believe that she is in pain, then it is definitely worth checking in with your vet about adjusting the pain medication plan to try to get her pain under control. (As a side note, I’m not familiar with prevastatine as a pain medication. Did you perhaps mean previcox?) If it is mostly weakness, that comes from the compression of the spinal cord, so it may take time to resolve. Your vet would probably be able to give you a better idea of what “some time” means for your dog since he or she has examined your dog and therefore has a better idea than I do about the severity and details of her IVDD.
As far as signs of worsening, I would watch for increased weakness or shaking of the hind legs, increased difficulty standing and walking (or being unable to stand or walk), and signs of increasing pain (shaking, lack of appetite, withdrawing from family, yelping, etc). I do have an article called 7 Signs Your Dog Is in Pain [video and examples] that could be a helpful resource too. You know your dog, so if you think things aren’t quite right with her still, I would recommend contacting your vet. It is better to ask and find out that things are progressing as expected than to look back and wish you would have asked sooner. Best of luck to you and her! I hope that she makes a good full recovery soon!
My dog Luna is 9 years old. This past Sunday my mother-in-law was watching her and said she left her downstairs and when she came back down, she found Luna on the floor under the end table shaking. She said she took her outside and she tried going poop 4 times and nothing and then finally she went. So at first we thought she was constipated. She started walking a little funny and moaning every once in awhile like she was in pain. I took her to the emergency hospital because it was after hours and they said they were in a code yellow and only accepting critical patients and to go to your vet tomorrow. I just moved from Florida to Ohio and had not found a vet yet so I tried one out near me. We went Monday morning. The vet took a look at her and said that the constipation and pain is probably because her back needs a readjustment because it hurt when he pressed down near her spinal cord. He then did “chiropractor” things that because I was too young to understand when you get old, you feel it. I was unhappy with that “funny” remark. She was in extreme pain and it was sudden. I was them sent home with an anti-inflammatory and a dietary supplement. She was not able to really squat to poop. I was charged $300 for what they did.
The next day I went back for x-rays and when he looked at them, he came back in the room and said “I know what is wrong. The suspense will kill you. I will be right back.” He then came back and brought me to the x-ray room and showed me her back and said that it is either a bone infection or cancer, and sent me home with two antibiotics and a pain reliver. I then began to worry because she was not improving, she woke me up that night at midnight and 4 am crying in pain. I am a heavy sleeper and was behind closed doors and still heard her.
The next day I asked my vet back in florida to take a look because I felt very comfortable with her and did not feel comfortable with this guy. I also contacted a family member who is a vet. The guy doctor who originally saw her called me and said that he had someone else look at it and it seems that her intenstine walls are thick and that she has lymphoma cancer and said to come pick up steroids. He did not talk about any other tests or options just that we need to start her on steroids. MY florida doctor said that it can’t really be determined in the x-ray especially because there are no bumps or lymmphs that show up, the only way to know is through sonogram.
LONG STORY SHORT- I called the emergency hospital and ended up talking with someone and they said of course they cannot say for sure until further testing but it sounds like she has IVDD from what I told her and my cousin said the same thing. The surgery is too expensive so we are beginning the crating and seeing how she does.
What are your thoughts on how far she is because I feel like it is mixed on the stages. I understand you cannot say definitively until you see her. but just your thoughts.
How she is currently- She wont eat her dog food, but will eat human food. Yesterday she did not want to stand up and when she did, she peed the entire way from her bed all the way outside to grass, drips and puddles. She has a lot of abdominal pain and she is losing motor function in her back legs, she sway while walking and is not straight, one leg looks more gone than the other. I can still get her to kick her paw back to normal when I move it pretty quickly. She sits completely side saddle and when I see her walking she reminds me of the dog that has the mini wheel chair for his back legs. She is still in a lot of pain and I am working on getting her pain medication. She is currently on gabapentin and remadyl from the original diagnosis, I completely stopped the antibiotics. I just want opinions on what stage it is thought that she might be in and if it is a stage that she will most likely need surgery. I don’t want to see her in pain or suffer that is my main concern. I also would hate to see her live her last 4 weeks of her life in a cage, if it will most likely do anything if she is at the stage of surgery most likely.
Hi Gabby,
So sorry to hear about Luna’s back pain, difficulty walking, and other struggles. It is so hard to watch our beloved dogs in pain and not be sure what is going on or how best to help them feel better. You are right that without looking at the X-rays and being able to examine Luna myself, I can’t really tell you for sure which stage of IVDD she has or if she will end up needing surgery. I definitely understand your desire to have a better idea of what the outlook is for her and how best to help her. I wish I could give you more definitive answers, but I think the best thing you can do is to seek a second opinion from a vet in your area who can examine Luna. It was a good idea to consult with your vet in FL , the emergency vets, and your cousin who is a vet as a starting point, but the next step would be talking to someone who can examine Luna because so much information is gained from that physical exam. The ER vets may have some recommendations for vets in your area, or you could also ask friends, neighbors, or co-workers which vets they use. I think seeking a second opinion office visit asap will help you get all your excellent questions answered and also help ensure that Luna is on the best combination of oral medications to control her pain and help her heal. I hope you are able to find some answers and relief for your sweet girl today! ❤
Hi, I have a Maltese named Sebastian that just turned 13 years old last week. The other day he tried to jump onto the couch and fell, about an hour later he jumped down and fell again. Immediately after the 2nd fall he couldn’t get his back legs to function and was stumbling everywhere, we took him to the vet the same day. The vet told us he most likely had a slipped disc in his neck, they did X-rays and examined him and said he would yelp in pain every time pressure was applied to the neck. They gave him pain medicine and muscle relaxers that can be taken every 8 hours. The next day all 4 of his limbs seem to not be functioning properly as he is still not able to walk without stumbling over and seems very weak on all 4’s. He seems to be trying to use his limbs as he has gained some strength but not enough to walk without someone assisting him. We can only get him to use the bathroom once a day, every time we help him walk in the grass he just lays down. Please help! Will he slowly regain his strength or could it be irreversible at this point?
Hi Abby,
Happy belated birthday to Sebastian! So sorry to hear about the difficulties he is having after his IVDD episode though. Without being able to examine him, I really can’t tell you if he will be able to improve over time or if the damage is irreversible. I would strongly recommend taking him back to the vet for a recheck and/or seeking referral to a veterinary neurology specialist because they would be able to give you a better idea of the long term outlook for him. If you might consider IVDD surgery for him (if a vet thinks he may need it now) it is important that you do so as soon as possible for the best chances of a good outcome. You can learn more about IVDD surgery from my article IVDD Surgery: What If Your Vet Recommends Surgery for Your Dog?). I hope things start looking up for your boy! ❤
Hello Dr. Buzby,
Thank you so much for writing your article. My dog has been experiencing these symptoms since 4 days ago and I’ve been a mess. We’ve seen our regular vet and the ER and made an appt for the neurologist. The neurologist appt is 35 days out but we are on a cancelation list. Since I have not seen the neurologist yet, I cannot know for sure but it really does seem like my 14 yr old Maltese has this condition.
She had neck spasms leading up to this event every 2-3 months but it would only last 30 secs and she’d be completely back to normal. This time around, she yelped while taking a nap and has been in pain since. The pain seems to happen the most when she is in a comfortable position sleeping for a while. Then either she moves or there is a pain flare up and she wakes up in pain.
She is eating okay and going to the bathroom okay. I am keeping her confined in my room, letting her out into the hall to pee. Our upstairs is all carpet. She walks ok but pants like she is in pain.
When she is having a pain flare up, she cannot walk very well or chooses not to as she is in pain. It seems like her back legs look a little weak during this time although she can still use them. Her neck crooks to the side too when she is having the flare up. When she has not had a pain flare up or muscle spasm for a while, she walks okay but pants. Seems like she could be a grade 2? I am not sure.
Our vet has her on gabo and muscle relaxants. We were also recommended cbd so I will be getting some tomorrow.
Hopefully she gets better. She has a heart condition so surgery would be the last option. I am hoping and praying we can use more conservative measures to heal her. Any tips will be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much.
Hi Jennifer,
My heart goes out to you and your sweet dog. It is so difficult to see our beloved dogs in pain and to be searching for answers and solutions to give them some relief. It is fantastic that you are working closely with your veterinarian and that you are planning to see the neurologist too. What you are describing could certainly be cervical (neck) IVDD but there are a few other things that should also be ruled out, so like you are planning, seeing a veterinary neurologist is the best way to get to the bottom of what is going on. Depending on how far you are willing to drive and where you live, there might be other veterinary neurologists within several hours of you that could see your dog a bit sooner than 35 days from now. Specialists are often in high demand so it is possible the other places are similarly booked, but you don’t know unless you ask. Your veterinarian may be able to direct you towards a few other neurologists to call or if there is a vet school in your area, you might be able to get an appointment with their neurologist. I hope there is a cancelation so you can get into current neurologist sooner, or that you are able to find a neurologist who has an opening in their schedule soon. It does sound like your dog is pretty painful, so finding some answers and relief sooner rather than later would be good. Please keep us updated on how things go for her. I wish you and your sweet pup all the best as you figure out what is causing her all this pain. ❤
Hello! My 12-year-old mixed breed dog of 50lbs was just diagnosed with a slipped disc and it appears that he’s somewhere between stages 1 and 3. He’s in a lot of pain, but can still walk and go to the bathroom on his own. He’s almost through week 1 and on Tramadol, Methocarbamol and his usual Galliprant (as well as Dasuquin, CBD oils and melatonin to keep him calm), but he’s still very active – loves roaming his big yard and laying on the couch. There are 4 stairs from the deck to the yard. I guess my question is if I should buy ramps for both the deck stairs and the couch. Can I use them after he recovers or are they only recommended for post-recovery? I’ve been carrying him (keeping his spine as aligned as possible), but I can tell he’s in pain every time I pick him up and I can feel and hear his back cracking. Should I also be using a pelvic sling? Are these just to help him stand up or also for walking? This is such a terrible thing for a dog to go through – it breaks my heart to see him in pain. Any advice on how else to help him with additional equipment or supplements is very much appreciated!
Hi Marie,
Sorry to hear about your poor pup’s IVDD diagnosis. Watching them struggle can be so difficult. It sounds like you and your veterinarian have done a great job of coming up with a treatment plan for him. Keeping him as quiet as possible while he is recovering is great (i.e going outside on a 4-6 foot leash just long enough to urinate/defecate then bringing him right back inside, otherwise resting in a crate or right by your side, no jumping/playing/roughhousing, etc). As he starts to improve and your vet gives the “Ok” for it, buying a ramp for the deck stairs and the couch could be a great idea. This will make it easier and smoother for him to get up and down. I am a fan of ramps for both the situations you asked about, but please discuss with your vet if a ramp is needed or not. If you think that your dog could use some extra support when standing up or moving around, then a harness (or pelvic sling) could be very helpful for BOTH of your backs. 😉 To learn more about ramps and lifting/support harnesses, check out my blog These Are a Few of My Favorite Things (for Senior Dogs). I would recommend trying out some ToeGrips to help him get more traction and stability. I also really love Encore Mobility for dogs with IVDD because of its anti-inflammatory and joint support properties, so you could consider adding that also: https://shop.toegrips.com/pages/joint-supplements-for-dogs. I hope that your sweet dog is on the road to recovery soon. He is lucky to have such dedicated owners.❤
I am so glad I found this site. I am on my second IVDD dog. My first didn’t make it and I am hoping for a better outcome with the second. Delilah started favoring her right front paw so I brought her in for an MRI. The Dr observed she would hod her right thoracic limb up and will stand with a hunched posture and her head down. The Neuro exam showed normal posture, mild weight-bearing right thoracic limb lameness, mild ataxia worse in pelvic limbs, normal muscle tone and mild hyperesthesia on neck palpation and Neurolocalization: C1-T2 spinal cord. And diagnostics showed: C6-C7 and C7-T1 chronic and vertebral disk disease. The decreased distinction of the cranioventral portion of the C7 and relative shortening of this vertebral body is concerning for osteolysis/spondylitis.
The frindings from MRI cervical spine are: On routine images, there are T2w hypointense dorsal bulging of the annulus fibrosus at intervertebral disk spaces throughout the cervical spine (C2-3 to C7-T1) causing mild to moderate compression. At the C7-T1 intervertebral disk space there is right-sided protrusion of the disk. There is ill-defined T2w hyperintensity within spinal cord parenchyma over the intervertebral disk spaces. The vertebral bodies at C6, C7 and T1 show osteoproliferation with T2w hyperintensity of the vertebral endplates at C6-C7 and shortening of C7 vertebral body.
MRI cervical spine – On routine images, there are T2w hypointense dorsal bulging of the annulus fibrosus at intervertebral disk spaces throughout the cervical spine (C2-3 to C7-T1) causing mild to moderate compression. At the C7-T1 intervertebral disk space there is right-sided protrusion of the disk. There is ill-defined T2w hyperintensity within spinal cord parenchyma over the intervertebral disk spaces. The vertebral bodies at C6, C7 and T1 show osteoproliferation with T2w hyperintensity of the vertebral endplates at C6-C7 and shortening of C7 vertebral body.
In English, what does that mean?
My Delilah does NOT do crate rest well. She went two weeks being completely stoned on Gabapentic and Trazadone (sp) and it worked well for two weeks but then she built up a tolerance. She is just over the three week mark, but in order to keep her from flailing and thrashing in the crate she sleeps in the bed now with a few episodes of using the stairs to get to the water and the wee wee pad. She was just diagnosed with Cushing’s Disease so she is in need of frequent water and potty breaks,
Last Saturday – after two weeks in the crate, her hind legs gave out from underneath hetr repeatedly on the wood floors causing her to fall over. She didn’t wince in pain, but I did. She can’t go any distance before she reinjurs herself and in thinking she wa sparalyzed, A family friend who is a VET told me to put her down. That she is in distrress and there is no coming back from this. I took her to her regulatr vet for this and they suggested laser accupuncture. We started that and she seems more steady – she is still crate resting during the day or sleeping next to me on the chair while I work. She has no freedoms now and is carried everywhere except when she goes outside to potty. She walks to her spot – which sometimes takes her 5 minutes to find – and is carried back. The family friend VET said I am just kicking the can down the road with temporary aids.
She can’t stay confined to a crate and my lap forver. She needs a quality of life. But I dont understand her diagnosis enough to know what is right and if she has a chance at recovery. Will she ever be abe to run, walk and play? Is she suffering? The VETS don’t speak in terms I understand. Can a 12 YO yorkie with two serious diseases recover from this?
Thank you in advance for any time yo give my very lengthy note
Hi Jen, I’m sorry to hear about Delilah’s struggles with IVDD and that you did not have a good outcome with your last IVDD dog. It is so difficult to walk through something with one dog then be faced with the same worrisome condition with your next dog. It sounds like you have done a great job trying to figure out what is best for Delilah and it is wonderful that you were able to have the MRI done on her. I am not a neurologist and I recommend you follow up with your regular veterinarian about these specific questions, but from my understanding of her MRI results, she has several bulging discs in her neck (classic for IVDD dogs) and one disc is “protruding” to the right. There are nerves that come off of the spinal cord at the spaces between the vertebrae, and these nerves supply sensation and movement signals (among other things). The disc that is pushed out to the right may be compressing the nerves that go to the front leg, which is why she is having right front leg pain and lameness. The bulging discs in her neck are compressing her spinal cord, which could cause weakness in all four limbs and neck pain. So the MRI results do confirm that she has IVDD in her neck and suggest that the right front lameness is connected to the IVDD. Without being able to examine her, it is hard for me to give you a long-term prognosis because we always want to interpret imaging results in light of how the patient is doing clinically. You may want to try to get a second (or third?) opinion specifically to answer some of these questions about what her life could look like in the future. I will say that IVDD dogs can go on to have a good quality of life, especially with lower grade IVDD, so all hope may not be lost. It is great that you started laser therapy and acupuncture with her. She may be a perfect candidate for ToeGrips (https://shop.toegrips.com/products/toegrips) too because they could help her get a grip on your wood floors and make her less likely to slip and potentially re-injure herself. I hope you are able to find some help and solutions for your sweet Delilah and wish you all the best! ❤️
Hello great article. My 5 yr old French bulldog was weak still walking but slow. Shaking and panting and about 12 hrs before I had my appointment with vet looked wobbly for a few minutes. Took him into vet the doctor did that paw test where they turn them over he brought it back but slow (I’ve seen him do it before on him and fast reaction) this time slow but flipped it. X-ray was done and vet showed me where is bottom 2 back spaces (disc) were a bit cloudy but still spaced out. He said no jumping activity for 2 weeks And leash walk and put him on prednisone and gabopentin. After reading your article about strict crate rest (3-4 weeks) and no steroids I’m starting to think I should get a 2nd opinion. I was never told a grade but from reading different things I’m thinking he is between 1-2. Maybe my vet isn’t cut out for IVDD.? He is young so would think he would know about not providing steroids like I’m reading in your article and longer rest? I am resting him. He is a lazy dog so lucky about that just avoiding jumping like a kangaroo, jumping on/off furniture and climbing steps. Should I ask my vet for the drug you said? Any advice would help this paranoid frenchie mom!
Hi Jennifer,
Sorry to hear about your sweet Frenchie’s IVDD. It would agree that he is probably around a grade 2 based on your description (the test where the vet turns the paw over checks conscious proprioception which was delayed in your dog’s case, and he is experiencing some pain and probably weakness). All of this is hopefully good news from a prognosis standpoint. Some say that practicing veterinary medicine is an art, not just a science, which means that as veterinarians we assess the patient in front of us, mentally review the pros and cons of different treatment options based on what the research says and our own experience using those options, then make the recommendation that we think will be best for the specific pet we have in front of us. This approach is going to lead to veterinarians having different options, and the treatment of IVDD is definitely one of those cases when vets do not always agree. This doesn’t mean that your veterinarian was wrong just because he didn’t treat your dog’s IVDD exactly the same way as I proposed in the article. From what you describe, I think your vet’s treatment plan is 1000% appropriate and certainly falls within the guidelines for appropriate standards of care. If it would make you feel more confident about the treatment plan, it isn’t wrong to seek another opinion, like you mentioned, keeping in mind that this is an area where vets may often disagree. However, what I think would be more ideal is to discuss your concerns/questions with your veterinarian to maintain good communication, and to follow up with him (or a different vet of your choosing) if you feel like your dog is not improving. Wishing you and your sweet pup all the best as you navigate this IVDD episode. ♥️
Good afternoon, I wanted to reach out because my dog, a Chihuahua/Terrier mix named Vader, recently lost the ability to walk with his rear legs. I noticed that he was walking funny this past Friday afternoon so I went into immediate panic mode and rushed him to a Vet who would see him on short notice. I had an xray and a neurological exam completed. At the time, Vader could still put weight on his rear legs but was not walking. I was told that he has a slipped disc and was prescribed pain meds and anti-inflammatory pills. I asked many questions, one of them being if he would recover. I was told if things progress, Vader would need surgery. This felt like a punch to the gut. It was a lot to take in let alone the finances involved.
I took him home and since then, he has lost all function in his rear legs and I have to now express his bowel movements. I fear that there is no hope. I tickled his rear feet and tail causing both to move, slightly. This may mean nothing but I am trying very hard to be optimistic. He is a rescue and I have only had him for 3 years.
Is there a chance that my little guy will heal? If it is the worst case, is it wrong to put him on a wheelchair? My job requires me to move around a lot and I am afraid that I wont be able to give him the time and care he needs. This situation breaks my heart because I just want Vader to be happy and healthy. Please give me any guidance you can.
Hi Peter,
What a heartbreaking situation. I can tell how much you love Vader and want to help him live his best life. Without being able to examine him, I can’t say for sure which grade of IVDD he has, so it is hard for me to give you an idea of if he will heal or not. However, based on what you are saying, he is probably grades 4 or 5 which does correlated with a lower chance of regaining leg function. I would recommend having a recheck examination with your veterinarian or consulting with a veterinary neurologist to get a better idea of what his prognosis is and to talk about options (surgery, wheelchair, etc) going forward. Some paralyzed dogs do learn to do a “spinal walk” to get around and/or adapt wonderfully to a wheelchair and go on to have a good quality of life, so don’t despair yet. Reading my blog about Lady Penelope, a paralyzed dachshund who had IVDD and now has a wheelchair may help give you hope. I also recommend ToeGrips to help give some extra traction, as discussed in Lady Penelope’s story. Sending you love as you figure out the best course of action for Vader.❤
I have a 7 year old male Brittany. He started having some mild symptoms back in July right after 4th of July. Local vet said it seemed like a mild sprain/strain and rest and carprofen was the rx. His condition worsened and after a second missed diagnosis he was finally seen a third time in September and diagnosed with ivdd.
At the time of diagnosis he had mild pain and moderate ataxia of the hind limbs that seemed to improve to mild with exercise restriction. He also had no use of his tail. It would stick out but occasionally lay down. He also occasionally had a rounded back end. He was prescribed gabapentin and carpooled and appointment with surgeon was made for consult.
He had a surgical consult on September 21st. His symptoms had improved. He had decent muscle tone with mild ataxia when turning around. Tail was extended but couldn’t wag. Back was not rounded.. Surgeon suggested conservative management with crate rest and exercise restriction for 6 weeks limited only to being walked outside on a leash for restroom breaks and back inside. He was prescribed trazadone for the crate rest and told to continue the gaba as needed. We also started cbd oil supplementation with his food 5mg twice a day.
Over the course of treatment he has had ups and downs but seemingly more ups. He has had days where he seemingly regressed to having the rounded back again and slightly worsened ataxia. This subsided and he returned to continue improvement. We attributed the worsening symptoms to his crate being too small and moved him into our walk-in closet where he can move around much better and stretch out. He has continued to improve to the point of needing to be deterred from trying to pull on the leash and attempting to play.
This leads me to today. Two days ago he urinated on the back patio which he never does and showed no desire to go out to the lawn to do his business. He also seemed to not want to squat to poop electing to almost stand an poop instead. I am currently away from home, my wife called concerned because he had an accident in the crate. He still can walk but his tail is down again and has slight rounding. The ataxia has only gotten mildly worse if at all.
My question is should we be concerned or are we on a good path. I have read he could have uti that is secondary to the ivdd. He has a follow up with surgeon in 10 days. Is it safe to wait or is this more emergent? Is it common to have ups and downs?
Apologies for the long winded question but we are frantically looking for answers. Thank You
Hello Frank, I’m sorry you’re dealing with this as I know it’s discouraging and you are worried. Anytime a patient “regresses” in the course of treatment (for any condition), I recommend a recheck exam. I think this is especially important in the case of IVDD. It’s super hard to tell from your description. I do think patients can have “good days and bad days”, but I’m concerned by what you describe and would like you to see your veterinarian or the surgeon asap. Thanks! And here is info on UTIs, which is indeed a possibility, but I still think a complete recheck exam is wise: https://toegrips.com/urinary-tract-infections-in-dogs/
Hi. Thanks for excellent articles. Question: do you have experience with PEMF loops and beds and do you recommend? Back-story (pun intended): 9 yo 90# GSD. Radiographs showed IVDD 3 years ago – mineralization at L3/4. Only very slight hind proprioceptive deficits for years. Acupuncture, laser & Galliprant for a year.
Then much worse a couple months ago – losing balance daily, occassional knuckling & falling down. SOD1 gene test normal, so very slim chance of DM. New MRI showed several herniated discs between T2-5, a lot higher up than expected. Added hydrotherapy and PT exercises (PL Lateral Perturbations, T-spine AROM box, side-stepping, cavalettis, figure 8s, walk on air mattress, and sit-to-stands) and Gabapentin. Was doing great and improved a lot over a month.
Then 2 weeks ago sudden significant worsening – lots of knuckling, some dragging and falling down. Front legs still fine. They suspect midline neck issue due to neck pain, but they’re not sure as MRI was only of thoracic to tail (frustrating – they should have done the whole spine including C). Now on room rest for a month and no neck extensions. Still gets weekly acupuncture & hydro, tri-weekly laser (all 5 on different days), and they suggest I buy or rent PEMF loop or bed. Thoughts on PEMF? Another issue: I think we should add an NSAID like Meloxicam as I know he is in pain and just doesn’t show it, but his primary, his neurologist and the rehab doc at WestVet are all hesitant.
Thoughts on Galliprant, and adding NSAID to Galliprant and Gabapentin?
He does have chronic liver issue with ALT over 200 for last 2 years (1 year ago his gallbladder ruptured & he had cholecystectomy). If he is on pain meds he could over-do it because he can’t feel it and they make him sleepy and therefore worsen ataxia, both exacerbating problems, but I don’t want him in pain.
Daily supplements include 1 can of sardines, Nordic Naturals Omega 3 Pet, Standard Process Musculoskeletal support, Nupro Silver, Vitamins E & B12, Probiotics. Any other recommendations? Thank you!!
Hi Lisa,
Thank you for providing such a comprehensive “back” story. I’m sorry to hear your sweet boy has had his share of medical issues in the last few years. He is a lucky boy to have such a dedicated, caring owner like you. Here are my thoughts.
1. I do have experience using PEMF therapy in my patients and am a believer in it. In my experience, it seems to work a bit better for acute pain than chronic pain. It would probably be worth giving a try for your dog. PEMF is the topic of an upcoming blog, so be on the look out for that.
2. Galliprant is classified as an NSAID, which may be why his veterinary team is advising against adding another NSAID like Meloxicam. Mixing multiple NSAIDs can lead to bad side effects, including GI ulcers, so we don’t advise doing this. I agree with you that adequate pain control is important, so if you feel like his pain management protocol needs to be modified, I would definitely talk to his veterinary team about other drug and non-drug options that could be safe for him. I love that you are doing acupuncture, hydro, laser, and supplements already.
3. This sounds like a great list of supplements. Nordic Naturals Omega-3 Pet actually shows up in one of my blog posts this week (https://toegrips.com/natural-supplements-for-dogs/). The other one you could consider would be Encore Mobility, a deer velvet and green-lipped mussel supplement which has worked wonders for many of my patients. You can learn more in this blog (https://toegrips.com/best-supplement-joint-pain-dogs/).
I wish you and your dog all the best. Keep up the good work of being his advocate and supporting him through these trials ❤
Help! I have a 5 1/2-year-old female miniature dachshund who just suddenly lost use of her back legs. We rushed her to an animal hospital because it was of course on a Sunday night and they suggested to go find a Doctor Who could do an MRI and possibly surgery. She’s in no pain, cannot urinate on her own, and has no use of her back legs but does have deep pain sensation they said it’s been 24 hours. I cannot get into see my vet till tomorrow morning. We brought her home and decided to try prednisone and gabapentin and keep her immobile. Did we make the wrong decision? Is there a chance that she could heal and walk again? I’m at my wits end I’m so stressed that I am doing the wrong thing.
Hello Susan, that is such an overwhelming experience. I’m so sorry that you and your dog have had to go through it. The fact that she has deep pain is a GREAT prognostic indicator. But please get to the vet asap. I’m guessing they will recommend surgery as the best course of action. And the sooner the better. You’re doing great. ♥️
Hi! I have a 3 year old german shepherd who has always been super active and really into playing fetch. One day in April, we were out playing, and she cried in pain the whole night. My husband and I were freaked out, and called the after hour vet. She was seen the next day, and was given a cortisone shot and some carprofen, which seemed to help. She hadn’t been acting like her neck was bothering her anymore. Her hips had been giving her some trouble, so we did sedated xrays- no dysplasia but possible arthritis. She is now on adaquan. Ever since her hips started bothering her, i got her stairs for my tall bed. She doesnt jump on the furninture anymore or my bed. she steps up. when i stretch her legs back, it seems like her right is what bothers her. I made the mistake of playing fetch again 2 weeks ago, and I think her neck is bothering her. she will go both sides, every now and then when i hug on her, she’ll whine. She is going back to the vet again next week because my anxiety is so high about all of this. My husband feels like i am over reacting. Do you think this could be IVDD? no paralysis or consistent crying out in pain. she is still playful.
Hi Sarah,
It can definitely be upsetting to see your dog in pain or uncomfortable, and it sounds like you are doing a great job advocating for her. Without being able to do a hand-on examination, look at the x-rays, watch her walk, etc. I can’t really say if she could have IVDD or pain from a different musculoskeletal problem such as her arthritis. I am glad to read that you have a veterinary appointment set up for her because they will be able to do the things that I can’t do through the computer and can help you come up with a plan for her. You know your dog, so if you think things are off, keep communicating with your veterinarian and searching for answers until this is sorted out. I wish you and your dog all the best. ❤
Hello,
A few months ago my dog stopped being able to wag her tail. We thought a disk but multiple vets said maybe arthritis, so we went about our day. Eventually she could wag some but was slipping a lot.
Fast forward to two days ago, and she was rolling around playing and when she got up she couldn’t walk on her right hind leg and was keeping it extended, so we thought maybe ACL. Gave her carprofen and she seemed better over night but still wanted to get her looked at. Took her in and doctor said he didn’t see anything so did an X-ray. She fought them hard and was unable to walk out of X-ray room. X-ray didn’t show anything so dr thinks disk, and have us steroid, pain reliever and muscle relaxer all that you said above. Two doses later and she is able to get up on her back legs 50% of the time independently, however is very wobbley, with her feet folding over often. However this is only 24 hours later.
We make her rest all day, we carry her often but from time to time put a towel under her and pull up to assist her in walking. We lift her up and down from the bed but she isn’t allowed up alone. Is all of this okay to do? Or should she not be on soft furniture at all?
Hearing this, what is your best guess on her prognosis. We were giving her four days to see how she progresses, but is that enough time?
Thank you!
Hi Valerie, I’m so very sorry to hear of your dog’s health issues. Unfortunately, without performing my own physical exam and looking at the radiographs, it’s pretty impossible for me to help you with the prognosis. Prognosis is direclty correlated to diagnosis and we do not yet have one. If you can swing it, I would recommend going to see a board certified veterinary neurologist in your area. You could ask your vet for a recommendation/referral. I think it’s key to try to identify what is going on here (because the tail wagging part of the story is unusual) and make sure we’re not missing anything. I hope this helps and I hope she makes a quick recovery. ♥️
My 9 year old chihuahua was diagnosed about a year ago with IVDD. He has had little episodes before where just a little pain with normal walking and with medications he got better within days. 3 days ago he jumped and ruptured what they think to be 2 disk. He isn’t using his hind legs completely but they said he still has deep pain perception. He’s been at the vet ever sense that day and they said he took some steps on his own and even hiked his leg to pee. I had the option of surgery and agreed. The next day they did MRI and said they think he could potentially recover With 4 weeks strict crate rest And pain management. And that if he ever becomes unstable they would do the surgery ? Do you
Know why they would prefer sending him home with meds instead of just going ahead with the surgery as they are saying he still has 85 to 95% success rate with it with the state he is currently in.
Hi Allison, I think it just comes down to taking a more conservative vs a more aggressive approach. Neither is necessarily wrong, but I am guessing if not now, it’s only a matter of time until he will reinjure the area and need surgery. But I’d need a crystal ball to confirm. 🙂 I would recommend you set up a time to talk to the vet and ask these questions and get the answers you need. Your questions are good and I know you want to make the very best choices for your dog. Bless you both!
Hello,
I loved reading your post as I feel a lot of anxiety around this matter. My maltipoo, who is turning 5 in August, has had recurrent back pain (third time right now). He seems to be grade 1 with pain and guarding the area. My vet prescribed gabapentin like you mentioned, as well as Rheumocam (NSAID) is that safe for dogs?
Also my dog is good with resting and sleeping so we have been letting him do that and only taking him out to pee instead of going on walks.
Do you think since it’s his third time that surgery May be needed or just longer rest times? No diagnostic tests were done apart from an X-ray that did not show any abnormal findings. I took him to a neurologist during his 2nd episode about 8 months ago and they told me it was my choice to do a MRI and possible surgery, however was not recommended as there are no neurological deficits, just pain. My dog also yelps and squeaks when in pain (how we found out he was having another episode when we touched his back by accident). Please let me know what you adjust, it would be greatly appreciated. Also I read a fresh nutritious meal (no grains as they cUse inflammation) and turmeric can help with this. What is your take? I am a critical care nurse.
Hello Naina, First of all, it’s good news that your malipoo is only grade 1. And yes, Gabapentin + Meloxicam (Rheumocam) is perfectly appropriate. Great job on strict rest too. I DEFINITELY agree with the neurologist that surgery is not warranted for a Grade I case like this, but if episodes continue, I’d go back to that specialist for a recheck. I think all the other things you mention would be MILDLY helpful, at best. IVDD is not going to be measurably helped by diet. Turmeric can’t hurt and may help some as an antiinflammatory, but I do strongly recommend our New Zealand deer velvet supplement for my patients with IVDD and have had some pretty great results: https://toegrips.com/best-supplement-joint-pain-dogs/ I hope this is helpful! It sounds like your dog is receiving excellent veterinary care.
Hello! I live in a rural area of a South American 3rd world country and own a fire brown 3 year old daschund. About 4 months, during the outbreak of the pandemic Waldo awoke unable to move his hind legs, was in pain and couldn’t control his bladder. We got access to vets in the area and the pain was stopped but there was nothing more they could do. He’s been in crate rest for those 4 months and when touched in between his toes he will kick, he now tries not to pee in his bed but sometimes can’t help it. When lifted with hands can stand for 2 seconds on his own. Do you think he can walk again ?
Thank you
Carolina.
Hello Carolina, I’m so sorry to hear about Waldo’s experience. I’m glad the pain is no longer an issue. Unfortunately, kicking of the legs may be a reflex and not voluntary. I’m not sure if he’ll ever walk again, but I have 2 thoughts:
1. Ask your veterinarian to check for deep pain. If present, that’s a great sign. If not, then I will tell you honestly the prognosis for return to function is very poor.
2. I had a case just like Waldo years ago that responded really really well to acupuncture. He learned to do something called “spinal walking” which is not perfect by any means, but he could happily get around.
I hope this is helpful. Much love to you and Waldo. ♥️
Hi Carolina,
I know this is an older post, but figured I should at least mention this for you or anyone else who stumbles across this. Have you had your pup checked for a bladder infection? Our IVDD pup started having so many accidents in his bed too. We took him into the vet for a check, and they put him on antibiotics. Within a couple of days, he was no longer having accidents so it’s definitely worth checking into this.
Our Baby, Leela, has been diagnosed with probable Stage 1 IVDD. She is a three year old Shih-Poo and is the center of our universe. She has had it for a while but we just didn’t recognize the signs – she used to just sit down during a walk and chew her rear – we thought it was allergies. Over the weekend, without any identified incident, she was in tremendous discomfort and pain – shivering and panting – and not really consolable. We took her to the Vet ER where they told us the symptoms are consistent with IVDD and prescribed Gabapentin and rest – crate rest.
I have some questions that I am not seeing answered so will ask them for myself, and hopefully others will find them useful.
1. Crate Rest – Leela has never been in a crate. Like Tango she is very athletic and active. Putting her in a crate causes her to stress and strain, fighting to get out which I imagine will do significant damage to her back. Even trying to make a pen has her constantly wanting to escape again having her whole body in fighting. What we have decided to do is to watch her constantly. We lift her up and down of furniture. We don’t let her run. She does walk slowly around the house on a single level floor with us. We take her outside for bathroom breaks – she needs to walk a little and sniff to find the perfect spot to do her business. Is this an acceptable alternative to crate rest? Is walking slowly, chewing bones and being carried all OK? When we pick her up we support both her front and back keeping her spine straight. She does not ‘guard’ or whimper so we think we are doing it correctly.
2. Can we ‘read’ off her if what she is doing is OK or not? I don’t know if the Gaba masks pain and she is doing things that hurt her and she doesn’t know. She stands up and turns around to get comfortable. Is this OK? Sometimes she lies straight, other times she curls into a ball. Is this OK? She loves shaking her whole body and stretching. Is this OK? If not, how do we stop this? (We have heart palpitations every time she does this!) Should we ask the vet for a sedative in addition to the Gaba?
3. How long does the rest need to be imposed? The ER vet never told us. Her vet said two weeks. I have read up to a month. You can imagine that watching her for that long will be very arduous; but we need to do whatever we need to do. When do you know that you can start taking her for short walks? It cannot be time dependent, surely. Should we not be able to see she has recovered?
4. Going forward we know that she will need lifestyle modifications. No more jumping off furniture or chasing squirrels. She pulls when she is walked, especially if there are other dogs or rodents. We will have to stop that entirely. She is a young dog. If we do these things what is her long term prognosis? Will we have recurrences? Will she need surgery? Will she become paralyzed?
5. She previously had the run of the house, with a dog door to the yard, for her and her sister Jade. That is no longer the case and Jade is confused. Will we be able to get back to this arrangement? How will be able to leave her alone if she can’t run the house and does not go in a crate?
Any advice will be gratefully appreciated.
Thank you for what you do for our babies,
Hello Darren and Leela,
Thank you for the detailed message. I will do my best to address your questions:
1. First, it sounds like you are picking her up correctly, and that is great. That will be valuable for both the present and the future.
Does crate rest have to involve a crate? I agree with you that the answer is “No, it does not”, and then use common sense. Some of my clients use pack-n-plays, or ex pens or wagons. But the main problem is that it only takes one unexpected incident for the dog to reinjure himself because very few alternate solutions are as confining as a crate. So they way you are managing her confinement works in an ideal world but involves more risk. In a crate rest ideal situation, she would not be walking around the house with you–only walking on potty breaks and yes, okay to sniff around.
2. You can’t stop her from being a dog and she will do a good job “listening to her body” for the most part, within the guidelines of confinement. IF she’s doing a full body shake, that tells me she’s doing very well because a dog suffering from acute IVDD can’t/won’t do this typically. I don’t think she needs a sedative. I think you’re doing great.
3. Your thoughts are good right—that each case varies—and it’s not strictly time dependent, but discs take time to heal…a long time really. I will defer to your vets on this one because they have the advantage of an actual physical exam, but I’d err on the side of caution.
4. I’d need a crystal ball to answer these questions 🙂 but I think your biggest obstacle is genetics, which obviously you cannot change. Also, this relieves you, I hope, of some parental guilt. 🙂 Please read https://toegrips.com/ivdd-in-dogs-why/
5. Yes, I suspect you will be able to get back to this arrangement once the acute injury heals. Again, please speak with your vet for recommendations based on knowledge of Leela’s body and status.
You are obviously very conscientious and I’m very optimistic that this will go well for you all!
I will end with a recommendation for my joint supplement, which I’ve had great results with for IVDD dogs: https://shop.toegrips.com/pages/joint-supplements-for-dogs
All my best to you, Leela, and Jade! ♥️
Hi Dr. Buzby! I am so grateful I stumbled across your site— you have wonderfully informative articles on IVDD and I look forward to buying your toe grips.
My Jack Russell terrier was diagnosed with IVDD stage 1/2, last week. He woke up and couldn’t really walk at first, but walked with a “drunk” gait ten minutes later. Scary but then he walked normally for a week— until he slipped down two steps indoors. After he was in a lot of pain, and walked slowly, so I took him to the vet again. They believe he can get better with crate rest and prescribed him Gabapentin and Tramadol. He’s been extremely whiny and anxious on both of these medicines and it was concerning. I stared spacing out the two medicines and now he seems so much better. No more whining (I interpreted as pain), his walk is normal, and he seems his normal self. Should I continue his opioid medicine if he doesn’t seem in pain, and just stick with crate rest as his disk heals? How do I know if these pain medicines are best for him— I can’t tell if his pain last week was just acute and not chronic, especially when he seems fine right now.
Thank you so much.
Hello Joz, thanks for your kind words. We love helping people help their dogs! As for your questions, they are so very specific in terms of treatment plan and prognosis that I really don’t feel comfortable answering them without a physical exam of your dog. Your questions are fabulous, but I’m going to defer to your regular vet who has a relationship with your dog. Thanks for understanding. ♥️
My 15 year okd beagle has lost the use of his back legs. Possible slipped disk. I was told by my vet to give him 10-14 days on medication to see improvement. It is not recommended to do surgery because of his age. About how long do I wait to see any type of improvement? How do I know if it will improve? This is horrible to watch and does not seem like it is even possible to recover from. Any advise would be welcomed.
Hello Vicki, You are correct that at some point (based on how serious the condition is–on a scale of 1-5) there is really no coming back from the paralysis with just medications. This blog talks about the scale and non-surgical treatment options: https://toegrips.com/can-dog-recover-from-ivdd-without-surgery/ and should be helpful to you.
Sadly, I can’t answer the excellent questions you are asking (from a distance) but your vet should see your dog for a recheck exam asap and help you talk through them. I am certainly hoping for a happy, successful ending to this story for you and your dog! ♥️
Hi, thank you for all of this information, we live in Europe and there isn’t a way of getting a scan done in our city, we would need to go to the capital, and they can only take us in in three weeks. And our 5 year old Yorkshire really seems to be showing the symptoms to this type of illness. We firmly believe he has a type 1 and level 1 or 2 IVDD for now. We have just put him in a crate for strict confinement since he got this yesterday. I wanted to know if there was any position he should, or should not be lying in. I also wanted to know if you could provide us with any information about massaging for pain relief for example. Thank you in advance
Hello Ana, The good news is that if you’re at Type 1 or 2, you would be fine not going to get the scan done. Great job with strict rest. It doesn’t matter what position he lies in. He will take care of his body by choosing what is comfortable. I don’t have a massage resources, but I’ve always liked this technique (in general, not specific to IVDD): https://ttouch.com/Our_Method_for/Dogs/Why_Tellington_TTouch_Method_for_Dogs/index.html
Whatever you do, do very gently and if your dog resists, STOP. I would also recommend our joint supplement which I have great success using on my IVDD patients: https://shop.toegrips.com/products/new-zealand-deer-velvet-for-dogs-veterinary-formula
I hope this helps! ♥️
My sweet boy Maxx got hit by a truck took him in and dr told me me he IVDD i can’t afford surgery can this heal on it own ? What can i do? Please help
Hello Ty, I’m so sorry to hear that this has happened to Maxx. Whether or not this can heal without surgery really depends on the severity of the injury. Please check out our other IVDD posts for a more detailed explanation: https://toegrips.com/ivdd-in-dogs-why/ and https://toegrips.com/ivdd-surgery/ I hope these are helpful. Ultimately, I would recommend working closely with your vet and following his/her instructions. I’m certainly wishing sweet Maxx all the best in his recovery.
Hi Doc..
I’m in pieces over my 10 year old Boston.
He still wobble walks and doesn’t pee himself but wont poop outside. I’ve taken him to a vet and he says rest, meds and patience as theres no neurological symptoms…
If he gets worse as in loses back legs or stops eating (still eats) bring him in.
If he does get worse, with his age, is surgery an unwise choice?
I’m heartbroken and just torn up as my bubby is my best friend and left hip. To see this over the past 2 and a half weeks has been just a nightmare..
any general thoughts?
Hi Joe, I’m so sorry to hear of your dog’s worsening symptoms. If the diagnosis is IVDD, then surgery is certainly a reasonable (and perhaps even recommended) option sooner rather than later ie. even at the stage you mention. I would ask your veterinarian for referral to a board certified veterinary surgeon for a consult. They may or may not recommend surgery, but it should give you peace of mind and ensure we’re doing everything possible for your Boston.
Hi my name is Sharon my four year old Pomeranian Chihuahua was walking one day and now he’s dragging his back he was diagnosed where a ruptured disc what can I do to help him walk again he’s on steroids and pain meds and I got him a wheelchair and I work with him walking on his front legs can 15 minutes a day with or without his wheelchair can’t afford surgery
Hello Sharon, I’m so sorry to hear about your dog’s diagnosis. I would encourage you to read all 3 articles in our IVDD series to better understand what you’re dealing with. At this juncture, it sounds like you are doing a lot right–medications, wheelchair, PT, and supportive care. I would make sure you are working closely with your veterinarian to ensure you are doing everything possible to keep your dog healthy. Paralyzed dogs face their own set of health obstacles. I would recommend trying acupuncture too.
Hi doc, I just wanted to let you know that your article here about IVDD was very helpful. My little pup, Bentley, is a 4 year-old dachshund. He recently started having acute back pain with absolutely no precursor–except, of course, his genetics. He is young, fit and active, so his condition came as a shock. He is diagnosed with type1, stage 2 IVDD, as you can probably guess. Your blog posts helped me understand what is going on, so thank you. His X-rays show heavy calcification and he’s on all the medications you suggested in your post. Our vet is on the case! I really hope he has some pain relief soon. Seeing him suffer is awful and knowing he doesn’t understand why he hurts is worse. As someone who has herniated discs myself, I would do anything to take this pain from him. Your blog also helped me understand that this isn’t something we caused, either by ignorance or negligence. We have always been cautious with his back, keeping ramps in the house, supporting him well when he is carried, etc. I’ve been feeling like maybe we could or should have done more, or done less, entertaining all the “what ifs” you described. Thank you for the reassurance that we couldn’t have prevented this.
Thanks so much, Christine, for taking the time to share the story of your dog and for the kind/encouraging words about our blog series on IVDD. Our team puts a ton of effort into these blogs in the hope that they make a difference for dog owners like you. Thank you for affirming that; it means the world to us. We wish Bentley a speedy recovery. It sounds like he is in great hands. ♥️
Hi my dog had grade 5 surgery was used to remove disc now 2 years later he he has a grade 3 would crate rest work
Hi Carol, There is sooo much more information needed here in terms of both your dog’s past history and present physical exam findings that I need to defer the question to your local veterinarian. Thanks for understanding.
Hello!
My Frenchie was just diagnosed with grade one and we are doing the strict crate rest. I was wondering if it’s okay for her to sleep with me at night? Or for a few hours while I’m awake? She’s never slept alone before and doesn’t like the crate by herself. Whenever I’ve crated her before it’s been with my Boston, who definitely can’t be in with her.
Hello Adrian, I will say that if your dog is sleeping with you and, for some reason, falls or jumps out of bed, that could have a very serious effect. Crate is safest, but I understand your concerns. I’m going to defer to your regular vet for these answers. Thanks for understanding.
My senior mini schnauzer had her first episode (pre diagnosed) immediately after our cat ran into her. She yelped and her body shifted to the left. She took a few minutes to compose herself. Then a week later her second espies ode happened. That’s when we saw the vet. Today is day 4 on crate rest, and prescribed medication. She is eating and drinking and she likes to walk for a few minutes and she does fine. I think she knows at this point what her body can’t do. At least once during the night she yelps extremely loud for a minute or two. Of course I feel helpless. I don’t know if it’s a spasm or her repositioning herself. My question is when can I start to see some improvement? I’m worried but then I think back is it all about patience? As pet owners we don’t want our sweet pups to suffer. She is 12 years old next month. Please help and keep my hopeful. Thank you.
Hi Josie, I’m so sorry to hear that you and your dog are going through this. I know how hard it is to see our loved ones suffer. Rest and tincture of time are key elements in recovering from IVDD, so I would certainly encourage you to be patient and remain hopeful. By the same token, I would also encourage you to keep in close touch with your veterinarian to make sure that your dog is recovering on an expected time table and that she is getting the best of care as she progresses. (I say this because sometimes our recommendations change/are modified with time.) So please make sure to keep all your follow up appointments, or make one if you don’t already have one scheduled. I wish your dog a speedy and complete recovery!
Dr buzby my dog has what I assume was ivdd, because she hung her head low and was trembling while walking after she lunged too hard while on her cord outside, the vet prescribed her gabapentin, presidone, and tramadol. Within the first hour of her barley being able to walk we got her to the vet, where she got a shot of presidone directly into her muscle, I gave her the tramadol and gabapentin which gave her the ability to adjust position, use the washroom and walk around 6 hours later 2-8 pm. (I forgot to mention that the vet examine her back which was very tender) she can walk fine, wag her tail, use the washroom. Do you have any tips or any comments about what I said that can help me. She’s a bugle bullmastiff/boxer mix who is 117 pounds, the vet gave us medication and told us basically come back if the meds don’t work, out of paranoid I’ve been limiting how much she stands/walks around the house and also limiting how much she eats (and sometimes drinks) but not to a significant degree. Can you give me some reassurance about my dogs current condition?
Hi Markius,
Sorry to hear your pup is having an episode of back and neck pain. I am glad to hear that she is getting more comfortable on the medications and is able to get around ok. I think you are definitely doing the right thing to limit her activity for several weeks to help her heal. Dogs on prednisone (either taking the pills or after a long-acting injection) often act more hungry and drink more water. It is fine to limit how much she eats because she doesn’t need as many calories with not being as active right now, but I would generally not recommend limiting water much if at all. I can’t examine your dog to be able to give you more definitive reassurance on how her recovery is going, but based on what you have said, it sounds like she is moving in the right direction. If you have any concerns about how she is doing, I would not hesitate to have her rechecked at the vet where they can palpate her back and neck again, test her reflexes, etc and give you a more definitive idea of the outlook for her. Best of luck to you and your pup!