My dog has a degenerative disc

[lucyk]

Shih poo breed, 5 year old female has a degenerative disc in the middle of her back. The worst case scenario is paralysis. Started on Metacam, a 7 day prescription, works great. Question is long term care? Quality of life is important. What's the balance? She is a spunky, dog, loves to run. Any advice from pet owners in a similar situation (exercise, diet, medication).

Bye,
Lucy

[diandpat]

Hi Lucyk...welcome to the board

Sorry to hear your pooch has been diagnosed with disc disease. My Hobo also has disc problems and has had two "episodes". He surely is pathetic when his nerve is being pressed by I can so relate as I have three herniated discs :sad:

If your dog is presently acute you need to isolate her totally...NO unnecessary movement at all. Make sure she is comfortable eating, even if that means raising her dishes. Where Hobo's disc is it hurts too much to lean forward to eat. I have left his bowls elevated permanently to avoid putting undue pressure on the back and disc.

Long term you should be limiting your dogs jumping up and especially down. Also, stairs should be kept to a minimum, especially down. All that pounding is jarring on the spine. I have built little steps to get on and off furniture otherwise he will jump up anyways

Both of my dogs are on Orijen grain free food. Good nutrition is always a good idea. Keep her weight in check too. Extra weight is as hard on them as it is on us

They are also on Flex Tabs that I order from painfreepet.com in the states.

Hope that helps a bit. I know it is hard to watch the first time. Hobo has had two episodes but has not had one now in over three years.

Please keep us posted and pictures are almost mandatory on this site

Good luck!

[SnowDancer]

If you do a search of most of my posts they will be about Dachshund disc disease - a little different I know - but you will get the picture. I know it is expensive, and there are no guarantees, but if you can afford it, I would get a referral to Guelph - the day clinic - to see one of the neuro surgeons - to see if your pup would be a good candidate for surgery. The X-Rays alone are very expensive - but not as expensive as having to race there at midnight to be met by the on-call neuro for immediate surgery. (In Toronto, the specialists require a 24 hour work-up - no exceptions) - so they refer you to Guelph. Certainly following your vet's advice re limiting movement, keeping off stairs, lifting to bed and furniture, a ramp, weight under control etc. etc. will help a lot, but the bottom line is you never know when it will strike again. We have been through 2 surgeries as you will see from my posts. It is heartbreaking and seems to be affecting an increasingly alarming number of breeds these days. We now have an about to turn 5 Eskimo and they have long backs and have recently learned of a few of them coming down with the back problem. Based on my experience, I would tend to jump fast towards surgery since your dog is not experiencing full body and neck problems requiring full body surgery. And yes, paralysis is a possibility. If that happens be very careful when you touch your dog - if screaming occurs the discs are pressing on the spinal nerves so be prepared with heavy gloves etc. If you dog starts to show signs that paralysis is setting in - believe me, you will know it if this happens, please rush to vet immediately. I think Missisauga has a good Emergency - I am very happy that Toronto now has the Emergency on McMurrich in Toronto that is open 24 hours a day - this is the place that most Toronto specialists operate from. I seriously hope that if my Eskie develops this problem - or if he needs to see an ortho for any leg disorder - that we have the 24 hour window. But Guelphs' Small Animal Clinic is wonderful and if he is still there, neuro Dr. Thomas Gibson is absolutely wonderful with dogs.

[lucyk]

Dear Snow Dancer,

Thank you very much for your information. I'll talk to my vet. I'm sorry about your dogs too. Take care.

Bye for now,
Lucy

[lucyk]

I spoke to my vet today about taking Cookie in to see a neurologist. There's a neurologist at the Mississauga Emergency clinic in Oakville. My vet feels I should give Cookie more time, and see how she manages on her own without the meds. So I'll do that.

Anyone have any practical ideas how to stop her from running up and down the stairs (2 flights of stairs carpeted), she won't use a ramp. I carry her as much as possible, but sometimes she's so quick she's already past me. (She follows me everywhere.)

Bye,
Lucy

[SnowDancer]

I expect at 5 your pup is too set in her ways to start using a ramp. If I were to adopt a Dachshund puppy today, I would try and start training ramp use right away - this apparently is a lot easier sooner rather than later. Even after surgery baby gates did nothing to stop my Dachshunds if they wanted to reach stairs etc. You might have to use a double high gate or put your pup somewhere where the steps are not accessible - this would mean even in a room when you are not at home - we were finally forced to do this - a large bedroom - and when you are home fully blocking off of stairs if at all possible. The problem is that if your dog feels she can do the stairs she will. I can tell you though that if she is feeling pain she absolutely won't try the stairs which will be a very clear signal to you to get to the vet as soon as possible. And, sadly, and not to alarm you, I expect that you will be going through this again, so would take every precaution. But no matter what you do, if it is going to happen it will. The bottom line is that you have to let your dog life his life. I know a woman whose Dachshund was almost fully paralyzed yet she kept him in this state in a crate for years. I couldn't do this. I took all precautions but my guys enjoyed their lives. But I was always aware that that could change in a minute. I know that there is a neurologist near where you live - what I was hoping was that you might be able to get a better price if you went to Guelph's Small Animal Clinic on a "regular" patient basis - with a referral of course from your vet. If you have to go to Guelph at midnight for emergency surgery the price will be higher than it would be if performed by a Toronto neuro. A friend of mine had the option of a bit of time - her Weim had degenerative disc disease. She did go to the Toronto clinic, but ended up being referred to Guelph as the cost was considerly less - and frankly this is a very expensive procedure. Of course travelling to Guelph from Toronto is a pain - especially with a paralyzing dog - and then you have to go back for a follow-up. But they are absolutely wonderful at Guelph. I hope all goes well and good luck with keeping your pup off the stairs - and from jumping up onto the bed and couch. Remember where there is a will, there is a way.

[lucyk]

Dear Di and Pat,

You're my first reply. Thank you for your good tips. I'll do as you suggested.
Good luck with your own pets.

Bye for now,
Lucy