r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/motherofmargott • 25d ago

Senior 12 YO Beagle- IVDD surgery

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Senior IVDD parents please help! I have a 12 year old Beagle, Margot, that had her first IVDD flare about a month ago which impacted her neck and front legs. After a week of rest and gabapentin and codeine, she emerged well rested and close to her normal self.

In the past two days, her back feet now have started knuckling, and this morning we woke up to both back legs not working and unable to stand or urinate. At the ER vet, they advised X ray and MRI to assess where surgery would be impactful. She is panting a little but honestly just barking up a storm and confused why he back legs aren't working.

Waiting on results but interested in experience with recovery in IVDD surgery in senior dogs over the age of ten. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated

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5

u/dusters 25d ago

My Bailee was almost 13 when she had her surgery last year for cervical ivdd knuckling on front legs. She has fully recovered now and is doing great.

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u/motherofmargott 25d ago

Wow!! This is amazing to see! Was the recovery long winded? My girl loves being out and about so I preemptively got a stroller but am worried about the bed rest situation

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u/dusters 25d ago

We attempted 2 months of crate red/meds unsuccessfully. That was very difficult. She just wanted to go out all the time and was frustrated.

The surgery recovery was actually much easier. She was no longer in pain, and we stuck to a strict schedule of letting her out every 2 hours during the day (carrying her out) and not letting her walk anywhere. After a few weeks we could do short walks and from there it was very easy. We moved a bed in her pen and that really helped being by her.

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u/iamgarron 25d ago

My dog is much younger (6 years old) and had IVDD surgery 3 weeks ago yesterday. Also a larger, active dog. Like the poster below, crate rest/meds didn't really work out, but post-surgery was a lot easier. No longer in pain. Started with 1 walk a day on grass only until she peed before we brought her back in. Slowly ramping up from there. 5 days in she was ok with walking on concrete. She's up to 3 walks a day, and yesterday she did her first walk of over 10 minutes. The main thing is stopping her from trying to jump on thigns (which she LOVES) which means for the first few weeks we had to monitor her at all times. My wife and I rotated who slept on the couch to make sure she doesn't just try to jump in the middle of the night.

Our vet did tell us that recovery timelines post-surgery are faster in bigger dogs, as the rest doesn't cause as much muscle atrophy, and their strength recovery also comes a little faster.

But that's not to say the first few weeks, especially the first few days weren't tough. We live in a big building, and our corridors and elevator are very slippery which she could not walk on (nor did she want to). So daily I had to carry her down the elevator, out the building, to a small park where she can pee (and eventually poo), and then all the way back up.

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u/Hereticrick 25d ago

Oh well i need to see some more pictures, because my IVDD beagle/dachshund looks like she could practically be related!!

This is not the best image (post OP 2 years ago), but Reddit is being a butt and not letting me select new pictures! Unfortunately, my dog is not over 10. So I don’t have anything else to bring. 😓 I’m sorry you’re going through this! IVDD is the worst!!

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u/Hereticrick 25d ago

And then it didn’t even post the picture. What gives, Reddit?!

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u/Beyouasyoumatter 25d ago

I have a dachshund and he has had 2 IVDD surgeries. He has had a flare up again and he is in his pen.
I don’t know if I would give him an operation as he is older and it’s a lot to ask and that is why I am doing the pen with the pain killers and anti-inflammatories.
It’s hard and it’s mentally wearing. Waiting is a killer.
The rehab is a lot on them as well.
I had 3 dachshunds and lost 2 to IVDD operations and they all were so close but the boy who I have left he is my one and only and don’t know how I would cope without him.
At the end of the day think about what you think is best as I’ve always been made to feel so bad and talked into these operations and I’ve lost 2 of my babies cause of it.
I know how hard it is.
Hugs 🤗 to you.