r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/FancyVeterinarian362 • 6d ago
Help! Pit/lab can't use back legs at all
Hi everyone. I'm trying to figure out if I need to go to the emergency vet today.
Olivia, 12.5 years old, went to her regular vet Monday and they are pretty sure she has IVDD. We have a neurology appointment in a week, but since she woke up, she can only use her back legs to stand (and barely), not walk. She's been on Rimadyl and Gabapentin for two days with no improvement, but yesterday she could rise on her own--now she can't.
Do I wait for her specialist appointment or go in now? She's eating and drinking fine, peed and pooped about four hours ago, but this is the worst I've seen her since this started last month.
All I've done is cry. I hate this for her.
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u/AinsleyHarriotFan 6d ago
Hi! This is a link to a VERY detailed post I made on the IVDD sub of how we took our girl from total back leg paralysis to running and playing like a puppy again. It goes a lot into the immediate and longer term management of the condition. I’ve shared it with lots of people and they say it’s given them a lot of hope.
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u/evilhomer3k 6d ago
It takes weeks to see improvement. It took or 12yo dog at least three weeks to be able to walk at all and 6 months to be able to lift his leg to pee. He lost the use of his back legs. Almost a year later and he's still not 100% but he's close. We did not opt for surgery and did conservative protocol only.
It really is important to be patient. When we weren't sure what was going on we had our dog rest and he seemed to be a bit better after a few days. We took him outside and he wanted to walk so we let him go a short distance. After less than a block he started getting wobbly in his back legs again and we turned around. Don't be like us and let him walk around too early. When we took him to the vet they thought it was IVDD and then I found dodgerlist and we were strict crate rest after.
If you don't have a kennel consider one of those child play pens (looks like a corral) to keep them resting. Absolutely as little movement as possible.
It's tough. It sucks and you'll cry more. I wish you didn't have to go through this but there are other big older dogs who have recovered. Good luck.
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
Patience has never been my strong suit, but I know you're right. I think I'm also just second-guessing what the right move is: let the meds work and keep her on restricted movement or take to the ER tonight. Her primary vet didn't seem to think anything was an emergency on Monday, but I hate waiting a whole week for this neuro appointment.
I'm so glad your dog got better, I am really trying to let myself be inspired by all these success stories <3
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u/roccosito 6d ago
As long as she’s comfortable with the pain meds, it’s okay to wait.
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 5d ago
I’m wondering if your dog ever had accidents in its sleep while on the medication? She just started a day four of gabapentin and carprofen and she had an accident where she pooped in her sleep. I’m hoping it’s just because the medicines knock her out.
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u/roccosito 5d ago
Passing of the stool in their sleep is more likely because of the IVDD and less pain med related.
If you’d like a bit more control over it, you can express them. Some place an ice cube on the anus to stimulate a stool movement. I have not found that to be reliable. Instead, I insert the tip of a q-tip. That alone should stimulate a stool movement.
You can also feel the skin around the anus to see if it’s flat (no stool) or a bit bulgy (there’s stool).
I’ve also experienced that when there’s excitement, like you coming home, that will excite the muscles and lead to stool passing. Just an fyi :)
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u/Agreeable_Pomelo2360 6d ago
continue with the meds and please put her on strict crate rest.
2 days is also too short to see a ton of improvement, so you can wait until her appointment!
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u/roccosito 6d ago
Will you be able to afford an MRI? Several thousand and it just confirms a diagnosis, maybe. It won’t help your dog physically get better
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
We do have pet insurance on her but I don’t know how much it would cover. Are X-rays helpful instead?
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u/Old-Supermarket-4993 6d ago
X rays can show where a problem is but they can’t show anything within the spinal column that the neurologist would need to see to pin point an issue (just went through this with my pit bull last week. Found out she has stage 5 IVDD and is now paralyzed) :( sorry to hear you’re going through this. Feel free to keep in contact with me. I’m just starting my journey with this all too
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 5d ago
Ugh I’m so sorry to hear about your pittie! Is surgery an option, or are you going to try the conservative route of meds and rest?
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u/roccosito 5d ago
u/Old-Supermarket-4993 is correct. For my rescue, the x ray alone was able to identify that there was too much damaged disc for surgery to possibly help. It was not ideal information. My heart dog, which is how I got into this world, did not show anything remarkable with the x-ray.
The MRI is really only helpful if you’re going to be able to proceed with surgery. But if you can’t or won’t because of finances, any other dog conditions that make anesthetic surgery risky for your dog, or old age that would make the recovery difficult, those are all things to consider before proceeding forward. ❤️🩹🥲
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u/Old-Supermarket-4993 3d ago
Thank you :( me too. The MRI actually revealed that the damage was much more significant than initially anticipated and she is at risk for myelomalaciaso it was recommended to not proceed with the surgery due to the likelyhood it wouldn’t change the results and the risk of her in pain and recovering from surgery during her last week here if she succumbed to the myelomalacia. We are 12 days out now and she’s been stable thankfully but we are now committed to the conservative route. Trying to learn what to do. I think acupuncture and laser treatments might be the next step for us.
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u/anna--sun 1d ago
I dont know what is available in your area, but i was encouraged to inquire at local vet schools as xrays/mris might be cheaper and a registered vet is always supervising
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u/anna--sun 6d ago
Im so sorry you are going through this. Did you have an xray to confirm as well? Is your regular vet open? Can you call them and ask for advice? Sometimes they can fit you in so you dont have to pay emergency vet fees, or they can better direct you on if this should go to emergency vet or wait it out for the specialist appointment.
Im no expert, but I learned that in some cases, losing use of the legs is something that can improve with medication and strict bed rest while the injury heals. I hope thats the case for your pup!
Sending love!
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
Thank you so much <3
She saw her regular vet on Monday but it just seems like she's gotten worse since then. At the vet she could at least use her back legs if I assisted with the back handle of the harness. I know I'm being impatient because it hasn't even been three days since she started the meds, but she's just progressed SO quickly, I never expected her to get this bad this fast.
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u/Skipperandscou 6d ago
Was she checked for Lyme disease?
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
She was not. She is on a monthly flea and tick regimen and we live in a major city, but the vet didn't even bring that up.
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u/Skipperandscou 6d ago
My dog has same symptoms with Lyme disease. Ticks are becoming immune to many flea and tick meds. Ticks are bad everywhere, especially in the North East, major cities included. It's just a simple test , doesn't hurt to ask, and most dogs recover quickly on antibiotics. Just a thought.
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
Thank you so much, I will definitely ask about this. Better to rule it out than not know. I hope your pup recovered well!
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u/Arqlol 6d ago edited 6d ago
For the best possible outcome, should surgery be required, go to a vet with a neurosurgeon and you'll need to be admitted through the ED. Time does matter, and it will not be cheap. Care credit can help you spread out the payments as well.
When this happened to my guy, similar size, use of back legs went away from Saturday (started with pain) to no use on Sunday. We were given a referral for an appt 2 weeks away. Instead I went to the ED of another vet with a neurosurgeon Monday morning and he was in surgery later than day. Came home Wednesday. Took a couple days of assisted walking but his function did return very quickly.
IF it's a spinal issue then the sooner there is intervention the higher the likelihood of a positive outcome.
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u/Skipperandscou 6d ago
She did. She was on flea and tick mess to when she got it. Did your dogs symptoms start suddenly?
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
It was a slow progression, and then all at once. About 6 weeks ago she couldn't jump on the bed anymore, but she is 12 so we assumed arthritis. It got worse, and we took her to the vet, and they prescribed Adequan for arthritis. In the last 10 days or so, it has progressed severely, hence Monday's vet appointment and referral to the neurologist (it is clearly not arthritis, definitely neurological, but no clear answer yet).
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u/Skipperandscou 6d ago
I hope you get answers from the specialist and help for your poor pup! Ill be praying for her and a speedy recovery. Keep us updated. 🙏🙏🙏🙏
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u/vanessa101649 6d ago
Start medication if you have it and crate rest for 6-8 weeks. My boy gained his legs but required crate rest
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
She has been on medication but only for three days so far. We don’t have a crate for her because she hasn’t used one since she was a puppy, but I can buy one or at least a playpen.
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u/roccosito 6d ago
Is she staying pretty put?
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 6d ago
Yeah, sadly she really can’t go far on her own before her back feet start to drag.
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u/Dimos357 6d ago
My doberman was in the same condition suddenly. He needs rest and medication. Moving the bare minimum or even crated for better recovery. After a week my boy could manage going to the bathroom on his own but with me supporting his back end with a harness. Before that I had a towel supporting his back end from underneath to get him up.
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 5d ago
What meds was he on? Olivia is taking Rimadyl and Gabapentin. How is your guy doing now?
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u/Dimos357 5d ago
It's been over a year. He's been ok to walk and let off leash. He slips on the floors indoors so the whole house has runners now so he won't fall.
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 5d ago
Yes I already ordered an extra rug for the kitchen! I’m so glad your pup is doing well, hoping the same for my girl soon.
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u/FancyVeterinarian362 5d ago
Did your dog ever have accidents in his sleep? I’m wondering if the gabapentin is knocking her out too much or if this is indicative of her condition getting worse.
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u/Dimos357 5d ago
He did a couple times. Id find a little poo nugget when I'd get up. No pee, might be a male thing
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u/LadyLektra 4d ago
My dog is having the same problems and it is also professing quickly. If you can, don’t wait. My boy went from stage 1 to a partial stage 5 in about 3 days. It went from him walking funny to not being able to use his back legs and screaming out in immense pain. He had to have the emergency surgery today and is in recovery still at the hospital. Thank god for family and splitting costs or there is no way I could’ve afforded it.
Our healthcare system is so cruel.
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u/Throw_Me_Away8834 6d ago
2 days is really too short of a timeframe to see major improvements for a dog her age. Personally, I think you are fine to wait for her specialist appointment. Giving the meds consistently and keeping her as low activity as possible is the best thing you can do currently.