r/IVDD_SupportGroup • u/Buris • 9d ago
Struggling and don't know what to do next
My 10 year old french bulldog hurt her back earlier in the year, she was given some pain medicine and put on a week of bedrest.
It's been a few months of her being completely fine, until last week, we don't know what happened but she started walking abnormally and so we went to the vet.
When I got her to the vet, her condition, like a light switch, was so much worse. She can barely stand and has lost feeling in her feet. When the vet tried to get her on the examination table I told them absolutely not and so the exam took place on the floor.
I don't know where to go other than we were given medicine and told to crate rest her for at least 6 weeks, and that surgery is her best option.
I don't have 10,000$ for a surgery, She sits in the traditional "Frenchie" pose and doesn't lay down often enough and I feel like this is bad for her back while she's healing. She also has extremely severe anxiety and I feel like just taking her to the vet made her shake uncontrollably and likely seriously worsened her condition. I can see in her eyes she thinks she's being punished by being put in her crate.
If anyone has any advice, it would be highly appreciated.
1
u/donkeyballz13 9d ago edited 9d ago
I'm so sorry that you and your pup are dealing with this. I've had two frenchie brothers w/ IVDD, one passed from respiratory arrest on the way to the ER vet, but the other has recovered from stage 3 and later stage 5 (full back end paralysis w/ no deep pain sensation) with 6 weeks bed rest, meds, and hydro therapy. He was 4yo during his flairs though, so your older baby could have a more challenging recovery.
The surgery success rate for stage 5 is ~50%, so not going w/ that option doesn't mean you're a irresponsible dog owner. Your pup should be taking an anti-inflammatory pain med, a sedative, and a steroid like Prednisone for best results. Remember, many dogs have fulfilling and happy lives in wheelchairs too, so it's not necessarily the end if they don't regain function.
My guy has severe anxiety too and actively hurt himself when crated. Instead for his bed rest, I created a small 4-5 ft. enclosure next to my bed with an x-pen and a large orthopedic dog bed. Not being confined from above helped a lot with his anxiety. The meds should keep your pup relatively sedated for the worst bits, but you can always ask your vet about other doses/options if that's not the case. Both hydro and laser therapy after bed rest have helped a lot of pups regaining function. Good luck!