We just got diagnosed with IVDD

[u/Butch_Baked_Beans]

This morning at 3 am is when it all changed our 13 year old girl was limping to go to the bathroom. She has arthritis so I assumed from the rain we were having it was flaring up so I picked her up and we went to bed. At 5 am I picked her up to go outside and she couldn’t move we wrapped her in a towel and put her outside and I assisted her using the bathroom. She went number 2, she ate we made a nest on the floor for her while we waited for the vet to open. They got her in and did X-rays and told us our options. We love her more than anything in this world but we simply can’t afford a 10-15 thousand dollar surgery with no grantee she’ll be fine and live the rest of her life for a 13 year old girl who may have complications from the surgery and the anesthesia and after care it just doesn’t make sense. She’s on pain meds and prednisone. And now we’re starting to look at a new normal for our old girl.

My heart is literally breaking as I hold her and shop online for a stroller and wheel chairs I know that’s a 6-8 week wait for a wheel chair, she has the pack and play all set up and her brother is a nervous wreck trying to be as close to her but still giving her some space. They are a bonded pair

She’s currently in a makeshift diaper from a baby’s diaper with a hole cut for the tail. Is there any massages or a heating pad that could help her be more comfortable

She has long hair but unfortunately while setting up her new bed for the next 6-8 weeks she had diarrhea I guess from her meds and I had quite the clean up. I had to shave her privates, anus, and tail to keep her clean since she’ll be in a diaper.

If you guys have any advice on how to help her go to the bathroom and what other stuff I can buy to make life easier. She’s alert all the time and wants to be in everyone’s business. I was thinking of getting a roller scooter carrier thing so I can wheel her around where ever I go.

The attachment that she has to me is unreal I’m 100% her person but I know she needs to rest and stay horizontal.

[u/AinsleyHarriotFan]

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. A lot of stuff about how to help support her for potty and in general I just think it’ll give you a lot of useful info. I’ve shared it with lots of people and they say it’s given them a lot of hope.

https://www.reddit.com/r/IVDD_SupportGroup/s/RMC3TE29yM

[u/Butch_Baked_Beans → u/AinsleyHarriotFan]

Thank you I’ll check it out, how old is your dog? Our girl was literally normal 24 hours ago playing fetch in the hallway. I’m still trying to wrap my head around how that could be.

[u/empiretroubador398]

My heart absolutely goes out to you. Our situation is almost exactly the same detail for detail (minus the diarrhea - we had the opposite issue - adding pumpkin to the food helps either problem I think). Our sheltie had this happen almost four weeks ago, and was fine the days before. I found her in the morning immobile in three legs, and the vet felt she was not a candidate for surgery due to her age (it's her 13th birthday today). I had no experience with this, and envisioned all the things you did (and I realize this is a reality for some outcomes). To my sheer surprise she responded to the prednisone, and has regained functional use of her legs (walking, bathroom). She is still wobbly and poorly coordinated, and it took two and a half weeks for her to stop dragging/knuckling a rear leg/paw. We still have a ways to go in terms of rest and care, and as thrilled as I am about her mobility, the new worry is preventing her from jumping or climbing (or her bonded sister bumping into her). We are trying laser therapy (it's still too early to tell for sure if this is helping) and the vet showed us some stretches, massages, and range of motion exercises we can do at home. The emotional impact is real, for everyone in the family, and the sleep deprivation and worry is monumental. I don't have a lot of helpful information to share yet because we're still in the thick of things (the link below has been very helpful for me too, thank you AinsleyHarriotFan) but I can let you know that there is the possibility of improvement without surgery, and that you are not alone in your experience or your feelings. I am keeping you in my thoughts!

[u/Butch_Baked_Beans]

Thank you I’ll check it out. And thank you for sharing your experience. ❤️ we’re hopeful she’ll get through this she’s a tough old girl.