Three weeks ago when we returned from the beach I went to my dog Hershey's lot to let her out. Like most dogs, she's always so happy to see us. Brother in law fed and watered her the two days we were gone. Anyway, when I went to let her out I realized she wasn't able to stand or move her back legs at all and appeared to be in pain. We ended up taking her to the emergency vet clinic in Thomasville where they said she had ruptured a disk in her back.
They kept her overnight and referred me to a neurologist in Winston-Salem for possible surgery to remove the pressure of the disk material around the spinal chord. They said the surgery isn't financially feasible for a lot of people and could run $4500+ !! Everything they told me and everything I read said the surgery is most successful if done within 24 hrs so I picked her up the next morning and took her to Winston to have the surgery.
Had she been an older dog I might have had second thoughts but Hershey is only 4.5 yrs old and has a lot more love to give our family over the coming years.
For the first week after the surgery, she still couldn't move her legs very much. Then slowly each day she started making progress and now is able to walk unassisted for short periods. She's still on strict crate rest for the next two weeks but is progressing fantastically. It has been a difficult three weeks and between the emotions and taking care of a special needs dog, it has been a real workout (dog weighs 50 lbs!).
I never realized it but a ruptured disk is a pretty common genetic occurrence with long bodied/short legged dogs. Beagles, bassets, etc. Now I look back and regret every time I let her jump into and out of the boat/truck and some of the rough housing we've done over the years. Needless to say I won't be letting her doing anything too strenuous anymore.
If you have a long bodied dog with short legs be careful not to let them overexert themselves. Between the surgery and the emergency vet clinic I now have almost $4000 in this dog which was a bit cheaper than they quoted me. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Hershey is my very best friend and an important part of our family.
They kept her overnight and referred me to a neurologist in Winston-Salem for possible surgery to remove the pressure of the disk material around the spinal chord. They said the surgery isn't financially feasible for a lot of people and could run $4500+ !! Everything they told me and everything I read said the surgery is most successful if done within 24 hrs so I picked her up the next morning and took her to Winston to have the surgery.
Had she been an older dog I might have had second thoughts but Hershey is only 4.5 yrs old and has a lot more love to give our family over the coming years.
For the first week after the surgery, she still couldn't move her legs very much. Then slowly each day she started making progress and now is able to walk unassisted for short periods. She's still on strict crate rest for the next two weeks but is progressing fantastically. It has been a difficult three weeks and between the emotions and taking care of a special needs dog, it has been a real workout (dog weighs 50 lbs!).
I never realized it but a ruptured disk is a pretty common genetic occurrence with long bodied/short legged dogs. Beagles, bassets, etc. Now I look back and regret every time I let her jump into and out of the boat/truck and some of the rough housing we've done over the years. Needless to say I won't be letting her doing anything too strenuous anymore.
If you have a long bodied dog with short legs be careful not to let them overexert themselves. Between the surgery and the emergency vet clinic I now have almost $4000 in this dog which was a bit cheaper than they quoted me. I'd do it again in a heartbeat. Hershey is my very best friend and an important part of our family.
This Attaboy wipes out all the Awsh!ts you've ever done in your whole life!!...
