Sammy has a busted disc - Any experience?

[Erin]

Late last night we noticed Sam was struggling to walk. She would walk a bit and sit. Walk a bit and sit. She didn't want to go up the stairs. She didn't sleep well, but this morning she was perky (her ears were up and she wanted breakfast) but she was definitely in pain when she walked. She was shaking So, off to the vet! Luckily they had one appt left this morning. I didn't want to mess around with the holiday tomorrow. We have an ER down the street but we like our vet. I'm a difficult doggie mommy and she knows how to deal with me Plus she knows our dogs.

So, Sammy has "Intervertebral Disc Disease" She put Sammy on prednisone and a muscle relaxer and NO activity for 4 weeks. We go back in a week and if at any point she can't walk we are supposed to take her in (or to the ER) immediately for surgery.

I feel SO bad for her. Sammy had LP surgery last spring and she is not very good at this "no activity" thing. Even if we don't let her up on the couches or anything (she can jump up there herself so this will be difficult), she gets so excited and she will run and slip. She loves to sleep in her big crate but she barks if we zip it up and leave the room because she likes to be with us. I think I'll have to pull out a smaller crate because she can jump up in the big one. We do have stairs and they love to run up and down. I guess she will be spending some time in her sling carrier. She can only go outside on a short leash. Luckily I am not working right now and I can watch her 24/7 and it's winter so there is nothing to do, but I feel so bad for her Even Loki is worried about her. He slept last night with his paw over her, protecting his little sis.

[marcerella02]

Oh Erin, how horrible. Sorry we have no expereince but I just wanted to let you know we are thinking of poor sweet Sammy and hope you can avoid surgery!

[Erin]

Aww thanks! We don't know how she did it. Our vet said her dog had this happen and got better without surgery but she said the no activity thing is VERY serious. I can't even leave her downstairs when I go upstairs because I worry she will follow me. She likes to lay in the sun so I put her crate in the window with the sun shining on her and she seems comfortable for now. I think the meds are making her kind of loopy. I had to carry her outside to pee... poor thing. I just feel awful about it She is such a happy dog and she probably ran too fast to greet one of us and tripped or something. I still have her socks from her surgery so I am going to make her wear those for traction.

[MauiGirl]

I'm so sorry to hear this, she is such a little darling. We'll be thinking of you and hope for the best!

[stovesj]

So sorry to hear about Sammy and hope she gets well soon. Keeping them quiet for that long is very difficult. When Gracie broke her leg we had to keep her inactive for some time. I used a child's playpen. Maybe if you don't have one you could borrow one from someone. This worked pretty well for us. Good luck....

[Patti]

Aww I am sorry about Sammy. Hopefully she will make a full recovery without surgery. Can you put a gate by the stairs to prevent her from using them?

[Erin]

Originally Posted by Patti

Aww I am sorry about Sammy. Hopefully she will make a full recovery without surgery. Can you put a gate by the stairs to prevent her from using them?

My stairs are just a railing (not walls) so a gate is hard. We have many crates and playpens and such, the problem is that Sam doesn't want to be in them. She seems to be pretty out of it right now, the muscle relaxer must be working. But the drugs are for 2 weeks and the confinement is for 4... so those last 2 weeks will be interesting. My husband and I are just switching off sitting on the couch with her. She seems OK with that now

[Judy in Waco]

Oh no! Poor Sammy!

I really don't have any suggestions at all unfortunately. The only person I can think of who might be able to help is Peanut. Her little yorkie girl had to be confined for a long period of time due to a broken leg. Send her a pm and see if she has any suggestions.

I'm so sorry.

[LIL MIS' MAGIC]

I am sorry to hear about Sammy's back problems. I hope she responds to the treatment and does not need surgery.

My Sailor did something to hurt her back - pulled a muscle - but was on meds for 2 weeks and only confined for that amount of time. The drugs did keep her sleepy/tired enough that being confined did not bother her too much. It has been about a year now and she has not had problems again so far.

I will keep you and Sammy in my thoughts for a full recovery and that you find a way to keep her still enough to heal!!

[Erin]

Thank you all for your responses. My husband remembers Sammy running to greet him a couple days ago and doing a back flip when her body caught up with her. She is always too excited to see people and she does not think about slamming into things or belly flopping on the floor when her feet fall out from under her... I don't know how to keep her from doing those things once she feels better and I worry it could happen again

She is pretty zonked out from the meds so that is good. I had thought she was just tired from having a rough night and going to the vet but she is still very sleepy so I hope she just sleeps it off.

Does anyone know if it's possible that she hurt herself on Monday but didn't show pain until Tuesday night? We think it took that long to swell up. I just touched the spot again and she did not seem to tense up so I think the swelling has gone back down. My poor little monkey. She has been through so much. All we can do is love her.

[Erin]

Originally Posted by Judy in Waco

Oh no! Poor Sammy!

I really don't have any suggestions at all unfortunately. The only person I can think of who might be able to help is Peanut. Her little yorkie girl had to be confined for a long period of time due to a broken leg. Send her a pm and see if she has any suggestions.

I'm so sorry.

We did confinement when she had her LP surgery. The problem is that when she is crated and does not want to be, she screams. She also jumps up in her crate so we'll have to use the smaller one and buy some earplugs I guess.

[chattiesmom]

Erin, I have no words of wisdom to help you, but I will keep Sammy and you in my thoughts and prayers . Judy is right about talking with Peanut (Kim) - she is up for Yorkie Mom Sainthood for all of the time and love and care that went into taking care of little Tarra after she broke her elbow.

[Erin]

OK I'll have to try to msg her tomorrow. Sammy was on my lap for a few hours and I asked her if she wanted to go outside and her ears perked up and she sat up, so we went outside and she peed and she came back in and got a drink and got in her crate! So I'm just going to let her hang out in there.

I haven't figured out bedtime yet. She usually sleeps on my pillow. I'm a light sleeper but we can't risk her jumping off the bed. She has a big comfy bed she can sleep in but I'll have to take the steps away from the bed. Or I'll drag her big crate that she loves upstairs and she can sleep in there. (Why does she love her crate? Why because it's filled with fleece covered pillows! She is a pillow freak.) I'll keep you guys posted. We were supposed to go to a party tomorrow but I think I'll stay home with her.