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Topic Dog Boards / Health / Relapse of cervical disc rupture - Mel's update
- By MandyC [gb] Date 05.08.13 14:34 UTC
Just following on from my previous post back in march.....

Mel regained the abilty to walk and even have a little run, was happy, pain free but a little wobbly and un-cordinated....

That was until last week, she started with neck pain again and then limping on her front right, exactly the same signs as before, she is now weaker and weaker and knuckling over yesterday, today not able to walk unaided :-(
Im really praying that this is a slight blip and with meds and rest and time things will settle back down again as i will not put her through a second surgery as I have been advised by my vet we may be heading for the 'domino effect' and each surgery will make her neck weaker and weaker and also the first one was so so tough on her as explained in my previous posts.

would love to hear from people who had surgery that was successful then to relapse and the outcome of that without a second surgery if anyone has had this experience.....havent slept properly in days as i am so so worried for my girl she had done amazing and now its starting all over again :-( devastated
- By LJS Date 05.08.13 16:28 UTC
Would a visit to chiropractor be worth looking into ?
- By Lacy Date 05.08.13 18:33 UTC
I'd agree with trying a chiropractor, ours has been invaluable & her hands are better than any x ray at diagnosing concerns or problems. The orthopaedic specialist which unfortunately both have had to see, is very happy they both go for problems or an annual MOT, has even suggested that our elder dog would not be with us now had we not had her input over the years. Best wishes to you both & fingers crossed that it's just a blip.
- By Boody Date 08.08.13 19:25 UTC
I am in the same boat as you, my boy has had a 2nd relapse and was paralyzed, we even considered we'd reached the end of the road but we decided to keep trying and after 2months he can now stand and wobbly walk but no tail wag or bladder control. He's pain free and happy so we are continuing but have decided that if it happens again we will call it a day :(

A friend saw a talk by a lady who runs back in balance and he said she was fantastic, if you Google it you will find her Webby.

To add for the initial FCI they could not do surgery and by second episode we had spent over 6k and could not afford surgery so we have gone down medical management.
A great website is dodgerslist, they have a wealth of experience.
- By Boody Date 08.08.13 19:32 UTC
Also to add as cheesy as it sounds a positive attitude around the dog does wonders, my Mr kiks was so sad for the first week as all I did was cry as soon as o decided what to do and cheered up he was like a different dog.
- By MandyC [gb] Date 09.08.13 07:34 UTC Edited 09.08.13 07:37 UTC
Thanks for your post boody, sorry to hear your dog is having problems again....was he paralysed in all four legs? Mel was and had a ventral slot and 2 week stay in hospital, after 2 weeks they told me she hadn't shown any change at all and to come and put her to sleep!!! she wasn't in pain and so I brought her home and done her physio and round the clock care, it took her another 6 weeks to get up on her legs and then she got stronger everyday.

When she relapsed last week I was in bits as I don't want to put her through surgery again as it was very tough on her....not to mention her first episode with surgery and aftercare came to £8.5k! That's not the issue this time tho I genuinely feel if she is going to continue to have major problems for the rest of her days that repeated surgeries are not fair at all.

so I am hoping she will recover with time and rest, she is stronger than she was last week but a few wobbly steps round the garden in her harness is very tiring for her. she is content and wagging her tail so for now we are taking it one day at a time, I think with this awful condition that's all you can do.

I also agree with the positive attitude....it certainly helps my girl when I am all happy and sing to her to get her to take her meds :)

is your boys disc in his neck?  I really hope he regains his bladder control and tail wag, I hope to hear good news about him soon x
- By Boody Date 13.08.13 19:26 UTC
Sorry for my slow reply, kiks rupture is c5 c6 which has affect from waist down so only rear legs affected/tail and no bladder and bowl control. I totally agree about not putting her through repeated surgeries, I feel the same too as I feel at 5 years old if he's going to go through this every year it would be cruel to him to keep going purely for my own feelings.
We've had little progress past few weeks but he is happy in himself so that's fine by me, hoping we will have more progress when he's able to start hydrotherapy.
Hope your girl is doing OK.
- By MandyC [gb] Date 14.08.13 19:11 UTC
ah see Mel's rupture was also c5-c6 yet she was paraplegic!   Having read her report it also states that she has generalised cervical disc degeneration so it appears she has major issues in her neck so I will defo not be putting her through any more surgeries :(
Mel also never lost bladder or bowel control so really strange that both our dogs had the same problem yet their clinical signs were very different. No real change with my girl at the moment either but she seems comfortable so I will keep going with her and for now just take one day at a time. all the best for you and your baby x
Topic Dog Boards / Health / Relapse of cervical disc rupture - Mel's update

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