We are in that terrible position of having to make some horrible choices (either way).  I'd really appreciate some people's opinions on this and ALSO any experiences of spinal surgery, recovery times, cost, etc. 

Our 10.5yo large breed dog has what is probably a disc issue around her C3 in her neck.  She is on a lot of meds at the moment (gabapentin, robaxin, pardale and metacam) and, if standing for longer than about 10 mins, the pain still comes on despite the meds.  If she remains standing, the pain will worsen to the point where she is panting heavily, her head is handing low and touching the floor and her left foot curled under (to release pressure on the nerve).  Once lying down the pain then doesn't stop immediately, but gradually fades to the point where she again seems pain-free.  For as long as she is lying down then, she seems pain-free.

She has not had an MRI because we live on an island and there is no MRI machine here.  One visits every 3 months but we just missed it and the vet says the time frame isn't such that we can wait for the next time.  The vet says that if we want a referral to a specialist, for MRI and surgery if needed, now is the time.  Otherwise she will need to be PTS at some point relatively soon.

It is hard to contemplate having her PTS because lying down, she is pain-free.  There is nothing else known to be 'wrong' with her and having a dog PTS just because of an extruded disc just doesn't feel right to me.  I want to do what is best for her; I don't want to put her through painful surgery if there is a poor prognosis or very long recovery time, but I've heard disc surgeries (as far as spinal surgeries go) are relatively uncomplicated and usually have a good prognosis?

I'd appreciate any info anyone has on spinal surgery, recovery, and just WHAT SHOULD WE DO!!  (And of course where we should go in the south of the UK, too.)  And am I being unethical in thinking about this for a 10.5yo dog?  She is just such a special dog and I just don't want to give up on her.

I'd Put to sleep, at 10.5 and a large breed they are not far off natural lifespan, so even after surgery and recovery you may have very little time left, better to let them go now without all the stress and pain recovery would entail.

I have a long lived medium size breed where dogs have gone with natural causes between 11 and 15 years (the 11 year old was a shock, from a walk out like a light assumed heart).  Average lifespan 13 years.

Disc surgeries are only uncomplicated if the vet is really used to doing them. If she is insured maybe this is a case for Noel Fitzpatrick who by all means seem to be doing them successfully and regularly? I know when my first Cavalier had disc problems and my then vet said that if it wasn't cured by total cage rest (it was a case of 6 weeks of not moving at all, but as a small dog he could be carried outside to go toilet) then it would mean surgery and that vet, then, told me the risk was 50 % that he would die during surgery and then further risks that he would die after surgery, and recovery would be 6 months cage rest. So we said there was no way we would consider that. In his case though, just rest cured him.

Ten and a half can be either old or not old -for either of my current breeds it would just be middle aged and you'd expect another 4 to 7 years even, but had it been one of my Golden Retrievers or Cavaliers that age, I would consider it old.

Ultimately only you can decide, but my thoughts would be that a) if I was going to put a dog that age through spinal surgery, I'd want somebody well used to doing it, and b ) if you did decide to call it a day, absolutely nobody could blame you and you'd KNOW your dog was out of pain.

Just one other point about not getting just any vet to carry out certain types of surgery: It's a long story really but a dog I bred, not owned by myself, had an accident last year and broke both front legs. Was referred to a specialist for surgery (young dog, 3 at the time) surgery of the exact same type we have seen the Super Vet carry out on TV. Except this vet wasn't used to doing it, in fact had never done it before (it involved all sorts of complicated procedures like bone grafts) and the surgery failed time and time again, there had to be more and more operations, and in the end the dog had to cope with something like 8 months worth of surgery and recovery before he finally was well enough to lead a fairly normal life again. Had his owner known this at the start she would never have gone down that route, she would have gone to a different vet. (And this WAS a referral vet!)

. I had to make a tough decision with my 12 years Labrador in pain with arthritis in back legs and a ripped tendon done whilst falling downstairs as unsteady and legs went. We tried painkillers and some alternative medication. Neither helped and the vet advised quite old for a GA to repair tendon also by then affecting her bowel. We went for the kindest (but so emotionally draining) put to sleep with us holding her
It's very hard and you have to weigh up the pros and cons of have the op or not. I really hope all goes well for you both

Thanks folks.  Yes, absolutely if we did it, we would go to the best and from what I've read, Noel Fitzpatrick would be who I'd look at first. 

She is insured, but up to £4K per condition.  I think we've spent about £400 so far in vet visits, meds and chiro.  So I think we'd probably need to top it up ourselves.  I'd also have to bring her over and back on the ferry (£280) and have accommodation expenses (for me) too. 

But money isn't the point of it, I want to do what is best for her and disregard all the money stuff - we just took our young pup over and back on the ferry and paid accommodation for hip and elbow scoring with Marilyn, so to skimp on life-saving surgery due to those expenses isn't something I want to do.

It's all so complicated, isn't it... I feel bad either way!  If I have her PTS, I think I'm putting a price on her remaining years (however many they are) and deciding for her that the discomfort won't be worth the extra X yrs of life.  Or that I'm taking the easy route for me - as I won't have to help rehabilitate her for months afterwards and worry about surgery and get ferries and drive about, and then I feel guilty and awful.  (Would be awful enough to lose her anyway, let alone feel responsible for the losing-of-her!) 

If I opt for surgery, I again feel guilty because maybe that is for me more than her, and maybe I'm inflicting this suffering on her etc etc. 

To make it even more complicated, she just a month ago had a lump which wouldn't heal, removed.  It was benign.  And she has previously had high liver enzymes getting higher, and the bloods she had before that surgery showed that they are now very normal levels.  This meant that rather than their rising being due to any serious problem, it was probably just due to some toxin being processed at the time.  So everything else is better than expected as far as her health goes!! 

For her breed (Weimaraner), if she got to 14yrs, that would be excellent.  10 years is respectable.  But potentially she could have another 4yrs left.

MRI scan on our large breed around about 3 or 4 years ago cost £2,000 for the MRI alone so you would be very likely to have to top up your insurance.

Our boy wasn't in the pain yours appears to be in - he also was younger though still an old man for his breed - and he didn't have surgery that time - he was just diagnosed with a low abrasion slipped disc and thinning of spinal cord which helped us know what we were dealing with.

If I were you ... I would go to the MRI to find out what exactly is wrong and what can or cant be done and then decide whether it is ethically correct to continue or PTS bearing in mind the age of your dog.  However I think you need to consider carefully whether travelling to a MRI from your Island,  then being sedated or anesthetised for the scan is something that your girl is likely to find painful and/or traumatising - if you think just the MRI scan will be a horrific experience for her - then I would take that as a sign that surgery is not right for her at her age and perhaps PTS rather than continue to an MRI scan.  Only you know exactly the pain your girl is in, and how it may affect her if she travelled for a scan but if you feel that doing that alone would be painful I think you have your answer.

My thoughts are with you.

Thanks Tinar... She is used to travelling in the ferry a lot, and she isn't in pain lying down on meds, as she would be in the car.  So I think the travel part of things should be ok for her.  She is also a bit 'out of it' due to the meds, which helps too!

Yes, we need the MRI to decide if surgery is an option - if it's a tumour or something putting pressure on the spinal cord, then I don't think we would operate...

It is tricky though because if we did do the MRI and then decide to operate, I'd want to do that in the same trip - I don't want to have to bring her back home, then take her back again for surgery. Arg.

As it is at C3 my advice would be to pts. It's in the dogs best interest.  Don't feel guilty because you are actually being kind.

you say that she isn't in pain when lying down, but she can't spend the rest of her life lying down, I don't think anyone who knew and loved dogs would think the worse of you for letting her go, as the man on the telly says is it morally right to put a dog through surgery so the we get a little more time with them. It's not the money we all would spend every penny in the world on our dogs if we could be sure that they would truly benefit and have many long and happy years ahead, but to commit an old dog especially to many months of possibly painful recovery time........thats not the memories that you want to have of her. Sometimes saying goodbye is the most loving thing you can do

My inclination would be first to look at her: how old a 10.5yrs is she, would she cope with it all?  My rott X at 10 would easily have done, she was very young for that age but my dobermann who was just 2.5 months older than her would not have coped with it at all.

If she could cope, then I would want to get the MRI done and then make the decision.  It may be a simple surgery, relatively speaking, with short recovery time, and so worth doing, or it may not be but without seeing exactly what's going on, you can't know.  If you feel she'd be ok with the travel side of things and you can afford to top up (I think Fitzpatrick has quoted around £5-6k for this sort of thing on the program) should surgery be an option, then I would go for it.

Hard one that, is it worth getting a referral to Fitzpartricks and asking for a phone consultation once they have the referral? At least you can talk it through before making any journey with her which ever way you decide. It might be that from the X-rays Noel might give some suggestions and pointers anyway.
That's what I'd ask for anyway.

Thanks folks, yes I think more info is needed about what could be involved in a general sense, and on average, and maybe I should make a list of questions and phone Fitzpatricks.  Not sure if I need a referral to speak to them informally? 

There aren't any x-rays either, as my vet didn't feel x-rays would show anything.  This was even the case when she was having a GA for a lump removal anyway and taking an x-ray at the same GA would have been possible.

As for how old/young she is, for her age, that is really hard to say.  When the meds are working and when she first gets up (before the pain starts), she seems young!

If it were me I would make the choice of PTS. Quality over quantity wins hands down every time in my house. Having nursed my husband through a terminal illness I am very, very aware that there are things much worse than death. I have a large breed dog who had a tumour removed from over his hip area and have decided that if it comes back or there is a spread to another area he will receive the very best palliative care but will not have any more invasive treatment knowing just how long it took last time and how miserable he was during the very long recovery period.

It is a very individual decision and I think all you can do is go with what you believe is best for the situation you find yourself in. The dog I have mentioned is my heart dog - love all my dogs but this one has something extra special - and I still believe that as hard as it might be I would not put him through invasive treatment again.

i had a scottish terrier he developed bladder cancer at ten years old and he also needed an operation to have teeth removed and a dental.i knew he only had a few months left to live but i opted to have pts.you must put all sentiments aside regarding your dog-your own feelings about how you will cope are not really important at this time.it is the quality of your dogs life you must consider.if i was in your position i would have her pts asap cos shes obviously in pain and thats not fair -its not fair at all.

Two years ago I had Lottie (Dobermann) PTS when she suffered a slipped disc.

In the morning she was tearing around the garden with 2 of my youngsters looking nothing like a nearly 11 year old dog. She always was full of beans and full of life. I took her out for a walk and she put her head down to eat a morsel of sheep poo, let out a squeal and that was it. I managed to walk her home, luckily we weren't far, at which point she became more and more unco-ordinated. I took her to the vet who gave me some painkillers, anti-inflammatories and diazepam and prescribed rest. By tea-time she couldn't move her back legs at all so I took her back to the vets where they x-rayed her. Nothing could be seen so they did a high contrast x-ray which showed a ruptured disc (I think C5). They kept her in overnight and when I went to see her in the morning she couldn't use her front legs either. It was so sad to see and although the vet said she could be referred and potentially undergo spinal surgery I decided to let her go.

She would never have coped with the required post op rest as she was so enthusiastic about life and would have hated watching the youngsters playing and not being able to join in.

I decided she'd had a full and active life and felt it would be better to let her go. Even now I do feel guilty about not trying the surgery, but there are no guarantees.

I wish you luck in whatever you decide, but know it's not an easy decision.

Its a terribly hard decision and a decision most if not all of us on this forum have been through at some point. Its a decision only you as the owner can make but have to agree whole heartedly that its about quality of life. I think I know what I would do. Whatever your decision I too wish you luck.

> I think I know what I would do

Me too.

My heart goes out to you both, have a boy who aged five suffered a ruptured disc into the spinal column causing paralysis from behind his shoulders, which he fully recovered from & then another whopper of a slipped disc aged 8 & again recovered. Any concerns always head straight to their chiropractor who they see twice a year, our boy was younger than your girl & luckily neither time required surgery, only you can make that assessment. 10 years ago I wasn't referred to 'The super vet,' but Ian Macqueen, who's had input with both dogs, wouldn't go anywhere else, always asked that we kept in contact, any concerns he returned our calls & asked that we make a point to visit should we be in the area. The thing I've learnt is that what ever happens is to see things from the dogs point of view, not however hard, what can be done & in Ian Macqueen, have that faith. Thinking of you

Having seen several dogs have surgery on neck discs I would personally go for I,  I know this would not be everyone's choice but for my own dog I would do it.

There are other specialists vets that maybe closer to your area (not sure where you are). If you check the rcvs find a vet section you can seek a specialist close to you.

If you would like to have a chat about it please pm me

Thanks Lacy, someone else has suggested Ian Macqueen as well so will check him out too.

In terms of seeing things from the dog's point of view, if I were a dog I wouldn't want to die... and would want to try surgery if it could help.

I'm interested in hearing that your dogs have had disc problems and have recovered - can you let me know how you treated them and how long their recovery took, meds, etc? 

I don't know how we know when conservative measures aren't working and we need referral.  We were seeing a chiro twice a week, who came to our house - but she didn't want to do manipulation because she felt that was risky if it were a disc issue because it could make more stuff come out the disc and put even more pressure on the spinal cord, resulting in paralysis - and make things worse.  She did soft tissue massage and worked on spasming muscles - which was great. 

But we need to know when to make that call that what we're doing now isn't going to result in anything and if we wait any longer I have a worry things could get worse and she could become paralysed.

It could be a tumour but you won't know until a scan is done.
My springer a couple of years back went of her  back legs and we needed being referred to specialist at ringwood. He said it was disc problem and could be fixed, she was 4months off 12 but because someone is there telling you they can fix your dog you go for it, plus she had always been active girl and up until a week before this was out running.
When he did the scan though she had a tumour pressing on the spinal cord near her shoulders, secondaries in her lungs. We didn't let her come round from anaesthetic as wouldn't have been fair.
My vet couldn't see anything on X-ray and her bloods were normal apparently. She had lost weight but I had a her on diet so thought it was working, she used to cough a bit but nothing persistent.

I couldn't have put to sleep without knowing the cause for the paralysis as you always would wonder what if it was treatable, but you do have to think of the dog, mine looked so miserable and couldn't get up.
Fortunately we didn't have a lot of travelling to do.

I havn't read all the replies but to put a slightly different slant on things - my then 4 and a half year old boy had a Fibrocartledge Infarction which is essentially the very middle of the disc shooting out rapidly through the spinal cord , a MRI revealed this and there was no surgery, he recovered fairly well after 6 weeks strict crate rest and we was assured it would never happen again. Well this was wrong as we've since learned it was the beginning of a very slippery slope, 2 years since he has had several disc herniate and due to the previous it was inoperable and the damage to the spine is massive. Life for him and the family remains on hold because he requires so much care. What they do not tell you about looking after a paralyzed dog is all the other complications you get, he is on a permanent special diet has to have his urine cultured every month to check for infections and suffers with crystals in the urine, is now getting terrible pressure sores and going rapidly down hill the past month or so and his back legs now feel like bones just hanging by a thin piece of skin. He is a medium size breed and even his size it takes quite a lot of strength to take him out to toilet and he needs bathing once a week to ensure he doesn't get urine scald etc so imagine with a larger breed. I love my boy very much and for the most part he is a happy chappy as we go out traveling in the car etc but i will never ever go down this route again it is just soul destroying and with the constant complications etc a never ending cycle of being poked and prodded by the vets.
Also to add if surgery is going to be considered time is of the essence , a great place for info is dodgers list.
Another thought no matter whetrher you do conservative or surgery - crate rest and i mean strict crate rest for a minimum of 6 weeks is essential , only coming out of it to go the toilet.

> I'm interested in hearing that your dogs have had disc problems and have recovered - can you let me know how you treated them and how long their recovery took, meds, etc?  <br />

Our BMD ended up mostly paralysed in the last 20 or so months - he could move all his legs but not get up and support himself because of his spine - he was not in pain very often - he was a dog that only cared about swimming and my mother - so keeping his spirits up with cuddles, grooms and almost daily swims and a quad cart so he could be upright with us and around other dogs like some newfies we knew meant he still had a positive happy life and was never depressed or frustrated or in pain - which is why we didn't pts when he bit by bit lost the use of his limbs. This is not to say all dogs would be like that - it is a very individual thing to the dog how they cope with disabilities. I know the poster above has mentioned many issues about caring for a disabled dog and the subsequent health problems and care involved - our experience was different since although our dog was 50 kilos I am a pretty strong woman and I could carry him outside and into his cart on my own several times a day - and we were lucky that he never had issues with his bladder needing expressing or any sores or other complications - however we were just lucky I think in that respect. At the end he lost a lot of weight rapidly all of a sudden we went into the vets - an x-ray said that he had cancer in the bone of one leg - it was then that we pts since it simply wasn't fair to put him through any surgery at his age by then and certainly not anything like an amputation.  So we did the right thing and I think we timed it just right as he never experienced any real or acute pain. 

However - as bleak as all that sounds - we were also blessed earlier in our boys life as a result of an MRI scan. 

Our boy had suddenly lost the strength in his back legs when he was around 4. We were terrified it was something terminal or life changing. We took him to McQueens for an MRI. Later that day the vet phoned and told me that our boy had a very very slight slipped disc - that  most dogs wouldn't have even noticed it and it would heal of its own accord in all likelihood. We doubted that at the time. After we brought him home however it snowed - and the following morning he suddenly got up and bolted out the back door - unaided - running around with my westies - ever so slightly weak at the back but nothing like it had been 2 days before. When we rang the vet he said "I guess he was listening and knew the jig was up & decided to stop being a mummys boy" (said nicely so it was funny not offensive!) 

He had 2 years of completely mobile life after that before the spinal issues started and his discs began to crumble and slip. So although the outcome for our boy was not good in the end - we did gain those extra years - had we not MRI'd him we may well have put him to sleep at 4 thinking he had full blown Degenerative Myelopathy or similar when in fact he didn't have full blown issues until after he was 6 1/2.

That's why I would say unless your girl is in chronic pain and that will be exacerbated by a trip to have an MRI done then make no decisions until you have the full facts and that MRI scan done - as otherwise you will always wonder what if. However that is just my opinion - I don't want to influence you in anything because at the end of the day we have all had different experiences with illnesses of our dogs and many with same conditions can have different problems - you know your girl best and know her temperament - likely lifespan and how fit she is now and was before - all of those things need thinking about. But I wouldn't think about the actual surgery until you know if any surgery can in fact be done at all or what is entailed - and the only way to know is the MRI.

Also - you should bear in mind that a vet will refuse to treat a dog or operate on it if they feel it is unethical and in their opinion is putting the dog through pain for no gain (in fact they HAVE to) - and most will also tell you if they feel that although surgery is possible and they would agree to do it but feel it is not necessarily the right choice/thing to do.

I just wanted to add that kiku also has wheels which for the most part he hated as he would always bang the wheels and also a drag bag which i have found very beneficial , i added it up recently and we are upto around 10k and that was without any surgery - the 2 MRI's alone cost me 5k. I would say get yourself on to dodgers list as it is dedicated to IVVD and has been a wealth of info for me. I don't want to make it all sound doom and gloom we did have a year that he was fairly good but since then its been one thing after the next. I am a fairly strong lady to but i have had several near accidents nearly dropping him as i missed a step - it is not easy work but with the right dog it can be very rewarding but as i said i would never ever go down this route again as i feel we did it to alleviate our pain of losing him rather than for his overall well being.

Oh what a tough one. My Bernese popped 2 discs c6-7 aged 6, she was just a couple of weeks into recovering from a cruciate. Watching the video of her trying to walk on probably one good leg is still heart wrenching. Anyway, she went back to Fitzpatricks and he was very straight with me, saying because he had to go in near the jugular there was a chance she could bleed to death but there were no other options. He did the op but the area filled with blood and she was paralysed for 10 days. If it hadn't dispersed in that time she would've been pts but gradually she could empty her own bladder, wag her tail and her grin reappeared. The recovery hampered by her TPLO was VERY hard and long. It was worth it as she's now 12 but to possibly go through all that with an older dog ....I really think it would as Sue suggested have a conversation with a specialist via your vets if there were no xrays to go by. My best wishes to you.

Ok, guys, well to give you an update.  We went to Fitzpatricks yesterday and she had an MRI that afternoon.  It turned out to be one of the simplest disc issues - an extruded disc - where the material inside the disc has come out and put pressure on the spinal cord.

Some dogs leave hospital only 48 hrs after this procedure, but typically it's about 5 days.  They need 3 weeks of either cage rest or calm resting in the same room as you (doesn't need to be cage).  Then 3 months of on-lead walks only, after which they can return to full on exercise.

We left her there for surgery, which took place this morning and went 'excellently'.  The extruded material was scooped out and removed.  The surgeon is very happy with how it went.

She is expected to make a full recovery and be as active as her breed should be.  Even within 48 hrs she may be walking properly and without pain.

Financially, the whole thing - including the MRI - should come in at around £4-5K.  So most of it will be covered by our insurance.  Considering the MRI by itself is £1800 (anywhere you go), that is very reasonable. 

I'm so glad I took her to specialists and I got an MRI done, and I didn't just do as some people here have advised and have her PTS.  PTS should only be a 'mercy', given when nothing else works or is available, or when the prognosis is poor.  If you don't have all the facts or information, you can't know what the prognosis is. 

So my advice to anyone in this situation, is get an MRI and get the facts before you make a decision and PLEASE don't just PTS. 

I have had many people who have told me that PTS is what I should do (not just here, but friends), when they didn't have facts.  In this particular situation and for this particular dog, that would have been the wrong decision.  Health care is improving all the time for pets and animals.  Take advantage of that and use it.  Don't live in the past with the only options which were available 20 years ago.

really glad for you

That's brilliant news, keep the updates coming! So glad to read this and really glad to hear you went to Fitzpatrick's and that it was a good experience. Now what we really want to hear is, were the receptionists unprofessional? (Seeing as that is what has been mentioned a lot on here.)

And did you meet Noel?

Great news and so glad for you both.

I haven't commented previous but have been following this thread, I just have to say how much your update has made my day. Completely the right decision, I wish your dog a very speedy recovery and look forward to updates

Oh I am SO SO SO SO SO glad you got the MRI done and everything worked out so well for you - I was really worried you wouldn't get the MRI done.  I am SO SO SO happy that everything worked out so well for you!

(yes - I know - I'm repeating myself - I'm just so pleased for you)

Sending you and your girl big virtual hugs !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So happy for you and your pooch,  and I hope your have a fabulous speedy recovery xx

The receptionists were ok.  They were not rude or dismissive.  They were maybe a bit disorganised, but there is a lot of paperwork to deal with and their task is pretty huge.  I wouldn't say it was 'unprofessional' though - they were very friendly!

I didn't meet Noel, but I saw him walk in and out of a consulting room past me.  We saw Colin Driver, who's a senior surgeon in neurology there.  He was excellent.  He talked us through the various things he might find on the MRI and the implications for each of them.  Some of them involved putting in metalwork and he said it is always a bigger job when you put something in, than when you're just taking something out.  So what we had done was simpler than that, and it was good to have that info before the MRI results.  It was great to know this is a routine op for them, and not a big deal, that gave me a lot of confidence.

Glad it worked out so far for you. Lots of tlc, rest and a new chance :)

Fantastic news and glad you persevered, onwards and upwards

Fantastic   And on a personal note, thank you for putting up the figures - two of my girls have extruded discs and while neither *needs* an operation (both mild, chronic cases and indeed, one is actually inoperable for a few reasons), one of them is going to be a challenge for pain management so it's nice to have a better idea of the cost, should I feel in the future that she needs operating on (her insurance would only cover 65% of the cost so I'd need to fundraise).

Great news. Extremely pleased for both you and your girl. Wishing her a speedy recovery x

so glad to hear your news. I have had experience of a ruptured disc in my rottie who was 5.5yrs old at the time. hers was C6-7 and she was totally paralysed in all four legs and in lots of pain. we had the same two options as you only we had no insurance :(  we chose the op and were told it was very bad when he got in there and 10 days post surgery my girl was still paralysed in all 4 legs and he advised pts. I went and collected her and brought her home (she was no longer in pain but just no feeling anywhere) it was the toughest 4 weeks watching her like that wanting to get up and cant but I persevered and done massage and physio therapy 3 times a day everyday, 4 weeks on she stood on her own and each week from then on got stronger and stronger.....2 years on now she flies round the garden and plays with her pals.........would I do it all again......absolutely!

I say would I do it all again as I am currently having to facethat decision again (different dog) but she is 8 so getting on for a rottie.......she is on anti-inflammatories and tramadol to see if we can control her pain in the hope to avoid surgery if possible so praying time rest and meds will be enough for her as she doesn't have any issues with legs, feeling or co-ordination at present. oh and as for costs my girl who had surgery, her bill was 8.5k but we had already spent £500 at our own vets and then she had a mild relapse a couple of months in that set us back another large bill so all in all her total bill was 10k.......uninsured that was difficult but the option of pts just wasn't an option for me not while she had a chance and like you im so glad I made the choice that I did.

now fingers crossed I don't have to find another 10k for my other girl!!!!

I hope your baby goes on to make a full and speedy recovery x

Thanks for that Mandy.  It's great to hear your dog made a full recovery from that.  I think it can take a long while for nerves to heal!  I hope you don't need more surgery for your other dog, but at least you have hope now.

News here is that I'm collecting our dog at 2.30pm on Monday.  It could actually have been this weekend, but I couldn't organise travel that soon. 

I am getting daily updates on her every morning - they phone.  She is still reluctant to put weight on that front foot but it is very early days yet and everything has been shoved about in there, so that's to be expected.  Just have no idea what I'm going to see when I collect her, but I can't wait :)

What may be the last update (unless I remember!):

I picked her up today and what a transformation :)   She just couldn't walk for long without awful pain after a few minutes, before.  Keeping her lying down was all I could do - even the pain meds didn't seem to be doing anything.

Well, she is like a new dog.  Or the original dog back again... She has no pain that I can tell at all.  She is not knuckling her forelegs under and falling over her own feet. 

She is still a bit wobbly on her legs, and she is very weak muscularly.  She has an incision on her throat, with internal stitches.  She can't even lick these so no need for a buster collar! 

Now it's about rest and physio and gradual strengthening.  She is still on robaxin (for 7 days), & metacam and gabapentin for 3 more weeks.  Then all meds stop. :)  Lead walks for 2 weeks, only 10 mins 3x a day.  Lengthening as she is able to manage more.  Off lead from 3 weeks, as long as she takes it easy. :)

So happy she is more comfortable

Great news.