And he made a full recovery, all thanks to the amazing team at CSU Vet Hospital who wouldnt give up on him or simply believe it was an allergic reaction. The more help you can get from outside party, the better. IVDD most often effects low rider dogs such as French bulldogs, dachshunds, corgis, and basset hounds, but it can truly happen to any dog. Your French Bulldog likely has a slipped disc, a common ailment in his breed. I love how much you love this dog! For example, your Bulldog may slightly delay righting her paw if someone deliberately places it in a knuckled over posture. Managing expectations is crucial because French Bulldogs recover at highly varying degrees after back surgery. Another issue is the French Bulldog's adorable corkscrew tail. So cool how youre keeping the vibe positive and his spirits up. You got this!! Yikes, what could be wrong? Their long backs and disproportionately short legs seem obvious culprits. He was close to death, but was able to make a full recovery thanks to CSU Vet Hospital and their fantastic team. Hang in there, all of you! The surgery showed 2 herniated discs so they went into a 3 hours surgery at 7pm that night. We have been going through pee pads like crazy, doggie diapers so their tail can stick out one side (we used regular human diapers for a while and it gave Jackson a rash and scab on his little nub tail), plenty of towels for daily baths because he normally gets some sort of pee or poop on him at some point throughout the day, poo and body wipes for quick clean up, plenty of blankets since those will go through the wash regularly, dog bed, and crate or playpen. Its all about trying to wake up those nerves and get feedback to the limbs. Juli, Im sorry your Jackson has got such a horrible case of IVDD. Next up, prevention. Appears uncoordinated known as ataxia. The more rehab you can get in by professionals, the better. Grade 5 At this stage, your dog will have no ability to move the affected limbs and may have urinary incontinence or an inability to void. Then when early 2020 hit, before the real shit storm hit, Jackson began showing signs of extreme neck pain. Chondrodystrophy carries a gene that leads to early break-down of the outer ring of intervertebral discs. (UPDATE: Jacksons surgery WAS NOT covered by insurance in the end because the only pre-existing condition they dont cover is IVDD. Oxygen therapy Hyperbaric oxygen therapy is when a specialist administers 100% pressurized oxygen to your Bulldog. Some breeds experience age-related disc deterioration while others are victims of conformational stressors. You and Brian are the best doggie parents Jackson could ever hope for, and your little baby Roth will be so fortunate to have such loving parents. Symptoms of IVDD fall into five different grades or categories. Intervertebral discs usually rupture upwards or dorsally. It is so debilitating and changes the life of little French Bulldogs so drastically as well as the lives of their parents. Instead of taking him to the closest ER vet (VRCC, which works directly with Rocky Mountain Neurology), we rushed him back up to Fort Collins to CSU Vet Hospital. The neurologist called to tell me that the surgery was a success and Jackson would have a 50-80% chance of walking again. In the early stages of a slipped disc, the most important factors to control are pain and inflammation. Before you write off surgery completely, an intriguing study says even Grade 1 dog has a recurrence rate of 30% and a 20% chance of not improving with rest and pain medications alone. The on-call neurologist was called in and he decided that it would be best to do a CT scan and most likely go in for emergency surgery. Sounds like you guys are getting a pretty good system down. Your veterinarian only measures deep pain when he or she has a strong suspicion that it is no longer present. Your trust in me is appreciated. Its so tough to be a pet parent to a sick dog. This dwarfism, according to the University of California at Davis, causes deformities in the vertebral column as well as stress on the back from abnormalities in gait. They also have pain-relieving properties. However, compression of disc material on nerves and other tissues often has dramatic consequences. Thanks !! Thank you for sharing your story. So we cancelled that policy and thought it was pointless to get a new policy with someone else. Frenchies with a slipped disc will be slow to right the paw or may leave it. According to DogsHealthProblems, The gene that causes the unique curl of a Bulldog's tail has been linked with vertebral abnormalities further up the spine. When you think of breeds prone to back problems, you probably immediately picture Dachshunds and Basset Hounds. I have friends dogs that have had the same surgery and were able to walk again later that daywhich scared me into thinking Hanks surgery must not have gone well.so thank you for sharing! We didnt get Jackson to use a ramp until after his neck surgery and it definitely took some time. Our frenchie was diagnosed with IVDD in July and she has been on antibiotics everyday since as well as pain meds in the beginning. I just wish I knew what my dog was thinking and feeling or knew I was making the right choices for him. Cant even articulate how grateful I am for finding a stellar person. Always follow the instructions of your dog's veterinarian, surgeon, and neurologist. Some dogs show no signs at all. History -An in-depth description of the weeks, days or moments leading to your dog's problems is vital to differentiating between IVDD, a traumatic occurrence, or another problem altogether. This contrasts with Grade 5 dogs whose recovery rate is closer to 50:50. Muscle relaxers Some dogs, like people, benefit from muscle relaxants when they have a prolapsed disc. All the bestcongrats on your growing family and thank you for what you do! I hope that Jackson makes a full recovery. Jackson went into emergency neck surgery through Rocky Mountain Neurology after finding a disc extrusion in his neck (the start of IVDD). Im sorry you all are going through it right nowyour love for Jackson is the epitome of unconditional. My heart really aches for you guys because I remember how devastating and life changing it was. And get it when they are a puppy because it will be much cheaper. According to Veterinary Information Network, MRI/CT Magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are advanced diagnostic procedures generally performed at specialty facilities. He had extreme edema, would not eat, and he had a seizure one day when I visited him. We have no real clue at this point, but we are working every day towards that goal. But Im also now taking him to a veterinary hyperbaric chamber weekly, as well as a rehabilitation center here in Denver that does manual therapy, massage, laser therapy, acupuncture, hydrotherapy, herbal medicine, and more. Your dog may no longer be able to walk but can still move his legs. Its been three years and he is still walking although his bladder never came back 100%. After surgery, Jackson was at the vet for 4 more days, while the team made sure he did not experience any post-surgery complications like he had the time before, and he didnt! Not all of them show significant improvement. Another vote for insurance! He may walk again in months, in a year, or maybe never. According to a veterinarian, Dr. Buzby cases grade 1 through 4 have a 90 to 95%% rate of success, meaning significant improvement to full recovery. My Experience w/ Microneedling & Why Im Obsessed. Frenchies have various manifestations of back pain. He has no control over his bladder so we have to express it 4-5x/day, which has proved to be rather challenging. In some cases, depending upon where the injury is, your dog cannot use any limbs. Deficiencies can show as an uncoordinated or stilted gait, knuckling over of one or more paws, or crossing over of the legs. Myelography This is a radiograph with a contrast dye injected into the spinal canal to more clearly illustrate bulging disc material. I was just feeling completely unsure and helpless. But after reading a couple of articles youve written, I know we are so blessed that our case is so mild compared to Jacksons at this point. Jackson looks like the sweetest dog, and so cheerful in spite of everything!. In IVDD applications, oxygen delivery greatly reduces inflammation and the associated swelling. In some cases, you may be able to accomplish both with one medication. We also plan to take him to a hyperbaric chamber once a week up in Fort Collins. Urinary bladder in some cases you may need to express your dog's bladder for some time. Sign up for my PaleOMG newsletter to get recipes. Your dog should move the respective limb. Thanks for listening to my ramblings of my ever-changing life and trusting my kitchen mishaps. Narcotics are especially effective when used in conjunction with NSAIDs. We also bought him wheels because he was using them at the vet and getting around quite well, so he uses those a couple times per day, when hes eating. You think something like this would never happen to youthen youre spending thousands upon thousands to save your dog. This video makes compelling arguments for surgery in IVDD, even in seemingly minor cases. Otherwise, it would be an uncomfortable procedure for any dog. This is an absolute must with IVDD recovery. These drugs belong to the nonsteroidal class of anti-inflammatories. Wheelchairs Any wheelchairs you use for paralyzed dogs must be approved by your veterinarian for safety and functionality. I was also lucky enough to talk to some great people online who have had their own IVDD experiences and one of the more affordable recommendations was the Assisi Loop which creates an electromagnetic field that is supposed to help with swelling, pain, incision healing, and breaks down anything that could be around the nerves of the spinal cord causing more issues. For prevention of IVDD (which is sometime inevitable no matter what you try), keeping your dog as healthy as possible is a must. But Jackson has GONE THROUGH IT. Pain is the most common symptom in a French Bulldog with a slipped disc. It only costs $300, which is obviously a good amount still, but cheaper in comparison with most other at-home tools on the market. It may also help differentiate between back pain and abdominal discomfort. Your veterinarian will discuss risks, prognosis, and aftercare. And since your dog will be on crate rest for 4-6 weeks, if not longer, youll want to be fully stocked at home with all the necessities. Although a dreaded option, surgery is sometimes the only way to restore your Frenchie's function and quality of life when he suffers from a prolapsed disc. Rehabilitation Make sure to turn your Frenchie frequently to avoid bedsores and other issues caused by laying on one side too long. I have sent you a few messages on Instagram but my French Bulldog, Albus, also had IVDD stage 5. Im curious if your dog is walking now? Bloodwork A CBC and blood chemistry do not diagnose IVDD, but they help your veterinarian rule out other causes of back symptoms such as an infection. Often improvement occurs within a few hours of administration. We still feel very lucky. He preferred the throws (a blanket), we had 4 around the house, and they changed that cat. Think about someone pulling on your neck day after daythat would fucking suck. Intervertebral discs separate the individual segments of the backbone, allowing limited movement and absorbing shock from impact. IVDD is not only hard on your dog, but it will be hard on you. I will keep you guys in our thoughts and continue to follow along with Jacksons progress. Collapse cannot use hind limbs, or forelimbs. Ive found the at-home rehab hard at times and I think thats saying something because both Brian and I work from home and have flexible schedules. Your French Bulldog may be ataxic or cross her hind legs as she stands, a proprioceptive deficit. Surgery is costly and much of its success hinges on the first week in recovery. Severe pain and paralysis are medical emergencies, but you should have a sense of urgency about any suspected back problem. This post is obviously not as fun and lighthearted as most of my posts, but I wanted to share the facts of what we have experienced and I hope this helps someone in their own journey. 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