Just over three years ago, whilst taking my dog (Max) out for a walk in the local park/lakes, we came across another dog walker. And as most dogs do, they say hello to each other! Sometimes in more ways we would like!!!
Max started to jump around upon meeting his new found friend, but suddenly cried out like he had stepped on sharp glass.
I looked down at my dog and he seemed fine, maybe he had landed on his paw funny.
It was when I tryed to walk Max back to the car that I noticed his back legs where wobbly. Almost like he was drunk!
I managed to lift him into the back of the car (not an easy thing to do when he weighs about 8stone!) as he couldnt get into the back without assistance.
I started to worry thinking he had aggravated a previous injury to a ligament in his leg, and decided to see if some rest would benefit him.
I got him indoors and allowed him to rest for a few hours.
My partner came home from work and like most dogs, when ever someone comes home, they tend to be quite bouncy and welcoming. As she put the key in the door, Max's ears perked up and he started to get up to welcome her home. When he tried to get up, was when I noticed that the rest had done no good for him at all. In fact his condition had deteriorated quite alot.
His back legs where nearly useless and he could not gain any control over them,he resembled the unsteadiness of a drunken man!
I explained the situation to my partner and we decided to take him straight to the vets.
We arrived at the vets shortly after ringing them and explaining that we wanted him seen straight away.
Alberto (the Vet!) gave Max an examination asking us to walk Max in a straight line, and I asked the Vet if he thought it may be his ligament in his back leg (which had virtually snapped about 1 year previous). Alberto said that he didnt think the problem was with his ligaments, but more to do with his spine.
Painkillers, injections and strict rest was ordered by Alberto and see how Max would get on after a few days, and if there was no improvement to ring back and get a referral to another specialist Veterinary Surgeon.
The next day, there was no improvement in Max's condition so I called the Vets back and told him that Max had in fact got so much worse that he could no longer use his back legs, he couldn't even get up or move around at all without "scooting" along whilst his back legs slid along the floor. It was extremely upsetting for me, and I was worried sick.
Max was referred to a Specialist about 30 miles away the next day.
I had all sorts of visions going through my mind that the specialist would advise putting him to sleep or that he would be disabled for the rest of his life. The latter not being a great outlook for such a big dog!
I was waiting in the reception waiting for us to be called in, and when it finally came it was like having a huge weight lifted off my shoulders after the first 5 minutes of discussing the outlook.
The Surgeon stated that he did indeed think it was a spinal problem, specifically a herniated disc or slipped disc. The vet also said there was a minor chance it could be a "growth" pushing down on the spines nervous system, but he was 80% certain it was a slipped disc.
I thought I would have to bring Max back again, say the following day, but Paul (the vet) wanted to take Max off my hands straight away. We talked about the cost and insurance, and like any responsible dog owner I had taken out a comprehensive insurance policy out to cover my "best friend" for accidents and illness etc.
Paul informed the likely costs involved would be around £3000 to £3500, and did I have that level of cover. Thankfully Max was insured for vets fee's up to £5000. Paul stated that he would x-ray Max first and if nothing showed on the images, that he would initiate a MRI scan and find the cause of Max's debilitation.
Later that day, around 5 hours later, Paul rang and my heart missed a beat, waiting for him to give me some good news, I certainly didn't want to hear that my dog had cancer.
It was exactly what he said it was, upon looking at the MRI it appeared that he had a slipped disc. I didn't know much about slipped discs, so after putting the phone down, I was on the internet looking for information and some sort of reassurances that my dog would be ok.
Slipped discs are generally when material between the bones located in the spine rupture and start to push on the nerves located within the spinal cord, from what Id read. In Max's case it was pushing on his spinal cord so much that he could not use his back legs, and was essentially paralyzed from the middle of his back to his hind legs.
Paul reassured me that he would begin surgery to rectify the problem, which would involve drilling a hole or creating a small window in the adjoining vertebrae and scraping out the protruding material and releasing the pressure on the spinal cord. He gave Max a good chance for a near full recovery, but that he would need extensive physiotherapy to regain full control or near full control over his rear end!
To be continued...........
Painkillers, injections and strict rest was ordered by Alberto and see how Max would get on after a few days, and if there was no improvement to ring back and get a referral to another specialist Veterinary Surgeon.
The next day, there was no improvement in Max's condition so I called the Vets back and told him that Max had in fact got so much worse that he could no longer use his back legs, he couldn't even get up or move around at all without "scooting" along whilst his back legs slid along the floor. It was extremely upsetting for me, and I was worried sick.
Max was referred to a Specialist about 30 miles away the next day.
I had all sorts of visions going through my mind that the specialist would advise putting him to sleep or that he would be disabled for the rest of his life. The latter not being a great outlook for such a big dog!
I was waiting in the reception waiting for us to be called in, and when it finally came it was like having a huge weight lifted off my shoulders after the first 5 minutes of discussing the outlook.
The Surgeon stated that he did indeed think it was a spinal problem, specifically a herniated disc or slipped disc. The vet also said there was a minor chance it could be a "growth" pushing down on the spines nervous system, but he was 80% certain it was a slipped disc.
I thought I would have to bring Max back again, say the following day, but Paul (the vet) wanted to take Max off my hands straight away. We talked about the cost and insurance, and like any responsible dog owner I had taken out a comprehensive insurance policy out to cover my "best friend" for accidents and illness etc.
Paul informed the likely costs involved would be around £3000 to £3500, and did I have that level of cover. Thankfully Max was insured for vets fee's up to £5000. Paul stated that he would x-ray Max first and if nothing showed on the images, that he would initiate a MRI scan and find the cause of Max's debilitation.
Later that day, around 5 hours later, Paul rang and my heart missed a beat, waiting for him to give me some good news, I certainly didn't want to hear that my dog had cancer.
It was exactly what he said it was, upon looking at the MRI it appeared that he had a slipped disc. I didn't know much about slipped discs, so after putting the phone down, I was on the internet looking for information and some sort of reassurances that my dog would be ok.
Slipped discs are generally when material between the bones located in the spine rupture and start to push on the nerves located within the spinal cord, from what Id read. In Max's case it was pushing on his spinal cord so much that he could not use his back legs, and was essentially paralyzed from the middle of his back to his hind legs.
Paul reassured me that he would begin surgery to rectify the problem, which would involve drilling a hole or creating a small window in the adjoining vertebrae and scraping out the protruding material and releasing the pressure on the spinal cord. He gave Max a good chance for a near full recovery, but that he would need extensive physiotherapy to regain full control or near full control over his rear end!
To be continued...........
