Terrible News - Neurological Spine Problem

[jmm82]

Max is jut 2.5 years old. He's been seemingly perfectly healthy until 2 days ago. He woke up the other day and couldn't put any weight on his right hind leg. The vet took X-Rays and said that some nerves are detaching from the spine and recommended a myelogram to determine the extent of the damage. He said that depending on the results of the test, he'll likely need surgery to try and rectify the problem. Max has gotten worse over the last few days and can't put any weight on either hind leg now. In addition, he is having problems urinating.

Does anyone have any experience with spinal surgery? I'm wondering what the success rate is for this type of surgery and what my options might be.

Thanks in advance for your help.

[wendykei]

I'm sorry to hear about your baby. Surgery is a very scary thing to have to think about for such a young guy. I don't know what the exact circumstances are in your case. Have you done the myelogram - if so, what were the results? Is the surgery likely to be successful if it is needed? What are the options the vet's discussed with you?

I have a French bulldog (Sidney, M, 3 yo) who just had spinal surgery, though not for detached nerves. A disk in his back burst (degenerative disk disease) and he ended up in serious, serious pain, along with being mostly paralyzed in the hind legs and not having control of his bodily functions. The onset of symptoms was very fast - in the early morning he was walking very shakily and by late morning he couldn't support himself. There was about a 50/50 shot at him making a substantial recovery even if they did the surgery, but they did say that the sooner they operated the better the prognosis was. Skeptics may say that's just the vet trying to talk you into treatment, but I don't regret the decision because Sidney is now a month post-op and he's made a full recovery. In fact, within about 12 hours of the surgery he was able to walk again (he was pretty shaky and needed assistance to support him but it was astonishing to see this recovery after such a short time).

Now, a month after surgery, he's walking normally and though I limit him to about 3-4 blocks at a time, I am certain he could walk more than that at this point. He also desperately wants to run and play with Mac, my other Frenchy. I still keep him restrained (mostly out of my own caution) and am gradually allowing him more activity. (I was just about to post on this topic actually, which I'll do as a separate post.)

[Vada]

I am so sorry. It is so hard when they are so young.

My Vada who is 3.5 had surgery in her upper neck in May of this year for a reptured disk in her neck she has intervertebral disease which my vet said is very common in french bulldogs.

She was fine one day and then the next she was outside playing and then stoped in pain and then the neck spasms started, she was in so much pain before the surgery.

It was hard choice because we did not know what the out come would be. After the surgery we had to keep in her kennel for a month and now we have to limit her playing and jumping, but she is back to her old self.

I am so glad we went through with the surger. Everyday I fear that she could rupture another disk, but I try to keep positive and enjoy everyday I have with her. Good luck my thoughts are with you and your baby.

[phembree]

I hope there was or is help for your dog. We had a scare with our then 5 month old now 14 month old Brutus. One day he woke up staggering and walking like a drunken sailor.
2 vets told us surgery was not an option (including the local vetrinary specialist clinic) for a spinal deformity that was compressing his spinal cord. He came home from OSU which was our last option with a month worth of steroids. He is very much improved and defied all the odds. He has gained back almost all of his movement and aside from jumping is a happy pain free big guy.