IVDD in Dogs: SNOWFLAKE CAN WALK AGAIN!

Snowflake is a nine-year-old male Maltese who presented for inability to walk on his back legs. Snowflake was previously a very happy and active dog. A few days before presentation, Snowflake’s owners noticed he was having trouble going up steps and was crossing his back legs. Snowflake became worse and started dragging his back legs. His owners rushed him to an emergency clinic where he was examined and prescribed medications. Unfortunately, Snowflake did not improve with the medications and was referred to SEVN for further evaluation.
Snowflake's exam findings told us there was a problem affecting his mid-back spinal cord and his injury was severe, a five on a scale of one to five. This gave him a 50% chance of walking even with surgery, but only a 5% chance of walking without surgery.
An MRI of his thoracolumbar spine was recommended and performed which revealed a slipped disc at L2-L3. Snowflake underwent decompressive spinal surgery to remove the ruptured disc material.
Post-operatively, Snowflake is doing fantastic. He has healed from surgery is comfortable, walking again, and continues giving kisses!
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[@shilohasmr7442]

So I’m not a vet but will share my story in case it helps. My dog suddenly had no use of his back legs and no control over his bodily functions. I wasn’t given much hope by the neurologist, regular vet, or ER vet. I tried an animal chiropractor. He began walking within a month and a half after 7 adjustments. He still struggles with dragging one food but his new vet is flabbergasted at how he’s able to walk given his spine injury. Obviously, I’m a believer in chiropractic care.

[@claudiavieira8289]

This gives me so much hope! My dog is doing ct scan tomorrow. Thank you so much for this vídeo.

[@shtfprepperlady4899]

Beautiful 🐕

[@Charlieonwheels]

My Charlie was diagnosed with IVDD four years ago. I have a video on my channel telling our story. IVDD is not a death sentence!

[@SEVNeurology]

100%. Dogs that don't recover can still have an excellent quality of life! Thanks for sharing.

[@elainecobb4175]

That’s so great!

[@scottytarvan9523]

It's an expensive exercise but I dont think most folks watching this realise the level of expertise required to perform this surgery and the cost of equipment.

[@AE-qq1mj]

You are right is about 14k the whole procedure.

[@30YearOldBunta]

God bless you guys

[@SEVNeurology]

Thank you.

[@jordanthistle2360]

20+ thousand dollars later. We are currently going through this with our dog. We unfortunetly cant afford the surgery so we are trying to mend himself with stablisation of the spine and pain management. He cant walk but he still has deep stimulation in his hind legs.

[@rc240zxt]

I get it, we were just quoted today between 16-20 Thousand for the MRI and Surgery.

[@jordanthistle2360]

@@rc240zxt we had to put him down. They gave us enough meds for a week then wanted to see him again. He couldnt move off his bed we were having to be beside him 24 hours a day because he had to deficate and urinate right where he was laying. We would have done it for as long as it took if he had made some progress. However, they said it was 20% he would ever be pain free again and a 40% chance of him walking again.

[@JulieR73]

@@rc240zxt where I live (Dallas Texas) it was $6,000 for CT Scan and surgery! He had it done yesterday at DVSC and he’s doing fantastic!

[@irissanchez3322]

@@JulieR73 I’m in Dallas too! What vet/neurologist did you go to?

[@soothingecho17]

@@JulieR73 hi what surgeon did you go to?? I live in Dallas as well

[@yihannajohnson3711]

My favorite dog. My dog went through this last year.

[@pazzieelep9957]

I am so happy for Snowflakes. I am praying my dog Princess who also suffered from herniated disk will get to where Snowflakes now walking again. Breaks my heart everyday. Seeing Snowflakes story gives me so much hope. Thanks for sharing your story. My Princess looks almost the same like Snowflakes. Half Shihtzu and Maltese.

[@jesswithdakids5172]

Has your dog started back walking?

[@DreamsOfBeef]

my dog is 10 days out of ivdd and still not abale to feel or weight bare on rear lega, i am praying she can recover.

[@janegerow5974]

Wonderful video. My dog went thru this exact same thing. We are 10 days post op. He still can’t walk but we are hopeful!

[@morganhoort6455]

My dog went through the same thing without surgery he can walk almost completely and there was a 80% chance he wouldn’t come back

[@lammie10]

Same here.. 17 days post op and still hopeful 🙏🙏

[@pazzieelep9957]

Thank you for your reply. My Princess just turned 2 years old. I didn't know she has IVDD until a week ago. She was running and a picture of youth and health I never seen any indication that she was in pain. I did notice a skipping of a leg occasionally but never shown she was in pain. And then one morning she didn't wake me up on her usual running around my bed to let me know she needs to go outside to pee. She was till walking, but she was sort of no energy. Then she squatted to pee and yelped. I thought she got bit by something underneath, but I didn't see anything. But I started to see discomfort, so I took her to the vet. Had blood test and urine test but all came out normal. So, we got sent home with some pain meds and for inflammation in case she strained something. Then that night I woke up in the middle of the night she was whining and crawling. I knew something is very seriously bad happening, but I never imagined she couldn't move her legs and worst that she became paralyzed. I took her to the Vet firs thing. They took an xray and my nightmare started. She was referred immediately to be seen by specialist to have an MRI and possible surgery. She had the same procedure like Snowflakes. It's been 8 days since the surgery. She is not able to use those legs yet. I won't know the prognosis until we go for follow up in less another week. We are doing home therapy as of now and she still under medications.

[@SEVNeurology]

Did they say she could feel the legs? They may have used the words “deep pain perception” or “nociception”.

[@jesswithdakids5172]

Has she started walking?

[@dansinnfoo1]

Thank you for this video! I am going through the same thing right now, with a Stage 5 dog who just got out of surgery. The future is unknown and it is hard to not be depressed. This definitely gives me hope!! I need it so desperately right now. I am glad Snowflake is doing well!!

[@jesswithdakids5172]

How is your dog doing after a month? Mine just had the surgery today and I’m really scared.

[@amandamatosmd]

@@jesswithdakids5172 mine had the surgery in 11 days and she hadn’t any recovery yet. I’m really depressed to se her this way and it’s so difficult to take care of a special dog. She is stage 4 to 5 with a big compression of 60% of medula. She had the surgery after 10 days of paralysis because we live in a small town and it took time so have the ct

[@jesswithdakids5172]

@@amandamatosmd Oh my gosh…Yes since he has been home he’s kinda declined to worse then before the surgery. He also was 4-5 level but luckily had his surgery two days after paralysis. I’m just hoping for a miracle atp.

[@amandamatosmd]

@@jesswithdakids5172 I'm very angry because the vets here where I live seem to only care about the money. my dog ​​had padalisia and we took her in the first few hours after and they said she would have to treat her spinal edema before anything else. And as we live in the countryside and my mother works all day, we were only able to do the CT scan after 5 days of paralysis, and the report took a while to be ready (in an emergency they gave a deadline of 72 hours!!!!!) , so they performed the operation in 10 days of paralysis because the day before there was no way to do it because it was a municipal holiday in the city and the vet did not want to work. It honestly seems absurd. After the operation she had anemia and has been out of action for two weeks, today she will do a blood count and start physical therapy. we are very nervous. At the neurological tests she was 4 scale of ivdd, but after surgery it seems that her sensibility has declined and her tail is weak, I pray that it will be because of the medication.

[@jesswithdakids5172]

@@amandamatosmd That sounds awful and infuriating when so helpless. Benji goes back tomorrow to recheck his neurological prognosis. I just finished setting him up for Laser and Acupuncture. Just praying we can start to see some improvement. It’s only day four so I’m trying to be patient. I will be checking on you and praying for both of our babies🙏🏽

[@Pathologymadesimple]

Well done!!!!

[@trace6402]

Glad for Snowflake. His feet were cupped before surgery. In another video by this same clinic it stated that cupped feet meant that nerve regeneration was not possible which really took the wind out of my sails but then I see this. Confusing.

[@SEVNeurology]

Happy to help with any confusion. Which video are you referring to? "Cupped feet" or "knuckling" or "walking on the tops of the paws", does not mean that there is no hope. Propricioception (knowledge of where the feet are in space) is actually one of the first things to go when a dog has a spinal cord injury. It's also one of the last things to come back. We typically wouldn't say that "cupping of feet" would translate into not being able to regain the ability to walk. Potentially we may have said in another video something like "inability to FEEL the legs (e.g. absent deep pain perception) only carries a 50% chance of recovering with surgery and a less than 5% chance without surgery."

[@trace6402]

@@SEVNeurology it's the video titled JP's story. At 1:12 in the video it states the if the paws are knuckled under then nerve regeneration will not occur. My Dachshund is walking 10 days after surgery but feet do knuckle some. He is still being kept in therapy. I am probably misunderstanding the context. Thank you for replying though.

[@jimmy70602]

After the surgery, what other treatments did snowflake do to start walking again???? Please any info about this is appreciated.

[@777triathlete]

My 12-year-old German Shepherd had surgery (herniated disc) on July 25 and still isn't walking. She also has arthritis, which could be complicating her recovery. My neurologist says this is not uncommon - that it could be more than a month before we see marked improvement. Any thoughts on this?

[@jacksonrauch9429]

I am dealing with this today

[@ArleneCrocker]

how much is disc surgery?

[@winnieholtermann-jensen58]

What did the cost of this operation cost? I think is was a fantastic good recovery👍🏻

[@SEVNeurology]

Thanks for asking. Short answer: it depends. Here is a link to a recent blog post on the topic. I will make a video for KZbin eventually. sevneurology.com/blog/ivdd-surgery-cost/

[@PATRICIAANNPAULK1945]

Our Dachshund’s surgery was $4,500.00 as of right now. He’s 14yrs old and this Friday it will be 2 weeks since his surgery. Veterinarian gave him 50/50 chances of walking again 💔😭😭😭. He does kick when I touch in-between his toes but still no tail wags which the Dr. wants to see! It’s a better indicator that surgery is helping…I’m so upset and have cried an ocean because I’m putting my sweet boy through this😭!

[@PATRICIAANNPAULK1945]

Is a dachshund at age 14 to old for this surgery?

[@SEVNeurology]

Hi Patricia. If your senior pet is showing signs of intervertebral disk disease, we strongly recommend contacting your nearest veterinary neurologist to discuss your options. We are here for you if you need us. sevneurology.com/

[@user-uo9st8qq4q]

I'm from Pakistan How can i approach you for my Gsd Puppy's checkup he's facing the same problem😢

[@kaylayangyang]

hope my dog is as lucky as snowflake

[@simonphoenix3789]

my 13 year old akita started atrophying in his back legs, losing his bowels indoor, and how he doesn't pee except to mark, and pees while lying down. I took him to the vet, but during this godamn pandemic I couldn't even be in there with him, and they just gave him back to me saying he is getting old and its probably laryngeal paralysis. now it has gotten so bad that he can't go on his walks, and because of that he just holds in his pee, and doesn't pee in the backyard. Is there any chance the vet is mistaken? it really seems like they didn't even care, and just brushed it off as old age.

[@SEVNeurology]

It’s tough/impossible to make a diagnosis without an evaluation and examination. Causes of atrophy and weakness can include a polyneuropathy (disease affecting the nerves) which can also cause laryngeal paralysis (is your dog showing signs of laryngeal paralysis such as loud breathing)? A problem in the lower back can cause atrophy of the rear legs and incontinence. Causes such as tumor or slipped disk. It’s worth a second opinion if you’re concerned.

[@simonphoenix3789]

@@SEVNeurology no he doesn't have that breathing I have heard is characteristic of laryngeal paralysis. they say it's that because when he was younger we mentioned that he often threw up water after drinking it. he still does it sometimes, but I think its more because he gulps down so much water that he throws a small amount of it back up. he doesn't do that while eating food though. I initially thought it was muscular dystrophy as it started out with me noticing that he was no longer lifting his knees while walking and his rear claws were worn down to nubs and started bleeding from contacting the pavement. Over the last year it gradually got worse with his lower ankle just flopping about if I move his leg.

[@yihannajohnson3711]

How is your dog now?

[@luisdacunha7017]

My dog has the same issue but after 1.5 years she still can’t express her own bladder

[@Booboobear-eo4es]

So how did you deal with your dog's failure to relieve himself? The reason I ask is that I had a 10 year old Labrador mix. He became paralyzed from the neck down within 3 days. Being retired and on a fixed income, I could not afford the testing and surgery. But I had the option to place him on steroids and try to keep him alive at home in the hopes the medication would take effect and he might recover. But because he couldn't relieve himself, I didn't see how I could do that. So I made the decision to put him down.

[@luisdacunha7017]

@@Booboobear-eo4es been having to come home everyday for the last year at lunch and express her bladder 3-4 times in one day. Traveling is sometimes an issue finding a dog sitter who is trained to express her bladder very costly to maintain her

[@Booboobear-eo4es]

@@luisdacunha7017 - I'm assuming you used a catheter to relieve your dog.

[@luisdacunha7017]

@@Booboobear-eo4es no search “ how to express a female dog bladder “

[@Booboobear-eo4es]

@@luisdacunha7017 - Well, my Baxter was a male, but I will check it out. Thanks.