[Dailydrool] intervertebral disk disease

[Bob]

I have never heard that intervertebral disk disease is a young dog's
problem.  Its not a pupster problem and it ususally does start developing
when they are growing up..but my believe is just like in humans back
problems are rarely a one event thing and a lifetime of stress and strain on
a back sometimes shows it weiry head.

Bob the dog is 11 and at age 10 was diagnosised with IDD..he has since had
two big issues one with his neck and the other his back..they were both
serious resulting in surgury.

maybe bob has has back problems since he was young...bassets are stoic but i
would never think that because my basset was older he wouldnt get
this..maybe they already have it and just havent blown a disk yet..

key thing aqnd most important thing if you basset goes down or partially
down in the rear..and I know this becasue WE DIDNT DO IT

They need to be immediately crated or xpened or whatever..Bob might have
gotten well without surgury we will never know cause when he cried we let
him out of the crate "to just watch him real careful" and why..cause he
didnt like it and was crying...

well let me tell you ..he didnt like the surgury and the hospital and the
peeing himself for weeks and the pain and the not walking and the huge
insision and the discomfort and the being contained for 8 more weeks a whole
lot more..

if you can't listen to your dog cry board him at the vets (alot cheaper than
surgury)

If i could redo those few days I sure would.

also regarding back surgury on your dog..there is one more thing to consider
besides the cost and the quality of life and that is...are you going to be
able to give your dog 24/7 care for at least 2 weeks and then like 18/7 care
for about 4 to 6 weeks after that..cause the vets didnt warn us at all as to
the aftercare...I was lucky I work from home it was doable but others arent
so lucky and ive know more than one mommy or daddy breaking down in tears
feeling guilty cause they just can't do it anymore..thin of it as taking
care of a 4 year old in a body cast..easing their pain..comforting
them.keeping them mentally stimulated while not being able to move..taking
care of there bodily functions..its not an easy job.

Now that Bob is doing great I am totally happy with our decision and will
even more so be when it is paid for but at about 5 days home from the
hospital I was totally thinking I made a big mistake..but one thing I did
learn is that anyone who has been thru it is more than willing to mentor
someone else thru it..people are so great..so if your dog has IDD and you
may be facing surgury reach out there are lots who have been thru it..but do
the surgury sooner not later like we did..it will have a way better pronosis
and the dog will get well faster.
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