[Dailydrool] Info on Intervertebral Disc Disease

[Nicole Haase]

Hey all,

Sorry for so many emails this week, but this is my first time with an aged
hound and I'm totally out of my depth, so I'm hoping the collective
knowledge of the drool can help.

Flash was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease. The vet thinks that
paralysis is a very real possibility. We have started on Rimadyl and should
know in the next 48 hours if that will help Flash at all. He went from
having one leg be a little weak on late Friday to him being unable to use
either leg on Sunday.

Another drooler, privately, has suggested I tell the vet I want him to use
Adequan - Rimadyl probably wasn't strong enough. I've never heard of it, so
I wanted to see if anyone else seconded that suggestion.

Surgery isn't really an option for us, monetarily and also because Flash is
12 and I don't know that he can make it through.

Are there other options for him in this short-term to try and restore
function to the legs?

If, in a few days, the legs aren't functioning, what is the next step? I
know very little about carts. I know that its a possibility that he may need
to be put down if the quality of life isn't there. Are there other options I
don't know about? Flash is a very big basset - I've never come across a guy
with paws or a head as big as his. He's also overweight at 83 pounds or so.
Does his size make a difference when it comes to considering a cart?

He is your typical senior basset - he sleeps about 18 hours a day and gets
up to go outside, welcome us home and eat dinner and that's about it.

If anyone has any sort of suggestions, I'd love to hear them.

Thanks in advance and thank you to everyone who sent "get well" and "feel
better" emails. We're more optimistic today then we were last night, but we
know its a long road yet.

Nicole

-- 
Nicole Haase
nicole.haase at gmail.com
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