This is my second dachshund with a back injury.
My little Brownie had her back injury a few years ago- around age 5- and we were able to nurse her through it without surgery. She was always gimpy and a little delicate after that- with definite loss of musculature on the back end- but lived a good dog life. She died a year and a half ago of (misdiagnosed) liver cancer at age 8. She was an awesome dog and I still miss her.
About a year ago, I took in the little blonde doxie, Abbie. She will be 5 next month. And about 6 months ago I took in the red one, Koko. I didn’t really want anymore dogs, but succombed to the begging a pleading of a friend who knew Abbie and knew her need for a better home. A friend who knows my fondness for dachshunds. And, since I had the one, I took in the other…
Anyway, Abbie was uncharacteristically aggressive toward Koko last Saturday night, so I created her for the night. She just woke up lame last Sunday. Went to the vet on Sunday who recommended surgery and called around, but no surgeons were available Sunday. On Monday the surgeon said he could not see her until Tuesday, and Tuesday he said it was too late for surgery. He would do it anyway ($3500.00) though, but not recommended.
So, she’s 10 days post injury and I don’t think she will regain any use of her hind legs. She doesn’t seem to feel them at all. She can be balanced upon them but then starts to fall one way or the other and doesn’t respond when I poke around in her pads. She can poop and pee, but I can’t tell how much control she has over that.
I try to take her out about every 2-4 hours. When I take her out, I support her back end in a sling. She will eliminate while being ‘walked’- meaning she does not stop to void. I’m wondering if the sling encourages elimination via compression or if she just doesn’t want to take the time to stop “to go” because she has been mostly crated for 10 days.
Since the injury date, I have now noticed a bulge on her right flank. I’m not sure if the bulge is liver or intestine. If she is constipated from the crate rest and meds, she is not complaining about it. She does stool 1-2 times a day and the stool seems normal. Her abdomen feels normal to me- not too firm, not distended. Maybe the meds are too hard on her liver.
I guess a trip to the vet is in order.
I have not ruled out having her put down, as much as it saddens me. I’m not convinced life in a dog wheelchair is a good life. Do they live long after that? She will be much more prone to illness and injury. Skin breakdown, urine scald, pneumonia… Do I have the time and inclination to have a wheelchair dependent dog? In any case, she could not be wheelchaired for another 5 weeks or so.
I suppose I’ll have the bulge examined and if it is liver, make a decision from there.
I understand IVDD is hereditary. I wish breeders would stop breeding dogs with IVDD. It’s just heartbreaking to see a dog in her prime stricken so suddenly.
I am not, not, not getting any more dogs, cats, birds, fish, turtles, etc. Do not call me.