Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Does anyone have any experience with IVDD with their tripawd? Is it common in tripawds, due to the added pressure on their spine of hopping around?
My Sophie (age 7, 40 lbs, not overweight) had her amp (front left) in Feb and finished chemo in July. Last week she seemed to be in pain in her lower back and her tail apears limp. Took her for oncology/neurology consult yesteday. They think either IVDD or spread of her osteosarcoma to the spine. However, she is not dispalying any other clinical signs of the cancer spread.
She will need an MRI and of course they are recommneding surgery which I am loathe to do from her well being point of view and of course cost (still paying off the chemo). I am more inclined to do cage rest, cold laser and acupuncture.
Does anyone have any experience of IVDD in their tripawd who can advise me? Of course, I don't want to run the risk of her becoming paralyzed either.
I would appreciate any advise or recommendations.
Thank you,
Toni
Welcome, your future forum posts will not require moderation.
Sorry to hear about Sophie. Use the search function above or search the blogs and you may find others discussing vestibular disease, neurological metastases, limp tails or other spinal issues.
Tripawds Forums Search Results for 'Intervertebral' (11)
We have no personal experience with IVDD, but others may be able to provide better feedback for you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sophie sounds like a real trooper! Sorry you're having this challenge and, hopefully, others can chime in who have had some experience with this.
I can certainly understand why you would be hesitant to do another surgery. Perhaps rest, taking it slow and some steroid anti-inflammatory will help. Did they give you any of those? Any pain meds? Tramadol?
I think you will find some have used laser therapy and acupuncture with pretty good results.
Please keep us posted and know we are here for you, okay??
Keeping all tripawd paws crossed for you.....and that's a lot of healing powere in those paws!
Now go hug Sophie and kow all is well!
Hugs to uou both!
Sally and Happy Hannah
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Toni I'm sorry to hear about Sophie, I know that's just gotta be so hard to go through. Front leg Tripawds are at slightly greater risk of pinched nerves and spinal pain because of how their weight is distributed and many times these hurdles can be overcome without surgery.
It sounds like she's getting great care, but I'm wondering why they are recommending surgery when she hasn't even had the MRI yet? What is the surgery for?
For now, try to stay calm and take things one step at a time. Getting a second opinion from a board-certified canine rehabilitation therapist is something you might want to try. These vets will usually take a more conservative non-surgical approach toward pain-related issues that could be resolved with PT instead of surgery. See this post about finding a CCRT or CCRP rehab vet near you.
Tripawds Founders Jim and Rene
tripawds.com | tripawds.org | bemoredog.net | triday.pet
Sophie sounds like a real trooper! Sorry you're having this challenge and, hopefully, others can chime in who have had some experience with this. I can certainly understand why you would be hesitant to do another surgery. Perhaps rest, taking it slow and some steroid anti-inflammatory will help. Did they give you any of those? Any pain meds? Tramadol? I think you will find some have used laser therapy and acupuncture with pretty good results. Please keep us posted and know we are here for you, okay?? Keeping all tripawd paws crossed for you.....and that's a lot of healing powere in those paws! Now go hug Sophie and kow all is well! Hugs to uou both! Sally and Happy Hannah
Thank you Sally and Happy Hannah 
Sophie is currently taking an NSAID and Gabapentin for neurologic pain. Tramadol makes her loopy! LOL. We have another follow up with her Oncologist in 2 weeks and he will do her exam and chest xrays. If the cancer has spread to her lungs then of course we won't pursue any further course of action. I would really want to avoid surgery as there is no guarantee with that either, but you always have the worry in the back of your mind that it could help.. if she is clear with the chest xrays (which she has been until now), then I will schedule the MRI. In the meantime she is resting and hopefully I can get some laser therapy/acupuncture organized. Best, Toni & Sophie.
jerry said
Toni I'm sorry to hear about Sophie, I know that's just gotta be so hard to go through. Front leg Tripawds are at slightly greater risk of pinched nerves and spinal pain because of how their weight is distributed and many times these hurdles can be overcome without surgery.It sounds like she's getting great care, but I'm wondering why they are recommending surgery when she hasn't even had the MRI yet? What is the surgery for?
For now, try to stay calm and take things one step at a time. Getting a second opinion from a board-certified canine rehabilitation therapist is something you might want to try. These vets will usually take a more conservative non-surgical approach toward pain-related issues that could be resolved with PT instead of surgery. See this post about finding a CCRT or CCRP rehab vet near you.
Thanks for the info. The Neuro said MRI first and then disc surgery if it isn't the cancer. I am definitely going to take it one step at a time. As long as Sophie is resting and her pain is being managed with the drugs in the short term, it will give me time to do some further investigation. I will look for a second opinion. Thanks again, Toni & Sophie
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