This is painful. Anyone gone through this?
Young, very active dog. Vets want 10K in diagnostics to even say if surgery would be successful.
We need to make a decision.
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One wonders about the accuracy of the diagnosis if 10k is required to offer a prognosis for surgery. You may need an MRI. If that isn’t in the budget, you could try a course of steroids and keep the dog quiet (hard but necessary) to give inflammation a chance to recede. It won’t cure a herniated disk but it might offer him some relief. And maybe it’s not a herniated disk. A second opinion is always reasonable before spending that kind of money!
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What? For what?
I’d want to know a lot more.
MRI can’t cost that much…? Although I’ve never had one for a dog, but still.
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Take him to a University clinic, if you haven’t already. They are often far more affordable.
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That was for the MRI and consult with a neurologist, and an overnight at the clinic.
We’re taking the dog to our regular vet today for a consult.
The closest vet school is 350 miles away, unfortunately.
I hear you. For 10k, it might be worth the trip, and they’ve likely got more experience with this than your local vet. Just a thought. Jingles for your guy.
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When my previous dog had back issues, we first did a course of oral steroids. When that didnt help enough, we did epidural injections. That also proved to not be enough, so we did the MRI, followed by surgery. That resolved the problem until she blew the next disc and had surgery again a year or so later. She lived with no back problems for another 6 years.
I never did add up the costs. 
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We have an old lab- he’s 12.5. He’s had issues with his back the last year or so, he’ll tweak something and can’t walk with his hind legs and cries. We had the vet out to put him down the first time, and she said let’s last ditch try one more thing. So we’ve done a course of prednisone both times and something else. It’s worked like a charm the last 2 times.
He’s so old and a sweet farm dog, but bringing him to the clinic and putting him through rounds of disgnostics just isn’t realistic for us or him and would be very stressful.
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DH went to the chiropractor today, who just happens to treat dogs. He said it’s something of a specialty of his to get paralyzed dogs back on their feet. We’re bringing him the X-rays this afternoon and praying for a miracle.
She ate this morning and has some control over her LH. So 
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Also, vet says she has a deep pain response in both feet, so that’s a positive.
Is the dog ambulatory?
Ha! I just took my cat to the vet for a urinary blockage.
My vet cost: $900-1,200.
The university that shall not be named: $4,000.
OP: 10k is tough. I think I would be looking at steroids and rest first. That is what we did with my back dog. I hope the chiropractor friend can do something to help.
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No. We have a makeshift sling to use to take her outside. She drags her right foot, so I wrapped it with elastikon. She has control over her left but can’t bear weight on it.
She’s on anti-inflammatory meds so no steroids as of today, but I agree, I’d like to see her get some steroids.
The X-rays were negative as far as any disc issues. We don’t see the chiropractor until tomorrow, so I don’t know yet whether that’s a good thing or a bad thing as far as adjusting her goes.
We’re getting more comfortable with limbo, so that’s another positive.
I would be extremely leery of chiropractic adjustments on a dog with a disc impinging enough to cause motor nerve paralysis/paresis.
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Just wanted to post an update.
The chiropractor visit went very well. He showed us on the X-ray why she’s not moving. Our vet had said no disc damage indicated on the films but other than that had no comment on how tweaked the spine was.
Already that night we observed more movement and use of her left leg. The chiropractor had recommended hydrotherapy, and our friend has a pool, so we got her in yesterday. She’s definitely not a lab! 
Didn’t like the water much, but she was using both hind legs underwater.
Today she’s up on three legs. 
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How is she today? I’m curious what you meant by “how tweaked the spine was” – out of alignment/stuck vertebrae? Or something else? Just interested to hear the details - hope she is still improving.
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She’s better every day. After another adjustment yesterday, she was tired and draggy, but woke up much stronger in her LH and moving her RH more than yesterday.
She goes back Monday and in the meantime will have hydrotherapy every day.
Today we put her in the stroller and took her for a walk. She was squirmy at first but settled in. I think it was good for her mind and spirit to get out and see stuff.
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Yes, out of alignment. I might be able to post the xray if you’re interested.
She had her second session of hydrotherapy today. 
IMG_2957
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What perfect exercise!
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