Stacey, hours matter in preserving the spinal cord from permanent damage... hours matter in getting an anti-inflammatory drug on board to get the swelling down.
Tell the vet you will forgo the blood tests. Tell him of your financial situation. There is no way that an ER vet visit should cost $5,000 for a likley disc episode diagnosis!!! You do not want a surgery, you do not want xrays, you do not want and MRI.
You want conservative treatment of
--- pain meds: tramadol (general analgesic)l, gabapentin (for nerve pain) and possibly a third of methocarbamol (for muscle contraction pain)
IF this is a disc episode diagnosis.--- an anti-inflammatory. With nerve loss in the back legs, usualy a steroid like Prednisone would be used. NSAIDs like carprofen are the lessor of the anti-inflammatory drugs and are generally not when there is loss of back leg movement.
So you should NOT give carprofen. As that would tie the hands and causes a serious complication if a vet wants to use prednisone (steroid)
-- The SINGLE most important care you can give is the 100% STRICT rest 24/7 for the full 8 weeks, only out for a very, very few footsteps at potty time. Limited movement of the back/neck is imperative to prevent worsening nerve damage
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions. When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order.
1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. Wobbly walking, legs cross
3. Nails/toes scuffing floor
4. Paws knuckle under
5. Weak/little leg movement, can't move up into a stand
6. Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down)
7. Bladder control is lost. Leaks on you when lifted. Can no longer sniff and then pee on that old urine spot outdoors.
8. Tail wagging with joy is lost
9. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal with conservative treatment.
Answers here:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingswelingANSWERS.htm
With ANY anti-inflammatory drug PEPCID AC (famotidine) needs to be on board to protect against the extra acids.
STOMACH PROTECTION
Ask if your dog has any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn’t need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a “no health issues” answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
Mar Vista Vet reports: Pepcid AC has a very limited potential for side effects, the reason of release to over-the-counter status. The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease as these diseases tend to prolong drug activities. There have been some reports of exacerbating heart rhythm problems in patients who already have heart rhythm problems so it may be prudent to choose another means of stomach acid control in heart patients.
marvistavet.com/famotidine.pmlThe usual dose during a disc episode is Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours.
Give the anti-inflammatory with a meal as added protection.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html 
Be as specific as you can.
weight
mg for each dose and frequency give for all meds prescribed.
Does he leak on you when lifted...a sign that bladder control has been lost and the need to get a
hands-on-top-of-your-hands type of lesson. First read and view the video at this page to get more out of the lesson: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Let us know.
What about pain in addition to being restless and not able to find a comfortable position?
SIGNS OF PAIN
◻︎ shivering-trembling ◻︎ yelping when picked up or moved
◻︎ slow to move ◻︎ tight tense tummy
◻︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◻︎ head held high or nose to the ground.
◻︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
◻︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
◻︎ not their normal perky interested in life selves
+ pain from neck disc:
◻︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◻︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◻︎ holds front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
Advocate for any of the pain meds be given 3x/day (every 8 hours) for round the clock coverage.
— Methocarbamol works on the pain of muscle spasms.
— Tramadol is the general pain reliever.
— Gabapentin works on nerve pain.
There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. Look for your dog to be acting their normal, perky self when pain is fully under control round the clock.
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