Jeanne, sorry to hear your Frenchie, Oskar, is displaying neuro problems with his back legs. First thing for this Forum which is dedicated solely to Disc Disease— is of course the thought it may be disc disease. So immediately the dog would be crated until you have proof this is not a disc episode but a diagnosis for another disease that may have a different treatment.
Crating prevents a bad disc from worsening and then seriously damaging the nerves in legs, bladder, etc.
Where are the lesions on the disc itself or lesions (malformations) on the boney vertebrae on each side of the discs?
Did your vet xray Oskar? Did he use the term Hemivertebrae, a disease of the boney vertebrae?
Would you fill us in on the medications you give:
gabapentin
?mgs ?x/day tramadol
?mgs ?x/day
If pain is not being fully controlled, call your vet and advocate these two pain meds be Rx'd for every 8 hrs. Both of these pain meds do not stay long in the body and the reason for every 8 yrs.
—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.
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
◻︎ 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
◻︎ not their normal perky selves
CRATE REST if this would be bad disc (disc diease, intervertebral disc disease, IVDD)
--100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out for a very, very few footsteps at potty time.
-- no meandering at potty time
-- no walking, just a few footsteps.
- no couches/laps
