Marie's Poki 6/1 conservative Basset Hnd mix

Hello!  I've been lurking around the site today looking for information and decided to post my story.

My Poki was diagnosed last night as having IVDD.

We rescued what was supposed to be a 2-3 year old "Beagle Doxie mix" in March 2013.  Almost a year after he arrived I had a DNA test performed.  It turns out he is mostly Cocker Spaniel (he doesn't look it in the slightest), with Basset Hound, followed by Grey Hound.   He was rescued at 18 lbs which was skinny for him because he was found beat up, starving, and bleeding on the streets.  He's now about 22 lbs but I'd like to get him down to 20 lbs.  He looks a little husky around the back right now.

Though he's very lazy (he prefers to cuddle on the couch) he can become very active when he sees a squirrel or he knows we are going for a car ride.  He jumps too much which I know isn't good.   When he knows it's bedtime he takes off charging across the house and launching onto the bed before I've even left the den.  When he has to go to the bathroom he jumps off the bed before I can have a chance to take him off the bed.  When he sees the cat he gets a bit jealous and again launches off the couch at a rockets pace just to scare the cat out of the room.  He jumps too much and I know it's not good for him.  I definitely know why after last night.

When I got home last night with my BF, Poki wasn't his normal, happy self.  He only wanted to be by my side and he was too quiet.  I thought maybe he had ingested something since he always tears his squeak toys apart in order to find the squeaker.  I went to the couch and called him up but he seemed hesitant.  My BF sat next to me and called him over.  Poki loves his daddy!  When he refused to get on the couch with us we knew something was wrong.  

I picked him up and he immediately yelped.  I put him down and he just laid on the floor next to me.  I got scared.  He didn't want to move at all.  He is a velcro dog so for me to leave the room without him on my tail is not normal.  We put him on a towel, wrapped him up and carried him to the car and placed him on the seat.  He refused to lay down and instead sat up the entire way to the Doggy ER. 

When we arrived they took him to the back to check on him.  He didn't cry this time.  After a few x-rays the Vet showed me the scans.  He said that the x-ray showed disc calcification between L3 and L4, and narrowing between T12 and T13.

He prescribed
22 lbs
Metacam, 1.5 mg/7 CC by mouth once a day for pain (we started last night).
Methocarbamol, 500 mg, which is 1/4 pill by mouth every 8 hours as a muscle relaxant which we started last night.  He advised us to limit activity for the next 2-3 weeks.  That was it!  No other directions except to see the regular vet only if things get worse.  Once I did a google search last night I discovered what IVDD is and how it can get worse. 

Poki, his daddy and I were in a severe car accident on Easter.  Poki was found to have a hematoma on his lungs and ordered to rest but nothing was said about his spine.  I'm not sure if this is related or if this would have happened anyway but possibly the car accident made it worse?  I have no idea.  

The conservative approach is possible but with my work schedule at this time of year I'm scared.  I work full time and summer is my busiest time of the year so I'm working long hours.  Plus, I have physical therapy 3 times a week during my lunch hour due to the car accident.  Poor Poki is normally locked in the house all day.  He never pees inside even though I have puppy pads laid out for him.  He holds it ALL day which scares me.  Now he'll be in a crate all day.  I won't be home to let him out and I don't have family, friends, or neighbors who can let him out while I'm at work.  I'm planning to use my lunch hour to race home, let him out of the crate, and then race back to the office instead of going to my physical therapy appointment because I care more about him.  Los Angeles traffic is a nightmare so I'm not sure how long I can keep this up, though.  I still need a job to pay the bills!

I've asked my mom to come stay while he's on crate rest but she can't come for 1 week.  

Poki seems to be doing okay but I want him to see his vet tomorrow so I was able to make an appointment at 3:30 PM.  I'm going to ask for steroids.  Is there anything else I should ask?  Should I have them x-ray him again?  

Another problem that I have is the one step down to the backyard.  Poki can sometimes take the step down/step up.  When I pick him up he cries or just quietly breathes harder.  Emotionally I can't pick him up but I'll keep doing it to prevent him from navigating the stairs.  *I* cry when I pick him up.  I can't handle him being in pain.  I have to do something to fix it and I can't.  It is making me feel guilty and horrible.  I know I'm very lucky that 24 hours into this mess he's still able to walk, wag his tail, eat, drink, bend sideways to chew on his back paws (his nervous habit), go to the bathroom, etc.  But he's so subdued, quite, inactive (which I know he needs to be) and not himself.  I feel like I need to fix the problem but don't know how.  

How do I pick him up without hurting him?  Is it okay to leave him in the crate for up to 8 hours if I can't make it home from work?  I work only 8 miles from the office but in Los Angeles it takes over 35 minutes each way.    My company will not like the extended lunches every day.  Hopefully for 1 week it will be okay and hopefully my mom can come stay with us.  Poki's daddy works an hour away so he can't help during the day.

I'm planning to get a doggy stroller with a removable seat so that I can easily move him around when going to the vet and when taking him out.


I'm freaking out about the possible costs of all this.  Maybe he'll be fine in a few weeks and I can train him to stop jumping but I always think of the worst case scenario and start planning based on it.  I already paid $500 for his ER visit and meds plus the $500 from the month before after the car accident.  I don't have pet insurance (ironically I was looking at rates on Friday evening).  And, due to the car accident I had to buy another car so I now have car payments.  Money is tight.  $$$ to spend on MRI's, etc., just isn't really possible but I'll find a way to do it if necessary.  He's my dog child!

Any advise is appreciated!  Any hope someone with more experience in this can provide is even more appreciated!

Sorry for the long, rambling message. I'm just thinking aloud and putting it into writing.