Hi Dodgerslist Community,
First time making a thread, though we aren't new to the community. Let's start with gratitude to the people moderating and keeping this online forum alive. We've been referencing this website for over a decade. It truly changed our lives. Our dachshund, Ziggy, was diagnosed with IVDD 13 years ago when she was 4. Up until a few days ago, she lived a long, luxurious, and extremely happy life.
We wanted to tell her story to represent dachshunds / doggies with IVDD who make it after being paralyzed. Not sure if these stories are told on here often-- so to give hope to any who are experiencing a new life with a dog recovering from IVDD-- your dog can absolutely live 13+ years potentially, even without surgery.
Unfortunately, Ziggy isn't immortal and passed away recently. But she truly lived a full, vivacious life. We thought we'd write her story, beginning here with the Dodgerslist questions to plug products that prolonged her life and-- more importantly-- to give a window on an outcome of hope and a realistic grasp on the work it takes. Ziggy changed our lives, so we're here to potentially give back to anyone else who's going through a similar experience.
Once we are done with this introduction post, if relevant/desired, we'll make a detailed post that chronologically outlines the care, joy, and effort Ziggy got from us (and gave back!) so people can know not only what expect now, but later - even 13 years later after paralysis. We learned so much from tips to avoiding UTIs, expression techniques, products, etc etc and can't wait to share them.
QUESTIONS -- (I'll answer how Ziggy was a week ago when she was still alive):
☆ 1 Is there still currently pain?Yes-- reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow, ginger movements
Yes-- shivering, trembling
Sometimes -- yelping when picked up or moved
Yes -- tight tense tummy
Very much yes -- can’t find a comfortable position, appears restless
Very much yes -- Arched back
Yes to nose to the ground -- head held high or nose to the ground
Yes - Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
No, actually-- Not their normal perky selves?
★2
How much does your dog weigh? 7.5 pounds
Age? 16.9 years
A..
Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg’s and times per day given.Crananidin - 1/4 tablet (cranberry supplement for frequent urinary tract infections),
Movaflex - small / 66 mg (a joint supplement for her arthritis),
Elle CBD tincture - 3 drops twice daily (this brand was recommended by our vet-- this is an AMAZING product and helped Ziggy out SO much in her elder care and pain management),
Gabapentin (liquid form) for pain and waking up in the middle of the night -- I think 2 mL -- once a day before bedtime
B..
If on a steroid….what was the start date & dose? No steroid
C.. PEPCID AC: Phrase a simple question that you expect a simple "yes "or "no" to it.
Does my dog have any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? Wasn't in the know about this. Ziggy wasn't on one.
☆ 3 --
Does you dog show red flag signs of stomach damage? List only the ones you observe: None.
☆ 4
What breed? Dachshund
Your dog’s name? Ziggy
Your name? Kellen & Patrick
☆ 5
Was the diagnosis IVDD (aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc)? Yes-- IVDD, with paralyzation in the back legs. The injury happened at age 4 at T12 on her spine.
--
Is the vet a general DVM? or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho? General DVM
☆ 6
What was the date you saw the vet for CONSERVATIVE treatment? or date of SURGERY? 2011 -- went to a specialist surgeon after she showed signs of paralysis. At the time, this surgeon in San Antonio, Texas told me I had two options: 1) to get a $6k surgery with 50/50 odds that she'd walk again, or 2) put her down. Back then, I (Kellen) was an art student bartending to get by, so I couldn't afford the surgery. Around this time, I found Dodgerslist. This was a life-saver. I instantly networked with resources that allowed me to see another option: Let her live a full life.
And a full life she most definitely lived.
Shortly after her injury, I found a holistic vet (Dr. Love-- best vet name ever!!) in Austin, Texas who introduced Ziggy to acupuncture, as well as a recovery hospital who did treatments of laser therapy and underwater treadmill exercises to potentially build muscle tone for her to walk again. She did amazingly but never could hold her entire weight on her back paws. From there, I found a wheelchair made of PVC pipe, stroller wheels, and found objects like suspenders designed by a vet tech and her carpenter husband in Texas. This was Ziggy's set of wheels for a few years and worked beautifully. After this, I splurged to get her a comfortable Eddies Wheels brand, which really helped counterbalance the weight to not be distributed directly on her shoulders but throughout her spine. She rode these wheels for nearly ten years until recently once her mobility started to wane.
☆ 7
Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control?
- OR- do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control? Ziggy needed her bladder and bowels expressed after her spinal injury. We both learned how to do this through this website, Youtube videos, and our vet. Throughout the years, we've had to find care for her when we went out of town. The best dog care beyond our reach was found through vet techs who did pet-sitting on the side. It's not easy to learn how to express dogs' bladders and bowels-- in fact, some folks who took care of her didn't empty her bladder fully, so she'd often get urinary tract infections. At the end of her life, we the experts of expressing her bladder even had a difficult time. It isn't easy, but if you're up for the challenge of learning how to take care of a special needs dog, you'll find a friend that will change your life. We're forever impacted by the caliber of care and resulting joy Ziggy taught us consistently in life.
☆ 8
Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk? Her legs moved a bit and she wagged her tail randomly, but for the most part at the end of her life, Ziggy was pretty immobile. In the middle of her life from age 5-16, Ziggy wheeled around in a wheelchair. When we'd go on hikes or long walks, we typically carried her in a Ruff Rescue brand carrying pack (HIGHLY recommend). She then started to lose grip in her front paws later in life, which we supplemented with booties. Eventually her arthritis took over, and she couldn't hold up her weight on her front paws. Her last year or so was spent very comfortably in an orthopedic bed. Pet Craft Supply Company is the brand we found after trying out a few. We highly recommend this bed. Pretty sure it added on a year or two to her life.
---- QUESTIONS end ------
Please feel free to reply or reach out if you want to chat more. We're here for you in any way we can.
-Kellen & Patrick, with Ziggy forever in our hearts
