Slipped Disc - any experiences please?

[TwyfordM]

The daft greyhound has done it again.

Haven't posted about Barney for a while but some of you might remember him. He's always been very injury prone but this time he's done it good and proper!

Noticed last week he was a little stiff/reluctant to jump, nothing major, but then all of a sudden he had a huge lump on his spine and was yelping when jumping and being particularly careful when getting up/down etc off to the vets today who have ruled out everything minor, so we are assuming (xrays to confirm in the next week) a slipped disc. He's on painkiller/anti inflammatory in the mean time to keep him comfortable and on strict rest. There's no paralysis/loss of feeling, normal bladder/bowel control but is obviously still in a lot of pain with it. Vets have said if it is a disc we are looking at a referral for MRIs and surgery. Cost is a huge concern, he's currently under the PDSA as he's my mums dog and she's obviously on a very low income.

Obviously his welfare will come first, he lives to run, if he can no longer do that and is in severe pain there's only one other option, but its horrible knowing there's possibly a chance of fixing it that's just out of reach from a financial point of view.

Anyone got any miracle stories of a dog mildly effected like Barney that has made a good recovery without surgery?

 

[Snuffles]

Hello TwyfordM, my dog is in the same position as yours. See earlier post! He has had his x rays which have not shown anything. however discs don't show on xrays, so this was mainly to rule out other things I feel. He is on Tramadol and metacam which has stopped the pain.He has no other symptoms.
However going to start weaning him off at the weekend, so MRI distinct possibility as next step. Discs don't always require surgery I believe. Hope you manage to sort something out, would the PDSA not fund the MRI and Surgery ? Best wishes to your doggie

 

[TwyfordM]

Unfortunately pdsa cant fund more than the initial xrays. They don't have their own MRI scanner or the right staff/equipment for surgery like that. Their current advice is PTS,you can physically see his disc bulging in his back right now even though his symptoms aren't that severe, he's not even showing a huge amount of pain, no paralysis/muscle weakness.