Need Prayers or Warm Thoughts
 

My dog woke up this AM and was struggling to use her back legs. She's only 2 years old... and she was fine yesterday! This has never happened before. I knew something wasn't right, and took her to the vet. My vet observed her for a few hours and then referred me over to the specialists at UF Vet Hospital. They're doing more tests, but it looks like Riley may have a herniated disc in her back and will require surgery.

It looks like this is a genetic defect that was somehow aggravated, but bound to happen at some point in her lifetime. I realize it is correctable, but no one wants to see their pet in pain or in need of surgery. The folks at both animal hospitals were so kind and had an endless supply of tissues on hand for me.

Please keep Riley in your prayers. I will find out later today if she needs to have surgery.

I'm so sorry, adpiucf. It's always hard to see a pet in pain. I hope Riley recovers from this quickly (and you, too).

(((((adpiucf))))))
(((((Riley)))))))

(((((((((((((((((((((((((((((((adpiucf & Riley)))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

I feel awful for both of you!

Awww...that's sad! It's hard knowing sometimes to know how to deal with things with our pets. I'll be keeping Riley in my thoughts.

Oh, this is to sad to even hear about.

It is never easy to seem a member of teh family in this shape. Yes, a member of the family as many feel that way asd I do.

I had a dog and had to force a big pill down him as he had distemper. Shipper was lost and abput killed me.

I am thinking of you and Riely!

Think the best.

Ugh....its tough to see our pets in pain and i'll be keeping you and Riley in my prayers!!

My prayers are with you and Riley. I am glad to hear that the animal hospital staff has been so kind and supportive.

I am so sorry to hear about your poor puppy. My boxer fell off the porch, and for a while lost the use of his back legs. Fortunately, he recovered. I hope your story has a happy ending, too!

I'm so sorry to hear about your puppy! I hope she gets better soon!

Well, it turns out that Riley did have a herniated disc. They did surgery late yesterday afternoon and called me this morning with an update. She is showing improvement (which is above average because most dogs actually worsen before they get better!) and she even ate her breakfast this morning.

Yesterday was a blur... Thank you all so much for the kind words. Please keep her in your thoughts. I will probably be able to bring her home on Monday.

((((((((((((((((adpiucf & Riley))))))))))))))))))

I hope your baby gets fully recovered soon!

Knowing is so hard to be able to communicate to a loved pet that we know they hurt, and we are trying to help them get better...You have my thoughts and good wishes.

Hopefully Riley will recover and be even better than before :)

Big hugs and warm thoughts to you and your puppy!

Another update from the vet: Puppy comes home tomorrow! :)

YEAH!!! Then she can get some lovin' and nursing from you, which will likely speed her recovery. I know when my dogs aren't feeling well, it often takes just a little of my time and love to make things better--I hope it works for Riley too.

I'm so very glad. I know only too well how stressful it is when your beloved pet is at the vet. We dealt with a similar situation with our cat (who had a form of adenocarcinoma this year) and worried every time she wasn't at home. Hugs to both of you.

I am glad Riley is doing well. Best wishes for a full recovery.

Maybe a chiropractor would have done just as well? Don't they have animal chiropractors by now?

Just read this, and hope that riley is doing much better....how's mama doing now?

Also, you may want to look into an animal acupuncture doctor. My grandmother used them with her schnauzers, and it does work.

Take care of that doggie!

We do have holistic vets up here that do acupuncture-- I will ask.

The vet called this AM. Miss Riley is walking with a lot more improvement over yesterday and can come home at 3 PM. I am so happy -- can't wait to see her!

James, I don't think a chiropractor would have applied here... don't know that they have those for dogs, but the problem was diagnosing what was wrong with Riley. She wasn't acting like she was in pain, so we had to determine what was causing the pain-- the neuro specialist ran these tests b/c she had paralysis-- so something with her brain wasn't communicating with her legs-- and so they looked at the spine and then found the hernia.

So relieved she is doing better... I knew I should have gotten her groomed last week. I have a feeling it will be a while before I can take her in for grooming now and she is going to start looking like a woolly mini-mammoth pretty soon. The fur grows up around her snout so she can't see and I'm sure not taking a pair of shears to her face!

Glad to hear that Riley's up & about! Will continue to pray for her!

Thinking about you and Riley, since you're likely on your way to get her & bring her home. I'm sure she'll have plenty of kisses for you... even if she is a woolly mini-mammoth.

((((((((Riley & adpiucf))))))))))

Riley's home! She's walking... a little unsteady, but it's a start. The vets have been so great to us.

15 staples in her back... they will be removed in 10 days and she's in confinement for about 6 weeks to keep her quiet until she's healed a bit more.

Some photos

:) I hope she gets better soon!

What was the bill on this little procedure? Do you have Pet HMO?

Bless her little heart, and yours too. 6 weeks in confinement...do you have her crated?

I would definitely check into the acupuncture stuff!

Best wishes to your baby!!!

Best wishes to your baby, too!!!

What is her breed? A cocker-spaniel mix? I will do a little scientific literature search and drop a few articles if you would like? One can never have TMI when it comes to these kinds of situations.

About 3K... give or take a few hundred bucks. I do have pet insurance, which will cover a good part of the cost.

I wholeheartedly recommend pet insurance to any pet owner. It won't cover pre-existing conditions or conditions that are pretty common like hip dysplasia, but you can get coverage for surgery, testing, routine medical care, dental, flea and tick/heartworm meds. It's a few hundred bucks a year and well worth it!

She has a big crate in my room, and a more normal Riley-sized crate in the living room so she can be wherever the people are. :) I take her out for potty walks, meals and treats, just like you would when crate training a new puppy (minus play time... we can't do that for 6 weeks!)


She's a pure-bred American Cocker Spaniel... the strangest thing about this whole drama is that cockers are not prone to back problems. If you find any info, let me know... but the neuro specialist told me this was not something that was usual for cockers... I expected hip problems and cherry eye in about 10 years!!!!

Poor little Riley-- she is a trooper. She is walking much better today and she's chowing down her food... I can see she is doing better!

Thank you all so much for the care and concern! I will keep you posted on her progress.

Glad to hear she's doing better and that's she's chowing down her food. It's always a good sign when your dog goes back to eating!

Glad everything is ok!