none

 It all depends on how 'big' the herniation is -- but I would be thinking "vet school" because often they are more cutting edge, and often have superior doctors.

Don't jump to the end and think "paralyzed" -- just plain take it a step at a time and go slowly.  Your "worry" will translate to HIM and scare him.  

If you want to email me I'll send you my article on arthritis/pain management -- there are a lot of things you can do -- including massage of the area with some anti-inflammatory oil that can relieve a LOT of pain without upsetting the stomach.

The problem is that the anti-inflammatories (both steroidal -- which they would often use for something like that -- AND non-steroidal ... ALL of them are really hard on the stomach and liver and kidneys.  

Honestly?  Even right now, I would be giving him some milk thistle to help protect the internal organs from the meds that he MUST have to help him.

You may want to think about ramps -- even "steps" to such a little one is a HIGH leap -- a step may be higher than his nose -- so look out from YOUR nose -- would you jump off something that high??  Now really that would translate to something about waist high but still -- that's quite a jump for us and they do it all the time.  

So thinking about ramps NOW may be a good thing -- Even just a piece of plywood you cover with carpet remnant -- but leave an extra foot or so beyond the end of the board -- you can put that extra carpet under the cushion of the sofa to 'hold' it in place and now he has a RAMP to get up to the sofa.  It can take some training to get them to use them but it's pretty important to keep what's healing from getting injured again.

Don't let yourself get all wound up -- if he's hurt, he's hurt.  Getting all upset about it isn't gong to make it go away any faster.  You need to be clear-headed and logical to do what is *best* for him and to keep him from getting all upset.

Many dogs have that sort of surgery, get better and it's no big huge thing.  Yes, it's scarey, but don't "borrow" trouble.  It's very very likely NOT going to happen unless you get SO wound up you are too afraid to *let* him have surgery and then he WILL hurt.  Does that make any sense?  Keep logical and calm for *his* sake.

Thank you Callie for talking some sense into me and calming me down. I'm probably going to re-read your post every time I find myself getting wound up. Please do e-mail me with the pain management info! I think I have milk thistle, so I'll start giving that right away. And tomorrow night I'm going to try to go to Lowes to get materials for the ramp you mentioned. Thank you for the idea to make one! 

 I should have mentioned the reason I'm scared about the surgery is the cost. There are a lot of obstacles there...

Luvntzus

I should have mentioned the reason I'm scared about the surgery is the cost. There are a lot of obstacles there...

I think most of us can relate to that worry.

I'm sorry Gingerbread still isn't feeling well and I also hope you find out that it's an injury that isn't too serious and will just take some time to heal. Let us know what you find out.

I hope your Gingerbread is OK!  Please keep us updated!

Luvntzus

I should have mentioned the reason I'm scared about the surgery is the cost. There are a lot of obstacles there...

• ideas: http://www.kvia.com/Global/story.asp?S=859109
• http://www.aahahelpingpets.org - grants
• http://www.imom.org
• http://thepetfund.com
• http://www.angels4animals.org
• http://www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=28
• http://www.carecredit.com - special credit card
• http://www.browndogfoundation.org (available by email in TN, IL, IA)
• http://www.fveap.org/sys-tmpl/door (feline)

Jewlieee

I would do a google search on this issue with long back breeds like corgis and daschounds (sp). They tend to have back problems and those owners can give you lots of info.

Here are some sites on Canine Intervertebral Disk Disease:

• http://www.dodgerslist.com/  (Note the "Message Board" [top right] and the "Success Stories" [on the left].)
• http://bajaokla.com/dachback/
• http://www.dachshund-dca.org/discbook.html
• http://www.vet.purdue.edu/cpr/IVDD.html

A lot of this info is aimed at Dachshunds, but that is because they have more back problems than any other breed.  Most of the info applies to any dog with IVDD.

I don't know if you ever use a collar for walking Gingerbread, but if so, I suggest that you permanently switch to a harness.

If Gingerbread does need surgery (knock on wood), try to get a board certified surgeon. 

Please don't get so involved on the Dodger's List message board that you forget to give us updates on Gingerbread!!

Thank you Janet for the links! I have a really good update on Gingerbread. When I woke up today he was fine. He shivered for 16 hours yesterday and today he seems like nothing ever happened. I'm still not letting him jump on furniture or letting Peanut play with him. The furniture changes are permanent. I do use a harness to walk him, so I've been doing that right. He also doesn't pull on the leash, so there's no stress there.

So for now I'm going to keep giving him the anti-inflammtory medicine and the pain medicine when/if the symptoms come back. I really can't tell you how surprised I am that today he's been perfectly fine.

Luvntzus

So for now I'm going to keep giving him the anti-inflammtory medicine and the pain medicine when/if the symptoms come back. I really can't tell you how surprised I am that today he's been perfectly fine.

JUST because of what I"m going thru right now with Tinkerbell -- did the vet do any bloodwork?  Did the vet identify a particular spot he was SURE was hurt?

When I took Tink in on Tuesday we knew her back "hurt" -- and we suspected part of the spine, but he didn't get a specific pain response of "there".  But JUST IN CASE he did a little bloodwork and WOW -- we had **HIGH white blood cells**.  Infection, not injury.

Just for what it's worth -- man, she was giving a whole bunch of "I"m hurting" signals BUT we couldn't find ONE spot - just a whole area that was sore. As it turns out -- she just felt like crap!

The vet found that he was painful on a certain lumbar and the radioligist said that he thinks Gingerbread had a herniated disc in the same place. I just talked to my husband and he thinks that Gingerbread isn't totally better, most likely that he feels a lot better, but isn't completely healed. Gingerbread is a stoic dog, so that's entirely possible.

I would talk to the folks on DodgersList.  Strict cage rest is one of their big recommendations, but I don't know for exactly what symptoms or for how long.

Personally I would have Gingerbread on strict (out for potty only) cage rest for at least one week - especially since she is a stoic little dog.

Glad to hear that Gingerbread is doing better.  I fully agree with Janet - strict rest, with the only exception being brief sedate bathroom breaks.  My cocker (now at the Bridge) also had back problems, probably from a bulging disk suffered when jumping on or off the sofa.  After 2 weeks of Pred and cage rest as prescribed by the vet, he made a full recovery.

Glad to hear Gingerbread is feeling better, but keep a close watch on him.  It will take a lot of time.  April was also a stoic dog and did not show her pain until it was unbearable for her.  They told us that at the hospital wher they operated on her.  Her operation was very expensive, we spent at least 6,000 on her before it was all over, with the trips to Philly, and etc.  I know these operations are very successful for some dogs though.  Give him a big huggers from me, hope he does well without and operation, time is a healer.