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Seeing your dog struggle through IVDD is one of the most terrifying and heart-wrenching things a pet parent can go through. All I could do was watch in horror as my baby went from running around with happy zoomies to hardly being able to move. Luckily, we were able to treat his IVDD from home without surgery. And within 2 months, he was able to make a full recovery!
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Disclaimer: I am not a veterinarian, doctor, or any other medical specialist. This is not medical advice. I cannot guarantee that these methods will heal your dog’s IVDD. This is just our IVDD experience and what worked best for us.
Our IVDD Story (Short Version)
I have been a dog mom to my beagle-chihuahua mix, Little Dude, for 13 years (that’s more than half of my life!). He has always been an active little guy, but suddenly I noticed him showing some weird behavior. I could tell something was wrong (when you know, you know) and immediately called every vet in the city to book him the soonest appointment possible.
By the time I took him to the vet the next day, he had completely lost movement in his back legs. The doctor took him in to run some X-rays and came back with an IVDD diagnosis. He said it was possible that my dog may regain his mobility within 6 weeks, but not likely.
I was devastated when they told me he may never walk again and that our best options were either to put him down or get him a $15,000 risky surgery that is not guaranteed to work. Excuse me? I don’t know about yall, but I don’t have $15,000 available on the spot.
As he was explaining to me the different ways we could put him down, he handed me a paper with cremation options. I was in complete shock. In a matter of a few days, my life had completely changed.
I felt totally helpless. I went home and just cried on the shower floor for about 2 hours until I finally got myself together. I know the doctor was just doing his job but I was determined to prove him wrong. We were going to find a way to make this work! I wasn’t giving up on my best buddy that easily.
Signs and Symptoms of IVDD
These are some of the abnormal behaviors I noticed in my dog when he first got IVDD. These early signs are what prompted me to take him to the veterinarian where we got our diagnosis.
- Back legs crossing over one another (as shown in the video above)
- Hunch back
- Feet flipping over
- Sliding feet/ losing grip
- Unusually slow or painful movement when walking
- Potty accidents due to loss of bowel and urine control
- Male genitals (pink part) sticking out more frequently/ unable to retract it
- Constant grooming of the genital region
IVDD Prevention
It is believed that my dog got IVDD from jumping off a 3-ft hill in our backyard. Here are some ways I was told to prevent IVDD in my dog.
- Limit jumping, especially jumping on and off of things
- Choosing healthy pet food that is appropriate for your dog’s age and conditions
- Make supplements that support bone and spine health part of their regular diet
- Use a harness instead of a collar to limit pulling on your dog’s neck and spine
- If your house has hard floors, put down non-slip mats where your dog runs around or plays to avoid feet slipping and hard falls
What We Used During Recovery
Wheelchair
After a week or two of bed rest, we started putting our dog in this chair so that he could work out his front legs, and eventually let his back legs down to ease him into using them again once he started regaining mobility. My dog usually spends the day outdoors, so he was visibly sad while sitting inside all day long. He looked so much happier being able to explore the yard and walk around on his own!
Dog Lift Harness
The harness goes around his back legs and velcro wraps around his back. Then use the straps to pull him up and walk around. Having these straps were good for quick bathroom breaks when there wasn’t time to watch him play in the wheelchair.
Tip: A great alternative to these is to cut out 2 long pieces of fabric from an old t-shirt, tie each one into the shape of a circle, and put one around each leg to use as slings (scroll down to IVDD Full Recovery to see an example). That’s what we used while waiting for the harness to arrive. 😉
Anti-Slip Doggy Socks
When my dog first started regaining mobility in his back legs, his feet would still sometimes flip over or drag here and there. These socks were good at protecting his feet and avoiding cuts and bruises from the harsh terrain outside. They were also good for walking on hard floors in the house to ensure he kept his grip and his legs didn’t slip around causing further injury.
Ouch! Little Dude got cuts on his paws from dragging around. Time for some non-slip socks!
Potty Pads
We didn’t have a crate to put him in, so we kept him in a section of my room where he wasn’t free to roam and worsen his condition. We had a lot of potty oopsies during that time, and these were great at making clean-up easy and ensuring that nothing leaked onto the floor.
Another greener alternative to these is reusable potty pads.
Diet & Supplements
As mentioned before, choosing a healthy diet and supplements for your dog is an important step in preventing IVDD. However, it is also a great way to help your dog’s IVDD recovery. Making sure they are healthy, strong, and getting the nutrients they need is an important part of healing.
Glucosamine
Not only is this good for a dog recovering from IVDD but it’s also a great preventative measure. Giving your dog glucosamine is good for senior dogs whose bones are becoming more brittle. We already had some at the house and my vet said it was ok to give my dog the human version.
Again, I am not a vet and have no medical background. Consult your vet before treatment! 🙂
Purina One Plus Vibrant Maturity
This is the food I use for my senior baby. It is light on his stomach, high in protein, and appropriate for his age and needs.
Purina ProPlan FortiFlora
Just like in humans, dogs need probiotics too! This probiotic supplement is great at helping his sensitive tummy digest food, supports a healthy weight, and prevents anal gland ruptures, another common (and painful) condition for his breed. I mix this into my baby’s food to keep my dog’s bathroom habits regular, and it (apparently) tastes yummy.
IVDD Full Recovery!
Here are a few more videos from my baby’s IVDD recovery. I really hope this helps someone, and gives them hope that recovery and/or a happy life as a disabled pup is possible! I know it’s hard but keep going, don’t give up on your baby if you feel there’s any possibility for recovery.
Please don’t hesitate to comment down below if you have any questions! I’d be more than happy to answer them.
A sign of recovery! The first time I saw movement in his legs and a tail wag in months (using the makeshift t-shirt harness mentioned earlier)!
Now! My baby is back to his happy self… being silly and playing!
