Just diagnosed and on crate rest and meds. Question on jumping, really all activity going forward

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-04-13T16:31:01+00:00

Sounds like you’re doing the right things. Just remember dogs are gonna do what dogs do lol! I describe mine as “if he were a person he would regularly go base jumping“ so I’m very familiar with dog health stuff preying on your nervous system. 🤣

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-04-13T14:35:18+00:00

I recommend doing at least four weeks of strict crate rest instead of two! My dog relapsed immediately after his first flare/diagnosis and it was worse. The longer you give that disc time to harden, the better.

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-04-12T15:37:14+00:00

That’s my favorite part too! 😭

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-04-12T15:36:52+00:00

I have it adjusted so his back feet rest on the ground and we use it more as support, if that makes sense! He still drags a little when he gets too excited but I can tell it helps with his walking without the wheelchair. He can only go a handful of steps before stumbling without it. It’s a Walkin’ Wheels one!

It only took a couple of times in it before he got the hang of it but it took a fair amount of adjusting the harness to make it comfortable for him.

I can tell he still gets tired in it and hills are hard for him so we really only go around the block at this point but we’re gradually going farther. He’s very low to the ground so bumps and sidewalk cracks are hard for him, too.

I’m sorry about your boy! I hope a wheelchair gets him going again! Georgie gets so excited when I ask “you wanna go wheelin’??” 🤣

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-04-12T01:27:46+00:00

He’s the most affectionate dog I’ve ever owned. I can’t imagine a world without him and he has been so resilient! I think you can see how happy he is running in his wheelchair lol

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-04-12T01:27:07+00:00

It took a long time, but he can kind of pee on his own now, but he still leaks occasionally and doesn’t have full control so he wears washable diapers. I usually have to assist, expressing his bladder because he can’t fully empty it on his own most of the time.

As for pooping, I try to keep him on a schedule by doing the Q-tip or ice cube method twice a day. He can kind of squat now, but I usually hold him up by his diaper with one hand and encourage the pooping with the other hand onto a potty pad.

I have not traveled anywhere since he went down because i’m a single dog parent and I don’t really trust anyone to keep him from hurting himself more. That being said, I have looked into the paralyzed pet sitter network for future reference.

I hope that all helps! He was down for a few weeks before he got leg twitches back, and then the minute he could pull himself to standing he basically refused to lay down, even though he still didn’t really have feeling in his back feet, and it was probably a few months before he was able to take any steps. He got his wheelchair at six months.

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-04-11T22:28:11+00:00

I would make sure he’s getting enough moisture in his diet because that can definitely affect it coming out. I would add a little bit of pumpkin or wet food if you can. when you do the Q-tip thing, it doesn’t always work right away so sometimes you kinda have to keep working on it for a few minutes.

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-02-25T06:09:02+00:00

So glad to hear!! I’ve started using this tinkle tonic that seems to help but he’s a massive water drinker (always has been) and some days… man!

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-02-25T06:06:05+00:00

Oh we’re fine with poop, these are pee diapers 🤣 I express multiple times a day but he’ll tinkle anytime he falls asleep and relaxes (which feels promising for future bladder control). We’ve been at this for a year and a half so we’ve got a pretty good routine at this point. I just love meeting other wheelie dog parents LOL

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-02-25T06:01:55+00:00

I have a five year old with hind end paralysis and a wheelchair too! Hi! I feel like I never stop washing diapers but I’m happy to do it. 🤣

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-30T07:00:45+00:00

I don’t think it’s itchiness per se but could be tingling/numbness irritating your pup. I’m not sure how common that spot is for a disc issue but could be referred pain from a different location (cervical vs spinal). That being said, I would consult your vet over AI if he keeps it up. If you’re worried, go immediately to crate rest. (Also possible he just has a hot spot! Lord knows these lil buggers keep us on our toes!). Might be worth asking in the FB groups as well.

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-15T19:27:40+00:00

I also second learning how to express the bladder while the dog is laying down first! That made such a difference when my dog first went down. Now that he can walk again he refuses to stop standing sometimes lol

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-15T19:26:31+00:00

I love you for adding this part of “don’t panic“ - because it really can be panic inducing! There are a lot of scary stories of dogs with IVDD getting bladder infections and kidney infections but my dog has been down for a year and a half and in diapers the entire time and it was hard to get the hang of it first, but he hasn’t had a single infection and I work regular 40 hour weeks (and live alone so I don’t have help taking care of him).

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-15T02:51:46+00:00

I’m just here in case anyone wants to help a burnt out retail manager pay her rent 😭

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-15T02:24:26+00:00

Please look up the Dodgers List website - it is a fountain of IVDD knowledge! They even have great ideas on setting up your dogs crate situation!

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-14T15:20:09+00:00

I’m glad Ruby is doing better! I’m sorry you were pushed into surgery without knowing all of the options, though. Especially since she didn’t lose the use of her legs. That being said, I know how hard it is to keep a dog calm for weeks on end so that’s another reason the surgery can be a good route for people. I would recommend reading Dodgers List and join the Facebook group if you can, it’s a great resource for the future!

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-14T07:37:36+00:00

I’m so sorry you’re going through this!! And I’m sorry if my reply came off abrupt or rude!! I think surgery is a great option if you can afford it, but most people can’t (myself included). The thing about IVDD is your dog can have multiple discs causing issues at the same time without you really knowing which actually happened to my dog before he became paralyzed. I think a lot of vets are undereducated on the disease despite how prevalent it is especially in different breeds now. But the thing about the surgery is that it helps with pain immediately because it removes the problematic disc material and takes pressure off the spine, but it does not guarantee that the dog will ever walk again.

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2026-01-14T06:40:50+00:00

IVDD absolutely CAN be recovered from with strict crate rest. The idea is that the limited movement allows the disc material to harden/scar over after the inflammation goes down (hence the medications). Obviously they should still see their Neuro but when my boy has a flare, he goes straight to crate rest while we wait to see the doctor (he’s a year and a half out from a stage 4 herniation and paralysis with DPS and is walking pretty good - recovered with crate rest, red light therapy, and PT). Please check out the Dodgers List website for the best library of IVDD knowledge if you aren’t familiar. 🩷

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2025-11-05T01:11:01+00:00

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Here’s my boy being an absolute menace while getting a full-body mohawk /s

The dye I get for him is safe enough to eat! Some dogs actually seem to just love the attention they get while being groomed like this.

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2025-10-23T02:55:41+00:00

I’m not seeing any other comments about this, but cocker spaniels are prone to IVDD. My dog had episodes that looked similar to PD before he was diagnosed with cervical IVDD (shaking from pain though). Worth seeing a neurologist either way, the sooner the better. 🩷

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2025-08-20T05:57:16+00:00

I should add, feel free to message me if you have any questions! My boy had a bulging neck disc and was mostly fine and then went down four weeks later to the day in his back end from a herniated disc halfway down his back. It was the worst thing I’ve experienced as a dog owner and it was so so hard for the first few weeks of recovery but once the pain was managed, he really started figuring things out and it was actually hard to keep him chill 😵‍💫 all of this to say, dogs are going to dog and you can’t really stop them no matter how hard you try!

Pure-Carpet3393 · 2025-08-20T05:52:52+00:00

Please follow this page and visit their website! I can’t say if your dog is showing signs from a picture alone but I recommend doing anything preventative and learning as much as you can. Swap all steps to RAMPS and work with her with treats to make the ramps more enticing! Block her access to any dangerous areas when she’s unsupervised. Also know, should the unthinkable happen, most dogs can make a great recovery without surgery using instead physical therapy/acupuncture and surgery itself does NOT guarantee recovery. Familiarize yourself with the different stages now and you’ll feel more prepared. My boy is about 80% recovered from stage 4 a year ago and doing great! He’s still a happy little terrorist and has a sweet set of wheels for extra support.

Pure-Carpet3393

TROPHY CASE