Maddie has back problems.

[Maddie's Mom]

Hi! I am new to the forum. Friday night I took my little Maddie to the emergency vet because she appeared in pain. X-rays revealed disc disease, but at this point it is not bad. I have to crate her for 6 weeks! Does anyone have suggestions for things I can do to keep her back healthy? We have stairs in our house and she is a flea - jumping on everything and anything! She loves to play with her 55lb. big sister - she just loves to play in general. I have kept her very thin and am considering buying a ramp. Any other suggestions? Any supplements that help?

[yolanda]

Sorry to hear that Maddie has some back issue. One of the most important things is to listen to your heart. I work with Doxie rescue and work with dogs with back issue. Please visit this web site and join there yahoo discussion group. It is an excellent place and you will find a lot of good advice there. http://www.dodgerslist.com/

Regrettably a lot of general vets do not now a lot about doxie back injuries. The one thing I would advise is to keep Maddie crated/kenneled fora full 6 weeks. Think about spraining you back and how long it takes to heal properly. Medicines mask the pain and a dog thinks they feel better when they are not healed yet.

No jumping and get ramp for her to sue. OF for that matter big throw pillows on the floor will help.

Good luck

[Joyce]

So sorry to hear about your babies back, just make sure you do the crate rest thing, hard but I think it works best. If you find a way to keep them from jumping let me know. My Dexter is a jumper even when he just greets you he jumps so high, I have tried everthing to get him to stop, because I know what it can do to their backs.

[Sausage Mom]

:wavey: :wavey: Welcome to the DBB!! Happy you found us, just sorry it wasn't under better circumstances. Please follow your vets recommendations of STRICT crate rest for the 6 weeks, only out to potty and some carpet loving...absolutely no jumping it's going to be super hard but it will help.

As far as supplements we give 500 mg of glucosamine and 500 mg of chondroitin everyday (it comes in capsules, so I just open the capsule and put it in their yogurt) to each of my dogs. As well Ester C is supposed to be a great supplement I give 500 mg of that everyday as well, but it won't help with the back itself, but is supposed to strengthen the immune system.

Like Yolanda said the dodger list will give you tons of information as it is devoted to dachshunds with back injuries! If you look in our achieves under back injuries, there might be some helpful information in there for you as well.

When Maddie is feeling better we would love some more stories and pictures!!

Good luck and keep us posted how she is doing...we are always here for support! Here are some rayz for Maddie as well :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[minicooper]

Welcome to DBB.

I am so sorry to hear of Maddie's back problems :(

The total crate rest is so important to allow her to heal, even though I know it can be hard.

I give mine, two of which have recovered from paralysis, 1000mg Ester C daily, and, in my opinion, it has helped keep them healthy.

:rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: for Maddie to make a full recovery, and a few more :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: to make Crate Rest a bit easier for her.

Keep us posted on her condition, and remember that we are here for you and Maddie whenever you need us, as is Dodgerslist.

[dutchman]

First off sending rays for a fast recovery and the ability to follow the strict crate rest. You've already received some good advice. One thing to remember as you try to retrain to minimize stairs and other climbing/jumping. Jumping down from an object or descending stairs puts the back under the most strain and has the greatest risk of rupturing a calcified disk.

[Rusty's mom]

Healing :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: for Maddie. We have footstools that ours use to get on the bed/couch/chair. We're also putting in a ramp this spring from the back steps to the back yard. That way they won't have to use the steps. I carry Hobbs up/down the stairs most of the time as he doesn't like doing stairs. I also try to carry the others as much as I can. They're getting pretty good about waiting for a 'ride' so to speak. Please keep us posted about Maddie.

Kathy - mom to Duffer, Hobbs, Holly, Dickens

[lotsadox]

Sending lots of rayz for Maddie's recovery. :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: Having been through this twice, I know how hard it is. You've gotten lots of good advice. I would definitely do crate rest and if you feel she isn't progressing well enough consult with a specialist.

[TessieMom]

Sending lots and lots of back healing rays! :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Please check out the link that Yolanda sent to you. I belong to Dodgerslist even though my puppers of yet do not have a back problem. Hopefully I can prevent it.

[quavec]

Hello Maddie's Mom! So sorry Maddie is having back problems. I havent' exprerienced this, but as you can see, you will find lots of support and advice here! Healing rayz to Maddie! :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[Spunky's Mom]

I would also like to welcome you here :wavey: . I too am new to the forum and joined under similar circumstances. I have found alot of support and advice as you have and will continue to as well. I'm sending Maddie lots of :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: and a few to you as well :rayz:. I know you need it!

[Maddie's Mom]

Thanks to all for the great advise! Maddie is doing well. Our biggest problem is jumping straight up in the air when I release her from the crate. She also runs straight for her big sister to play wild and rough! It breaks my heart to keep them from playing.

[LUVMYGUNNER]

Maddies Mom---I know what you mean. I just adopted Lady Petunia 2 wks. ago she is 7 mo. old and she flys thru the air. She jumps over baby gates, she jumped out of my arms the other days scarred me to death. When we go somewhere she is now crated to slow her down a little. I have a 2yr. old male who has never jumped a baby gate but boy is she a little pistol. We were putting her in the small bathroom when we go to work but since she jumps gates I don't want her to get hurt so she is crated. Check with Dodgerslist there are supplements you can also give her I started Petunia on them a day after a got her Gunner has been on supplements since he is a few months old.