[SOLVED ] Q. I have a 5 year old daucsand whos come down with an illness which I believe Is IVDD. The treatmentl costs more than I can afford,I'm disable...

d. HELP!!!

Experienced and professional animal trainer provide their insights in answering this question :

A. While Dachshunds are prone to IVDD, it is not a good idea to assume a diagnosis. It would be a good idea to have the dog examined by a vet, as he might have a condition that is much more easily and affordably remedied. I don’t know what has led you to believe that the dog has IVDD, so I can’t guess at other possible problems without a description of signs you are seeing. Most vets will work out a payment plan with you, or you might try CareCredit.com.

How to Identify Common Pet Problems ?

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If you cannot afford an MRI or surgery, try to afford stem cells for your pet. Neural stem cells can be the best thing for their spinal cord to get through the episode of IVDD without permanent damage.

Many dogs make a full recovery, particularly if given suitable rehabilitation to rebuild their strength. Some dogs make a partial recovery and may be left without full mobility, but can usually continue to lead an active life. Your dog may also develop involuntary motor function, called Spinal Walking.

After an operation, only about 50-60% of grade 5 dogs recover. Learning to walk can take 9 months or more after an operation, though most `successful` grade 5 dogs walk within 6-12 weeks of surgery. For grade 5 dogs that don`t have surgery, the chance of recovery is probably very poor.

Recovery from IVDD surgery requires 6 – 8 weeks of restricted activity combined with appropriate medications to help with pain management and swelling. Your vet may also recommend physical rehabilitation (physical therapy for dogs) to help your pet recover.

IVDD in dogs and cats is covered with Fetch Pet Insurance pays back up to 90% of unexpected vet bills, so you can get the best diagnostics and treatment for your pet. Let`s learn more about this condition and how we can help.

IVDD Surgery Cost

IVDD surgery costs range from around $3000-$8000, including the necessary appointments and testing required prior to surgery. Owners will need to continue physical therapy and exercise restrictions for a specified amount of time after the pet is discharged from the hospital.

On average, the cost of Dachshund back surgery can range from $4,500 to $10,000.

Stage 5 IVDD is the most severe stage of the condition. Dogs with stage 5 IVDD are paralyzed and have no deep pain sensation in their feet. If a dog can not feel their toes, it will not walk or bear weight on its back legs. Therefore, a conservative approach is not the best option for dogs at this severe stage.

Although an IVDD dog may have limited mobility, they still need to be able to stand and walk to maintain their strength. It`s ok for a dog with a back injury to go for a gentle walk. Your walks should be short, no longer than 5 minutes, and never strenuous.

IVDD can be very painful for dogs and early treatment is essential for preventing the condition from becoming more severe or causing irreversible damage to your dog`s spine.

If your dog is affected by a severe case of IVDD, is in excruciating pain, whose quality of life is terrible and veterinarians have found no appropriate, effective treatments available, then euthanasia can be considered.

While surgery is an option, some pet parents want to avoid putting their pup under the knife. This makes many pet owners ask “Can my dog live happily with IVDD?” Luckily, the answer is YES!

If detected early IVDD can be treated without surgery especially when IVDD has not compromised your dog`s ability to walk, but if it has progressed and affected your dog`s ability to walk or control its bowel and bladder, surgery is the only available treatment for IVDD.

Can a dog recover from IVDD without surgery? If your dog has been diagnosed with IVDD but is still able to walk, non-surgical treatments may be able to help him recover. However, if the IVDD is severe and your dog has lost the ability to walk, urgent emergency treatment is required.

The UK Screening scheme is managed by the Kennel Club and costs £320 per dog if done at an approved centre. Scoring of the X-rays is being subsidised by the Kennel Club (£100) during 2021. Dachshund Health UK (registered charity) will also offer a subsidy (currently £100).

By 3 to 6 weeks after surgery most pets will be able to walk again. Sometimes no improvement in the neurological status is seen in the first month, then a rapid improvement occurs. Healing of the spinal cord will continue for a period of 6 months after surgery (at most 9 months).

Doxies come in two sizes: standard or miniature, and three coat varieties: smooth, wirehaired, and longhaired. Dachshunds are protective and territorial, but they thrive on close human companionship. The Dachshund is a generally healthy breed with an average lifespan of 12-15 years.

Essentials of the IVDD scheme. How old does my dog have to be and how often should they be screened? To be assessed under the scheme, your dog must be between 24 to 48 months of age at the time of the X-ray. Your dog will only need to be screened once and the result will be valid for their entire lifetime.

“Almost all… Dachshunds have the [genetic] mutation irrespective of the number of calcifications…. However, most dogs with few calcifications have the mutation too.”

It is caused by chronic bulging of the outer part of the disc on the spinal cord. The condition is typically slowly progressive and may or may not be painful. The chronic spinal cord compression associated with this type of disc disease often causes atrophy of the spinal cord.

Unfortunately, there is no way to completely prevent intervertebral disc disease in dogs. However, you can do things to help minimize stress on the spine, especially if you have a high-risk breed. Maintaining a good healthy weight puts less stress on the back, body and joints.

Anti-oxidant therapy (Vitamins E & C, selenium and carrots) will help stabilize blood vessels and reduce oxidative damage within the IVD from degeneration. Other anti-oxidants like ginkgo and grape seed extracts may also be useful and will improve microcirculation in the IVD and spinal cord.

Paralysis from IVDD can be permanent, depending on the rupture`s severity and treatment. Degenerative Myelopathy is a progressive mobility condition. In its earliest stage, dogs will show signs of losing strength in their back legs and dragging their paws.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

Q. I have a 5 year old daucsand whos come down with an illness which I believe Is IVDD. The treatmentl costs more than I can afford,I’m disabled. HELP!!!

ANSWER : A. While Dachshunds are prone to IVDD, it is not a good idea to assume a diagnosis. It would be a good idea to have the dog examined by a vet, as he might have a condition that is much more easily and affordably remedied. I don’t know what has led you to believe that the dog has IVDD, so I can’t guess at other possible problems without a description of signs you are seeing. Most vets will work out a payment plan with you, or you might try CareCredit.com.

Read Full Q/A … : Love, Guilt & Putting Dogs Down – Patricia McConnell, Ph.D.

Q. We have a 4 yr old lab-pit mix we raise from 6 weeks.If my husband tries to take hin by the collar and make him go out to pottie he growls.Problem?

ANSWER : A. This is not good behavior. Rather than take him by the collar, call him to come with you. If he’s not good about coming when called, you can work on that. Keeps treats on hand to to entice him out and reward him when he does go potty and he’ll come to look forward to it. Clicker training is another great way to teach a dog all kinds of things, from obedience to tricks.

Have treats on hand that you know he loves, then simply click and treat. He will come to associate the sound with getting a treat. Start putting distance between you so he has to come to you. Call and click and when he comes to you for that treat, treat him and give him lots of praise. Move to hiding somewhere in the house, call and click. When he comes to you reliably inside when you call, click and treat. When this behavior is consistent, move outdoors with a very long leash. Call and click, if he doesn’t respond, give a light tug on the leash. If he takes even a single step toward you, click, treat and lots of praise. Keep doing this until he comes eagerly. Next, try him off-leash in a securely fenced area. Call and click. At this point he should be responding well and coming easily to the call and click. If he does not, go back to the last step he performed reliably and work on that again until he responds well. Eventually, you can start not treating him every time, but still praise him. Gradually lessen the frequency of the treats until he comes just to the click and praise.

Keep training sessions short, ten or fifteen minutes to start, no more than 30 minutes at a time and do it a few times a day. Try not to do it any time he is overly excited so that he can pay attention to you. Always end a training session on a good note, even if it is just getting him to do something he already does well on command. And never, NEVER punish a dog when they come to you, no matter how far they’ve made you chase them, no matter how frustrated and angry you might be. That teaches your dog that coming to you is a bad thing.

Read Full Q/A … : Causes of Limping in Dogs

Q. Can you put your sick 16yr cat down with pills, cannot afford a veterinarian.

ANSWER : A. If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses.

Call a local animal shelter or college of veterinary medicine in your area and ask if they have a low- or no-cost veterinary care program.

GiveForward and Youcaring.com are crowd funding websites that help you raise money to help take care of your pets

Harleyâ€™s Hope Foundation is an organization that ensures low income pet parents and their companion or service animals remain together when issues arise.

Many breed rescues and groups have specials funds available for owners who need financial assistance, such as the Special Needs Dobermans, Labrador Lifeline, and Pitbull Rescue Central.

Banfield Pet Hospital has its own programs for owners that canâ€™t afford their petâ€™s care.

Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance (FVEAP) works with seniors, people with disabilities, people who

have lost their job, good Samaritans who rescue a cat or kitten who may need financial assistance to save a beloved companion.

The Feline Veterinary Emergency Assistance Program is a nonprofit 501 (c)(3) organization that provides financial assistance to cat and kitten guardians who are unable to afford veterinary services to save their companions when life-threatening illness or injury strikes.

God’s Creatures Ministry helps pay for veterinarian bills for those who need help.

IMOM is dedicated to insure that no companion animal has to be euthanized simply because their caretaker

is financially challenged.

The Onyx & Breezy Foundation has many programs including helping people with medical bills. They are a good resource for information.

Brown Dog Foundation provides funding to families with a sick pet that would likely respond to treatment, but due to circumstances, there is not enough money immediately available to pay.

Some groups help with specific disease, such as Canine Cancer Awareness, The Magic Bullet Fund, Helping Harley Fund, and Muffin Diabetes Fund.

The Pet Fund and Redrover.org are great sources for help to care for your pet.

The Humane Society website has many links to other organizations that help with veterinary expenses.

Read Full Q/A … : 16 yr old cat that is very sick you cannot afford to put her …

Q. My puppy will be 8 weeks old tomorrow. I’ve had her for a week now, and she still isn’t responding to any training or her name. What can I do?

ANSWER : A. Try clicker training her to come when called. Clicker training is an effective way of training you dog to not only come when called, but can be used to teach a variety of tricks and tasks.

Have treats on hand that you know she loves, then simply click and treat. She will come to associate the sound with getting a treat. Start putting distance between you so she has to come to you. Call and click and when she comes to you for that treat, treat him and give her lots of praise. Move to hiding somewhere in the house, call and click. When she comes to you reliably inside when you call, click and treat. When this behavior is consistent, move outdoors with a very long leash. Call and click, if she doesn’t respond, give a light tug on the leash. If she takes even a single step toward you, click, treat and lots of praise. Keep doing this until she comes eagerly. Next, try her off-leash in a securely fenced area. Call and click. At this point she should be responding well and coming easily to the call and click. If she does not, go back to the last step she performed reliably and work on that again until she responds well. Eventually, you can start not treating her every time, but still praise her. Gradually lessen the frequency of the treats until she comes just to the click and praise.

Keep training sessions short, ten or fifteen minutes to start, no more than 30 minutes at a time and do it a few times a day. Try not to do it any time she is overly excited so that she can pay attention to you. Always end a training session on a good note, even if it is just getting him to do something she already does well on command. And never, NEVER punish a dog when they come to you, no matter how far they’ve made you chase them, no matter how frustrated and angry you might be. That teaches your dog that coming to you is a bad thing.

Read Full Q/A … : How To Teach Your Puppy His Name – Puppy In Training

Q. How do I know if I am losing my cat. She is 8 and weighs about 20lbs. She is having issues breathing and I don’t have any money to take her to the vet

ANSWER : A. Your cat really should be seen by a vet. Her weight may be the only thing causing her breathing problems, but without an exam, there’s no way to know for sure.

If you are in financial difficulty, there are ways of still getting your pet treated by a veterinarian. Ask if they take Care Credit and apply online. This is a credit card specifically for medical, dental, and veterinary expenses.