Dog spinal fracture: Is recovery possible or euthanasia best?

It’s a little difficult to see the fracture in your picture of the x-ray, but it doesn’t look like the spinal canal is severely affected so if Luna doesn’t have neurologic deficits then cage rest alone may be fine. I would definitely recommend at least consulting with a surgeon however - they would be able to give a better idea about the chances of recovery with surgery vs rest.

Thank you for using PetCoach. I am so sorry for you and your pup and the decisions you are having to make. One of the best people to help you with this decision is his veterinarian as they have seen and evaluated him. Some dogs with back/disc problems are extremely painful. In this case, euthanasia is absolutely the best decision if surgery isn't an option. In some cases, dogs can live several years while paralyzed, but it does require extreme dedication on the part of their owners. These dogs need to have their bladders expressed regularly and may also have some bladder or fecal incontinence, meaning stool or urine may be released anywhere, and the dog is incapable of controlling it. Some dogs may need enemas periodically. Often these dogs will develop sores on their legs, and need socks or leggings to help protect their legs. They do make "wheelchairs" but these cannot be left on them more than an hour or two at a time. They can develop urinary track infections that will need medications fairly often due to urine not being completely emptied from the bladder. I'm not trying to scare you, but I want you to understand the care he may need. If you are unable to provide that level of care, euthanasia is a very kind choice in that situation. But if he isn't painful and you are up to the challenge, then speak with his veterinarian about his best care and what you need to do to help him. He may still be able to live a happy life for months to years. Here is more info on care http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1522 And a website that make wheel chairs http://www.veterinarypartner.com/Content.plx?P=A&S=0&C=0&A=1522 that has more links to support groups etc. I think as long as you can ensure he can have a good quality of life, then it is fair to keep going. If work, family, finances or other concerns will not allow him to receive the care he may require, then euthanasia is a very fair and kind option. I hope this may help and I am very sorry for this decision you are making.

Hi and thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach. Poor kitty. Without doing an exam there is no way to completely determine if surgery is an option. That said, even if surgery is an option, that is not surgery that most general practitioner or shelter veterinarians would be able to do or have the appropriate equipment for. If surgery was an option, typically MRI is first needed to assess the spinal cord, then surgery would be performed by a board certified surgeon. The cat would then need extensive physical therapy and even if everything goes perfectly, there is no guarantee of return to function. In most cases this scenario would cost many thousands of dollars. Many owners and shelters cannot afford that level of care, so alternatives such as cage rest and pain management may be tried or euthanasia may be needed in some cases. I'm sure it is not a case of the shelter vet being unwilling to help this cat, but that the resources are not available. In the case of limb fractures, often amputation is a quicker and more cost effective option to save an animals life than orthopedic repair. Many fractures require pins or plates and screws which needs an orthopedic surgeon and would cost thousands to repair and has a much longer recovery time (requiring foster homes willing to do physical therapy). Even with owned pets, many owners cannot afford a $5000 fracture repair or do the follow up care, but amputation can save their life. The majority of dogs and cats do well with 3 legs. Thank you for your interest in helping these pets. It sounds like the shelter vet is doing a good job for these animals.

I am so sorry that this has happened to Tommy. Unfortunately I cannot not say for sure if there is any chance of recovery from just X-rays. An MRI or CT really needs to be done to get the best view of the spinal cord and his intervertebral disks. Also, you may want to see if there is a veterinary surgeon who is comfortable with back surgery as this could be an option for Tommy. If not, the only other suggestion would be high doses of steroids. None of these options are guaranteed to work but they might. I hope this helps and hope that Tommy is capable of healing. Hang in there and good luck.

I'm so sorry to hear Hannu is having back issues. With dachshunds, a bulging disc in the spinal cord is a very likely possibility, and the best treatment option to give the best chance for a return to normal function is surgery to remove the protruding disc material. There is also the chance that there could be an inflammatory process or trauma going on. Ideally, he would be evaluated by a veterinary neurologist to determine the underlying cause and what treatment options are available to him. You can discuss with your regular veterinarian medical management such as cage rest and steroids/antiinflammatories, but time is critical in these cases and I would have a plan decided for him as soon as possible. Good luck!

You need to rest Luther as must as possible. It can take six to eight weeks for him to fully heal. Do not let him roam around at all. The spinal cord recovers slowly and extra care must be taken not to allow running, jumping, stairs, playing with other dogs, or hopping on or off furniture. Keep him confined in a small room or crate, taking him out to potty, and putting him right back in when he's done. Physical therapy can be started right after surgery to help regain strength. Speak to his vet about physical therapy. Best of luck.

Hi there and thanks for posting on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Oh dear, I am sorry to hear about the slipped disc. Once a patient becomes non ambulatory (unable to move legs), surgery is recommended. However, the success of the surgery and overall prognosis depends on how quickly surgery is performed. Usually, most pets that are taken to surgery within the first 24 hours after becoming non ambulatory will regain the ability to walk and urinate normally again. Pets taken to surgery after that 24 hour period do not have quite the same outcome, unfortunately. If Luna is not able to walk and has lost all sensation to her legs, there is about a 10% chance of regaining normal bladder and motor function. Sometimes pain medications and additional therapies such as cold laser therapy, acupuncture, water therapy, etc can be tried but with varying success rates. I hope this helps and I wish you and Luna the best!