A Consult with a Specialist Surgeon: Ortho (ACVS) or Neuro (ACVIM)
- To be more certain about the advice you’ve received from your family veterinarian.
- To rule out a different disease that mimics IVDD.
- To consult about pain medications your general DVM vet may not be comfortable in using to get pain in full control.
- a 4 year general degree in veterinary medicine (DVM).
- a rotating internship (1 year)
- a surgical internship (1 yr)
- residency (3 years)
- passed board certification for the title: DVM, ACVIM or DVM, ACVS
Directories: USA•World— Ortho and Neuro Surgeons
World locator: European Neuro Specialist
Financial - Care Credit
It is best to know all your options, financially and where surgery would be done, ahead of time. Rather than have to scramble for that information in an emergency.
No- or low-interest credit for veterinary costs can be obtained from Care Credit.
Emergency Quick Compare: Conservative - Surgery
Points to consider: conservative treatment or a surgery
If your local vet is uncomfortable in using pain meds aggressively, a specialist consult can get the meds corrected, allowing your dog to heal the disc in comfort during conservative treatment.
A specialist would make you aware should legs become paralyzed, the existence of the last neuro function, deep pain sensation (DPS), is an indicator that surgery could STILL be successful. That window of time is 12-24 hours from losing DPS. Even after that window of time, surgery is often successful. The spinal cord is very fragile, the more hours after the window, the less chance of a complete recovery.
General vets may not see enough cases of IVDD daily to become really proficient in giving the neuro exam and correctly interpreting what they see. Therefore precious time can be lost in wrongly identifying if deep pain sensation still exists. Only take the word of a board certified neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) about DPS.
If a surgery is just not a consideration for your family (such as a dog’s health issue or family finances), then know that conservative treatment is the best option. The body can self heal nerve damage with time.
Surgery near the spinal cord takes a well-trained surgeon for this most delicate and tricky of surgeries.
See the video clip (in the next column) of Dr. Wong, a board-certified neurologist (ACVIM) from Southeast Veterinary Neurology, performing spinal surgery to remove a slipped disk that was pressing on a dog’s spinal cord. This type of surgery is known as a hemilaminectomy and is commonly performed on dogs with more severe signs of IVDD. These signs can include recurrent or persistent back pain that does not respond to non-surgical conservative treatment (crate rest & medications).
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Visualize you dog’s issue in 83 seconds.
Dr. Horsche, DVM explains intervertebral disc disease is common in breeds with long backs and short legs. IVDD can cause symptoms ranging from mild lower back pain to complete paralysis of the legs. Visualize how the spinal cord is impacted by a degenerated disc.