Daisy is a 9year 8 month old Maltese Shih Tzu. She was an incredible puppy, so full of life, eager to please and incredibly smart. I took her to dog obedience, smashed through it. We did fly all training, she could do everything except grab the ball. So we went onto agility training and competing. She got first place just before COVID hit. COVID ruined her career in agility. She is the light of my life. So it was a shock after letting my mum watch her for a day to find out she was cowering and crying out after she slipped her collar and ran off. I rushed her to the vets the next day, but we couldn't determine anything wrong. Deciding that it was a pulled muscle, she was put on gabapentin and take it easy. She was fine. 4 weeks later it started again. Crying for no apparent reason and hiding refusing to move. Again to the vets. Again nothing showing up, sore muscle, more gabapentin and take it easy. My partner suggested not letting her run up and down the stairs, so I confined her for a few days and she seemed perfectly fine. Happy that she was back to her normal self, I made the mistake of letting her climb the stairs. At first she was fine. Then the next day she climbed up, walked past me into the other room and screamed, came running into the bedroom crying and pooped herself. Brought her downstairs to give her childrens panadol (vet supplied and recommended). After I squirted it into her mouth she jumped forward screaming, rolled around on the floor and her back legs looked paralyzed. It was the most traumatic experience of my life. It was Sunday, no vets. I found an emergency vet and rushed her over, wrapped up in her bed to prevent more pain. Walked in speechless when she did it again, they rushed her to the back while I quickly explained what's going on. 7 hours and an X-ray later, the vet tells me it's IVDD. X-ray showed nothing, ultrasound showed nothing, but symptoms match. She was given a fentanyl patch and Meloxicam for inflammation. She was responding to pressure on Sunday.
Monday was rough too. A few more of those screaming outbursts. She'd only eat a bit of chicken. No toileting. After 12 she calmed down a lot more. No more screaming, but no eating either. Which meant I couldn't give her meloxicam. She was drinking well though. Became worried as her front legs weren't moving much.
Tuesday regular vet said to bring her in for assessment. She was concerned about her legs, but noted that could be from the high dose of fentanyl. Probably from the look of exhaustion and stress, she suggested keeping Daisy for the day to adjust meds and see how she goes. I agreed as they're better equipped then I am and I just want her to be ok. They took her off the fentanyl and increased her gabapentin. She was happy to eat and they were able to give her meloxicam. She was able to pee a bit while the nurses held her around, but still not poos. They said she has some more movement in her legs. I felt relieved. Seeing her again, her happy little face lit up, it was good to have her back. But she's not out of the woods. She had a little cry out tonight and she didn't pee either, her front legs didn't look much better, but the drugs would have kicked in by now so maybe that's why.
This is incredibly stressful and heartbreaking to watch, I wish this was just a nightmare I could wake up from. I've been crying non stop for 3 days straight. How could this happen to my precious Daisy. Am I doing the right things or making it worse? Will she recover? $13,000+ for surgery, I can't afford that and I don't want to put her through all of that either, but I don't want her to suffer this either. I wouldn't wish this on anyone. I keep praying she'll be ok. We bought her a new crate, all set up. She is panting a lot though :S