u/Perfect-Warthog-5708

▲ 35 r/IVDD_SupportGroup+1 crossposts

u guys can read this if you want lol i just wanted to remember my good memories with gibby aka knox🫶🏾

They met at a time when the world felt loud, but somehow together they made it quiet.
A girl with a heavy heart and a little Frenchie with big eyes and an even bigger personality. From the moment Knox came into her life, he stopped being “just a dog.” He became home.

Knox learned her moods better than most humans ever could. He knew when she was stressed before exams, when work drained her, when life felt unfair, and when she was trying to be strong even though she wanted to break down. He followed her everywhere like it was his full-time job to protect her heart. Bathroom trips, kitchen runs, laying in bed for hours, crying on hard days, laughing on good ones… Knox was there for all of it.

And Stacy? She loved him like people love soulmates.
Not halfway. Not casually. Completely.

They had their own language. The little looks. The routines. The cuddles after long days. The way he’d stare at her like she was the safest person on earth. To everyone else he may have been a French Bulldog, but to her he was her son, her best friend, her emotional support, her shadow, her peace.

The world saw pictures.
She lived the story.

A story of tiny paws running through the house.
Of hearing snoring at night and feeling less alone.
Of carrying him like a baby.
Of talking to him like he could answer back.
Of him making even the worst days survivable just by existing.

And even at the end, when everything became painful and scary, the love never changed. If anything, it became louder. She fought for him with every ounce of herself. Every vet visit, every sleepless night, every moment of hope, every prayer. Knox left this world knowing one thing for certain:

He was deeply loved.

Now the apartment feels quieter. The routines feel incomplete. There’s an emptiness where a little body used to be. But grief like this only exists because love this deep existed first.

So this isn’t really a story about loss.
It’s about a once-in-a-lifetime bond.

A girl and her dog against the world.
Best friends in every lifetime.
And even though Knox is no longer physically beside her, he still walks with her in everything she does.

Because dogs like Knox never really leave.
They live forever in the version of you they helped create.

IF YOU READ THIS, God bless you and yall beautiful babies you guys are able to enjoy! HUG THEM TIGHT FOR ME🥹🥹🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾🫶🏾

u/Perfect-Warthog-5708 — 8 days ago

Just to be clear: I took Knox to three different emergency vets. I followed all of their instructions. Each time, I was told he was stable and advised to take him home and wait for a neurologist appointment.

I didn’t just go along with that either, I asked questions and advocated for him. I made it clear that if he needed to stay at the ER to get better, then that’s what should be done. I was told that if I had the space and could manage his care and medications, it was okay to take him home, and that otherwise he would just be sitting in a kennel alone.

So I took him home and followed everything they told me.

He passed the very next day after I had already taken him in for THE 3rd TIME!!!

Also, the little subs and comments being thrown on other posts about my posts asking for help are unnecessary. I was posting because I was scared and trying to do everything I could for him in real time. This is real life ! this isn’t an attention thing. if you love your fur babies you would’ve done the same.

Please stop assuming I didn’t do enough. I did everything I could with the information and guidance I was given. This is already an incredibly painful situation, and the lack of consideration in some of these comments is honestly disappointing.

God bless.

reddit.com
u/Perfect-Warthog-5708 — 9 days ago
▲ 421 r/IVDD_SupportGroup+1 crossposts

Update…
He passed away at home yesterday morning at 7:27 am

i wished i was there to witness his last few minutes so he can be loved on.. i just wanted to try to get some sleep for a few minutes 💔

I’m honestly in shock. Just sunday night I was on here asking for advice, praying things would get better, holding onto any bit of hope I had… and now he’s gone.

I stayed with him and did everything I could to keep him comfortable. I gave him all his meds, talked to him, tried to be strong for him. I really thought he would make it through this. I really believed I had more time.

Now I can’t stop replaying everything in my head wondering if I missed something or if I could’ve done more.

I had to let his body go because it hurt too much to keep looking at him like that. Walking away from him was one of the hardest things I’ve ever done.

Knox was only 2. He wasn’t just my dog… that was my baby, my comfort, my everyday.
My heart feels so heavy and empty at the same time.
Thank you to everyone who showed me love and gave advice on my last post. I truly appreciate it.

u/Perfect-Warthog-5708 — 10 days ago

Hi everyone, I really need advice or to hear from anyone who’s been through something similar. I have a 2-year-old French Bulldog (Knox), and this has all happened so fast I can barely process it.

About 5 days ago This past monday/tuesday he started showing signs of pain and was diagnosed with IVDD after multiple ER visits. At first, it affected his back legs, but now it feels like things are getting worse instead of better.

i have gotten him an appointment for neuro but it’s in a week and half from now:( only closest appointment available:(

Timeline:
- Day 1–2: Pain, discomfort, then loss of function in back legs
- Day 3: Couldn’t use back legs at all, but still had strength in his front legs
- Day 4: Still able to use his front legs, weak but functional
- Day 5 (now): Cannot support himself at all — his whole body feels like dead weight. His front legs are now weak, twitching, and barely helping him move

Right now, he:
- Has no movement in his back legs
- Has very weak front legs (twitching/shaking)
- Can’t hold himself up at all
- Is still responsive (moves his head, reacts to touch, blinks)
- Has had tremors/shaking episodes starting day 4 he was seen again and was just told to make him as comfortable as possible.

- Developed urinary retention and now has a UTI (i was expressing his bladder but ig i wasn’t getting everything; vet did teach me the correct way and im doing it about 4-5 times a day)
- Isn’t eating much, I’ve had to help him eat
- Looks extremely fatigued — even his eyes seem very low and tired compared to before

The ER told me he is deep pain negative, and that recovery without surgery is unlikely. Surgery isn’t something I can afford right now, but if i gotta do care credit or whatever i will but it seems like he’s just getting worse smh.. so I’ve been doing everything I can at home.

What I’ve been doing:
- Strict crate/playpen rest
- I set up a playpen with an orthopedic bed and his toys so he’s as comfortable as possible
- Giving all prescribed meds (gabapentin, carprofen, methocarbamol, antibiotics)
- Expressing his bladder 4-6 times daily
- Doing red light therapy daily x2
- Using a cold roller along his spine to try to help with inflammation 3-4 times a day
- Keeping him clean, repositioned, and monitored closely

What scares me the most is how FAST this is progressing. It’s only been 5 days, and instead of stabilizing, it feels like it’s spreading. He went from back leg paralysis to now barely being able to use his front legs. I don’t know if this is still severe IVDD progression or if something else is happening.

I’m also worried I may have made things worse unintentionally by having to move him multiple times this week for vet visits and care, he’s been 3x this week so he’s been moved a good amount.. even though I tried to be as gentle and careful as possible.

I’ve seen stories of dogs recovering even when vets said it wasn’t likely, so I’m trying to hold onto that… but watching him decline like this is honestly breaking me.

I really need to know:
- Has anyone experienced IVDD progressing this quickly, especially affecting the front legs too?
- Has anyone had a dog come back from being deep pain negative without surgery?
- Is there anything else I can realistically do at home to help him?
- How do you know when they’re suffering too much vs still fighting?

I feel like I’m doing everything I can, but I also feel helpless watching him get worse. Any advice, experiences, or honesty would really mean a lot right now.

Thank you ❤️ (yes i am thinking about euthanasia but it hurts me to even consider, i do not plan to give up but if it comes to it where he’s suffering rather than getting better i will do what’s needed to be done😢)

u/Perfect-Warthog-5708 — 11 days ago

Hi everyone, I really need advice or to hear from anyone who’s been through something similar. I have a 2-year-old French Bulldog (Knox), and this has all happened so fast I can barely process it.

About 5 days ago, he started showing signs of pain and was diagnosed with IVDD after multiple ER visits. At first, it affected his back legs, but now it feels like things are getting worse instead of better.

i have gotten him an appointment for neuro but it’s in a week and half from now:( only closest appointment available:(

Timeline:
- Day 1–2: Pain, discomfort, then loss of function in back legs
- Day 3: Couldn’t use back legs at all, but still had strength in his front legs
- Day 4: Still able to use his front legs, weak but functional
- Day 5 (now): Cannot support himself at all — his whole body feels like dead weight. His front legs are now weak, twitching, and barely helping him move

Right now, he:
- Has no movement in his back legs
- Has very weak front legs (twitching/shaking)
- Can’t hold himself up at all
- Is still responsive (moves his head, reacts to touch, blinks)
- Has had tremors/shaking episodes starting day 4 he was seen again and was just told to make him as comfortable as possible.

- Developed urinary retention and now has a UTI (i was expressing his bladder but ig i wasn’t getting everything; vet did teach me the correct way and im doing it about 4-5 times a day)
- Isn’t eating much, I’ve had to help him eat
- Looks extremely fatigued — even his eyes seem very low and tired compared to before

The ER told me he is deep pain negative, and that recovery without surgery is unlikely. Surgery isn’t something I can afford right now, but if i gotta do care credit or whatever i will but it seems like he’s just getting worse smh.. so I’ve been doing everything I can at home.

What I’ve been doing:
- Strict crate/playpen rest
- I set up a playpen with an orthopedic bed and his toys so he’s as comfortable as possible
- Giving all prescribed meds (gabapentin, carprofen, methocarbamol, antibiotics)
- Expressing his bladder 4-6 times daily
- Doing red light therapy daily x2
- Using a cold roller along his spine to try to help with inflammation 3-4 times a day
- Keeping him clean, repositioned, and monitored closely

What scares me the most is how FAST this is progressing. It’s only been 5 days, and instead of stabilizing, it feels like it’s spreading. He went from back leg paralysis to now barely being able to use his front legs. I don’t know if this is still severe IVDD progression or if something else is happening.

I’m also worried I may have made things worse unintentionally by having to move him multiple times this week for vet visits and care, he’s been 3x this week so he’s been moved a good amount.. even though I tried to be as gentle and careful as possible.

I’ve seen stories of dogs recovering even when vets said it wasn’t likely, so I’m trying to hold onto that… but watching him decline like this is honestly breaking me.

I really need to know:
- Has anyone experienced IVDD progressing this quickly, especially affecting the front legs too?
- Has anyone had a dog come back from being deep pain negative without surgery?
- Is there anything else I can realistically do at home to help him?
- How do you know when they’re suffering too much vs still fighting?

I feel like I’m doing everything I can, but I also feel helpless watching him get worse. Any advice, experiences, or honesty would really mean a lot right now.

Thank you ❤️ (yes i am thinking about euthanasia but it hurts me to even consider, i do not plan to give up but if it comes to it where he’s suffering rather than getting better i will do what’s needed to be done😢)

reddit.com
u/Perfect-Warthog-5708 — 11 days ago