We have a 3 year old mini daschund. She can hardly walk and whimpers in pain. Her back legs are beginning to go inward. The vet said it was calcium built up on 2 discs. Who knows what happens next? The steroids and nausea meds haven't helped. Will this get better without surgery? Does the surgery work? Has anyone else been down this road? Our kids don't understand?

HI,
No, I don't know anyone who has had their dog undergo this surgery. From research on the web in the past about the spine, it sometimes works just fine.
I would definitely get another opinion from another Vet. If you were facing back surgery, I am sure you get a second opinion for yourself. Please do the same for her.
I would not imagine this is going to get any better without surgery. Calcium buildups do not just go away. Arthridus is humans is a good example.
You could try some Glucosamine-Chondroitin capsules for dogs, available from web research, using a search engine.
I do wish you the best, and good luck.

I'm soooo sorry to hear that your loving doxie is going through this.

I unfortantly can speak from experience. My beautiful girl was diagnosed with degenerative disk disease a year ago. We did the surgery had 3 disk removed and they said there was a good chance she'd have more problems. She did, and with each spell it got worse. So worse that we had to make the painful discussion to let her go yesterday.

Have they told you to do strict 24hr cage rest? That helped with the previous 2 spells. You should be carrying her outside. My husband took some chicken wire and made a little fenced in area around her bed that we just put up whenever she had a spell. They usually require anywhere from 3-8 weeks of this. Don't let her move around at all. I know this is hard especially for a doxie but if she's going to have a chance to do get better you have to make her stay still. No jumping up or down as well.

Is she still able to go to the bathroom, tail wagging?

Surgery did work for us but like I said it still comes back in other places. Plus she was in her worse pain recovering from the surgery than anything else. Our girl didn't have the calcium build up so I can't say for sure how your girl would react. But if she's still going the bathroom and can still wag her tail I say try the strick cage rest.

If you have any other questions please feel free to write my email. I hate that you're going through this and if I can help at all I will, [email protected].

Laura