[maxie001]

I have a 13 year old dashound that just started having back problems.
One rear leg started to drag. My vet caged him for 3 weeks and gave
Him steroids and pain pills. He is now walking but wobbles sometime.

The vet said it's only a matter of time and he my get worse again
I checked into a back operation and it seems to be a 50/50 split with vet
On the operation because of his age. He eats good and sometimes wants
To play.
The vets offer is a 60/40 chance it will work. I can afford the operation. I
Just don't what to do.. Any auggestios?

[Lucky098]

Get him a wheel chair :)

Surgery is tough for young, healthy fit dogs... It's going to be even tougher for an older dog.

If this were my pet, I'd opt for a wheel chair. Not doing the surgery doesn't make you a bad pet owner... Would you want to go through major back surgery at 90? Than deal with the long recovery? I doubt it.

Wheel chairs have given many pets with disabilities long and happy lives. It'd be a good choice..

You can find wheel chairs for dogs at Handicapped Pets | Dog Wheelchairs Help Disabled Pets Live a Better & Healthy Life they also have good testimonials.

[JudyKayTee]

If you can't afford the surgery I don't think there is a decision to be made. Watching him, being careful that he doesn't injure himself, keeping in close contact with his
Vet is probably the best course of action.

I can give you my experience - my yellow Lab, just shy of 10 years old, developed a disc problem. Doctor could have done surgery but the dog would have had to be confined for 6 weeks. He was in very good health but there were no guarantees. I got a second opinion - which was no - and we rode it out for about 6 months. When he could no longer lift his head, when his life became very painful, I let him go. He was a dog who never would have done well in confinement (and I had a second dog he played with all the time).

At 13 I wonder how your dog would survive surgery.

I'm sorry you're going through this - of course, back problems come with Doxies.

Have you tried alternative measures? My dog had great success with accupuncture for the first 4 months, then it just didn't "work" any longer.