slipped disk

[town hound]

My buddy had a dog jump out of his above ground pen and the vet says he has a slipped disk. the dog cant use his back legs just drags himself around with his front legs. he has feeling in his legs when you pinch his legs or feet he pulls away. he is basically paralized from his hips down. the vet gave him a steriod shot and sent some steriod pills home with my buddy. the vet seems optimistic that he'll recover given his age (3) but looking at the dog i have my doubts. ever seen this and the dog recover?

[bluegrass]

Yes, I have seen this before, and I have seen hounds recover...However, with that being said, the same dog I have seen recover had another disc slip within 6 months, and had to be put down because of this recurring problem. I would be careful running a hound that has this injury. I always lift my hounds to the ground, not letting them jump on their own...Tony

[Doc S]

IF the dog recovers, it will be after very strict confinement and rest. Usually recommend a minimum of 30 days crate confinement and would not try to run the dog for at least 6 months. Yes, they can recover and they can also recur. If you want to be technical about it, a "slipped disc" is a surgical case in dogs just as it is in people. Surgery is quite a costly endeavor and it carries no guarantees either.
Doc S

[town hound]

thanks for your reply's, sadly he just got worse over the last two days and couldnt even lift his head so i had him put down. i raised him and had just gave him to my buddy to help get him started runnin beagles and this had to happen. Johnny was only 3yrs but his memory will last a lifetime. he was my first that i raised from a pup and got to see him run his first rabbit and gun hunted over him for two seasons, he will be missed. now i've got to go home and tell my 5yr old daughter.

[Tricolor]

Sorry to hear about your canine buddy.
Thoughts and prayers are with you and your family.