Tanker - emergency surgery

moose tracks · 05-29-2011, 08:09 AM

I am very sorry to hear about Tanker. You got great care and advice by getting him to a neurosurgeon as quickly as you did.

Our 8 year old dachshund has intervertebral disc disease, [IVDD] and has had the same surgery twice within a 6 month period [2009-2010] for disc ruptures. We felt we had a great surgeon at the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, NY near where we live. She has recovered use of her hind legs each time with minor residual weakness.

We built ramps for the steps and do not allow her to jump on the furniture anymore to reduce the stress on her spine.

I hope Tanker has a full recovery. They improve remarkably once the pressure is relieved from the nerves.

Argie's Wife · 05-29-2011, 06:21 PM

Thanks!

The Tank-man is doing awesome. I am really impressed with the progress he's made, and he's even up to some of his ol' tricks. The weakness in his hind-legs is going away a little at a time, each day. We've placed ramps at the stairs and door jamb of the house to help him in and out of the house - he no longer requires a sling to be used on his back end.

We've had to make a major change in his diet, too, as we learned he was overweight. We've changed his food to a different type (Science Diet) and are carefully measuring his food for each feeding (1 cup x 2/day). Tanker is almost 5 years old - and should have many more good years ahead - but being overweight won't help him. We were indoors too much this winter and that's when he really packed on the extra baggage... I felt like I was a bad dog-mom for letting him go like that...

lawn psycho · 05-30-2011, 07:55 AM

Just some notes about that place in Scarborough. They are about the priciest vet in town and are quick to go to the most expensive route possible.

If you have a late night/after hours pet emergency, this is where you will be referred to by just about all vets in Southern Maine if your vet is not available.

Before you take the plunge and spend huge money, I would have recommended getting a second opinion.

They had my 11 yo golden set-up for MRIs, CAT scans, neurology, etc. It was a Saturday morning at 2AM. They were quoting $3000. We waited until Monday and went to our local vet. Cost us $250 to get him back to health.

I'm not saying your dog did not need the surgery, etc but I am not the only one who has gone down this route (with their over-testing, over diagnosing)

When FIDO is a family pet it's easy to get caught up in the moment and throw caution (dollars) to the wind. Been there, done that.

Argie's Wife · 05-30-2011, 11:49 AM

Sorry you had the experience you did...

They were a second opinion for us. The only other neurosurgeon in the area was in Nashua and they were closed. This was one of those cases where timing was everything.

Our "regular vet" told us that removal of the disc was the only option for him to regain the function of his legs (and lower-extremities) - and that he needed surgery as soon as possible. Our vet also told us a price range for the cost of the surgery - and he was right.

When Argie took Tanker to the animal hospital in Maine, he was given an estimate for the procedure, and everything - including meds and suture removal - that went with it. The bill we received was $450 less than the estimate we'd been given.

05-29-2011, 08:09 AM	#1
moose tracks Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Loudon, Tennessee, foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains Posts: 283 Thanks: 336 Thanked 41 Times in 33 Posts	IVDD- disc disease I am very sorry to hear about Tanker. You got great care and advice by getting him to a neurosurgeon as quickly as you did. Our 8 year old dachshund has intervertebral disc disease, [IVDD] and has had the same surgery twice within a 6 month period [2009-2010] for disc ruptures. We felt we had a great surgeon at the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers, NY near where we live. She has recovered use of her hind legs each time with minor residual weakness. We built ramps for the steps and do not allow her to jump on the furniture anymore to reduce the stress on her spine. I hope Tanker has a full recovery. They improve remarkably once the pressure is relieved from the nerves. __________________ Moose Tracks

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05-29-2011, 06:21 PM	#2
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Thanks! The Tank-man is doing awesome. I am really impressed with the progress he's made, and he's even up to some of his ol' tricks. The weakness in his hind-legs is going away a little at a time, each day. We've placed ramps at the stairs and door jamb of the house to help him in and out of the house - he no longer requires a sling to be used on his back end. We've had to make a major change in his diet, too, as we learned he was overweight. We've changed his food to a different type (Science Diet) and are carefully measuring his food for each feeding (1 cup x 2/day). Tanker is almost 5 years old - and should have many more good years ahead - but being overweight won't help him. We were indoors too much this winter and that's when he really packed on the extra baggage... I felt like I was a bad dog-mom for letting him go like that...

05-30-2011, 07:55 AM	#3
lawn psycho Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: On the move... Posts: 987 Thanks: 113 Thanked 248 Times in 133 Posts	Just some notes about that place in Scarborough. They are about the priciest vet in town and are quick to go to the most expensive route possible. If you have a late night/after hours pet emergency, this is where you will be referred to by just about all vets in Southern Maine if your vet is not available. Before you take the plunge and spend huge money, I would have recommended getting a second opinion. They had my 11 yo golden set-up for MRIs, CAT scans, neurology, etc. It was a Saturday morning at 2AM. They were quoting $3000. We waited until Monday and went to our local vet. Cost us $250 to get him back to health. I'm not saying your dog did not need the surgery, etc but I am not the only one who has gone down this route (with their over-testing, over diagnosing) When FIDO is a family pet it's easy to get caught up in the moment and throw caution (dollars) to the wind. Been there, done that.

05-30-2011, 11:49 AM	#4
Argie's Wife Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Alton Posts: 1,908 Blog Entries: 1 Thanks: 533 Thanked 579 Times in 260 Posts	Sorry you had the experience you did... They were a second opinion for us. The only other neurosurgeon in the area was in Nashua and they were closed. This was one of those cases where timing was everything. Our "regular vet" told us that removal of the disc was the only option for him to regain the function of his legs (and lower-extremities) - and that he needed surgery as soon as possible. Our vet also told us a price range for the cost of the surgery - and he was right. When Argie took Tanker to the animal hospital in Maine, he was given an estimate for the procedure, and everything - including meds and suture removal - that went with it. The bill we received was $450 less than the estimate we'd been given.