Reptigirl
Well-known member
We are considering surgery on Flash in the coming months and I am looking to hear from other people on their experiences.
As many of you know Flash came to me at about 12 weeks of age showing moderate SM symptoms.
By 6 months of age I would call his symptoms sever. He was diagnosed with CM by MRI. His records read :the cerebellum was crowded and partial herniation was noted, the fourth ventricle was enlarged, and the brain stem was deviated (medullary kink)."
Here we are 3 months since his MRI. He is getting 20 mg of Lyrica 3 Times Daily.
Our neurologist suggest that due to his young age we need to think about surgery sooner rather then later.
Although his medication has been working he still shows mild SM symptoms. He has way more good days then bad days but his "bad days" seem to be getting much worse.
Flash does not show any problems walking to limb weakness. He does however paw & scratch at his head (top of his skull particularly), air scratch and rub his head. On his bad days he is very sensitive to light and just recently seems to not be able to tolerate being brushed on his back/hind quarters. His weirdest "symptom" is during some episodes he becomes nervous.and for lack of a better word... paranoid. He will jump up and bark at nothing...at the air, the wall, the floor.
I know surgery is our best option for long term care. I was just wondering if I could hear from other people on how the surgery went.
I am very worried about the surgery it's self but my biggest concern is recovery. I know the dogs need to be kept calm with restricted activity for many weeks. Flash is still a full of energy puppy. Unless he is having one of his really bad days you can expect him to spend several hours a day bouncing off the walls playing :razz: Also, I have rarely used a kennel for him so being restricted in a crate would send him in a frenzy. He is always by my side.
I know it is a risk but my biggest fear is to go through the surgery and in the end have him no better or WORSE!
From what I understand most dogs show at least a little improvement and some show no improvement but do dogs ever get worse?
I feel so torn. I want Flash to have the best care possible but I'm scared of making the wrong decision for him. Right now it seems he is enjoying life and I worry I'm thinking about surgery too soon.
Has anyone on here gone through surgery with a puppy? Our neurologist explained that given his young age and his very quick and progressive onset of symptoms that she would only expect him to manage on medication between 1 & 3 years at most. She explained that if we let it get to the point medication is no longer working that sever brain damage could occur and then surgery may not help at all.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.
As many of you know Flash came to me at about 12 weeks of age showing moderate SM symptoms.
By 6 months of age I would call his symptoms sever. He was diagnosed with CM by MRI. His records read :the cerebellum was crowded and partial herniation was noted, the fourth ventricle was enlarged, and the brain stem was deviated (medullary kink)."
Here we are 3 months since his MRI. He is getting 20 mg of Lyrica 3 Times Daily.
Our neurologist suggest that due to his young age we need to think about surgery sooner rather then later.
Although his medication has been working he still shows mild SM symptoms. He has way more good days then bad days but his "bad days" seem to be getting much worse.
Flash does not show any problems walking to limb weakness. He does however paw & scratch at his head (top of his skull particularly), air scratch and rub his head. On his bad days he is very sensitive to light and just recently seems to not be able to tolerate being brushed on his back/hind quarters. His weirdest "symptom" is during some episodes he becomes nervous.and for lack of a better word... paranoid. He will jump up and bark at nothing...at the air, the wall, the floor.
I know surgery is our best option for long term care. I was just wondering if I could hear from other people on how the surgery went.
I am very worried about the surgery it's self but my biggest concern is recovery. I know the dogs need to be kept calm with restricted activity for many weeks. Flash is still a full of energy puppy. Unless he is having one of his really bad days you can expect him to spend several hours a day bouncing off the walls playing :razz: Also, I have rarely used a kennel for him so being restricted in a crate would send him in a frenzy. He is always by my side.
I know it is a risk but my biggest fear is to go through the surgery and in the end have him no better or WORSE!
From what I understand most dogs show at least a little improvement and some show no improvement but do dogs ever get worse?
I feel so torn. I want Flash to have the best care possible but I'm scared of making the wrong decision for him. Right now it seems he is enjoying life and I worry I'm thinking about surgery too soon.
Has anyone on here gone through surgery with a puppy? Our neurologist explained that given his young age and his very quick and progressive onset of symptoms that she would only expect him to manage on medication between 1 & 3 years at most. She explained that if we let it get to the point medication is no longer working that sever brain damage could occur and then surgery may not help at all.
Any insight would be greatly appreciated.