Love my Cavaliers
Well-known member
My almost 6 year old black and tan, Riley, is exactly one month post decompression surgery with a titanium implant for severe and advanced SM. Her surgery was done by Michael Poddell, a neurosurgeon in the north suburbs of Chicago. She is still on limited activity - no walks, no jumping, no climbing stairs, no playing with my other 3 cavaliers. When I can't monitor her movements 100% she is in her crate - and sometimes chooses to go into it on her own if the other 3 are getting rowdy around her. She is on Gabapentin - 100 mg twice a day. My question relates to other's experiences of how long it takes for their dog to get back to where they were pre-operatievely. I've heard it really takes 3 months. Riley is definitely not back to her pre-op status. She's doing pretty well, but is still off-balance, has her head tilt, is very floppy, shakes a lot- whole body shakes like she's wet -and can knock herself over, and has had one vestibular event (seizure like activity, but her neurologist said it wasn't a true seizure - she had many of these before surgery). Her appetite is good, her spirits are good, she is so sweet and loving and doesn't mind being carried around. Another positive, she doesn't appear to be in pain. In fact, even before the surgery she never was in pain that I could tell. She never scratched, and only whimpered occasionally. Hated going for walks though - probably didn't like the lead and collar around her neck (I only found out she had SM 3 weeks before her surgery so I didn't use a harness on her). So what have your esxperiences been? Do most dogs get back to where they were before surgery? Have some had experiences of their dog being worse after surgery? Hopefully, many have had the wonderful experience of their dog being better. I'd love to hear from you. Thanks,
Bev - along with Oliver (7 - bl); Riley (5 - b& t); Madison (4 - ruby), and Oz (1 - tri)
Bev - along with Oliver (7 - bl); Riley (5 - b& t); Madison (4 - ruby), and Oz (1 - tri)