Sorry, but if you reread, you'll see I was explaining *crate training*, regardless of what it is used for. And no one is recommending SM surgery -- again, if you take a moment reread my last reply, I specifically say that *I would not consider surgery for SM* unless you are clear the symptoms you see are due to SM. I think maybe your own posts are what is confusing for those trying to help, if several of us have misunderstood the point of your queries... Nancy assumed you were talking about disk surgery but then you said no, you were talking about SM surgery:
Your own words:
I didn't actually mean surgery for the bulging discs but for the malformation/small syrinx. Before that starts to affect him one day.
So I simply explained if this was what you were considering, it's a good idea to have a dog already trained to be crated to ease anxiety with SM surgery -- but you are now saying you are talking about disks, and complaining about receiving advice for SM surgery? Crating for one or the other isn't a different process. :sl*p:
Um... OK. So let me start again with the same point: your vet and neurologist and orthopedist will certainly tell you,
for EITHER disk or SM surgery you will need to crate rest your dog for best results, and that you run a high risk of re-injury or failure of these invasive, serious surgeries if you choose to take the same approach you have been up to now -- which clearly caused re-injury, even for a dog that hadn't had surgery. I had thought this was one key reason why you posted in the first place -- to ask for better management strategies as you confessed that the one you had used had caused further pain for your dog? And learn more about potentially managing SM and disk problems? That why I suggested crate rest even now, and/or use of an xpen.
I cannot see how anyone is 'jumping the gun' to recommend generally, what most vets and neurologists see as normal care for disk problems OR surgery for any condition -- crate rest. Dr Marino for example recommends nearly three months of primarily crate rest post-op for SM surgery. My vets just recommended two weeks' crate rest for one of my dogs that has been in nowhere near the level of pain of your own with a minor back problem. Obviously it helps to have a dog already crate trained, if you have never done this before as it lowers anxiety and frustration for the dog (and hence the owner).
I am sorry you feel people offering supportive replies to your own questions is 'too much to think about'. Please remember that if you ask for public response to a range of questions, you may not get the replies you wanted, and people can only reply to what your questions seem to be -- and either way, many people are taking time to reply! I'm closing this thread, as I think it would be a good idea for you to direct your further questions to your neurologist and your vet, as talking face to face would no doubt avoid misinterpretation of replies or intent.
I know Dr Sammut is very supportive and would be willing to discuss the implications of either kind of surgery. I hope you find the only issue you face is some minor disk problems and not SM pain, as none of us with SM dogs would ever like to see another dog with that. You need to keep in mind that your dog definitely IS suffering from SM now regardless of whether he is symptomatic, and that it is generally a progressive condition, so do keep an eye on that (as I said, Dr Sammut is already treating him for SM by prescribing Lasix, so she obviously thinks he does need some medication for SM -- I'd talk further with her on that). Good luck with solving his difficulties.