u/Typical_Ad1583

Hi everyone,🤗
I'm looking for some urgent advice or insights from anyone who has been through something similar.
My dog, Hugo, underwent surgery for a C5-C6 disc herniation on the 24th of last month (April 24th). He has been on strict crate rest ever since. Initially, he was still struggling to lift his neck and was clearly in a lot of pain, so we had been discussing and adjusting his medication dosages with our vet.
However, we just went back to the vet for a re-check, and the news wasn't great. They discovered that his hernia in the C2-C3 region has enlarged and is now actively compressing the nerve. The vet told us that he needs to undergo surgery again for this new site. They mentioned that since gas anesthesia will be used, as long as his pre-op bloodwork and vitals show no abnormalities, it is safe to proceed. He actually still has his stitches from the first surgery (they are the dissolvable kind).
Honestly, when he is on his painkillers and Gabapentin, he acts completely fine—almost like nothing is wrong at all. But because this issue is in the cervical (neck) region, I am absolutely terrified that he might suddenly become paralyzed out of nowhere if we don't act. I just want him to get back to his old, happy self.
His second surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. Do you think going ahead with this is the right decision so soon after the first one? I would deeply appreciate any thoughts, advice, or experiences you can share. Thank you.

Hi everyone,🤗
I'm looking for some urgent advice or insights from anyone who has been through something similar.
My dog, Hugo, underwent surgery for a C5-C6 disc herniation on the 24th of last month (April 24th). He has been on strict crate rest ever since. Initially, he was still struggling to lift his neck and was clearly in a lot of pain, so we had been discussing and adjusting his medication dosages with our vet.
However, we just went back to the vet for a re-check, and the news wasn't great. They discovered that his hernia in the C2-C3 region has enlarged and is now actively compressing the nerve. The vet told us that he needs to undergo surgery again for this new site. They mentioned that since gas anesthesia will be used, as long as his pre-op bloodwork and vitals show no abnormalities, it is safe to proceed. He actually still has his stitches from the first surgery (they are the dissolvable kind).
Honestly, when he is on his painkillers and Gabapentin, he acts completely fine—almost like nothing is wrong at all. But because this issue is in the cervical (neck) region, I am absolutely terrified that he might suddenly become paralyzed out of nowhere if we don't act. I just want him to get back to his old, happy self.
His second surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. Do you think going ahead with this is the right decision so soon after the first one? I would deeply appreciate any thoughts, advice, or experiences you can share. Thank you.

"We are officially two weeks post-op with Hugo. He’s still in pain and we’re only on 120 mg of Gabapentin twice daily. He still has a hunched posture and some muscle spasms. Luckily, his best friend Rio is staying close and providing full support. Is it normal for him to still be in this much discomfort at this stage? I’d appreciate any insights or similar experiences.

Hello everyone,
I have a 5-year-old male French Bulldog. We first encountered this condition a month ago when he started screaming in pain. He was tilting to the left and would cry out whenever we touched him. He was clearly in a lot of pain. He seemed to calm down briefly when kept warm, so we initially thought it was just a cramp. However, when the same episode recurred at the same time the next day, we rushed him to the vet.
Following a series of tests and a CT scan, he was diagnosed with a ruptured disc at C5-C6. Although he was still ambulatory (able to use all four legs), he was experiencing severe pain flares. Medical management was recommended first. For one week, he received twice-daily treatment consisting of Ceph-based antibiotics, Mannitol (IV), gastroprotectants, corticosteroids (steroids), and an analgesic called Canidryl.
He showed significant improvement within a few days. After the 7-day antibiotic course ended, we continued the steroid treatment for a total of 14 days as per our vet’s protocol. He seemed back to his old self. To see if the treatment had truly been effective, we opted for an MRI. However, the day after the MRI, his pain flares returned, and his posture collapsed to the left again. Upon detailed review of the MRI, our vet confirmed that the C5-C6 herniation (extruded)absolutely required surgery. We also learned there was a beginning-stage herniation at C2-C3.
The next day, he underwent a Ventral Slot surgery. What was expected to be a 1-hour procedure took 3.5 hours due to the severity of the ruptured disc. Thankfully, he made it through safely. Four or five hours post-op, he greeted us in the ICU, standing on all four legs. However, because the C5-C6 area was so challenging, the surgeons were unable to intervene at the C2-C3 levels during the same session.
He stayed in the hospital for four days for IV antibiotics, steroids, and was started on Gabapentin (120 mg daily). After being discharged, he continued antibiotic injections for three more days. The steroids have been tapered off, and he is currently only on Gabapentin.
Today is the 6th day post-op. His sutures are still in. Since coming home, he has been quite lethargic and seems to be in some discomfort. He has tremors/shivering in his neck area, and there is still visible edema (swelling) that hasn't subsided yet. I know this is a major surgery, but I am still very worried. We have him on strict crate rest in a small, confined area. His appetite is good, and we only take him outside briefly for potty breaks.
I have no idea how long this recovery process will take. Has anyone been through something similar? Do you have any advice? Also, the untreated herniation at C2-C3 is making me very anxious. Any insights would be greatly appreciated."