What are the chances that my paralyzed dog will recover from an injury due to a disc herniation?
There are many factors that affect the outcome of your dog’s injury. The two most important factors are the severity and duration of the injury. If the injury is severe enough to warrant surgery, the veterinary surgeon may be able to give you an indication about the severity of the injury. In most cases, a “dye” will be injected adjacent to the spinal cord. This procedure, called a myelogram, will allow the surgeon to “view” the site of the injury and sometimes the extent of the injury. When decompressive surgery (laminectomy or hemilaminectomy) is performed, a small section of vertebral bone is removed. In some instances, a surgeon will also “peel” back the covering or dura of the spinal cord. These combined procedures provide a small “window” in which to view the spinal cord. In some cases, a surgeon can make an approximation of the damage sustained to the spinal cord. Another indicator of the severity of the injury is the ability for the dog to appreciate pain. In the worst cases, d
