A message from Lacie’s furmum
I just wanted to thank you so very much from the bottom of my heart for our beautiful gifts. Lacie is absolutely in love with her heat pack, the support lead is amazing for adding that extra support for her and she seemed to really enjoy her dinner in her new LikiMat!  Can’t wait to be able to put some frozen treats in it for summer for her.
The support magnet, brochures and beautiful handwritten note with the extra wipe cloth were all beautifully received and I was really touched.
I can’t wait until this nightmare is over and hoping she makes a full recovery, which seems to be so much more achievable with you guys by our side, so thank you!

DISA understands how difficult it is for owners when confronted with this disease and we are committed to helping owners who are committed to their hounds, who never give up and like all Dachshunds, never say never.

Meet Leroy, a handsome black and tan short-haired boy who lives with his pawrents Jack & Jessica and his fur brother Patrick in Rockhampton QLD.

Like with many IVDD episodes, Leroy had been acting a little strange, not running about and appeared reluctant to move so he was taken to his local Vet on a Wednesday and then again on Thursday.  Then on Friday, he woke up fine, but by the end of the day he couldn’t stand up and one leg was dragging.  His pawrents returned to the vet who suggested seeking a specialist assessment while he was prescribed anti-inflammatories and pain medication.  Saturday, his condition deteriorated further, and a call was made to a DISA Support volunteer who during the conversation covered available options and outcomes which assisted Leroy’s pawrents in making an informed decision.  For Leroy to have the best chance of recovery, it was decided to drive 7hrs to Brisbane for a Specialist assessment.   The Specialist confirmed that Leroy had a slipped disc that was pressing on vital spinal nerve endings, and sadly was not responsive to deep pain.  Emergency surgery was performed that evening and the long healing process began, with his pawrents remaining in Brisbane to be with their special boy, ever confident that he would rebound and recover.

It took a few days for Leroy to start displaying positive signs as his ordeal had been a long process of vet consults and then a long road trip.  He settled in well with the amazing nursing staff at VSS Underwood, and he remained there for six days until he was well enough to return on the long journey home.

DISA followed his journey with interest, and it was a no-brainer when his pawrents reached out to us for a little leg up!  The heart-warming part of this story is that two of our volunteers met up with Jack, Jessica & Leroy at a stop on the Bruce Highway on their journey homeward to deliver a booty of gifts to help them with their IVDD journey.

After cuddles and hugs, Leroy was popped safely back into the car along with a La Luna Stroller, stroller badge, belly band and a pack of pee pads.  And understanding that Rockhampton is limited in allied resources, there was also a package of useful IVDD rehab aids popped in the boot!  These aids had recently been donated to DISA by a caring owner who has been through the journey numerous times.  (Thanks Anne & Audrey Rose xx).

It’s now been nearly two weeks since Leroy came home, he has been settling into his new routine, challenging his pawrents with the restricted rest (like all Dachshunds do) and loving his new wheels!  He has even been sleeping beside the human bed at night in his stroller, but the best part is, he can now pee on his own, his deep pain has returned, and he is standing up on his own, particularly when food is involved.

Like with most high-grade recoveries, it takes time and patience and the signs at this early stage are extremely encouraging.  We wish Leroy a safe, gentle healing journey.  You have got this in spades!

Frankie is a 5-year-old boy from SA who started displaying vague symptoms one evening and it was assumed he had overextended himself playing with his fur sister.  Sadly, the following morning he woke, unable to move.  A trip to the emergency vet ensued and following a neurological assessment, IVDD was confirmed.  The consulting vet recommended that if surgery was not an option, the humane thing to do was give Frankie his angel wings.

This was not a decision his family could make so soon, so Frankie was medically managed while the family considered all options.  Knowing only too well that he had been his fur-mums best friend and companion during the tough times and so loved by his family it was a no-brainer; it was time to repay Frankie for his love and devotion.

Two days later Frankie underwent surgery at the Austin Vet Specialist Centre in South Australia and two days later Frankie decided it was time to once again more those little legs!  He was discharged and has been back home in the loving care of his family, resting and healing for the last eight weeks.

IVDD Assist has gifted Frankie hydrotherapy sessions to help him with his recovery and rehabilitation and to get those muscles firing again.  His session times run for 30 minutes, where they do a warm-up in a heated pool, with some stretches and messages to his legs and along his spine to relieve tension.  Frankie is on strict NO TOY PLAY at home as directed by the specialist, but under supervision, he is allowed to enjoy some playtime with toys again.  Happy boy!

The lovely people at Rose-Hip Vital Canine also sent Frankie a 125g bottle of Rose-Hip Vital Canine to aid his recovery.
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Bangers is a 4.7 year-old short haired Dachshund from QLD who enjoyed a carefree life with his family and the ragdoll cat until recently when a family member arrived home from school to find he couldn’t use his back legs.

Thankfully his owners knew it was serious and had him at the emergency vet STAT.  It’s important to note that when your dog goes down fast (e.g. paralysis) that time is of the essence.

It was suspected that Bangers had IVDD, and a CT scan was required to confirm the severity (Grading) with a high chance of surgery.  With no pet insurance his owners were advised that they needed an upfront payment of $5,500 (Est cost of $11,000) before the specialist would proceed, and knowing that Bangers was in pain and in dire need of specialist surgery, they drained all their accounts and Bangers was rushed into surgery asap.

Holding their collective breath during the 2-hour surgery his family were relieved when they received an encouraging prognosis, primarily due to the prompt diagnosis and decisive action.

Following a stay in the hospital, Bangers was released into the loving arms of his family to undergo his 6-8 weeks of recovery and is recovering and healing well.  Thankfully he can come to work each day with his fur mum, a crate was made for him for the office and IVDD Assist gifted him a La Luna Stroller for mobility + DISA stroller badge.  The stroller comes with a pop-out capsule that safely clips into the car for ease of transport and for carrying up and down stairs around the home and the office!

Gentle healing Bangers, we know you have got this in spades and well done to your amazing family who never gave up on their boy, even in the most trying of times.

Sizzle has been his owner’s best friend and companion since he was 3 months old. Through the hardest and challenging of times, he has never left her side, never missing the opportunity to lick tears away. He truly is a special boy.