Bailey’s IVDD Surgery And Recovery

Sunday night I noticed that something was off with Bailey. He was not acting like his usual playful, happy, energetic self. He was very lethargic, seemed to have trouble walking, and his back was hunched. We brought him to Tufts and they diagnosed him with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD). IVDD is a condition where the discs in a dog’s vertebrae can deteriorate, causing them to bulge and burst. This can happen in an instant simply from running, walking up and down stairs, or jumping up on furniture. Dachshunds are particularly prone to developing IVDD due to their long body shape and lack of back support. After we brought Bailey to the vet, he got progressively worse and within 12 hours we were told that he would need to have immediate surgery to correct it and give him the best chance of avoiding becoming paralyzed. The surgery was a success and he is doing well, but it will be a long road to recovery once he is released from the hospital. I would do anything for Bailey but the unexpected cost for the surgery as well as aftercare and rehabilitation is not something that I was prepared for nor can I realistically afford out of pocket. Your support would mean so much to me and Bailey.