pug troubles

I know how terrible you must feel. The high cost of veterinary care is so frustrating.

There are several spinal disorders that pugs are prone to, including spina bifida and hemivertebra. No doubt your vet would prefer the clarity of an MRI, however, an x-ray can often supply sufficient detail to get an idea of what’s going on with her spine, and at a fraction of the cost.

It’s my understanding that in certain situations (where there is spinal cord compression), surgery can help, but more often not. So, see if a diagnosis can be made from a simple x-ray. After that, perhaps some physical therapy, acupuncture, and/or other treatments by a holistic veterinarian may prove helpful. Luckily, you are in a progressive metropolitan area that should have a lot to offer in this regard.

Best of luck…keep us posted.

My dog had a fall at age 7 that caused him to limp. X-rays showed he had badly deformed hip joints. I had thought this deformity was only found in large dogs. My dog recovered from the fall and did very well until age 10. He could no longer do steps and had trouble jumping up on things. I could not afford the surgery necessary to fix the hips and I did not want him to suffer but was not ready to give up on him. He was not eating well so I changed him from Iams dry food to Science Diet for seniors (7+). He started eating better (about 1/2 can a day). After a couple of months I started to notice he was getting back to his normal activity level and was becoming much happier and exhibiting some of his old puppy antics. He is now 14 years old. He is happy and not suffering. He cannot jump up on things like he used to and we do shorter walks but you have to make allowances for seniors. He loves his SD senior can food and has gone from 1/2 a can of food a day to a full can. There are supplements you can buy for dogs with bone and connective tissue disorders. My dog could not tolerate them. You do not need and MRI for your dog. An x-ray would show what you would need to see. Even at that you can change your pet’s diet. It may cost a bit more but it is well worth it. Don’t let your pet gain weight as that would make walking more difficult. I also believe in prayer. The creator cares for all His creation. Hope this helps. This is not an add for dog food but the brand I suggested does have ingredients that strengthen the bones and connective tissues specifically. There may be other brands that have it also but what I have used has been very successful for my dog.