07/13/2026
We're so glad Missy is feeling better. We take pride in edcuating our clients and being a partner in pet health, every step of the way!
MISSY DAWG UPDATE
A number of people have asked how My Dog Missy is doing, so I wanted to explain what has been going on and what we know so far.
Missy had a couple of rough days. She stopped eating normally, drank less than usual, seemed nervous and shaky, and acted as though something was hurting her. She would startle easily and even cried out at times. She had also recently been wandering around my koi pond chasing frogs and snakes, gotten her feet wet and licked pond water from them, so there were several possible explanations for why she suddenly did not feel well.
After two consecutive days involving car rides, examinations and veterinary visits at Unleashed Veterinary Care she was completely worn out.
At the veterinary examination, they found that Missy was painful when her back was pressed. The veterinarian suspects that she may have intervertebral disc disease, possibly involving a bulging or ruptured disc.
That has not been definitively confirmed with an MRI or other advanced imaging, but her pain and examination findings made it the leading possibility.
The discs between the vertebrae act like cushions or shock absorbers. As a dog gets older, one of those discs can weaken, bulge or rupture. If that happens, the disc can irritate or press against the nerves or spinal cord. In mild cases, the result may primarily be pain, stiffness, trembling or muscle spasms. In more serious cases, it can lead to weakness, dragging a paw, trouble walking or even paralysis.
Fortunately, Missy is still walking. She has not been dragging her legs, falling over or showing obvious paralysis. Right now, this appears to be closer to the pain-and-inflammation end of the problem rather than the severe neurological end.
The veterinarian prescribed two medications:
Meloxicam, a liquid anti-inflammatory and pain medicine, given once daily with food for five days.
Methocarbamol, a muscle relaxer intended to reduce the painful tightening and spasms around her back.
Because Missy had already been exhausted by the trips, examinations and vaccinations, and because she had just received her flea-and-tick medication, I did not give every medication at the same time on the first night. I wanted to be able to tell whether she was having a reaction to the flea medication instead of giving several new things at once and having no idea which one caused a problem.
The next morning, after she ate, I gave her the liquid medication.
The prescribed muscle-relaxer dose was two tablets twice a day. Because Missy weighs just under 50 pounds, was already extremely tired and is easy for me to watch closely throughout the day, I started with one tablet twice a day.
I believe in using the smallest dose that works. Starting lower also leaves room to increase to one and a half tablets or the full two tablets if her pain or muscle spasms are not adequately controlled. I will not increase it simply to make her sleep more. I am watching how comfortable, alert and coordinated she is while awake, and I will involve the veterinarian if her condition changes or the dose needs to be reconsidered.
So far, she has been sleeping more deeply than I have ever seen her sleep.
She is snoring loudly.
At one point, she slept in exactly the same position for at least four hours without even changing the position of her head. Missy normally moves around much more than that while sleeping.
To me, the snoring and deep sleep suggest that she is finally resting comfortably instead of being kept awake by pain. The muscle relaxer is probably contributing to the deeper sleep as well. She is sleepy, but she has not been acting dangerously overmedicated. She is not stumbling around like she is drunk, foaming at the mouth, collapsing or impossible to wake.
When she is awake, I am watching for anything that would suggest the disc problem is getting worse, including:
• Wobbling or falling
• Dragging a paw
• Walking on the top of a folded foot
• Weakness in the back legs
• Crying out when moving
• Refusing food or water again
• Loss of bladder or bowel control
• Severe pain despite the medication
Those symptoms would require another veterinary evaluation rather than simply giving more muscle relaxer.
The veterinarian also found a large amount of fleas and flea dirt on her. I gave her Bravecto, which should kill the adult fleas and provide flea-and-tick protection for approximately 12 weeks. I also submitted a f***l sample yesterday and am still waiting for the f***l results, urine test results and the rest of her bloodwork.
Her initial testing was negative for heartworms, Lyme disease, Ehrlichia, Anaplasma and pancreatitis, which was encouraging.
For now, the most important part of her recovery is rest.
The medicine can reduce pain much faster than the disc itself can heal. That creates a risk because Missy may begin feeling better before her back is actually strong enough for normal activity.
She needs to avoid running, stairs, jumping onto furniture, rough play, sudden twisting and explosive movements while this heals.
In the long term, she may recover enough to resume a nearly normal life. She should still be able to walk, explore the yard, sniff everything, enjoy gentle play and do the things that make her happy.
Unfortunately, one of her favorite activities has probably come to an end.
Missy loves to run at full speed, leap into the air and grab flying sticks. That activity involves sprinting, jumping, twisting in midair and landing hard—all of the things most likely to cause another disc injury.
My best guess is that Missy has officially retired from competitive stick-catching aerobatics. Probably Best since We celebrated her 10th Birthday Earlier this year in March.
She is not retiring from fun.
She is retiring from aerobatics.
I will continue watching her closely, keeping her quiet and updating everyone when the remaining test results come back.
For the moment, she is resting comfortably, sleeping deeply and snoring loud enough to make sure I know she is still in the room.
