Hello! My dog Mack (lhasa apso) had the ventral slot procedure done on his neck exactly 2 weeks ago. He had 2 ruptured discs that were causing him extreme pain. He had not lost function of his legs, but he was showing some nerve root pain by lifting up his left paw. They did surgery on him that night and he did great. We got to take him home the next night. We had some issues with him being extremely painful and yelping out in pain, we ended up having to take him back so he could get IV meds. He came home again the next day with a slew of meds, tramadol, methocarbamol, gabapentin, prednisone, and stuff to protect his stomach. I could tell a huge difference he was pretty much pain free for the most part. Still a little slow moving, especially in the morning, but over all a big improvement. He went back yesterday to have his stitches removed and the neuro did all sorts of tests moving his head all around. I was so afraid he was going to scream but he never did. We started decreasing his meds today. He is completely off the tramadol as well as methocarbamol. Those are only as needed. He is still taking the Gabapentin at 100mg every 8 to 12 hours, as well as his prednisone is cut down to 1/8 once a day. He did well yesterday evening, but this morning I had to take him to get his laser treatment, and when I got him out of the car he whined. The doctor told me it would be a very long recovery as far as the pain goes, because the neck is so sensitive. The main reason for this post is because I notice his neck twitching extremely hard. It almost makes his whole head bob sometimes. It was happening at his visit yesterday so I pointed it out to the neuro and he said that it might be something with his nerves, and he reminded me that they did have to go through muscle for the surgery so that spasms could be from that. I am SO worried that he has slipped another disc. I have been so strict with him, carrying him to the bathroom and he NEVER gets out of his cage, just to use the bathroom. But I have read where a dog can slip a disc just walking. I need to hear from someone whose dog has had cervical surgery and what the recovery was like. Is it normal for the dog to be in some pain 2 weeks out? Also do you think the twitching is just part of the healing? I can tell he is still in pain sometimes, especially when he is moving to go to the restroom. Is he just sore? I cant afford another surgery for him. This has already cost me 5 grand... I need some advice please!!! Thanks!

Dog presented for neck pain. A massive C3-4 disc was discovered. A C3-4 ventral slot is being live streamed at 4:00 pm.

Ventral Slot Surgery Dog Complications

• Ventral slot is the surgical technique primarily indicated for single ventral static compressions, and there is extensive experience with its use.1,13 In the standard ventral slot technique, the slot should not exceed one-third of the length and width of the vertebral body (Fig.
• For the majority of disc herniations in the neck, the disc material is removed by drilling a hole from underneath the disc (called a ventral slot). Surgery is successful in the majority of dogs with acute disc herniations (success rate of approximately 90 percent in dogs who still feel their toes).