I am looking for some encouragement and advice. Wondering if there is anyone else who has had a similar experience or injury as I’ve gone through with my dog.
On the 11th of June my dog was hit by a car. I’m devastated by what happened. He suffered a non displaced fractured pelvis. There was also a large wound on the inner thigh of the left hind leg. They operated that day to get it cleaned and patched up. The right hind leg has neurological damage that we don’t know the extent of yet. The wound on the left leg has been touch and go. He had to go back into surgery last Friday because the stitches weren’t holding. The vet ended up taking some out and leaving the wound open under a bandage. So we go back every 48 hours for a bandage change. He had a bandage change today and the vet was happy with the way it is healing. He thinks we will be able to remove the remaining stables on Saturday and continue with the bandage changes on the open part of the wound.
For his right back leg he originally didn’t have feeling in it. It’s been 3 weeks and he now does have some feeling. He can stand briefly with my help now. He puts most of his weight on the left leg that had surgery. The nerve damage leg he doesn’t put much weight on and it’s knuckling. The vet says it’s possible that time will heal the neurological damage. X-rays don’t show anything else wrong. He hasn’t referred me to a neurologist yet and I’m wondering if I should be pushing that. Or if I should be waiting to see if time heals it more. I want to do everything I can to get this boy as recovered as possible. I’m sure a neurologist isn’t cheap though and I’ve spent thousands at this point. Right now we have been focused on rest with moving his legs around a little for PT.
So if anyone else has had experience with this type of injury when did you seek out a neurologist? How did recovery go? I’m worried about everything under the sun and just highly stressed. If anyone has advice or encouragement I would greatly appreciate it. Thanks for listening.
Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
If feeling is coming back in the right leg already, that is highly encouraging. Really. Three weeks isn't long, even if it seems an eternity when you've got a dog who suddenly can't walk or posture to potty independently, requires repeated surgeries and bandage changes, is beginning to be weight bearing but is knuckling, and you don't know the future. I'm not a vet, but if the pelvic fracture is not displaced, and some feeling has been returning, then I personally would probably continue just as you already are.
If you consult a neurologist, the exam or consultation itself may not cost that much, but chances are they can't give you much advice without advanced imaging, such as an MRI. That would be another sedation for your dog and a major expense as you kind of mentioned, so that's a judgment call. You could call the hospital where you might theoretically be referred by your vet for a neurology exam, and ask them what their MRIs cost just so you have the facts in hand. The thing is, (again, I am not a vet) it doesn't sound like spinal surgery would be in order if the fracture is not displaced. It sounds like your dog has something like a spinal contusion, which is more like bruising or inflammation, but I don't know, and the neurologist probably won't know for sure either without imaging. You didn't mention whether he is on any medication. I would want my dog on medication to reduce the swelling.
I totally know the feeling of wanting to do everything possible because you love the dog and you don't want to look back and say you didn't try everything. You are casting around to see, "Is there anything else I can do? Is there something I might be missing? Is there anything where I will look back someday and kick myself because I didn't do that, and now I am going to blame myself and feel guilt and regret for the rest of my life." But really, it sounds like you're on the right track already. Rest for maybe 6 weeks (not sure how long the vet recommended) with only passive range of motion, no other PT, and then after the required rest period, you'll be looking at doing PT if it is still needed. I don't know if professional PT is available where you live, but you might start investigating that for when he is cleared for more activity. That's not cheap either, but you would be going for sessions on a schedule (like twice a week or once a week or once every 2 weeks) while also doing a program of rehab exercises at home, and you would be following professional advice. The moral support is also helpful. And animal rehab therapists have experience with gradual recovery, which is what you often have with a spinal injury.
I totally understand the absolute commitment to do the best you can for a dog. I don't know if it will help you, but my dog also had a spinal fracture (not pelvic, it was at mid-back), probably from being hit but a car, but that is unknown. She was found injured with a gash across her hips with ants in it and a spinal fracture (complete break) so that one part of the spine tried to leapfrog up over the other pinching the spinal cord in between. She required spinal fusion surgery to put her spine back in alignment (because it was displaced and offset) and the imaging before surgery showed 100% overriding of the spinal canal. The injury also caused incontinence. They had me sign a statement before surgery acknowleging she would likely not walk again. Nevertheless, she did learn to walk again. In our case it took months of patience and PT. The nerves do slowly heal in the background where you can't see them, even though things may look much the same from day to day, and PT helps the dog make the most of the gradual recovery of function. They didn't find deep pain sensation in my dog's toes till 149 days after her accident. I don't think your dog is going to take that long.
So right now you are obviously waiting for the soft tissue injury to heal on the other leg. And I assume you are dealing with toileting issues as it must be difficult for your dog to stand and posture to accomplish his business. I don't know how big your dog is, so I don't know if you are also doing some heavy lifting anytime you need to do anything with him. But if he has bowel and bladder control, and can stand briefly now, and has some feeling in that one foot, that is all really encouraging and I would be optimistic.
For me, waiting was hard. I had no experience with a gradual recovery. My dog had crate rest after her accident and then we started PT and did it for months. I had given up the hope that she would ever walk again, but we continued PT because it was quality time for us and I felt it was good for her regardless, and then she did begin to walk again. And it was worth the wait. And then we still continued PT after she was walking to maximize her recovery.
The nerves will continue to recover, not for weeks...or months...but for years. My dog was still doing something new at nearly the 5-year point.
It can be hard to sit on your hands and wait during the rest period. But rest is helping the swelling go down, and starting activity now would likely delay recovery or make things worse, so it's good he is resting. After the rest period, he can start doing some physical therapy if he still needs it. Personally, and I'm just one person, I would probably save my money for PT, but it's going to be up to how you feel about things. Hydrotherapy (such as swimming or walking on an underwater treadmill) is so good for helping them learn to walk again without needing to bear a lot of weight. A neurology consult isn't unreasonable, but I'm not sure it would be of a lot of practical benefit, other than acting as a second opinion and setting your own mind at ease that you're doing everything possible.
As for the weight bearing and knuckling, I would think with it being only 3 weeks after the injury, he probably still has come pain if he bears weight. Knuckling is a very common thing with recovery from spinal injury. To some extent people just endure it and deal with the boo-boos. There are a number of things you can try (socks, boots, splints, tape) if his foot is getting scraped up too much, but it kind of comes with the territory. He will hopefully get past that in time. You are still in early days.
The only tip I might give right now is to watch for any excessive licking or nibbling on the foot where feeling is returning. Some dogs go through a temporary phase where they have what we assume is a pins-and-needles sensation as feeling returns. Sort of like when you sleep on your arm funny and it goes numb and then starts to wake back up. If you do notice that, let your vet know right away, because some dogs will actually keep chewing even if they draw blood (and lose toes that way), and there is medication to help prevent that.
Hang in there. To me it sounds like you are already doing the right thing, and it's just going to be hard for a while, because it's inescapable, these situations are. There's nothing else you can think about while you're trying to deal with it the best you can.
Recovery from spinal injury tends to be by baby steps. Tiny little improvements you notice along the way. But all those little improvements add up, and one day you look back and see how far you've come. You might want to consider keeping a log or journal of his progress.
If you consult a neurologist, the exam or consultation itself may not cost that much, but chances are they can't give you much advice without advanced imaging, such as an MRI. That would be another sedation for your dog and a major expense as you kind of mentioned, so that's a judgment call. You could call the hospital where you might theoretically be referred by your vet for a neurology exam, and ask them what their MRIs cost just so you have the facts in hand. The thing is, (again, I am not a vet) it doesn't sound like spinal surgery would be in order if the fracture is not displaced. It sounds like your dog has something like a spinal contusion, which is more like bruising or inflammation, but I don't know, and the neurologist probably won't know for sure either without imaging. You didn't mention whether he is on any medication. I would want my dog on medication to reduce the swelling.
I totally know the feeling of wanting to do everything possible because you love the dog and you don't want to look back and say you didn't try everything. You are casting around to see, "Is there anything else I can do? Is there something I might be missing? Is there anything where I will look back someday and kick myself because I didn't do that, and now I am going to blame myself and feel guilt and regret for the rest of my life." But really, it sounds like you're on the right track already. Rest for maybe 6 weeks (not sure how long the vet recommended) with only passive range of motion, no other PT, and then after the required rest period, you'll be looking at doing PT if it is still needed. I don't know if professional PT is available where you live, but you might start investigating that for when he is cleared for more activity. That's not cheap either, but you would be going for sessions on a schedule (like twice a week or once a week or once every 2 weeks) while also doing a program of rehab exercises at home, and you would be following professional advice. The moral support is also helpful. And animal rehab therapists have experience with gradual recovery, which is what you often have with a spinal injury.
I totally understand the absolute commitment to do the best you can for a dog. I don't know if it will help you, but my dog also had a spinal fracture (not pelvic, it was at mid-back), probably from being hit but a car, but that is unknown. She was found injured with a gash across her hips with ants in it and a spinal fracture (complete break) so that one part of the spine tried to leapfrog up over the other pinching the spinal cord in between. She required spinal fusion surgery to put her spine back in alignment (because it was displaced and offset) and the imaging before surgery showed 100% overriding of the spinal canal. The injury also caused incontinence. They had me sign a statement before surgery acknowleging she would likely not walk again. Nevertheless, she did learn to walk again. In our case it took months of patience and PT. The nerves do slowly heal in the background where you can't see them, even though things may look much the same from day to day, and PT helps the dog make the most of the gradual recovery of function. They didn't find deep pain sensation in my dog's toes till 149 days after her accident. I don't think your dog is going to take that long.
So right now you are obviously waiting for the soft tissue injury to heal on the other leg. And I assume you are dealing with toileting issues as it must be difficult for your dog to stand and posture to accomplish his business. I don't know how big your dog is, so I don't know if you are also doing some heavy lifting anytime you need to do anything with him. But if he has bowel and bladder control, and can stand briefly now, and has some feeling in that one foot, that is all really encouraging and I would be optimistic.
For me, waiting was hard. I had no experience with a gradual recovery. My dog had crate rest after her accident and then we started PT and did it for months. I had given up the hope that she would ever walk again, but we continued PT because it was quality time for us and I felt it was good for her regardless, and then she did begin to walk again. And it was worth the wait. And then we still continued PT after she was walking to maximize her recovery.
The nerves will continue to recover, not for weeks...or months...but for years. My dog was still doing something new at nearly the 5-year point.
It can be hard to sit on your hands and wait during the rest period. But rest is helping the swelling go down, and starting activity now would likely delay recovery or make things worse, so it's good he is resting. After the rest period, he can start doing some physical therapy if he still needs it. Personally, and I'm just one person, I would probably save my money for PT, but it's going to be up to how you feel about things. Hydrotherapy (such as swimming or walking on an underwater treadmill) is so good for helping them learn to walk again without needing to bear a lot of weight. A neurology consult isn't unreasonable, but I'm not sure it would be of a lot of practical benefit, other than acting as a second opinion and setting your own mind at ease that you're doing everything possible.
As for the weight bearing and knuckling, I would think with it being only 3 weeks after the injury, he probably still has come pain if he bears weight. Knuckling is a very common thing with recovery from spinal injury. To some extent people just endure it and deal with the boo-boos. There are a number of things you can try (socks, boots, splints, tape) if his foot is getting scraped up too much, but it kind of comes with the territory. He will hopefully get past that in time. You are still in early days.
The only tip I might give right now is to watch for any excessive licking or nibbling on the foot where feeling is returning. Some dogs go through a temporary phase where they have what we assume is a pins-and-needles sensation as feeling returns. Sort of like when you sleep on your arm funny and it goes numb and then starts to wake back up. If you do notice that, let your vet know right away, because some dogs will actually keep chewing even if they draw blood (and lose toes that way), and there is medication to help prevent that.
Hang in there. To me it sounds like you are already doing the right thing, and it's just going to be hard for a while, because it's inescapable, these situations are. There's nothing else you can think about while you're trying to deal with it the best you can.
Recovery from spinal injury tends to be by baby steps. Tiny little improvements you notice along the way. But all those little improvements add up, and one day you look back and see how far you've come. You might want to consider keeping a log or journal of his progress.
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Picole2424
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2025 11:11 pm
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
Thank you. I appreciate the advice and support. I’m feeling a lot calmer and less overwhelmed. We went for a bandage change today and I was able to talk to the doctor. The vet is very happy with his progress. He showed me photos of the wound under the bandage and says it is healing nicely and faster than he expected. The sides are slowly coming together and new tissue is being created. He thinks my boy has come a really long way in a short period of time. That was really amazing to hear and such a relief. Saturday we are going back for another bandage change and he is hoping the rest of the stitches can be removed.
I asked him about the leg with nerve damage and if there’s anything else I should be doing at this point. He said that right now he needs rest and to let his body heal. He’s got feeling in that leg and can put some weight on it so all good signs. After speaking with the doctor I am going to wait on the neurologist. His current vet has been amazing and I trust his judgment. If we need to see one eventually I’ll bring him, but at this point I’ve got to be patient and let him heal. So we are focused on rest and passively moving the legs around gently.
I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something. You’re right I don’t want to look back and regret that I didn’t do something that would have helped. I’ve looked and we do have professional PT in the area. It’s definitely something I’d be interested in if he needs it. I’ve heard that hydrotherapy is good for something like this. How much was your PT weekly if you don’t mind me asking? I know obviously it differs per region but just looking for an estimate.
He’s currently on several medicines including Gabapentin, Tramadol, Amantadine, Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, and Rilexine. I feel like I have a drug store in my house lol. He’s got a urinary catheter in still since he can’t posture long enough to pee/poo yet. I’m unsure at this point if he will be able to have control of his bladder/colon. The catheter has been a bit challenging. I have to be very careful when picking him up not to let it catch or get tangled. It got pulled out somehow on Saturday night. Luckily no damage was done but the emergency vet had to reinsert it.
At the 2 week mark he hadn’t pooped yet. The vet recommended half a teaspoon of miralax. He ended up pooping that evening and then again the next day in the car on the way to a bandage change. It was diarrhea and quite messy but I had never been happier to smell poop. He hasn’t gone again since then so the vet recommended a smaller dose to try again. He’s around 60lbs so getting him to the car and back for all these vet visits has been challenging. I bought a cart off Amazon to put him in to get him out to the car.
Does anyone have any tips for what to put on the floor to help with traction? I foresee that being a problem when he’s trying to move around more. We have very slippery floors. I’d prefer some kind of mat verses a rug for cleaning purposes.
Thank you for all the other tips. I read a bit about dogs licking biting their leg from nerve damage. So I’m definitely watching out for that. Luckily he hasn’t exhibited that behavior so far. Hopefully he won’t have to go through that.
I found and read the posts about your dog. It is really encouraging to see such a brave dog come so far. You have put so much love and care into your puppy. Thanks for posting your experience. It helps to know others have gone through similar experiences. I have been keeping a bit of a photo log of our progress. When I’m feeling helpless the photos help to show how far he’s come. I’m feeling much more positive and hopeful after reading through posts on this site and talking to the doctor.
I asked him about the leg with nerve damage and if there’s anything else I should be doing at this point. He said that right now he needs rest and to let his body heal. He’s got feeling in that leg and can put some weight on it so all good signs. After speaking with the doctor I am going to wait on the neurologist. His current vet has been amazing and I trust his judgment. If we need to see one eventually I’ll bring him, but at this point I’ve got to be patient and let him heal. So we are focused on rest and passively moving the legs around gently.
I just wanted to make sure I wasn’t missing something. You’re right I don’t want to look back and regret that I didn’t do something that would have helped. I’ve looked and we do have professional PT in the area. It’s definitely something I’d be interested in if he needs it. I’ve heard that hydrotherapy is good for something like this. How much was your PT weekly if you don’t mind me asking? I know obviously it differs per region but just looking for an estimate.
He’s currently on several medicines including Gabapentin, Tramadol, Amantadine, Doxycycline, Ciprofloxacin, and Rilexine. I feel like I have a drug store in my house lol. He’s got a urinary catheter in still since he can’t posture long enough to pee/poo yet. I’m unsure at this point if he will be able to have control of his bladder/colon. The catheter has been a bit challenging. I have to be very careful when picking him up not to let it catch or get tangled. It got pulled out somehow on Saturday night. Luckily no damage was done but the emergency vet had to reinsert it.
At the 2 week mark he hadn’t pooped yet. The vet recommended half a teaspoon of miralax. He ended up pooping that evening and then again the next day in the car on the way to a bandage change. It was diarrhea and quite messy but I had never been happier to smell poop. He hasn’t gone again since then so the vet recommended a smaller dose to try again. He’s around 60lbs so getting him to the car and back for all these vet visits has been challenging. I bought a cart off Amazon to put him in to get him out to the car.
Does anyone have any tips for what to put on the floor to help with traction? I foresee that being a problem when he’s trying to move around more. We have very slippery floors. I’d prefer some kind of mat verses a rug for cleaning purposes.
Thank you for all the other tips. I read a bit about dogs licking biting their leg from nerve damage. So I’m definitely watching out for that. Luckily he hasn’t exhibited that behavior so far. Hopefully he won’t have to go through that.
I found and read the posts about your dog. It is really encouraging to see such a brave dog come so far. You have put so much love and care into your puppy. Thanks for posting your experience. It helps to know others have gone through similar experiences. I have been keeping a bit of a photo log of our progress. When I’m feeling helpless the photos help to show how far he’s come. I’m feeling much more positive and hopeful after reading through posts on this site and talking to the doctor.
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Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
I’ve had similar with 2 cats. Tristalyn was HBC as well and had radial nerve damage. It took months, as I recall, but she recovered fully. A spinal cord injured boy had terrible paresthesias and did 2 courses of gabapentin before they passed. My suggestion is to use splints on the nerve damaged limb to avoid skin breakdown or contractures; contractures are disasters, and skin breakdown can be. A proper splint holding the limb in the position of function is worth gold.
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
PS—How about using shoes for traction rather than floor coverings? Another possibility is a spray on, like Show Foot spray.
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Picole2424
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2025 11:11 pm
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
Thank you. I’ll look into splints. I did get him some booties for traction but we only tried them once a few days after it happened. He didn’t seem to know what to do with them on. I’ll have to try them again now that he’s sitting up more.
He actually stood today and took his first few steps! Gave
me a heart attack. Still not putting weight on the nerve damaged leg but the other leg seems to be getting stronger each day.
He actually stood today and took his first few steps! Gave
me a heart attack. Still not putting weight on the nerve damaged leg but the other leg seems to be getting stronger each day.
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
He took his first steps??? Woohoo!!!! Couldn't you just about cry for joy?!
I love the picture of him that you posted. He has such a happy look on his face on the Day 16 picture.
Very glad for the positive report from the vet.
You asked about prices on PT. I'm sorry, I can't answer that, I'm afraid. The sessions we did with Katie were $30 each, but her PT was 2004 - 2012, and the place she used to go was later sold to Blue Pearl and they discontinued PT.
. I live in a low cost of living area in the US, but I used to joke that we paid for their treadmill. 
When I adopted Pip during the pandemic, I tried to get him into PT at a different place, and that didn't work out because he growled at the therapist and she took a dislike to him. I felt like the first requirement of a rehab therapist should be to be able to make friends with a frightened recently injured dog, so that was surprising. (He's a 9-lb chihuahua). The therapist made a list of exercises for him to do at home instead and I think that was about $200 for the initial evaluation (without any PT) and then the exercise prescription.
I'm guessing you're looking at $75 per session or more. It will partly depend on what they do. They may have one price for hydrotherapy only, and another price for hydrotherapy plus hands on rehab exercises. There are other modalities they may recommend, such as cold laser or e-stim or various things (I have no idea what would be appropriate). There may also be a difference between buying a package (such as a dozen sessions) versus pay as you go.
It's possible they may recommend acupuncture. I guess it's up to you to research and decide, if they do. Based on posts I'd read here over the years, I had the impression that in cases where it helped dogs, the caregivers could usually see a difference after the first couple of appointments. I didn't know if it would help Pip, but I agreed to 5 sessions. My records show I paid $81 each, which may have been $75 + tax, don't know. I went back and forth trying to decide whether they were doing him any good or not, and in the end I decided I could not see any definite benefit, so we quit that. The practitioner was a veterinarian, but she also wanted to use some herbal treatments with the acupuncture, which I declined, so maybe that would have helped, again I don't know. The good thing was, he did not appear to be bothered by the needles all along his back, and they were nice to him. But I think the home PT we did was what really helped him.
That's interesting that they have him with a catheter and bag. I'm not sure I remember any dogs here that were sent home that way. Just trying to think whether that would have any implications once it's removed. I'm hoping he has bladder control, and it seems likely since his one leg is good, but when it is time to remove the catheter, if he seems to be dribbling at first, you may not be sure whether it's simply a side effect of having a catheter, or whether it is neurological. But it looks like you've already got him a belly band, so you have that available if needed. 60lbs is quite a bit. That's what my golden retreiver, Merlin was, when he went down. I'm really glad your dog is getting on his feet again, for both of your sakes!
You asked about mats. I used the cheap ribbed 3x5 entry mats with a black border (like from Home Depot) for Merlin. Here's a picture.
For what it's worth, on the list of meds I noticed he's on gabapentin and tramadol. I assume he's not on any steroids because of the open wound. Gabapentin also happens to be a common drug for dogs that chew (which he does not do). Don't know if dosing would be different for pain/inflammation vs neuropathic pain.
That's cool about your cart. I'd be curious what it is. One guy here got a hydraulic lift cart for his dog. There's a photo at the bottom of this post.
Yes, we celebrate potty success here for sure!! Happy dance when it finally happens! One trick I found with Merlin when he went indoors was to drop a bunch of Kleenex over it right away. Helps a lot!
I love the picture of him that you posted. He has such a happy look on his face on the Day 16 picture.
Very glad for the positive report from the vet.
You asked about prices on PT. I'm sorry, I can't answer that, I'm afraid. The sessions we did with Katie were $30 each, but her PT was 2004 - 2012, and the place she used to go was later sold to Blue Pearl and they discontinued PT.
. I live in a low cost of living area in the US, but I used to joke that we paid for their treadmill. When I adopted Pip during the pandemic, I tried to get him into PT at a different place, and that didn't work out because he growled at the therapist and she took a dislike to him. I felt like the first requirement of a rehab therapist should be to be able to make friends with a frightened recently injured dog, so that was surprising. (He's a 9-lb chihuahua). The therapist made a list of exercises for him to do at home instead and I think that was about $200 for the initial evaluation (without any PT) and then the exercise prescription.
I'm guessing you're looking at $75 per session or more. It will partly depend on what they do. They may have one price for hydrotherapy only, and another price for hydrotherapy plus hands on rehab exercises. There are other modalities they may recommend, such as cold laser or e-stim or various things (I have no idea what would be appropriate). There may also be a difference between buying a package (such as a dozen sessions) versus pay as you go.
It's possible they may recommend acupuncture. I guess it's up to you to research and decide, if they do. Based on posts I'd read here over the years, I had the impression that in cases where it helped dogs, the caregivers could usually see a difference after the first couple of appointments. I didn't know if it would help Pip, but I agreed to 5 sessions. My records show I paid $81 each, which may have been $75 + tax, don't know. I went back and forth trying to decide whether they were doing him any good or not, and in the end I decided I could not see any definite benefit, so we quit that. The practitioner was a veterinarian, but she also wanted to use some herbal treatments with the acupuncture, which I declined, so maybe that would have helped, again I don't know. The good thing was, he did not appear to be bothered by the needles all along his back, and they were nice to him. But I think the home PT we did was what really helped him.
That's interesting that they have him with a catheter and bag. I'm not sure I remember any dogs here that were sent home that way. Just trying to think whether that would have any implications once it's removed. I'm hoping he has bladder control, and it seems likely since his one leg is good, but when it is time to remove the catheter, if he seems to be dribbling at first, you may not be sure whether it's simply a side effect of having a catheter, or whether it is neurological. But it looks like you've already got him a belly band, so you have that available if needed. 60lbs is quite a bit. That's what my golden retreiver, Merlin was, when he went down. I'm really glad your dog is getting on his feet again, for both of your sakes!
You asked about mats. I used the cheap ribbed 3x5 entry mats with a black border (like from Home Depot) for Merlin. Here's a picture.
- 400px-Merlin_malewrap_straps.jpg (52.15 KiB) Viewed 15276 times
That's cool about your cart. I'd be curious what it is. One guy here got a hydraulic lift cart for his dog. There's a photo at the bottom of this post.
Yes, we celebrate potty success here for sure!! Happy dance when it finally happens! One trick I found with Merlin when he went indoors was to drop a bunch of Kleenex over it right away. Helps a lot!
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Picole2424
- Posts: 5
- Joined: Tue Jul 01, 2025 11:11 pm
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
Thanks for the additional info on the PT you’ve done in the past. I’ll have to call a few places and get quotes if that’s something we will need in the future. I’ll also look into those type of mats. Figured I’d keep posting some updates on his progress.
I am seeing small improvements most days which is encouraging. He’s been sitting up a bit more. We went to the vet for a bandage change today and he stood up in the cart. Still not putting much weight on the nerve damage leg and it’s flipping back. When I correct it for him he does put a tiny bit of weight on it. We were hoping the staples would come out today but the vet said they aren’t ready. They maybe able to come out on Monday though.
I gave him a little bit of laxative Thursday night per vet instructions. I was hoping he’d poop Friday, but it didn’t work fast enough. He got all nervous at the vet today and pooped three times while they tried to change his bandage
. Glad he got it out but sorry it was on the vet lol.
Does anyone remember how often their dog pooped after their surgery/trauma? Did you have to give your dogs laxatives? I’m trying to figure out what the new normal is for now. He’s not really mobile yet so it’s hard to predict. I have two different harnesses, but neither are working out at this point. The catheter and the wound make it hard to use them. The wound is on the inner leg from the bottom to the groin. So a harness that goes in that area doesn’t work right now. I tried just a sling type one as well but it pulled or put too much pressure on the catheter. He’s been a pretty brave boy and only has cried out when we tried that harness and the first night I brought him home. I believe once he’s steadier the vet will remove the catheter. He prescribed antibiotics so he hopefully won’t get a UTI. Hoping there are no other long term effects of it but we will cross that bridge if we get to it.
They didn’t prescribe us steroids. I’m guessing the open wound and because we originally had a lot of other issues going on from the trauma. He had high liver and kidney levels, very low platelets and was anemic. Luckily those issues have sorted themselves out with time and have gone back to normalish levels.
Here’s some new photos of him. This is the cart I’ve been using to get him to the car.
I am seeing small improvements most days which is encouraging. He’s been sitting up a bit more. We went to the vet for a bandage change today and he stood up in the cart. Still not putting much weight on the nerve damage leg and it’s flipping back. When I correct it for him he does put a tiny bit of weight on it. We were hoping the staples would come out today but the vet said they aren’t ready. They maybe able to come out on Monday though.
I gave him a little bit of laxative Thursday night per vet instructions. I was hoping he’d poop Friday, but it didn’t work fast enough. He got all nervous at the vet today and pooped three times while they tried to change his bandage
. Glad he got it out but sorry it was on the vet lol. Does anyone remember how often their dog pooped after their surgery/trauma? Did you have to give your dogs laxatives? I’m trying to figure out what the new normal is for now. He’s not really mobile yet so it’s hard to predict. I have two different harnesses, but neither are working out at this point. The catheter and the wound make it hard to use them. The wound is on the inner leg from the bottom to the groin. So a harness that goes in that area doesn’t work right now. I tried just a sling type one as well but it pulled or put too much pressure on the catheter. He’s been a pretty brave boy and only has cried out when we tried that harness and the first night I brought him home. I believe once he’s steadier the vet will remove the catheter. He prescribed antibiotics so he hopefully won’t get a UTI. Hoping there are no other long term effects of it but we will cross that bridge if we get to it.
They didn’t prescribe us steroids. I’m guessing the open wound and because we originally had a lot of other issues going on from the trauma. He had high liver and kidney levels, very low platelets and was anemic. Luckily those issues have sorted themselves out with time and have gone back to normalish levels.
Here’s some new photos of him. This is the cart I’ve been using to get him to the car.
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Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
He looks great for all he's been through. He has a sweet face. What a trooper.
Yes, you are kind of limited as far as slings and harnesses. I usually recommend a harness, but with a fractured pelvis and open wound, I wouldn't know what would work. But with him being 60 lbs, that's quite a bit to try to gather him in your arms and carry him. I couldn't carry Merlin. I also usually recommend asking for help getting your dog in and out of the vet clinic or the PT place. You have enough to do to get him from the house to the car, and back again when you get home. But I would only ask for assistance if the vet staff understood about the fracture and would handle him carefully. I'd probably be overprotective and remind them every time...
I like your wagon. Looks like you don't have to lift him very high to put him in. And it looks collapsible. Now if you can just get him to stay seated!
The only idea I have on the belly sling is, can you cut a notch on the front edge to keep pressure off the catheter? They used to sell a belly sling that was notched in front so it would curve around the male area and allow the dog to urinate. They used to say you could cut the notch bigger if needed, because the fabric it was made of would still hold up. I'm thinking it was neoprene or something sturdy like that. And you have to watch the open wound that is still healing, so really you can only do the best you can.
There is a harness that is basically a chest harness but the support underneath covers the chest clear back almost to the abdomen. It's called the Ruffwear Web Master harness. It's been around for 20 years at least, probably longer. There is a grab handle on the top and the handle is located over the mid back, not over the shoulders.
https://ruffwear.com/products/web-master-harness
Good photo here:
https://www.denverpost.com/2015/09/18/r ... r-more-up/
Where exactly on the pelvis is the fracture, did they say? And is it just in one place?
On the constipation, my guess would be everyday factors like the lack of exercise you mentioned, possibly the meds, and on top of that pain can make you tense. And if it hurts to try to "assume the position" that would put him right out of the mood in an instant. Dogs seem to have an instinct not to soil their bed, so that could make him reluctant to go while lying down in bed. But even if a dog is fully paralyzed, the bowel will take care of itself. It may be slower, but movements continue, so I kind of don't think nerve damage is the cause of such a long stretch of constipation. I've heard of cats being constipated after a pelvic fracture, but I think that is due to an actual change in the shape of the pelvis as a result of the fracture, which causes a smaller area for waste to pass through. Some people use pure canned pumpkin (no spices) to regulate the stools. I'm using Miralax with my cat. It's tricky to get the right "poop texture" with Miralax. I shouldn't laugh about the appointment, but I did! At least he went, right?! I've had that happen on the grooming table. 
There's a chance he might go voluntarily if you could take him out to his customary location in the grass. Does he have a spot he prefers? If he eliminates out in the grass, he may try to get away from it afterward, and I've had one dog push himself backward into it while trying to get up, so you may want to be ready to go get him as soon as he goes.
There is way of expressing the bowel, also known as "poop on demand", where you can stimulate your dog to eliminate. There are a number of techniques. Some people dip a q-tip in Vaseline and insert it in the anus to stimulate a movement. Some people apply an ice cube under the dog's tail. I prefer the pinch method. There are other ways, too. Here is an article about it.
viewtopic.php?t=18586
Yes, you are kind of limited as far as slings and harnesses. I usually recommend a harness, but with a fractured pelvis and open wound, I wouldn't know what would work. But with him being 60 lbs, that's quite a bit to try to gather him in your arms and carry him. I couldn't carry Merlin. I also usually recommend asking for help getting your dog in and out of the vet clinic or the PT place. You have enough to do to get him from the house to the car, and back again when you get home. But I would only ask for assistance if the vet staff understood about the fracture and would handle him carefully. I'd probably be overprotective and remind them every time...
I like your wagon. Looks like you don't have to lift him very high to put him in. And it looks collapsible. Now if you can just get him to stay seated!
The only idea I have on the belly sling is, can you cut a notch on the front edge to keep pressure off the catheter? They used to sell a belly sling that was notched in front so it would curve around the male area and allow the dog to urinate. They used to say you could cut the notch bigger if needed, because the fabric it was made of would still hold up. I'm thinking it was neoprene or something sturdy like that. And you have to watch the open wound that is still healing, so really you can only do the best you can.
There is a harness that is basically a chest harness but the support underneath covers the chest clear back almost to the abdomen. It's called the Ruffwear Web Master harness. It's been around for 20 years at least, probably longer. There is a grab handle on the top and the handle is located over the mid back, not over the shoulders.
https://ruffwear.com/products/web-master-harness
Good photo here:
https://www.denverpost.com/2015/09/18/r ... r-more-up/
Where exactly on the pelvis is the fracture, did they say? And is it just in one place?
On the constipation, my guess would be everyday factors like the lack of exercise you mentioned, possibly the meds, and on top of that pain can make you tense. And if it hurts to try to "assume the position" that would put him right out of the mood in an instant. Dogs seem to have an instinct not to soil their bed, so that could make him reluctant to go while lying down in bed. But even if a dog is fully paralyzed, the bowel will take care of itself. It may be slower, but movements continue, so I kind of don't think nerve damage is the cause of such a long stretch of constipation. I've heard of cats being constipated after a pelvic fracture, but I think that is due to an actual change in the shape of the pelvis as a result of the fracture, which causes a smaller area for waste to pass through. Some people use pure canned pumpkin (no spices) to regulate the stools. I'm using Miralax with my cat. It's tricky to get the right "poop texture" with Miralax. I shouldn't laugh about the appointment, but I did!
At least he went, right?! I've had that happen on the grooming table. There's a chance he might go voluntarily if you could take him out to his customary location in the grass. Does he have a spot he prefers? If he eliminates out in the grass, he may try to get away from it afterward, and I've had one dog push himself backward into it while trying to get up, so you may want to be ready to go get him as soon as he goes.
There is way of expressing the bowel, also known as "poop on demand", where you can stimulate your dog to eliminate. There are a number of techniques. Some people dip a q-tip in Vaseline and insert it in the anus to stimulate a movement. Some people apply an ice cube under the dog's tail. I prefer the pinch method. There are other ways, too. Here is an article about it.
viewtopic.php?t=18586
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Picole2424
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Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
Loki’s recovery is going pretty good at this point. The wounded leg is healing well. We are still going every 48 hours for bandage changes, but the vet thinks we will be able to cut it down after next week.
I don’t like either harness I have currently. One is a sling as I mentioned but puts too much pressure on the catheter. The other one I have is a full body one. It might end up working after he’s healed more. Although the one you linked looks promising so I’ll have to check that out. Luckily I am able to pick him up and carry him short distances. The vet techs have been amazing and come out to gurney him in each time, which is saving my back a bit.
He’s definitely starting to feel better. The last few days he’s started sitting up and standing more.
They are brief stands but each day I feel like they are improving. The nerve damage leg is still very weak and he doesn’t put much weight on it. Hoping the coming weeks we will start to see improvements there as well but I know nerve damage takes time. He has two pelvic fractures. I believe one was on the iliac wing and the other one was on the midline. I’d have to look back at his records to confirm though. He’s made some incredible progress in 4 weeks. Which when I’m in it feels like a long time but really isn’t.
I haven’t been crating him because I work from home. I also haven’t left the house in 4 weeks except to go to the vet. I’ve been too focused and worried about him. Yesterday while I was sitting at my desk he opened the slider door right next to me and stumbled out himself. Gave me a #### heart attack and I ran out to help him. After that I decided it was time to order a crate. Now that he is feeling better I know I need to work up to leaving the house for brief periods of time. I feel bad for my other little dogs. I’ve got four dogs including Loki and before this we would go to the dog park almost daily. I haven’t had the heart to go without him but I know my little guys must miss it. They’ve been very supportive and gentle with their brother.
Although he’s been able to stand briefly outside we haven’t had success with pooping outside yet. He is still getting nervous each time at the vet and pooping on them lol. He had a big poop on the way home in the car as well. Very messy but glad he’s getting it out.
I’ll keep posting some updates on his progress as we go. Thanks!
I don’t like either harness I have currently. One is a sling as I mentioned but puts too much pressure on the catheter. The other one I have is a full body one. It might end up working after he’s healed more. Although the one you linked looks promising so I’ll have to check that out. Luckily I am able to pick him up and carry him short distances. The vet techs have been amazing and come out to gurney him in each time, which is saving my back a bit.
He’s definitely starting to feel better. The last few days he’s started sitting up and standing more.
They are brief stands but each day I feel like they are improving. The nerve damage leg is still very weak and he doesn’t put much weight on it. Hoping the coming weeks we will start to see improvements there as well but I know nerve damage takes time. He has two pelvic fractures. I believe one was on the iliac wing and the other one was on the midline. I’d have to look back at his records to confirm though. He’s made some incredible progress in 4 weeks. Which when I’m in it feels like a long time but really isn’t.
I haven’t been crating him because I work from home. I also haven’t left the house in 4 weeks except to go to the vet. I’ve been too focused and worried about him. Yesterday while I was sitting at my desk he opened the slider door right next to me and stumbled out himself. Gave me a #### heart attack and I ran out to help him. After that I decided it was time to order a crate. Now that he is feeling better I know I need to work up to leaving the house for brief periods of time. I feel bad for my other little dogs. I’ve got four dogs including Loki and before this we would go to the dog park almost daily. I haven’t had the heart to go without him but I know my little guys must miss it. They’ve been very supportive and gentle with their brother.
Although he’s been able to stand briefly outside we haven’t had success with pooping outside yet. He is still getting nervous each time at the vet and pooping on them lol. He had a big poop on the way home in the car as well. Very messy but glad he’s getting it out.
I’ll keep posting some updates on his progress as we go. Thanks!
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Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
Hi there,
Reading your update about Loki honestly brought tears to my eyes — I can feel so much love and dedication in every word. He’s so lucky to have you. I know exactly what that intense, all-consuming focus feels like… We went through something very similar with our little dog, Mila.
She wasn’t injured suddenly like Loki — she was born with severe issues in her hind legs, and as she grew, one of them lost all function. We tried physical therapy, supplements, even acupuncture. Some things helped short-term, but nothing gave her true independence. The hardest part was watching her want to keep up with our other dogs but not being able to. I felt helpless and honestly quite broken.
Around that time, I started researching mobility aids. We first got a basic cart from this website . But after a few months, as Mila grew stronger and needed more structure, we also decided to try a Walkin’ Wheels cart. That one ended up being a better long-term fit because it supported her spine and hips more evenly.
Also — I completely relate to the crate dilemma. We were exactly the same. Mila once managed to sneak off the couch when I turned away for two seconds, and I nearly had a full-on breakdown. Sometimes they’re just too brave for their own good
I hope Loki continues to heal day by day. And please don’t be too hard on yourself for being so focused on him — your other dogs understand more than we think
Reading your update about Loki honestly brought tears to my eyes — I can feel so much love and dedication in every word. He’s so lucky to have you. I know exactly what that intense, all-consuming focus feels like… We went through something very similar with our little dog, Mila.
She wasn’t injured suddenly like Loki — she was born with severe issues in her hind legs, and as she grew, one of them lost all function. We tried physical therapy, supplements, even acupuncture. Some things helped short-term, but nothing gave her true independence. The hardest part was watching her want to keep up with our other dogs but not being able to. I felt helpless and honestly quite broken.
Around that time, I started researching mobility aids. We first got a basic cart from this website . But after a few months, as Mila grew stronger and needed more structure, we also decided to try a Walkin’ Wheels cart. That one ended up being a better long-term fit because it supported her spine and hips more evenly.
Also — I completely relate to the crate dilemma. We were exactly the same. Mila once managed to sneak off the couch when I turned away for two seconds, and I nearly had a full-on breakdown. Sometimes they’re just too brave for their own good
I hope Loki continues to heal day by day. And please don’t be too hard on yourself for being so focused on him — your other dogs understand more than we think
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
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Picole2424 wrote: ↑Sat Jul 12, 2025 10:56 pm Loki’s recovery is going pretty good at this point. The wounded leg is healing well. We are still going every 48 hours for bandage changes, but the vet thinks we will be able to cut it down after next week.
I don’t like either harness I have currently. One is a sling as I mentioned but puts too much pressure on the catheter. The other one I have is a full body one. It might end up working after he’s healed more. Although the one you linked looks promising so I’ll have to check that out. Luckily I am able to pick him up and carry him short distances. The vet techs have been amazing and come out to gurney him in each time, which is saving my back a bit.
I'm glad they've been helping you. Yay for that!
He’s definitely starting to feel better. The last few days he’s started sitting up and standing more.
They are brief stands but each day I feel like they are improving. The nerve damage leg is still very weak and he doesn’t put much weight on it. Hoping the coming weeks we will start to see improvements there as well but I know nerve damage takes time. He has two pelvic fractures. I believe one was on the iliac wing and the other one was on the midline. I’d have to look back at his records to confirm though. He’s made some incredible progress in 4 weeks. Which when I’m in it feels like a long time but really isn’t.
When you're suddenly in a situation like this where you have to figure everything out, it's like it's all you can think about. Even when you're doing something else for a minute, it's hovering in the back of your mind and never far from thought. It's the intensity of the experience.
I haven’t been crating him because I work from home. I also haven’t left the house in 4 weeks except to go to the vet. I’ve been too focused and worried about him. Yesterday while I was sitting at my desk he opened the slider door right next to me and stumbled out himself. Gave me a #### heart attack and I ran out to help him. After that I decided it was time to order a crate. Now that he is feeling better I know I need to work up to leaving the house for brief periods of time. I feel bad for my other little dogs. I’ve got four dogs including Loki and before this we would go to the dog park almost daily. I haven’t had the heart to go without him but I know my little guys must miss it. They’ve been very supportive and gentle with their brother.
I'm not sure what to think about the dog park. Even after the fractures are healed, you'd probably be on the lookout for any big dogs that want to come play rough and tumble with your dog. Sometimes other people are not considerate when you tell them to call off their friendly dog from playing with yours. But there is also another slight possible issue to be aware of. We had a thread here about how other dogs sometimes respond to a "disabled" dog. One of the moderators was fostering a handicapped Samoyed when her own German Shepherd attacked him out of the blue and she had to defend the foster with her own body against her own dog. There have also been reports I don't have links for, but off an on over the years people have reported a change in the pecking order between their dogs within their family when one becomes disabled, where a dog who had been the alpha is now being challenged. I don't think either problem is too common, but just something to be aware of.
That is a really cute story about him opening the door and deciding to go out! It would be a shock though.
It's a great idea to get out of the house if you can. Four weeks is a long time.
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I used to just go to the mall and walk around with a diet Coke and window shop for half an hour. You may find that even when you are out and about, you still feel kind of a mental tether to your dog at home, but getting out is good for you if you can do it.
Although he’s been able to stand briefly outside we haven’t had success with pooping outside yet. He is still getting nervous each time at the vet and pooping on them lol. He had a big poop on the way home in the car as well. Very messy but glad he’s getting it out.
Yeah, that's really nice when you're in traffic and you can't stop and do anything about it. I travel with bottled water and paper towels or wash cloths, but you have to be able to stop to use them! Always glad if it happens before we get there so we don't have to worry during the appointment.
I’ll keep posting some updates on his progress as we go. Thanks!
It sounds like he's doing really good.
Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
hannaanna!Re: Advice - Dog hit by car nerve damage
Hannaanna!