IVDD Crate Rest Suite
I was so confused after Luna was diagnosed, and I read her treatment plan. Strict crate rest? I had never heard of limiting a dog to that extent before, but I knew it had to be done to allow proper healing. How can I keep a very active dog calm, in a small space, and entertained for so many weeks?
I was given so much guidance from my awesome dog-mom/dog-dad friends on Instagram, and this French Bulldog IVDD Support Group. I am really excited to share all of the products that helped us through our IVDD crate rest period.
If this is your first time visiting our blog, and are navigating through your own IVDD experience make sure to check out my previous posts: Luna’s IVDD Recovery Weeks 1-3 and Luna’s IVDD Recovery Weeks 4-8
Before we get started, I just want to make sure everyone knows I am just a simple dog mom. I am by no means a Vet or claim to be one. The products I am recommending were suited for our own experience. I highly recommend you speak with your Vet before introducing any products that I recommend to your dog in their recovery stage. Something as simple as the wrong toy can impede recovery if your dog is making too many movements. With that said, I hope this helps you. I am so grateful for the recommendations that were made to me, and I can only hope these make your crate rest period a little easier.
FIRST – I want to share my FAVORITE product purchase from our IVDD experience.
DRUM ROLL, PLEASE!
The Fluff Trough
The Fluff Trough. This was recommended to us by a good Instagram friend. I took to the Facebook Support Group to see what other Frenchie parents thought, and people were screaming from the rooftops how much they loved the Fluff Trough. I have not been paid or asked to review our Fluff Trough – I just seriously love it. It’s a small business, it was created by a Pug-loving-mama who you can read more about here.
I scoured the internet for hours trying to figure out what raised dog bowl would be best for Luna. After discussing with my Vet the benefits ( no need to lower her neck, put a strain on her back, or risk loss of balance), I knew finding the right raised dog bowl was essential. Why were there SOOO many though, and why were the price ranges all over the place? WHY?! As soon as I saw the Fluff Trough, I knew it was the right choice. They have a great graphic on their main page that illustrates the difference between raised bowls and the Fluff Trough.
Basically, your Frenchie won’t have to hunch over, fit their face into the bowl, and allows them to eat in a more ergonomic position. I love them so much that I now own three for Luna, Yoda, and Okja. Fingers crossed they develop a larger model so Zeke can enjoy his food from a Fluff Trough, too!
As an Amazon Associate I may earn from qualifying purchases. This is at no additional cost to you, and allows me to continue sharing my dog mom life with you through this blog.
Amazon Prime was my best friend during the recovery period. There’s really no way to prepare for IVDD, and Amazon had everything I needed for Luna on my doorstep in two days or less.
Crate Rest Suite
Up next? A Pack n’ Play converted into her recovery suite. This suggestion came to me through my Facebook group. Luna did great in her cage for the first three days but eventually became restless. I knew I had to keep her confined but was hoping there could be a better and safer way.
The Pack n’ Play could easily be moved, there was enough room for her to turn around, lay down, and I could keep a food/water bowl on one side while she laid on the other side. It gave her just a tiny bit more room, but also kept her safe. I still kept her in her actual enclosed crate any time I could not keep a close eye on her, and at night when she was asleep.
The Pack n’ Play gave our other dogs a better opportunity to check her out and see what she was up to. Okja was often found pressing her face against the mesh of the Pack n’ Play to try to play with Luna. I loved that I could easily take it outside so that Luna could enjoy a little sunshine during the first few weeks of very strict rest.
Members also used x-pins, which can also be modified into a recovery suite. I’ve included a few links below for reference from Amazon. If you’re going the Pack n’ Play route, all you need is the basic design. Try to find options that don’t include a bassinet or other bells and whistles.
Snuffle Mat
Okay, we had the pack n’ play and her crate, but how was I going to keep this dog entertained for weeks on end? Our very sweet friend Maude and her mama sent Luna a snuffle mat! We could hide treats or toys in her snuffle mat, it would allow her to forage, and would keep her engaged for quite a while. I loved it and so did she!
We also used a puzzle toy from Outward Hound and a soft puzzle toy from Zippy Paws. Luna would get a little too excited when it came to the Zippy Paws toy I got her, so her playtime with that was very limited.
She really enjoyed the Outward Hound puzzle though. We actually still use the puzzle frequently for all of our dogs. It’s great to test their problem-solving skills! Remember to always consult your Vet before using any new toys while your dog is recovering.
Supplement Support for IVDD
Now let’s get down to supplements and physical therapy. I spoke with my Vet about supplements, because I had no idea what route to go. There was a supplement from NutriScience called VetriDisc that came highly recommended in the Facebook IVDD Support Group. My Vet reviewed the ingredients and was pretty excited about us giving it a try. It includes many ingredients that support spinal/invertebrate disc tissue and maintenance of connective tissue.
I also wanted to be mindful of NOT overlapping supplements. Too much of something isn’t always a good thing. Your pup will literally just poop out excess supplement ingredients – it’s not worth it to overdo it! Many recommended Hip and Joint Supplements, Glucosamine, CBD Oil, etc. but I wanted to try and keep it simple.
I went with Zesty Paws Green-Lipped Mussel Bites along with VetriDisc. Green-Lipped Mussels have so many great health benefits! Green-Lipped Mussels are a naturally-occurring source of Omega-3, Glucosamine, and Chondroitin that may support joint health. I now give the Green-Lipped Mussles to all of the dogs, and they think they’re treats!
Always consult with your Vet about any supplements you are considering. There are not any supplements that have been proven to prevent or heal IVDD – they are simply supportive.
IVDD Physical Therapy Tools
For Luna’s physical therapy at home, we purchased a balancing disc and yoga mat. This was really simple and created a very low impact exercise for her. We would place her front or back paws on the balancing disc and gently shift her weight. This would prompt her to correct her stance, and lightly work muscles in her legs.
The yoga mat allowed her to easily grip the ground while we performed our other physical therapy activities. Your Vet should be able to give you a list of physical therapy actions to perform at home for your dog. They can let you know what’s safe and where your dog needs to build strength during their recovery.
IVDD Health Harness
Our harness from the Frenchie Store was super beneficial as well! The D-ring harness connection was essential and prevented Luna from pulling while on walks. If you do decide to try a harness from the Frenchie Store you can use code LUNA10 to save 10% off of your entire purchase.
IVDD Paw Care and Slipping
You will probably notice that your French Bulldogs paws slip a lot more on smooth surfaces due to IVDD. We laid down plenty of new area rugs to try and help Luna’s grip on our floor. I had read of someone using a show dog paw spray on their dog, but there was a warning that it was toxic if licked. YIKES!
I knew there had to be a better option, so I reached out to Natural Dog Company to see if they had a solution. They told me that their Paw Soother could potentially help a dog grip the floor better. A well-moisturized paw will always have a better grip. Think of your hands – if they’re dry you might not be able to separate pieces of paper, but if your hands are moisturized then you will definitely be able to separate a stack of paper much more easily.
So we have worked the Paw Soother into Luna’s skincare routine and it’s really helped! You can shop Natural Dog Paw Soother through Amazon or if shopping directly you can save with code JEDISYODALUNA.
IVDD Bandana
Last but not least I want to share our amazing experience with Little Bullies Designs. They so kindly reached out to me from their Instagram page and told me of their Frenchie who also was diagnosed with IVDD. He is five years old and currently living his best life!
They were kind enough to send me this amazing bandana for Luna. I am so happy that Luna can have a voice in spreading IVDD awareness! I love talking about IVDD, and Little Bullies Designs makes it easy to share our knowledge with their cute bandanas. They have many other custom bandana designs, but I love that they’re still working to help others understand IVDD while keeping pups looking fashionable!
Thank you all for sticking with us through these IVDD entries. I really hope these products that helped us can also help you if you’re also going through the IVDD recovery period.
IVDD Resources
Instagram: If you use Instragram try using these hashtags to connect and follow the progress of other IVDD Frenchies. #IVDD #IVDDRECOVERY #FIGHTLIKEAFRENCHIE #FLAF #IVDDSUCKS #IVDDSURVIVOR #IVDDSUPPORTGROUP #IVDDWONTSTOPME #VETERINARYNEUROLOGY #IVDDSUCKS #IVDDAWARENESS
Facebook: This is the support group that I mentioned in this entry. French Bulldog IVDD Support Group.
Websites for IVDD Info: Dodger’s List and Southeast Veterinary Neurology
Our IVDD Entries: Luna’s IVDD Recovery Weeks 1-3 and Luna’s IVDD Recovery Weeks 4-8
This blog may contain affiliate links that allow me to make a very small commission if you make a purchase by clicking the links – including Amazon. This is at no additional cost to you and any money I may receive is put right back into this blog. Thank you all so much for your support! As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
Disclaimer: Any information in this blog is not meant to replace high-quality Veterinary care. IVDD can only be diagnosed by a Veterinarian follow by a proper treatment plan. Please refer to the beginning of this blog for my thoughts on proper care and how important it is to seek professional medical advice.
