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Grade 5 IVDD Dog

by sophiek - May 13, 2026

Hi Steve
I have a new case - 9 year old Staffy Choco who had a Grade 5 disc extrusion in December 2025. He had surgery (left hemilaminectomy T11-L1) within 24 hours and has been doing physio, laser and treadmill since.

Unfortunately he still has no deep pain in the left hind, but some voluntary movement of the right hind. Cutaneous trunci reflex present until L1/2 bilaterally. He can only stand assisted for a few seconds, and can take a couple of steps in a help em up harness (also assisted) - I suspect this is spinal walking.

Tongue is very pale lavender.
Pulse is very toned but not very forceful, strongest at mid-deep level, slightly narrower than normal and feels like a very thick guitar string. It softened with GB 34 but was still markedly toned.

I am starting electroacupuncture for him and prescribed Voltrex 1/2 a teaspoon BID (he is 27kg).

I am wondering whether to also add Lumbrex as this is such a chronic spinal cord injury, and he seems Blood Deficient too.

Have you seen responses in dogs this far out from surgery? Anything else I can add to help?

Thank you!
Sophie

by naturevet

May 17, 2026

I think you're off to a great start. I find chiropractic is mandatory in these dogs, preferably using an Activator. If you don't do chiropractic, maybe try and source someone.

Voltrex is how I would normally start, given the lack of movement and the pulse you describe. I would have expected more response to GB 34, though. That makes me think the dog has a VERY deeply penetrated Wind pathogen, which likewise can drive the pulse deep and make it feel like a Full pulse. If you put a needle in BL 40 and the pulse pops out to the surface, that is what is wrong.

In that instance, you'll want to start the Wind expelling formula sooner. Lumbrex is an excellent choice, or Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang. It will tonify Blood at the same time, helping remove the Blood deficiency that predisposed the dog to Wind invasion.

Lastly, I think (besides chiropractic) that it is critical for the owner to start feeding real food. It will help undo the spinal degeneration that caused the disk to blow and also which is leaving the column stiff and rigid, producing cord surface impingements elsewhere.

Hopefully, that makes sense. I'd say the odds are high for restoring significant mobility, especially if BL 40 helps as described. I don't find that prognosis worsens with the duration of paralysis. The dog is simply waiting for the right stimuli to restore spinal cord signal transmission.

Fingers crossed that is the case!

Steve

by sophiek

June 9, 2026

Hi Steve,

Thanks for your help - Choco is now up and walking!
He now has deep pain in the left hind, and the cutaneous trunk reflex seems to be present more distally at each session.
There really seemed to be a difference once I added the Lumbrex in Week 2.
Pulse is now toned, superficial, fast, slightly thin, but not full at the deep level.
Would you suggest continuing both the Voltrex and Lumbrex until no more obvious improvements, or just keep on long term?

Thank you!
Sophie

by naturevet

June 13, 2026

Hi Sophie,

That is great news your patient is responding quickly.

I would not change your protocol as long as you're seeing weekly improvements. Complete improvements may take a couple of months.

When improvements plateau, you can explore how little of the Voltrex is needed for improvements to be maintained. Lumbrex often maintains these dogs going forward along with maintenance physical therapies like chiropractic and a real food diet. If things go backward in spite of the above, you can re-start the herb treatment cycle again using Voltrex.

Continued good luck!

Steve

by sophiek

June 30, 2026

Hi Steve,

An update on Choco and a question!
Choco continues to make progress - he is ambulatory, albeit with marked ataxia and proprioceptive deficits. His left hind limb still crosses over at a fast walk, but he is able to get up quickly from lying down (using mainly his right hind limb), and he walks fairly well when at a slow pace. He walks better on grass and non slip surfaces and his physio has set him up with a resistance band from harness to left hind limb to keep this in place more and reduce the crossing over. I feel he is gaining some strength.

The main issue is still the toiletting - and this is so far the limiting factor with being able to leave Choco by himself at all. His owners have been amazing and changed their work schedules so someone is home with Choco 24/7, however they cannot continue to do this forever, and his bladder function / need to express is limiting this. They also are adopting a baby towards the end of the year and will need to be away for a few months overseas where their family will be caring for Choco.

At the moment his owners are still expressing every 4 hours during the day - they describe that they start to express and then he seems to urinate by himself. On walks he is stopping to pass some urine. With stools he seems to be aware of defaecating when on a walk and will try and get into the squat position, but when on his bed he doesn’t have full control - again he is aware but will still defaecate on his bed.

We have tried seeing what would happen if they took him out for walks every 2-3 hours to see if this would be enough stimulation to get him to urinate outside by himself, but unfortunately not - he comes back inside and dribbles urine around the house. I assume there is bladder atony and incomplete voiding even if he is passing a small stream of urine. He is however not dribbling urine inside on bedding - perhaps the regular expression by owners is stopping the overfilling / overflow incontinence.

Pulse is now superficial rather than full. He is continuing on Lumbrex and Voltrex, and I also have him on Lions Mane mushroom and Deer Velvet.

I am continuing electroacupuncture and focusing on sacral/pelvic and pudendal nerve area as well as TCVM pattern points and local points T11 - L3.

I am wondering if Saw Palmetto would be helpful in this case? Or if you have any other ideas for Choco?

Thank you for your help!
Sophie

by naturevet

July 5, 2026

Hi Sophie,

Yes, I have used Saw Palmetto to help ensure completeness of evacuation by improving detrusor muscle tone while helping dilate the urethra a little.

The pulse suggests Wind invasion at this point, so Voltrex may not be needed. You could experiment with lowering the dose so that the predominant "message" of the herbs is Wind expulsion.

One formula that expels Wind and improves micturition in disc dogs is San Ren Tang. Especially if this dog still eats kibble or canned, it may help. Note that processed diets hinder the degree to which the cord and column will heal and regain suppleness.

If you haven't used chiropractic on this case, now is the time, to be more sure of a complete improvement. Most of the issues with voiding probably stem from the T11 - L3 region.

Hopefully, some or all of the above can be implemented and that they help take Choco further!

Steve

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