The First 48–72 Hours After FCE Diagnosis — What To Do

The First 48–72 Hours After Your Dog’s FCE Diagnosis

Written by the owner of Max — who experienced a spinal stroke on September 23, 2023, and has recovered to 98% function.

I’m sharing this in case you’re out there looking for hope.

On September 23rd, 2023, Max and I were coming back from our morning walk when I noticed something was wrong. He was walking drunkenly — weaving, unsteady, not himself. By the time we got home he collapsed to the floor, unable to get up. He looked up at me like nothing was wrong. He hadn’t recognized it yet. I had.

My first thought was that maybe he’d gotten into some medication while my parents were visiting. At the vet, I learned otherwise.

I didn’t share any of this publicly when it happened. I was absolutely devastated. I had no idea what the outcome would be. Would he be in a wheelchair for life? What would his quality of life look like? Would I have to make the hardest decision of all — after everything we’d already overcome together, four years of working through his fear aggression?

I took him out to potty in the early morning hours and late at night so I didn’t have to deal with people staring. I still don’t want pity. What I want is for you — if you’re reading this right now, just home from the emergency vet, completely lost — to have everything I didn’t have.

So here it is. Everything.

First: Most dogs improve. Hold onto that.

Max is at 98% recovery today, two and a half years later. Still making improvements after a year — especially after adding chiropractic and homeopathy. Today you wouldn’t know unless you watched his gait very closely. And I only notice because I’ve been watching it for two years and seven months.

FCE is not a death sentence. For most dogs, it is the beginning of a long, hard, deeply rewarding road.

Understanding what happened

When a dog suddenly loses use of their hind legs, it’s usually one of three conditions — and the treatment differs completely for each. FCE means no surgery. Getting your dog moving immediately is the treatment. See the full breakdown: [FCE vs. IVDD vs. ANNPE →]

The short version: FCE is a spinal stroke. A fragment of fibrocartilage blocks blood supply to part of the spinal cord. The damage happens in minutes, then stops — it is not progressive. There is nothing pressing on the cord, so there is nothing to surgically remove. The treatment is rehabilitation, started as soon as possible.

The only way to confirm definitively is an MRI. When Max had his stroke, the soonest appointment was two months away — the reality most of us face. An experienced veterinary neurologist can often make a confident clinical diagnosis based on presentation alone.

FCE’s fingerprint: sudden onset (often during activity), non-progressive, and — crucially — not painful. A calm, comfortable dog despite the deficit is a hopeful sign.

Getting diagnosed: what happened with Max

I was fortunate. The vet suspected FCE based on Max’s presentation and his own experience — a genuine blessing, because many vets have limited experience with this condition, and their recommended solution can be euthanasia. That is not the only option. Please do not let it be presented as the only option.

I scheduled an MRI but as weeks passed and Max showed early improvement — including returning deep pain response in his feet — I grew more confident. By November I opted out.

The first days were spent reading everything I could find: forums, YouTube, research papers. There isn’t much. Then on a whim I searched “FCE dogs” on Facebook and struck gold. A group exists — a community of owners who’ve been through exactly this. If you’re newly diagnosed, find the FCE Dogs Facebook group. It will be one of your most valuable resources.

What to ask your vet right now

  • Is this consistent with FCE? What else are you considering?
  • Does my dog have deep pain sensation in the affected limbs?
  • What is their neurological grade (Frankel or Olby scale)?
  • Is MRI urgent, or can we manage clinically while we wait?
  • Is my dog in pain? How are we managing comfort?
  • Can you refer me to a canine rehabilitation specialist?

Deep pain sensation matters enormously. Your vet tests this by applying firm pressure to the toe bone and watching for a conscious response — not just a reflex, but the dog turning their head or vocalizing. Dogs who retain deep pain sensation have significantly better prognosis, even with no voluntary movement. Max had limited response in both feet, left weaker than right.

Medication — what I was prescribed and what I did

(Not medical advice.)

Standard FCE protocol: gabapentin and prednisone for pain and inflammation. I was prescribed a two-week course. I gave them sparingly over the first few days only.

Max showed no pain — and he would have let me know. I also felt the prednisone was affecting his state in ways not conducive to healing. I prefer holistic first, drugs as a last resort. That is my choice. You and your vet need to make yours.

The supplements I gave immediately

I’d been following integrative TCVM veterinarian Dr. Steve Marsden for years and had two of his Gold Standard Herbal formulas on hand I’d bought but not yet used: Voltrex (spinal cord inflammation) and Lumbrex (circulation, hind leg stiffness and weakness). The day of Max’s FCE, I mixed both into his breakfast within hours of coming home.

I believe they may have been key in limiting the damage he experienced that day.

→ Full supplement protocol with research citations: [Supplements for FCE Recovery]

→ The TCVM approach and Dr. Marsden: [TCVM & Gold Standard Herbs]

The most important decision: get into rehab immediately

This is the single most important thing on this page.

For FCE — unlike IVDD — crate rest is the wrong call. The nervous system responds to stimulation. I pushed back on the rest advice I received and got Max into a consultation within the same week. Formal rehab began October 5th, 2023 at the Animal Rehabilitation Center of Michigan. I carried him in not knowing if he’d ever walk again. Six months later he walked out at 90–95% recovered.

Book a certified canine rehabilitation professional (CCRP) now. Do not wait for improvement first.

→ Finding a specialist near you: [Find a Specialist]

→ What happens in rehab: [Physical Therapy & Rehabilitation]

Setting up your home

Traction everywhere: yoga mats, rubber rugs, foam tiles. Hardwood and tile are dangerous for a dog with compromised coordination.

Confined space: exercise pen or baby-gated room. No jumping, no stairs.

Orthopedic bedding: memory foam is not optional. Reposition your dog every few hours if they can’t do it themselves.

Support sling: a folded towel works immediately. A purpose-built sling is worth investing in for the weeks ahead.

→ Full guide to slings, harnesses, and wheelchairs: [Mobility Aids & Buying Guide]

What early improvement looks like

Don’t wait to see your dog walk. Watch for: any tail movement, any response to touch in affected limbs, momentary weight-bearing with support, bladder function beginning to return.

Recovery is not a straight line. There will be days that feel like regression. The key is milestones:

  • Hind paws beginning to flip forward without help
  • Standing without full support
  • Puppy bow without collapsing
  • Left leg making better ground contact
  • Sitting up in the “thank you” pose

Each one is real. Each one mattered.

Bladder care — urgent and undersold

Many FCE dogs can’t urinate voluntarily in the early days. A dog whose bladder isn’t being emptied risks UTI, overdistension, and serious discomfort.

Max didn’t experience incontinence — but if your dog does: ask your vet to demonstrate manual bladder expression before you leave the hospital. Watch it. Practice it. It is not optional.

→ Full step-by-step guide: [Bladder & Bowel Care]

First 72-hour checklist

  • [ ] See a veterinary neurologist — confirm FCE vs. IVDD vs. ANNPE
  • [ ] Ask whether MRI is urgent; get on cancellation lists
  • [ ] Get neurological grade (Olby/Frankel scale) — write it down
  • [ ] Confirm deep pain sensation status — write it down
  • [ ] Discuss medication; make an informed decision with your vet
  • [ ] Learn manual bladder expression if needed — before leaving the hospital
  • [ ] Set up traction flooring and orthopedic bedding at home
  • [ ] Consider acute-phase supplements (Voltrex, Lumbrex, omega-3, vitamin E)
  • [ ] Book a canine rehab appointment now — do not wait
  • [ ] Join the FCE Dogs Facebook group
  • [ ] Download the printable “Questions to Ask Your Neurologist” checklist — [link]

What I want you to know

I took Max out before anyone was on the sidewalk. I was running on hope and exhaustion and the look in his eyes that said he was still completely convinced I had everything under control.

I did not have everything under control. I was learning as fast as I could.

The body is an amazing thing. And Max amazes me for never giving up. Keep going.

Max’s story and this site exist because I couldn’t find anything like it when I needed it most. Not medical advice. Always consult a licensed veterinarian or veterinary neurologist for your dog’s specific situation.

Next: [What is FCE?] · [FCE vs. IVDD vs. ANNPE] · [Starting Rehabilitation] · [Supplements] · [Max’s Recovery Timeline]