The Problem With Long Dogs on Short Legs
Winston's body is basically a loaf of bread balanced on four chopsticks. Cute? Absolutely. Structurally sound? Not even close.
The first year was fine. Winston ran around, herded things, did his corgi thing. I honestly thought people were exaggerating the health issues.
His Back Just Stopped Working
Winston was maybe three years old when it happened. We were at the dog park and he was doing his signature move, the zoom and spin thing corgis do when they're excited.
Then he just... stopped. Stood still. Wouldn't move.
I figured he was tired. But when I called him over, he tried to walk and his back legs weren't cooperating. Like they forgot how to work.
The emergency vet said it was IVDD. Same thing dachshunds get. Something about the discs in his spine compressing or rupturing or something. I was too freaked out to really process the medical explanation.
The MRI was $2,800. The surgery was another $5,500. And that was with the vet giving me a discount because she felt bad.
Winston's walking again now. Mostly. But some days he still drags his back feet a little, and every time I see it, I remember what that bill looked like.
Hip Dysplasia Hit Early
I thought Winston's weird sitting thing was just a quirk. You know how corgis sometimes sit with their legs splayed out to the side? I thought it was cute.
It wasn't cute. It was hip dysplasia.
The vet showed me the X-rays. Winston's hip sockets don't fit right. He's been in pain this whole time and I just thought he sat funny.
Physical therapy helps some. We do underwater treadmill sessions twice a month at $85 each. Joint supplements add another $60 a month.
If it gets worse, surgery is around $4,000 per hip. And the vet says both sides are bad.
The Weight Thing Is No Joke
Winston gained three pounds one winter. Doesn't sound like much, right?
For a 25-pound corgi, that's like a human gaining 20 pounds. And all that extra weight goes straight to their already stressed spine and hips.
The vet looked at me like I'd been feeding him garbage. I wasn't. Corgis just gain weight if you look at them wrong.
Now we do monthly weigh-ins at $25 a pop, and his special diet food costs twice what regular kibble does. It's like having a dog on Weight Watchers, except the dog doesn't understand why he can't have more treats.
What I Wish I'd Known About Corgi Insurance
I signed up for the cheapest plan I could find when I got Winston. Big mistake. Learned that the hard way.
Spinal Coverage Isn't Optional
If you're getting a corgi and your insurance doesn't cover spinal problems, you're basically throwing money away. Winston's IVDD surgery would have bankrupted me without coverage.
Some policies try to exclude spinal conditions as breed-specific or hereditary. Don't fall for that. Every corgi is one bad jump away from a back injury. It's not if, it's when.
And make sure they cover physical therapy and rehab. Winston's recovery took six months of twice-weekly PT sessions. That adds up fast.
Orthopedic Coverage For Both Ends
Corgis break at the back and at the hips. Sometimes both. Your insurance needs to cover everything from their neck to their tail.
I've talked to other corgi owners at the dog park. Almost all of them have dealt with either back surgery or hip surgery. Some both. It's like a club nobody wants to join.
Check what your policy says about bilateral conditions too. Some insurance companies will only pay for one hip, even if both are bad. That feels like a scam to me.
Don't Skip the Wellness Stuff
This is where I actually did something right. I got a policy that covers weight management consultations and nutritionist visits.
Keeping Winston's weight down is basically preventive care for his spine and hips. The insurance company figured that out before I did.
Those monthly weigh-ins and diet adjustments have probably saved me thousands in surgery costs. Or at least delayed the inevitable.