Sylvia's Sandy 7/2 surgery 4-6 wks — GRAD: 8/12

Sylvia, welcome to Dodgerslist. It IS in the cards for your dog Sandy to get back to enjoying life whether immediately walking or waiting on more nerve repair.  There are many things you can do to become the IVDD pet savvy parent your dog will depend on to play an instrumental role in recovery and by teaming up with your vet.  As you have time this is where to quickly get up to speed in the next days:  dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

Thank you for the information, from what you tell us Sandy is still in the hospital in which case they should be monitoring her for pain and administering the required medication.

Here's Dodgerslist page about what to expect discharge day. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm#discharge

Here is a list of questions to ask on discharge day, too. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/dischargequestions.htm

Also these two pages would be helpful for you to read:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htm

Be sure to get her recovery suite ready for the homecoming. Here are some links to show you how: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htm www.dodgerslist.com/literature/EmergencyCrate%20Training.htm

Acupuncture and laser light therapy are helpful treatments that can be very beneficial to assist with re-establishment of nerve connections in the body and usually can be started right away if within your budget.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingacupuncture.htm

Also water therapy can be performed after the stitches/sutures are removed. Some of these exercises can be done right in the bathtub. Please check with the surgeon before starting any of these.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm

Please let us know of any updates you receive from the surgeon, such as pain being under control, leg movement, bladder control, etc.  Healing prayers for Sandy.

Thanks for your kind replys cdrroy and heidiweber. I am still feeling extremely overwhelmed at this point and not feeling very optimistic about her recovery at this point. She did make it out of surgery ok, but he had to remove two vertebrae to relieve the pressure on her spinal cord. She must have been in pain for a long time and we didn't know. ? I was able to talk to the doctor again today and was told that she is comfortable and not seeming to be in pain earlier, but also that there hadn't been any improvement yet. They said that we should know by Monday if she will ever walk again.

Sylvia, I hope with all the emotions going on that you misheard what the surgeon said. There is no way anybody but those with a functional crystal ball would be able to know by Monday if a dog is ever going to walk again or not.

First of all the surgical caused swelling and the temporary nerve setback will take about 2 weeks to resolve. THEN at that point you may have a better idea of the direction of healing. Nerves are the slowest part of the body to self repair. Think in terms of months rather than days. Dr Isaacs ACVIM (Neurololgy) says: "I also advise that at 2-4 weeks we are not seeing the end result of the healing process - this typically does not occur for 6-12 months and in some cases even longer." This answer plus many more in the interview Dr. Isaacs did for our IVDD community about surgery and what to expect post op: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm

Thank goodness the surgeon did not tell Bridget she only has til Monday to know if she will ever walk again. Dogs follow mother nature. They get on with the business of enjoying life while waiting on nerves to repair.

For now getting post-op pain in control in order to move over to oral pain meds for at home, making sure she is stable are the priorities. So good news Sandy IS comfortable!

Thanks everyone for all of your kind words! I am holding out hope that she will respond favorably to treatment or at least be pain free. When I talked to them today they said that she is refusing to eat and turned her back to them because she is upset about being there. She is comfortable as far as pain wise, and she is not responding to deep pain at all. I was told that this is sometimes, and that she should be improving so I'm at least every other day. I was also told that I could come see her and bring her her food or snacks today so I'm going to do that in just a little bit.

Thanks Paula for your reply. I just got to see her and she's doing way better than I expected. She was excited and tried to scoot all the way across the counter. The doctor came in to talk to me and show me the Mileogram (not sure about the spelling?). Here's a whole lot of calcification and she had A space where three bones were totally calcified together we're nothing could move three which is where he thinks the paralysis came from. There was also leakage from some disc that he cleaned up. He said he usually sends them home like tomorrow but because of the extent that he had to clean up and everything was so extensive that he wanted to keep her probably another week so that they can start her rehabilitation. She did eat shortly after I got off the phone with them before I went and she also will now respond to this girl that works there since I went today. He did also say that there is some slight deep pain in her right rear leg what she had before but he said that he wanted to give it 4 to 6 weeks before he gave it any call on the prognosis or and or a wheelchair anything like that, but she absolutely cannot drag her rear legs anywhere. I can go see her anytime, so I am relieved to hear that for sure.

Thanks so much for your kind words! I did take pictures and a profile pic but I haven't been able how to post them from my phone and I haven't had the time to sit down and work at the computer in a while.

Thanks Heidi! She is an Isabella Fawn. Her eyes were bright green when she was younger but now they are a greenish brown, and her coloring reminds me of a young deer.

Thanks so much Chelsea! Same to your Charlie! I have been trying to search and read other posts but I am a grad student taking two summer classes AND I also have a very high needs child so trying to write four different papers and check on Sandy has been tough. I'm posting two pics from when I went to see her today. How is Charlie doing?

Heidi I just saw your post now. I bet that they are both beautiful! I love that they come in so many colors. We have three: one Black and Tan, one dapple, and Sandy who is an Isabella fawn.u

Hi Sylvia,

Thank you for the kind words, I've been thinking of you and Sandy as well and I hope she gets to come home soon. Charley finally settled down early afternoon and has been resting since. This whole thing is so scary Stay strong!

My Charley is recovering from Surgery as well (went in on July 3rd) and we want to send lots of thoughts and prayers to you and Sandy!

Hi Sylvia,

In your post you wrote

"They keep them ten days with complete crate rest, remove staples then let them come home to rest. Complete crate rest is not required they said she can sit on my lap some."


This is an extract from questions and answers about IVDD Surgery written by Dr. Andrew Isaacs, DVM, ACVIM (Neurology)

During the post-op healing process why is crate rest prescribed and for how long? Crate rest is important post-operatively to help prevent damage to the surgical site. If a dog gets too active bleeding can occur that leads to a hematoma (blood clot) compressing the spinal cord. Also, it takes 2-4 weeks for the rent/hole in the intervertebral disk to heal and seal over. So, if a dog gets too active post-operatively additional disk material can rupture and we are right back or worse than we were to to begin with. Therefore, it is very important to keep your dog strictly confined for 2 weeks and then after rechecking with the surgeon at 2 weeks devising a plan to slowly reintroduce activity. Lifelong, there needs to be a lifestyle change to minimize activities that can put the dog at risk at a later date in life.

- - Did your surgeon provide you with a plan to slowly introduce activity and if so what is the plan?

The safest place for Sandy is in the recovery suite, if she is on our knee and the door bell rings or she is startled by a sudden noise then she will leap off and you will be back to square one or worse.

When Abbie came home after surgery we had a 2 x 2 recovery suite (folded x-pen), after about 3 weeks and on advice from the neurologist we were told to enlarge the x-pen to 4 x 2 to allow a little more movement, a week later and again on advice from the neurologist we enlarged to 4 x 4.

Please keep us updated

First...Sandy moved her rear right leg today! It is the one that she has had no feeling in since before the surgery. Could it be a reflex or do you think that maybe she is gaining feeling back in that leg???

Doxiemomofremi, I am glad to hear that Remi is adjusting well and was finally able to come home. The suit sounds great and I'm glad that he is comfortable and isn't whining.

Cdrroy, I read what Dr. Issac's said a few days ago, which is why I am said that I am concerned that our vet said something different. I know that different doctors do things different but I am more in line with what I have read here and being conservative and keeping her confined longer to make sure that the nerves are repaired.

Paula, as always, thanks for your help. The vet that told me to look at ordering a drag bag or wheelchair wasn't meaning for now. She was meaning to use after her post op when she is released. I was told that the reason that she will need the drag bag is because it is to protect her from getting scratched up if she doesn't regain the use of her legs. I'm a teacher and a special needs parent, so I like to be prepared for any situation, so I would rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it. It is one of the ways I try to trick myself into thinking that I am in control of something in our life (haha). Does that make sense?

She hasn't even started any PT yet, just hydrotherapy. I did read the material about the cart a few days ago. I am just anxious for her to be able to come home on one hand because I miss her and I am a worry wart because she is such a mama's girl. On the other hand I think that she is getting more rest there now than she would here with my son here. This is just so hard and frustrating!!!!!

Paula,

Thanks so much for your kind words and for sharing your knowledge. You are seriously a blessing for so many. I want to know the correct way to do things because I want her to walk again. Thanks so much for posting the links. I read on this site every day when I have time and I am nowhere near done reading the information.

Sandy is doing PT in the swimming pool. They say that she has "walked" the length of the pool and back each day. They are waiting for her staples to come out before they start another type PT due to how much bone had to be cut out, at least that is what I think that she was trying to say.

We have decided to put her in my office out of the way of foot traffic and most of the noise to keep her safer and calmer (we hope).

Also, you may know the answer to this...Sandy moved her rear right leg today! It is the one that she has had no feeling in since before the surgery. Could it be a reflex or do you think that maybe she is gaining feeling back in that leg???

I just received a call from the doctor saying that I can go pick up Sandy!!!

9 hours ago:
Thanks Pauliana, we can actually set her up more than one as well. That is a great idea. I am just ready for her to come home. She has been gone a week today and it seems like at least a month.

Great news, Sylvia! Stay with the program on strict crate rest, and celebrate every positive moment! Keep us posted!

Sylvia, what did the surgeon direct for at home PT now that you are seeing she IS trying to take wobbly steps on land? Did the surgeon give you a more firm number of weeks he wants for crate rest (rest + his directed supervised PT)

I would definitely give Sandy the sniff and pee test. Likely now that she can wobbly walk, she has some degree of bladder control. Take her out to an old pee spot and let her sniff and see if she will choose to release urine there. After she releases, do a quick express check until you are confident she voids fully at each potty break.

Would you consider helping another trying to make decisions… We have a directory where you can share surgical costs: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-posting

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