Catherine's Falcor 11/23 Conservative - Canada

Welcome to Dodgerslist, Catherine!  First thing to know is that it IS in the cards for your Falcor to get back to enjoying life whether immediately walking during the short 8 weeks of conservative treatment it will take a disc to heal or waiting on more nerve repair - IVDD is not a death sentence. Find out why that is true: www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

It does not sound like Falcor was on  6 weeks post op crate rest, is that correct?  It could be that he did not heal correctly and too much activity might have caused this second episode. What did his surgeon say when he saw him for this current episode?  

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.
dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm

In order to help you more, could you please answer these questions?

☐ How much does Falcor weigh?
☐ What was the date you saw the vet for this second disc episode?
☐   Glad Falcor has started strict crate rest.  Good for you researching the disease Falcor was born with. Crate rest  is the single most important part of conservative treatment--- 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks & only out at potty times. STRICT means:
- no laps - no couches

- no baths - no sleeping with you

- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times.

Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps. Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on! www.dodgerslist.com/literature/slingwalk.jpg

☐ Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy? Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose. Your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds.

Now that Falcor has gone off Dexmethasone, you need to be the eyes and ears of the Vet.  If you see signs of pain that means the swelling has not resolved and he would need to go back on the Dex until the next taper.  The fact that Gabapentin is still in use means you won't be able to tell if he is in pain.  So the true test of whether the swelling is gone can't be made.  Please discuss this with his Vet.  

What is the  doses in mg’s and times per day given of Gabapentin? 

Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason for my dog not take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive against not eating, vomit, diarrhea, bleeding ulcers by giving doxie weight dogs 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory.  Pepcid AC should have been used while Falcor was on Dexmethasone.   Dark stool can mean there was damaqe to his GI tract from the steroid.  Let the Vet know about the dark colored stool. 

☐ If there is pain or neuro diminishment, dogs can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy. These therapies can be be started right away to help relieve pain and to also to kick start energy production in nerve cells to sprout. So if this therapy is in your budget, seek out a holistic vet.
www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/

Why Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/chiropractic.htm

Excluding an emergency of pain not being controlled or diminishment of nerve functions that require prompt vet help, we have excellent resources for many IVDD questions members have. While you are waiting for a reply, do check out our "All things IVDD" resources for getting the recovery suite setup to an overview of just how Conservative Treatment works: www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm

The unknown is simply too scary a place to stay in. Are your ready to get up to speed on all things IVDD and fight the IVDD enemy? Excellent page to start with "Overview: the essentials" and then read all you can as soon as possible. Are you ready? Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

If Falcor is showing signs of pain then the anti-inflammatory and the pain meds should be continued because the swelling has not subsided. The rule of thumb is:

Pain = swelling = more time on all meds.

When the vet again thinks the swelling has subsided, the anti-inflammatory and all pain meds are stopped. If there is no pain then the anti-inflammatory has done its job and no more meds are needed only the continuation of crate rest for the required period. If the anti-inflammatory is stopped but all the pain meds are not, it can be difficult to tell if the swelling has subsided as the pain meds will mask the pain which indicates that swelling remains.

Do not be upset that the first round of treatment has not taken care of all the swelling. Typically it can take 7-30 days for all swelling to be resolved.

I want to apologize for this but as my first language is French and that I have to fully understand your advices, I have to ask you what means "the taper", "a taper" ?
Really sorry

Catherine, let's help each other. We'll try to define terms and you can tell me what "co" stands for? LOL

It sounds like the vet is abruptly stopping the steroid, dexamethasone, due to the dark stool. Steroids normally are tapered off in a slow reduction. The reason for the taper is to signal the adrenal glands to make their own steroid hormone. The body's steroid cortisol affects life giving body systems..that is why a taper is necessary.

With two protectors on board (Pepcid AC and sucralfate)
---discuss about either continuing with Dex
--- or what about the taper for health reasons to taper ending in an every 3rd day as explained by Mar Vista Veterinarians below.   
CONCERNS AND CAUTIONS
It is important that the dose be tapered to an every third day schedule once the condition is controlled. The reason for this is that body will perceive the presence of these hormones and not produce any of its own. In time, the adrenal glands will atrophy so that when the medication is discontinued, the patient will be unable to respond to any stressful situation. An actual circulatory crisis can result.  www.marvistavet.com/html/dexamethasone.html
--- It is important for us owners to know the full plan.... is there going to be a switch to a NSAID?  With a 4-7 days washout...  is that why the Rx for 7 days worth of pills?