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Post by Julie & Perry on Mar 18, 2017 18:32:05 GMT -7
I remember right after my dogs surgery she lost her appetite too. Try tempting her with something yummy like chicken and rice or a dish she really loves.
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Post by Aimee & Tallulah on Mar 20, 2017 13:48:19 GMT -7
Spoke to vet. He said the antibiotics still need time to work and that perhaps she isn't voiding completely. I didn't speak to him personally. I don't agree because she hasn't leaked at all since the first night. I've been taking her out every 3 hours. When she pees it's a solid stream and then slowly stops with a dribble like she used to do. I try to express but can't feel her bladder. I might have someone check to make sure this is the case though. She is pooping on her own as well. She seems pretty comfortable except hating being in her crate. We are working on standing with proper leg position, ROM, massage, and irritating the feet a couple times a day. We are almost 1 week post op and she goes back for a recheck on Friday.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Mar 20, 2017 17:30:46 GMT -7
If she's releasing a solid stream of urine after sniffing and no longer leaking, then that's truly great news. As for pooping on her own, do you mean that she's pooping when taken outside to do so? Reflex causes poop to come out on its own when there's no bowel control. What you need to observe to determine bowel control is a brain connected decision by Tallulah to poop. Usually bladder and bowel control return around the same time.
Keep up the good work with Tallulah!
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Post by Aimee & Tallulah on Mar 20, 2017 17:48:27 GMT -7
It truly is great news! It's a relief that she's going potty outside to say the least. We are so so grateful. I'm pretty certain she is controlling her bowels. She sniffs and tries to do her "poop walk" then goes and tries hard to arc and squat. Before, the poop would just come out she's doing today. Everyday it is getting easier on everyone!
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Post by Aimee & Tallulah on Mar 22, 2017 14:41:09 GMT -7
Today Lulah wagged her tail at her doggie best friend Molly when I took her out to potty! Brought tears to my eyes!!! We adopted Tallulah from an animal hospital that takes in injured homeless dogs. She was 4 months old and had been hit by a car. She was such a sad, scared girl! We brought her home and she was so so shut down. When she wagged her tail at me a couple weeks later I was so happy I cried! Today reminded me of that. She's such a sweet girl that's been through so much! Just wanted to share happy news!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,585
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 22, 2017 16:57:43 GMT -7
Aimee, that happy tail wag is a joy to see for sure. Nice to see them back to their usually happy selves and interacting with a best friend.
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Post by Aimee & Tallulah on Mar 24, 2017 15:00:47 GMT -7
Tallulah just had her first check up with the surgeon. He's very pleased and optimistic!! Neurologic functions are definitely improving. She able to move her legs much more! She actually got herself upright on all fours today!!! She can be confined to a small room and go on a couple 5 mins walks everyday. We have an appointment with the physical therapist next week and the week after we can start hydrotherapy. We will do laser treatments too. She still is needing pain meds which I was told is normal. Only on pain meds, Pepcid, and prednisone now. We are very happy!!!
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 24, 2017 15:18:21 GMT -7
Good news about Tallulah's checkup. It would be a good idea not to give her to much room to move so soon after surgery. That is why so many vets recommend 4-6 weeks of post-surgery crate rest. Dr. Isaacs, a neurosugeon, has helped us to understand the importance of crate rest after surgery with this answer: "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." You may find his other post op answers good reading and of particular interest: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm
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Post by Aimee & Tallulah on Mar 24, 2017 16:28:34 GMT -7
I understand that dodgerslist errs on extreme caution. We obviously realize she is only 10 days post op and wouldn't allow her to do anything to disrupt the healing. We aren't allowing her to move any more than she would in a crate naturally. Our surgeon wants her to start trying to move a little. I'm posting more to share our experiences with others that are going through the same thing. it's a shame that there is tendency to fear monger here as this is a scary enough experience!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,585
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 24, 2017 17:15:58 GMT -7
Aimee, what may be confusing is what crate rest with a post-op dog means. It is different than with a dog on conservative treatment where really strict rest and no PT is needed.
Post-op crate rest includes doing the PT the surgeon directs. Another thing to keep in mind is that PT is always under your supervision, where you are eyeball to eyeball so to speak with Tallulah. PT is a controlled situation where the movements are slow and deliberate. PT is the practice of the correct form. When the several times a day PT is over then the safest place for the recovering dog is in his recovery suite where the dog is not able overexert to dart across a room at the sound of a doorbell or some strange sound outdoors. She's not a China doll, but she did have a major surgery where all the tissue (bone, muscles, disc) all were cut into and will need time to heal.
I believe you will likely ensure all of Tallulah's PT is done with care because she is making great strides in the wonderful report of now being able to move up into a stand position!
Often pain meds are used for about 2 weeks as by then the normal surgery caused swelling should have subsided by then.
Please do keep us updated on the hydro therapy in a couple of weeks. Is is swimming or is it underwater treadmill. The water treadmill can really, really, expedite Tallulah's abilty to move those back legs with the bouyancy of water and the moving floor underneath her paws.
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Post by Aimee & Tallulah on Mar 24, 2017 19:23:43 GMT -7
I'm not confused though, I understand. The surgeon has explained the after care and I've done my far share of research as well. This vet takes care of many IVDD dogs, most with great results. There is a tendency here to catastrophize which isn't very helpful. Like I said, I was posting more of an update, not looking to be told I'm doing this or that incorrectly, especially when there really isn't any indication that I am. I'm just confused by this jumping all over, "this is the only way", type attitude.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Mar 25, 2017 4:46:28 GMT -7
It's certainly not our intent to instill fear or to jump all over members, Aimee. Each of the moderators are volunteers and we each have our own IVDD dogs so we do understand what it's like having a dog with this terrible disease. Our intent is to teach what we have learned and to share our experiences and knowledge and to encourage our members.
Thousands of dogs have passed through our forum and we have consulted with numerous neurologists. We have learned what works and what doesn't work. Not all vets have seen enough dogs with IVDD to have a good understanding of treatment. You're very fortunate to have a vet who has treated many IVDD dogs. And we're pleased to hear that you have done your own research. But it's impossible for us to know how much each and every member or vet knows or doesn't know so all we can do is share what we know to be the best information. I know Romy would have felt terrible if she hadn't shared the information she did with you and Tallulah had too much movement and had a relapse. Knowledge is power and the more knowledge we have about IVDD, the better. And yes, we err on the side of caution. It's better to be too cautious than not cautious enough when dealing with these delicate spines.
I truly wish I had known about Dodgerslist when my Jeremy had his first IVDD episode and had some fear instilled in me. Jeremy had no neuro deficits, just pain when I took him to the ER. All the ER vet told me was to keep him in a small room and not let him have the run of the house and that he could walk outside just to do his business but not take him on walks. So I didn't promptly crate him, I didn't restrict his movement enough, and by the next afternoon he was completely paralyzed with no deep pain sensation. He required emergency surgery and it took six months for him to walk again, though he still doesn't have full neuro function and he's never regained bladder or bowel control. If I had come to Dodgerslist that first day, sure, I would have heard some scary things but those scary things would have been just what I needed to hear and know. That's why I volunteer here on Dodgerslist in the hope that I can prevent another dog from suffering due to lack of knowledge about this dreadful disease. I know my situation at that time is not the same as yours is now - just wanted to share my story with you and why sometimes learning fearful things is a good thing.
We're grateful that you wish to share Tallulah's progress to help encourage other members. And we're so very glad to hear how well she's doing. I do hope that I have helped you understand why we share the information that we do.
Blessings to you and Tallulah.
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Post by Aimee & Tallulah on Mar 25, 2017 11:39:21 GMT -7
I'm so sorry to hear about Jeremy. Certainly there is no way to know definitely what you did or didn't do caused him to be in the condition he is in. I'm all for knowing the facts, scary or not, but the way in which they are delivered here, lack some serious tact, as other have stated. So much so, I don't want to share anymore which is sad because reading other people's stories was the most reassuring part of dodgerslist for me. I've been told my dog is going to develop a bleeding ulcer, "raging UTI", and now a hematoma because my surgeon said she could be put in a small room instead of a "recovery suite". None of these things have been remotely true!! Just because bad things can happen doesn't mean they will and that should be mentioned as well. And telling people what they need to do is probably not the best measure when no one here is a trained veterinary professional. I understand the wanting to help but it comes off very poorly.
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