Welcome to Dodgerslist. Everyone here has a dog with IVDD so you have come to the right place. We are glad you have found us.
The most important thing to know is that IVDD is not a death sentence. There is no reason to even consider euthanasia for a dog with IVDD. If you are struggling with quality of life questions for your dog, re-think things:
www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htmIt will help us work together with you and avoid offering ideas that could cause harm or lead the discussion in the wrong direction delaying help for your dog — please share a bit more detail with us:
❖ Is Zoe currently in pain? A disk episode is typically very painful and you have not mentioned any pain meds. These are the signs of pain we look for.
☐shivering, trembling
☐yelping when picked up or moved
☐reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move
☐tight tense tummy
☐can’t find a comfortable position
☐Arched back
☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
☐head held high or nose to the ground
☐Not their normal perky selves?
I know that Zoe is shivering which you think is cold. But shivering is also sometimes a sign of pain. If you are seeing any of these other signs of pain, please let the vet know
right away. Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way between doses when the pain meds are right.
Petcam (Meloxicam) is a NSAID type of anti-inflammatory. Over time, an anti-inflammatory should bring down the swelling in the spinal cord which causes the pain and neuro defecits, like difficulty walking. The anti-inflammatory can take up to 30 days to do its work. Until that time, pain meds are usually needed. Was the start date of the Petcam August 29? For how many days was it prescribed?
Let us know which country you are inAll anti-inflammatories cause excess stomach acids which can cause serious stomach damage. To reduce the risk of this damage a stomach protector is needed. What country are you in? In the US we usually see Pepcid AC used for this protection. Here it is an over the counter medication. Pepcid AC is a prescription medication in the UK and some other countries. Ranitidine a different acid reducer, an older generation product and not as powerful, is available over the counter at the chemist there in the UK if you are located there. Please speak to your vet about a stomach protector . Ask in this way "Is there any health reason my dog should not take a stomach protector like Rantidine?"
Are her poops OK? Normal firmness & color -no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers? No diarrhea?
John has given you good advice about the importance of crate rest. The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT crate rest part (no PT, little movement). With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. Those weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form.
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —>
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmSTRICT means:
◼︎no laps
◼︎no couches
◼︎no baths
◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎no chiro therapy whys:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/chiropractic.htm ◼︎no dragging or meandering at potty times.
◼︎no PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc
◼︎At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best.
Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment. It is too early to consider a wheel chair. Nor should she be allowed to move by dragging her elegs at this point. This would be after the crate rest is finished.
Can Zoe specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control – OR- do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control?
Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs. Review video then get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmIf she does have bladder control, carry her 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!
Can Zoe move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
What is your name? I am Romy.
You might want to consider seeing another vet more familiar with IVDD. Recommending euthanasia tells us immediately that the vet does not know this disease. This link has some things to look for in an IVDD knowledgeable vet:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/VetchkList.htmKnowledge is the power to fight the IVDD enemy and win!! The very best thing you can do for YOU, the caregiver, and for your dog is to get up to speed on IVDD soonest possible. Begin absorbing the must-have overall sense of meds, care and how the treatment works. Your dog will be depending on your ability to learn - excellent video series here:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/theater.htmPRINT OUT this link and tape to your fridge:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm-- use the printout as your roadmap to avoid dangerous detours in your dog’s care
-- make notes/highlight to keep yourself on track
-- follow all the links in the next days to become the IVDD savvy pet parent your dog needs. Use the “search box” to easily locate topics over at our Main
www.Dodgerslist.com website:
www.dodgerslist.com/index/searchBOX.jpg
