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Post by Jenny & Chai on Sept 8, 2018 9:56:39 GMT -7
[Original Subject Chai-New Member ]Chai 3 year old chi-weenie, he weights 8.38lbs (he’s tiny and mighty) I am mom, Jenny and Dad is Mike. had ivdd surgery on 8/31/2018 Right L1-2 hemilaminectomy and Left L2-3 hemilaminectomy Current Medications Prazosin .mg every 8 hours Rimadyl 6.25 mg every 12 hours gabapentin 1ml every 8 hours Famotidine [Moderator's note: please do not modify 8.38 lbs Rimadyl 6.25mgs 2x/day Gabapentin 1ml 3x/day How many mgs of gabapentin in 1 mL of the liquid? Famotidine ? mgs ?x/day Prazosin ? mg 3x/day] We took him to emergency vet Blue Pearl-Seattle Veterinary Specialists and Bethany DeVibiss, DVM, DACVIM-Neurology took care of him and did his surgery. He is not in any pain! He’s eating and drinking okay; two days ago he woke up with an upset tummy and did not eat until noon, but he’s back to normal. His potty and poo are normal. He has control of his bowels now; no leaking. He can only use his front legs. We are using a scarf when he goes potty. Yesterday when eating he stood himself up. Also, last night he tried to bring a leg up to itch. He got it up half way and it would itch. He was approved for water therapy and starts on Tuesday-30 min session with massage. We are doing his in home PROM (passive range of motion) exercises. We have two other small doxie mixes (Mojang (doxie/minpin) & Luca (doxie/poodle)). They all 3 get along amazingly. We began fostering Chai in June and quickly new we would be failures and adopted him. He has a history of abuse and in the old vet reports it stats he was kicked and ruptured his L1 and L2 with severe left side spinal cord compression and had a heart attacked. When we got him he had approx. 50% usage of his back legs. With heat, massage, exercise and cbd oil (holistic hound) within 2 months he was up to 90% usage. We still limited play time, but he was never in any pain and was the spunkiest happy little guy. We came home after running a few errands and he was wobbling, shaking and crying so we rushed to vet and there he had surgery.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Sept 8, 2018 13:11:52 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist, Jenny and Mike! So glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve gleaned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! It is important to know that disc disease is not a death sentence! Struggling with quality of life questions for your dog? Re-think things: www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htmI greatly admire you both for taking in and caring for an abused dog with so much love. Post-op crate rest is to allow the surgical sites to heal. Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmSTRICT for a post-op dog 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. It 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: Post-op dogs will follow surgeon's directives for PT during post-op rest as the offending disc material was surgically removed. How many weeks did your surgeon direct for post-op rest not counting the aqua or other physical therapy? Many members, including myself, have had excellent results with aqua therapy. My Frankie walked on an underwater treadmill after his surgery. This is how it looks: Other info on water therapy you can do at home is here. Of course check with your surgeo first: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htmSince Chai has bladder control, meaning he is not leaking and can hold his urine until he reaches an appropriate spot, the amount of movement during potty time should be limited, unless the surgeon says otherwise. Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps unless surgeon has directed some walking PT. 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.jpgCan Chai wag his tail when you specifically do some happy talk? For how many days was the Rimadyl prescribed? Knowledge 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 as soon as 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: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/theater.htm --- PRINT 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
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Post by Jenny & Chai on Sept 9, 2018 10:56:04 GMT -7
Thank you so much for the reply! We had been reading and studying a lot on ivdd before this episode on prevention. We removed stairs and put up ramps etc. I feel awful poor guy. We think just a slight move and it happened. We have in home camera and can't see anything happen. Ever since he went into surgery we have been reading and watching videos on after care, healing, etc. This site has been great! He's on crate rest until our follow up on Sept 21st. After his checkup she will determine if he can begin cold laser therapy, acupuncture etc. We have bought a stroller for in the house and this is GREAT! We can move easily and safely from room to room. I have been able to work from home this last week so he's been very contained and watched over. The dr did say when I go back into the office to put him into the large crate that we have (we use to have a 130lb lab setter mix-sweetest boy!) She said i could put water and pee pad on one side and his bed/blankets on the other. She felt confident this was okay at this point. I asked several times. But for this last week, he has been in the small crate and stroller. I believe his meds end this week...i think it's Wednesday (maybe Tuesday). He's sleeping in his stroller next to me and i dont want to get up to check. We do carry him in and out of potty time and use a scarf. We did order a few back end harnesses to try when they arrive. So far the scarf is working okay. We aren't sure if this is a set back yet, but he has peed on me twice. Once was when we were trying to talk to him to see if his tail wagged (in all fairness he did piddle before this recent incident when we would get home and sweet talk him), but he also peed in his crate last night. We put a diaper on him to see, but will keep talking out potty. He did poo on his out outside, and told me he had to go. He is allowed to start water therapy; his first appt is Tuesday 9/11/18. It will be 30 min. She comes highly recommended. He's started chewing on a couple of his favorite toys!! When his brothers play, I can see in his little eyes he wants to play so bad!! Poor guy. He's spunky and loves running and playing. His brothers are being so careful and gentle around him. It's precious to see. They know something is wrong. Thank you so much for this site and all the links. I really appreciate it!!! Jenny
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 9, 2018 16:03:38 GMT -7
Jenny, so wonderful to hear you have been reading proactively about IVDD. As dismaying as it may be, IVDD is just an unpredictable disease. The "last straw" of too much pressure to a prematurely aging disc might be something we witness such as jumping up or down or as subtle a movement as turning to scratch. We do the best we can with ramps, etc in hopes of extending time til next episode or maybe never another. It surely bodes well for more nerve healing to take place since he appears to still retain control of bladder and bowel. You can verify bladder control regarding that occurrence of leaking urine on you and in his crate. Give him the sniff and pee test: The only way for humans to know if there is bladder control is with the “sniff and pee test.” Carry outdoors, set them on an old pee spot to sniff. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. See if they will release urine on the old urine area. If urine comes out after sniffing, that is bladder control. IF he can no longer sniff and then pee, you will need to alert your vet right away and go in for a hands-on-top-of-your-hands type of lesson. First read and view the video at this page to get more out of the lesson: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Let us know what you observe on the sniff and pee test. Sounds like you and your surgeon have a good handle on how to handle things once you are back at work.
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Post by Jenny & Chai on Sept 26, 2018 12:00:12 GMT -7
Chai Bug Update!! We visited his neurologist last week and she was shocked and flabbergasted! I was telling his progress and her face was questionable. She said lets set him down and see. He wouldn't move, but as soon as I got on the ground with him he was wagging his tail, hobbling around and happy I was down there will him. Her reaction was priceless. She kept saying, wow, oh my, this is incredible, I'm shocked, and then the kicker....honestly I didn't think he would walk again. She said in all her years and countless ivdd surgeries, he is the first one she ever had to do on both side of the spinal chord. My heart burst for my strong willed, determined little guy. She also kept saying how happy he is and boy he loves his mom (that is an understatement). For next three weeks he can have 3-5 minutes on ground a few times a day, keep up with his water therapy (which he is doing a GREAT job-he's an adorable froggy swimmer), and in 3 weeks revisit him being on the ground to play with his two fur brothers. Even in one week of being on the ground a few minutes, he has change so much. He's not dragging his paws and able to pick them up and walks. He has an adorable sassy strut. She said no stairs ever again, which is easy...he didn't really so any but one in the backyard. We have ramps for couches. We will build one for the back step, we have been watching videos on how to. I cannot tell you how much the information, suggestions, etc on this forum has helped us. I am so thankful I found you guys. <3 <3 Jenny & Chai
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Sept 26, 2018 13:46:26 GMT -7
Wonderful news about Chai! He has done so well. In the future Chai will be able to do most of the things he usually does. There are just a few thing that must be avoided forever: No more jumping up or down, those activities increase impact on the spine. No tug-o-war, pulling games. No shaking toys. No zig zag running. No rambunctious playing with other dogs. No more stairs or steps. Use ramps indoors Teach your dog to not pull on the leash No sitting up or standing on back legs. Teach your dog to sit down rather than jump AND keep all four feet on the ground Tips found at: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 26, 2018 17:37:28 GMT -7
nJenny, congratulations of finishing the three weeks of post op crate rest!!! So very wonderful to hear how well Chai is doing. That must have been some operation accessing both sides of the cord! If the neuro is impressed with Chai then we are doubly impressed!! Will be be moving to underwater treadmills where he can practice the art of walking again vs. swimming? Good job on building ramps. You may be interested in some furniture blockers too? Ideas and more are in this link: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htmWe love it when members have a mind to pay forward and help another. We invite you to hop on to our educational bandwagon team in any way that makes you happy. Education about disc disease is our number one mission! We wish we did not have to hear of another dog that was put to sleep because of disc disease nor one denied the correct principles of crate rest to help them heal.
-- Hand carry our literature and introduce us to your vet. When in conversation at the grocery store line or wherever you meet breeds most prone to IVDD (Dachshunds, Beagles, Poodles, Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, and Chihuahuas) to give out our little cards. Ask Linda to send you our free packet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/litorder.htm
-- We have store where you might find something you absolutely need! Our earnings go to paying for our webpage and literature to hand out. www.dodgerslist.com/store.htm- Help another trying to make quick decisions about surgery… We have a directory where you can share surgical costs. Here is the link to enter information in the directory: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-postingState: Hospital: Address: Cost: Date of surgery: What was included in cost (MRI?, days stay, ER? PT? meds for home, sling, etc.) Comments:
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