Welcome Tahuahua. We have lots of good information to share with you. First we need all the specific details you can supply so our comments will be on target.
✦1 Currently is there any of these signs of pain? If yes, call the vet and alert him of existing pain.
☐ shivering, trembling ☐ Arched back
☐ panting can be pain, can be side effects of prednisone or tramadol
☐ yelping when picked up or moved ☐ can’t find a comfortable position
☐ reluctant or slow to move much in crate such as shift positions
☐ tight tense tummy
☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
☐ Nose to the ground or head held high, uses eyes only to look
☐ Not their normal perky selves?
Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose, round the clock. If not in control your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds.
✦2 MED LIST details
How much does your dog weigh?
A.. Please list the exact names of all meds currently given, their
doses in mg’s and
times per day given.
B..
Exact name of Steroid shot....
Date prednisone pills start. How many mgs each dose. How many times a day. For how long before there is a reduction/taper?
C. Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC (famotidine) when taking any anti-inflammatory med (steroid or NSAID). 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.
✦3 GI track damage?
—Eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit?
—Poops OK? Normal firmness & color -no dark black blood of bleeding ulcers nor bright red blood ? No diarrhea?
✦4 What is your dog’s name? Your name, to if not Tahuahua?
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite for the single MOST IMPORTANT part of the care.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm STRICT rest means (
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingdisc.htm ):
◼︎ 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.
✦7 Tell us about current neuro functions:
A. can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
B. Can your dog 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 control?
DOGs HAVING BLADDER CONTRL
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!
LOSS of BLADDER CONTROL
If there is no bladder control, you would be expressing every 2-3 hours depending on which meds he is on. Do not hesitate to express in the vet’s clinic and have the vet tech check your work, give you additional pointers. It may take a weeks worth of expressing to reach “pro level.” Doesn’t hurt to re-review the tips and video on expressing to keep your dog dry session to expressing session:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Express for poop, not the health issue urine is but to prevent anxiety of your dog finding poop where he sleeps.
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.
You will be amazed with yourself on how well IVDD educated you can become in a such a short time! Follow the buttons that pertain to the now and the rest of the colored buttons in the next days to become the IVDD savvy pet parent your dog will need.
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm Conservative Treatment button
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