Carina, welcome to Dodgerlist Forum. If you could provide details we'll be best able to understand things and make supportive comments.
What breed is Spencer?
How much does he weigh?
We'll need to know what you gave starting on Thursday til you could get to a vet on Monday. Dates are very important as are exact names of meds with their dose in mgs and how often you gave them.
--- name of anti-inflammatory, Thursday date you started?: ? mgs ?x/day for how many days
Then when you saw the vet on a Monday (exact date?) Tell us more detail about the other class of anti-inflammatory drugs called steroids and the detail of the pain meds prescribed.
--- name of steroid anti-inflammatory?
date started? :
? mgs ?x/day for how many days?, BEFORE test-for-pain tapering
--- exact name of 3 pain meds: ? mgs ?x/day
It would be helpful to you, to understand how long it may take an anti-inflammatory (steroid or NSAID) to get the painful swelling down. Why your job is on the taper of a steroid. Highly recommend this information so you are able to better speak with a vet and understand what he is thinking:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm
RULE OF THUMB
Rule of thumb is: pain = swelling = back up at anti-inflammatory dose of the steroid, pain meds and Pepcid AC to protect the GI tract. If on the taper there is no pain, the finish out the taper. All that remains is to finish 8 weeks of crate rest so the disc can heal. Nerve healing is not necessarily expected during the short 8 weeks it takes the disc to heal. Think in terms of months rather than days/weeks for nerve healing.
We look forward to learning about the meds so we know best were Spencer is in his treatment program.
Crate rest is the single most important part of the care as it protects the disc from increased damage that could spell permanent nerve damage. Learn all about the different between surgery and conservative treatment to best be able to communicate with a vet:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmAs damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions. When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order. Please let us know where you believe Spencer's neuro function is presently:
1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. Wobbly walking, legs cross
3. Nails/toes scuffing floor
4. Paws knuckle under
5. Weak/little leg movement, can't move up into a stand
6. Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down)
7. Bladder control is lost. Leaks on you when lifted. Can no longer sniff and then pee on that old urine spot outdoors.
8. Tail wagging with joy is lost
9. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment.
Surgery can still be successful in the window of 12-24 hours after loss of deep pain sensation.
Even after that window of time, there can still be a good outcome. Each hour that passes decreases that chance. Precious hours can be lost with a vet that gets DPS wrong. Trust only the word of a neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) surgeon about DPS. So if surgery is an option for your family get to a neuro or ortho asap.
A quick overview of conservative treatment vs. a surgery:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htm#surgeryVSconservative
