Hi Gail, bless you for saving Gunther.. He deserves every chance to recover.
Do you have any idea when his injury happened? I realize that he was in a shelter when you rescued him and you may not have that information. It's a shame he might not have been crate rested to give the broken vertebrae time to heal.
Our specialty here is for the Intervertebral Disc disease and dogs that are born with it.. We do however know what can help dogs that have lost the use of their legs..
here is some more info:
dodgerslist.com/literature/IncontinentDown.htmI would avoid rehab therapy until his pain is brought under control. Pain means inflammation is ongoing and get instructions from the Neurologist.
Glad you are having him checked by a Neurologist especially if he is pain, they are well versed in how to treat dogs with back problems and nerve damage. Let them know the pain symptoms you are seeing such as:
☐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? Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose. If not in control your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds.
❖2 How much does Gunther weigh?
Our specialty here is for the Intervertebral Disc disease and dogs that are born with it and we are narrowly focused on IVDD. We do however know what can help dogs that have lost the use of their legs..
Dogs that can't urinate on their own should have their bladders expressed to keep them healthy. Overflowing urine can lead to urinary tract infections and diapers and belly bands keep the urine against their skin and cause rashes that can lead to infection. Have your Vet teach you with a hands on your hands lesson on how to express Gunther's bladder. Please read and watch the videos here to get more out of the the lesson from your Vet.
dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmLoose stool and diarrhea can be caused by changes in food or medications and other causes.. Is Gunther on any anti inflammatories such as a NSAID or Steroid? Please list any medications with exact names and dosages and how often given per day. If it is anti inflammatory related Pepcid AC should be given..
Dodgerslist follows vets who are protective and proactive about the GI tract damage when any anti-inflammatory has been Rx'd. Dogs don't speak up like a person would at the first red flag signs the manufacturer warns of in the package insert: nausea, not eating, progressing to vomit, loose stools, bleeding ulcers, bloody diarrhea to life threatening hole in the stomach lining.
Mar Vista Vet reports: Pepcid AC (famotidine) has a very limited potential for side effects, the reason of release to over-the-counter status. The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease as these diseases tend to prolong drug activities. There have been some reports of exacerbating heart rhythm problems in patients who already have heart rhythm problems so it may be prudent to choose another means of stomach acid control in heart patients. Please read the full info on Pepcid AC just like you would do for each and every med that goes into your dog's mouth…it is that added layer of protection for your dog when we are informed owners. marvistavet.com/famotidine.pml
If vet says your dog has no health issues, then just go to the grocery store to purchase. The usual dose during a disc episode is Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours. Give the anti-inflammatory with a meal as added protection.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.htmlcanigivemydog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/can-i-give-my-dog-pepcid-ac-300x300.jpgHealing prayers for Gunther..
