Welcome to Dodgerslist, Nataleigh!
❖1 Check out this list of pain signs and you will find several that Sophiebear has been showing.
❑ shivering, trembling ❑ Arched back
❑ yelping when picked up or moved ❑ can’t find a comfortable position
❑ tight tense tummy ❑ nose to the ground or head held high
❑ reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move
❑ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
❑ Not their normal perky interested in life selves?
Let her Vet know Immediately that she is in pain so they can adjust her pain medications.. She needs to be pain free from dose to dose with no breakthrough in pain. Pain slows down healing so have no patience with pain!
…PEPCID AC: Ask if your dog has any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn’t need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a “no health issues” answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
Doxie weight dogs: 5mg Pepcid AC (famotidine) every 12 hours. NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound, 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory Metacam and thereafter every 12 hours for as long as your Sophie is on the anti-inflammatory.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.htmlThe hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT 8 weeks of 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
◼︎laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best at home via a mobile vet. 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.
DOGs with BLADDER CONTROL: 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!
If she loses bladder control it will be important to express her bladder to keep her bladder healthy and prevent UTI. Ask your vet to give you a hands on your hands lesson on expressing.. Lots more info here:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Is the vet a general DVM or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?
Knowledge is the power to fight the IVDD enemy and win!!
Getting an IVDD diagnosis is often very overwhelming leaving you feeling vulnerable and placing hope you have the right vet. Often an owner has not been able to research a professional's skills for this one disease. Dodgerslist's aim is to get you up to speed so you can be an active participant in helping your dog heal. No more blindly following instructions.
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmKnowledge is the power to commit to the right treatment and win this IVDD battle! You will be very amazed how quickly you can learn a lot about just one disease which a vet is not able to know in great detail for every disease known to cats and dog.
Healing thoughts and prayers!