SISSYLinda, sorry to hear a short crate rest time did not allow the disc to fully heal and it re-tore. Took it from what you wrote the date crate rest count restarted was on 2/7....let us know the date you started back at square one on crate rest time, meds, etc.
✦1 Let us know if all pain is fully in control round the clock for Sissy. That is you DO NOT see any of these signs of pain:
◼︎ shivering-trembling ◼︎ yelping when picked up or moved ◼︎ slow to move ◼︎ tight tense tummy
◼︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◼︎ head held high or nose to the ground.
◼︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position ◼︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
◼︎ not their normal perky interested in life selves
+ pain IF it is from neck disc:
◼︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◼︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◼︎ holds front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
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
How much does Sissy weigh?
A.. Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg’s and times per day given.
Deramaxx NSAID (non-steroid med) - Date NSAID will stop?
✦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?
◼︎ no laps ◼︎ no couches ◼︎ no baths ◼︎ no sleeping with you
CONSERVATIVE: The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the crate rest part. 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 back movement to allow good strong disc scar tissue to form. PT waits til graduation day. 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 during conservative treatment.
✦7 Tell us about Sissy's current neuro functions:
A. can she wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
B. Can Sissy 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!
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
?