Welcome to Dodgerslist. Hi, my name is Paula, what's yours? So that the discussion does not go off in the wrong direction, we have a few questions to fill us in on where your Mollie is.
It is worrisome for sure to not have an understanding about your dog's surgery, timelines, etc. That is the reason for this Forum get you up to speed so your mind can work what is true. Knowledge is the power to both care for Mollie and to fight this IVDD enemy.
The surgery itself causes swelling and some temporary neuro setback. It can take about 2 weeks for all that swelling to subside where you and your surgeon will have a better idea about the direction of nerve healing. Do take a read on this page to get a better handle on nerve regeneration and the typical order nerves heal in:
I encourage you to learn even more by following the other buttons for the things you need to know today and things to live many happy years ahead.
✦1 Is there still currently 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
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 your dog weigh?
A.. Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg’s and times per day given.
B.. anti-inflammatory?
Steroid....what was the start date & dose?
Date of steroid taper?
NSAID (non-steroid med) - what was the start date and dose?
Date NSAID will stop?
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?
✦5 Is the surgeon a specialist (ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho)?
✦6 Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm SURGERY: Post-op crate rest is to allow the surgical sites to heal. Post-op dogs will follow surgeon’s directives for PT during post-op rest.
1. How many weeks did your surgeon direct for post-op rest?
2. What did your surgeon direct for at home PT or from a rehab clinic? Post op 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 ✦7 Tell us about current neuro functions:
A. Can your dog 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?
IF there is 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.
Look forward to learning all about Mollie with your answers
