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Post by Linda Brisk on Mar 7, 2019 14:38:36 GMT -7
Post IVVD surgery 6 weeks - at home rehab until vet consult Hello, My Dachshund had spinal surgery 6 weeks ago; he is now showing signs of motor nerve function (standing on his own, wagging his tail, using his hind leg to scratch his ear). My issue is we are not able to get in to see the Vet Rehab Center in Seattle (Dr. Shaw, DMV, PhD, CCRT) for rehab consult until March 30 - which will be 9 1/2 weeks post surgery. Because he is showing signs of motor function I'd like to start rehab at home to help him strengthen and develop coordination. Is there anything we can be doing at home to be help him until we can get in for the consult? Also, I was considering removing the exercise crate and allowing him free movement around the house. At 6 weeks post op (as of yesterday) is it too soon? He tried to dig himself out of the crate yesterday, bloodying his paws with his fervor (poor guy!) Also, if there are any Vets (with CRRT or CCRP) in Seattle Metro area that are highly recommended in rehab, we may go somewhere else if being seen earlier is of great benefit. Thanks for any insights or tips, Linda |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 7, 2019 15:21:10 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist, Linda. We are so glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve gleaned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! It is great that your dog is showing signs of returning neuro fuction. What is you dog's name. I am Romy and my boy is Frankie. Does your dog have bladder control? We know a dog has bladder control if he can sniff and squat and then release urine. Is the surgeon a general DVM or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho? Different surgeons recommend different times for post-op crate rest. Some suggest 4 weeks, some 6 or 8 or even more for a particular difficult surgery. Sometimes this info is in the discharge papers. If you were given no guidance from the surgeon, call and ask what he recommends. What helped my Frankie the most after surgery was walking on an underwater treadmill. He started this at about 6 weeks post-surgery. I do not think he would have recovered nearly as quickly without it. This type of therapy can often begin as soon as the stitches/staples are out. Again, it is important to check with the surgeon. Here is a link that shows how it looks Since you can not get an appointment for rehab until the end of the month, with the surgeon's approval, some exercises can be done in the bathtub at home. We have some info on that here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapyDr. Isaacs has some information about post-surgery PT here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htmWe encourage you to register and become a member of the Forum. That way it will be easier for you to reply and make it easier for us to track your dog and give the best of comments and support. Tips on registering: www.dodgerslist.com/forumads/RegisterFORUM/register.htmYou can use the “search box” to easily locate topics over at our Main www.dodgerslist.com website: www.dodgerslist.com/index/searchBOX.jpg |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 7, 2019 18:57:10 GMT -7
Linda, I would add that if you have not been doing some at home post-op PT, then start that as well. Since he is begining to have leg movements, some of the PT he may not like you doing...so just move on to another in the video. Can he push himself up into a stand?Now is a good time to be determining how you are going to ease back into more normal activity at graduation. The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled conditions. Not free reign of the house and yard immediately! LOL Take a look at our information and then come up with a plan to gradually increase activity over about a month's time following the end of crate rest. Now is the perfect time if you haven't already to make those home modifications so that you can reduce the stress on the spine in the future when he can again walk. No more stairs, ramps up to furniture, or blocking furniture all together. All those ideas and more are in this link: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htmYou will want to consider how you will prevent rug burns from scooting til he can walk. Here are some sew and no-sew options: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm#garments |
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