Welcome to Dodgerslist, Hana. 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! I am sorry to hear that your Annie is having a disc episode.
It is important to know that disc disease is not a death sentence! Struggling with quality of life questions for your dog? Re-think things:
www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htmAnnie may no longer have a career in agility, but after the crate rest period is over she should be able to do most of what she does now. Stairs and jumping should be avoided forever but Annie should be able to run and sniff the world the way dogs love to do.
We 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.htmHow much does Annie weigh?
When you can, please let us know about Annie's medications. What dosage and frequency has she been prescribed . If on a steroid, what was the start date & dose? Date of steroid taper? If on a NSAID, for how many days has it been prescribed for?
Annie should not be in pain. Pain will slow the healing process. I am glad that the vets are working with you to get her the right pain meds.
The most important thing you can do for Annie now is Strict crate rest. The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT 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.
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
◼︎At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best. 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.
The pain and body changes of IVDD can cause stress. Stress can lead to excess stomach acid which can cause damage to the GI tract. In addition, most dogs experiencing an IVDD episode are prescribed anti-inflammatories which also cause excess stomach acid. To help prevent stomach damage from excess stomach acid a stomach protector like Pepcid AC should be used. Ask the vet 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).
canigivemydog.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/can-i-give-my-dog-pepcid-ac-300x300.jpg The usual dose for Doxie weight dogs is 5mg Pepcid AC (famotidine) every 12 hours.
Is she eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit? —Poops OK? Normal firmness & color -no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers? No diarrhea?
What was the date you saw the vet for CONSERVATIVE treatment of meds and started crate rest?
You mentioned surgery. Are you considering surgery for Annie? We have some information about surgery considerations here:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmDid you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD, aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc?
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!! 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. Begin absorbing the must-have overall sense of meds, care and how the treatment works. Your dog will be depending on your ability to learn - excellent video series here:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/theater.htmPRINT OUT this link and tape to your fridge:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm --use the printout as your roadmap to avoid dangerous detours in your dog’s care
--make notes/highlight to keep yourself on track
--follow all the links in the next days to become the IVDD savvy pet parent your dog needs. Use the “search box” to easily locate topics over at our Main
www.Dodgerslist.com website:
www.dodgerslist.com/index/searchBOX.jpg
