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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 22, 2019 18:33:42 GMT -7
success!!!!!! more to follow.....
Quick sum of last 24 hours 1.called neuro and was told no apts, bring him in ER 2.Medvet Dallas was waiting for us and took Demo back and Neuro examined him. 3.option: 4 more weeks crate rest or surgery the next day W 4 weeks crate rest 4.get pictures, they prefer mri over ct.(cat had heart attack at mri place) I chose CT 5. Demo spent night there on valium & morphine & IV fluids. 6. Surgeon, Dr Rich called this morning and Demos legs were stronger. I asked long list of questions and asked for and got promise of Demo having no pain or anxiety there or at home AND that pain decisions can be made while she doesnt take calls. 7. Answered prayer: Dr. Rich worked up Demo in 2017, her last week at prior surgery place. So she remembered sweet Demo and I had peace and confidence in her. 8. Around 1pm did catscan and found ruptured disc between 3-4 with lots of material. 6-7 of 2017 surgery looked good and the rest of his spine good. Demo in great health. Location fit with all his symptoms. She said easy surgery and it was a go. She started surgery around 3 pm 9. Dr called me at 6 and said much more matter than she expected and she got it all. He was already awake. 10. He will stay til at least Monday, when pain is covered and he can walk and pee. 11. Recovery instructions is 4 weeks strict crate rest. Crate/pen large enough for bed at one end and food a few steps away from him.
Note: When this first happened, my thought was to go straight to surgery since i could afford it. My vet said no and did not refer us to a neurologist.
So thankful to all of you For your time, support, wisdom & prayers!!!
It is 8:33 pm and i am going to bed!
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Post by Julie & Perry on Aug 22, 2019 19:05:45 GMT -7
Woohoo! I'm doing my Snoopy happy dance for you and Demo! You've been an excellent advocate for Demo and getting him the care he needs.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 23, 2019 13:54:19 GMT -7
8/23 - Demo can walk, knows where his feet are, is eating and going potty. He has a tummy ache prob from anesthesia so methadone increased. The surgeon called me 3 pm.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Aug 23, 2019 14:14:05 GMT -7
I am so glad to hear about Demo's successful surgery.
Is methadone being used for nausea? Anesthesia does sometimes cause nausea.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 24, 2019 12:17:06 GMT -7
Dr just called. Tummy is calm. Happy on his meds. Really sweet boy. She will start changing IV meds to oral, one at a time today and tomorrow.
Aug 24 hour prior: Demo doing well this morning. Reports of lots of snuggling and wagging tail. Has become the ICU FAVORITE. Will hear from dr later.
-------- Aug 23, 2019 at 5:11pm via mobile They had methadone in his iv yesterday for pain control and she increased it for his tummy hurting. Dr said it was common for dachshunds to get nauseaus from surgery anesthesia
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 25, 2019 5:41:43 GMT -7
So glad to hear how well Demo is doing, Susan. Wonderful news. Any idea when he'll be coming home?
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 25, 2019 12:18:58 GMT -7
Dr. Rich said he needs to pee, poop, walk and have pain managed before he comes home. Last surgery he was in a lot of pain for 2 weeks with neither of us getting any sleep so I am happy with that plan. I am assuming if I get a good report today, I will bring him home tomorrow. But I am not going to just pick him up. I am going to ask for a room for him and I to hang out for a while so if he starts complaining they can evaluate.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 25, 2019 21:26:33 GMT -7
Spoke w surgeon and she is setting up time for Demo to be with me for half hour and if hes okay he comes home. She mentioned he turned his water bowl over when he wanted anything. :-) Dont they all?
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 26, 2019 19:28:02 GMT -7
Okay, I am NOT complaining, merely commenting, I am thrilled to be able to provide Demo with surgery!! Got there at 3, they brought him out, he just stood there, drugged we assume. Got him home at 4 and put him in his crate and he stood and peed in it. DEMO HAS NEVER PEED IN HIS CRATE. When I called to ask about that, was told he probably got used to doing it there. He was sleepy and quiet til around 8 and I fed him and took him out and he can't hold himself up to poop. I specifically asked if he could do that and was assured. Tried again and his back legs just fall out from under him, more than before surgery. The med schedule has him getting meds every 2 hours. Took an hour to re-arrange that so I get 4 hours sleep tonight and go work 4 hours tomorrow. He is in his crate and is crying - I think for attention - so I'm going back in. Just gave him Trazedone so that should help. I had asked if they would keep him until he was completely on oral meds to ensure pain was covered with them but he was on iv til noon today. Just being in the crate cost $68 per 15 minutes so I may just miss some work. I don't make that much per hour. He looks good. His back looks great. Stitches look good. Going back in now......
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Post by Julie & Perry on Aug 26, 2019 21:37:18 GMT -7
Oh boy, hang in there. I remember how tough recovery time is.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 26, 2019 23:28:19 GMT -7
Thanks! All encouragement needed. That last post should have said just him in crate at surgery center cost $68 per 15 minutes.
Just did our last med at 1:15. I wrenched my lower back trying to get him out of crate. If i didn't need to wake up in few hours id be getting into his tramadol 😁😳😏. I hope this is normal. He hasnt slept since 8pm. Just making noises thst could mean anything??? Thsnks for listening!!!@
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 27, 2019 6:11:48 GMT -7
The swelling from the surgery can take a couple of weeks to go down and until then, it may be difficult to determine neuro function. We have seen dogs' neuro condition be worse after the surgery than before due to the swelling from the surgery. He may still be a bit drugged up from the IV drugs, too.
Hang in there. The first couple of weeks can be difficult after surgery.
What meds was he sent home with (names, dosages and frequency given)? How many weeks of crate rest did the surgeon prescribe? What PT was prescribed?
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Post by Michelle & Keira on Aug 27, 2019 6:31:11 GMT -7
The first days after surgery are very tough. When our Keira had her 2nd surgery, she went into it still being able to walk, after surgery she lost the use of her rear legs. It was only temporary for a few days, but they did warn me that it could happen. Very stressful times, but hang in there, you are doing amazing, Demo is lucky to have such a committed and loving mum. Best of luck.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 27, 2019 7:18:46 GMT -7
I am so blessed to have him! He woke me at 5 am and I CANT READ MY HANDWRITING TO KNOW IF I GAVE HIM ANYTHING! HA! I see TRAZADONE. That makes sense.... Since yall say legs can weaken, im jus letting him sleep and going back to bed myself...will put meds in later
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 27, 2019 22:30:48 GMT -7
DAY 2 Back on track, i was late giving him his prednisone and that must have made difference. Stands up on all 4 in crate, walks ok at potty time and can hold posture to poop. I can assure you no one else wants to hear these details... 26 to go.....
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Post by Julie & Perry on Aug 28, 2019 3:27:57 GMT -7
Susan, you're doing great! Demo is making such good progress.
Woohoo! Doing my Snoopy happy dance he's feeling better.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 28, 2019 5:08:57 GMT -7
So glad to hear little Demo is doing well, Susan! It's very early days after his surgery so that's wonderful to hear.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 29, 2019 5:14:40 GMT -7
Yes, it is early to be up - been up for a while! 5 a.m. - Demo cried and then threw up. His last meal had been at 8:30 pm w 1/4 cup kibble and some frozen green peas (these have been a daily treat for many years) He only threw up about half the green peas, intact and no kibble.
I got him out of crate and his back feet slipped out. Took him out to poppy and his back legs were weaker. In his crate now, he isn't standing up like yesterday. He sets his left rear hind down immediately. Yesterday he was at good strength, walking with straight feet and posturing well to poop. The day before he had been weak and I thought it was because I gave him his prednisone late.
The Dr. said it can be common for dogs to come out of surgery weaker than they went in, but they should not come out STRONGER AND THEN GET WEAKER.
Possible factors: Yesterday he opened his crate with two sliding latches, stepped down maybe 2-3 inches and then scampered at least 30 feet into my office! When I checked, he had taken about 6 bites out of the garbage bag covering his mattresses. He did not throw that up. He has become quite unhappy in his crate so I let him lay in his buggy for an hour. That could have weakened him. His stomach is soft.
He gets Sufalcrate (like Pepcid) an hour before he eats. He gets Omeprazole once a day at least an hour from food and meds.
Just spoke with night nurse and he said the first weeks are hard and I was doing very well with his med schedule and he is doing much better than most their similar patients. (Probably because we did not wait until he went down in his legs?)
Medications in 24 hours prior to vomiting: 7:00 am Sucalfrate 8:30 am 1/4 cup kibble (RD Science Diet), Prednisone, Gabapentin, Diazapam 2:00 pm Sucalfrate 3:00 pm 1/2 cup kibble 4:30 pm Gabapentin, Diazapam 6:00 pm Trazodone 9:30 pm Late dinner of RD Science Diet and frozen peas 10:30 pm Sucalfrate 11:30 pm Omeprazole 2:20 am Gabapentin, Diazapam (should have been at 12:30, but I fell asleep) 5:00 am Throw up
Medications: Prednisone 5 mg for first 5 days, then 2.5 for 5 days, then 2.5 every other day for five days. Diazepam 5 mg, every 8 hrs Trazodone 25 mg, every 8-12 hrs, AS NEEDED. (I MAY NOT BE DOING IT OFTEN ENOUGH?) Gabapentin 100 mg, every 8 hrs Sucalfrate 1/2 gram dissolved in little water, 3 times a day, hour from food and other meds Omeprazole 10 mg, every 24 hrs, hour from food and medicine (coats stomach)
Am waiting on vet to call. If questions I should be asking, please let me know.
Sleepy Susan
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 29, 2019 7:57:58 GMT -7
Let us know what your surgeon says. Hope the escape caused nothing more serious than over doing muscles.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 29, 2019 14:52:01 GMT -7
I reported to vet he was stronger today than yesterday. They suggested i give Trazadone every 8 hours with Gaba % Diaz rather than "as needed", while he is on crate rest. This morning an hour after i took him out, he peed in his crate. He did that in icludedu amoung my long list of presurgery questions should have been how often they take them out to potty. Hope goes away soon.
He has slept all afternoon.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Aug 29, 2019 15:07:17 GMT -7
Really happy to hear that Demo is feeling stronger today. Dogs on pred need to be taken out a lot. It may be that every hour is what is needed although most dogs can make it at least two hours.
It also may be that he can't yet fully empty his bladder. If he lets you, try a quick express check after he pees to make sure all the urine has been expelled.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 29, 2019 17:52:14 GMT -7
Before now, I happily skipped over bladder squeezing info....guess Ill go back...
Are there any thing thst help with crate boredom?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 29, 2019 19:14:49 GMT -7
When a dog can walk, he should also have bladder control and so you would NOT express his bladder. While on pred he needs to be taken out every 3-4 hrs because he's drinking more. Have you browsed over on our main website...used the search box? Look for the search box on our pages a very helpful tool in locating other topics: There's a nice article on emergency crate training that may help you and Tucker. Let us know how it works for him: Link to Emergency crate training: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/EmergencyCrate%20Training.htmSince Tucker is a post op dog and no longer on conservative's STRICT limited movement rest the video below may help. Do choose only the activities that can take place inside the recovery suite and do not cause movement of the back or if a cervical disc do not encourage movement of the neck: Dr. Becker's "Help Keep Your Pup Happy When She's on Crate Rest" and Dr. Horwitz' video demoing "Train the Brain" mind stimulation activities. healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2016/07/20/dog-rest-time-for-recovery.aspx Train the Brain video for the POST-OP dog
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Post by Susan & Demo on Aug 30, 2019 11:51:46 GMT -7
They told me to give Trazodone every 8 hours - so sleeping more, more wobbly walking AND not peeing normally - not a good stream. Can Trazodone cause all 3 side effects?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 30, 2019 17:45:18 GMT -7
Susan, best to report your observations to the vet. Do you have the sheet that came with Trazodon to refer to or read up on it at the Mar Vista Vet website: www.marvistavet.com/trazodone.pml Dose may need to be adjusted. Sedation side effect might affect the things you report or not. What did your vet say?
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Post by Susan & Demo on Sept 16, 2019 22:22:23 GMT -7
All good news! We are on the count down to freedom. 4 more days!!! The initial instructions were 4 weeks strict crate rest. At 12 day check up, she said he was so strong, he should start walking to his eating area and spend more time outdoors for potty time. She said to keep him on a leash and with me for a while. I have been more conservative, partly because it is 100 degrees outside. Since he is off all but Gaba and trazodone, i am being very careful. Im sure I am the only person who could never teach Demo to walk and heel.... So he gets on the leash and is running rather than walking. Good problem! We are keeping him napping most the time with trazodone around the clock.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Sept 17, 2019 4:50:22 GMT -7
So good to hear that Demo is still doing well, Susan. Post op crate rest is not as strict as it is with conservative care and often with a dog that can walk, surgeons will prescribe some walking as therapy, such as to the eating area and walking a bit outside to potty. Demo's muscle strength and stamina will need to be very gradually built up, especially since he previously had weeks of conservative care, too. Good to hear that you're being cautious but don't be too afraid to let him get some mild exercise. Use a short 6' leash and stand in one spot to limit his running around. Here's our page on how to very gradually reintroduce movement after crate rest that may be helpful but always check with the surgeon and go by their recommendations: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmHas the surgeon prescribed any type of PT for Demo other than what you mentioned? Sometimes with a dog that can walk, a very gradual increase in walking is all the PT that is needed. We know that Demo is in good loving hands and that you'll take his recovery nice and slow for the next month or so, with continued restrictions on jumping and going up and down steps/stairs in the future. Please continue to keep us updated. Blessings to you both.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Sept 30, 2019 9:31:19 GMT -7
Well, well, well …. completed his 4 weeks of strict crate rest after surgery. Demo gradually reduced to no meds and strict crate life began Sep 20, Friday at the end of his 4 weeks post op. Very happy and full of energy. Since I work, he was still in crate most of the time and his behavior was almost perfect. He stepped down a 3 inch step once and jumped into his crate one day - just for the fun of it. He pulled when outdoors in his harness and on leash because Demo is not a walker. He is a runner. I have been trying the "walk, heel,..." practice but he either pulls ahead or stops and will not move. Has anyone ever trained an 11 year old dachshund to walk next to them on leash? This past Thursday, he did not poop much. Friday I saw him walk backwards twice, rather than turn around. Every day I lightly run my fingers along his spine and it is perfectly smooth with no reaction from Demo. Friday night there was lump to the right of his spine, very close if not exactly where his bad disc was. And he would not let me touch his back. His right foot looked a little turned in. I gave him 50 mg Tramadol at bedtime. He woke me crying at 3 a.m. I gave him 125 Robanix and 100 Gabapentin. He slept all day til around 4 pm. He was squirming around on his back on a pallet in the living room with me right there and as he stood up, he peed out a full bladder. He looked more surprised than me. Called er vet where his surgery was done. Of course, neurologists cannot be contacted on the weekends. They told me to bring him right in and ER doc would see him. My back seized up while putting him in car and almost dropped him and he thrashed around in crate for 15 minutes. Once there, there were 5-6 swollen looking places all along his spine. The ER doc that saw him said it did not look serious and then Demo's back end fell over to his left.She suggested he stay there and get iv fluids as that alone can reduce swelling and neuro could see him Monday. I did not argue because I knew I was at risk of dropping him. So he stayed Sat and Sun nights. Now I am waiting for the neuro to call soon.
Demo has spent 9 weeks in a crate. Will update after call.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 1, 2019 13:11:49 GMT -7
Please let us know what the neuro says when you hear from him.
After Frankie's crate rest was over, I used a ramp to get him into the car. He was too heavy for me to lift. You could consider a ramp to save your back.
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Post by Susan & Demo on Oct 1, 2019 16:51:19 GMT -7
I learned that i need to learn more about this disease - could have saved $1000. The on-duty ER doc told me to bring him into ER when he heard symptoms. But there was no neuro on duty and they are not allowed to call her.
So Demo stayed 48 hours and the neuro said this may be Demos "new normal." He was so strong at his post OP visit, that she did not instruct me on a slow process following crate rest. She put him back on 100mg gabapentin for a month and trazadone as needed. I am now going to follow this site's slow program.
I need help knowing how to make small ramps for 3 and 4 inch steps.
My dilemma is slowing Demo down and getting him to move when he doesn't want to. And this is on the leash. He either stands still or runs.
Also concerned that vet staff says Demo is so happy and fun, tail wagging and licking everyone and now back at our quiet house, there is rarely tail wagging. Do i need another dog to spice things up?
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