Tara's Baloo 7/12 Conservative

Welcome to Dodgerslist, Tara. 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.

**Disc disease is not a death sentence! ** Struggling with quality of life questions? Re-think things: www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

Do know that Baloo will be able to once again take long walks once movement is gradually reintroduced after the 8 weeks of strict crate rest. He will be able to play with other dogs - just not too rambunctiously. He will have to learn to keep all four feet on the floor, no jumping, no climbing steps/stairs. He will have a wonderful life and you'll soon see how well he adapts to his new normal. So please don't despair!

Please let us know a bit more about the beginning of this episode. You mentioned that "it" only lasted about a minute and then he was fine. What did you see? Pain? Loss of neuro function?

Since Baloo can walk, he's a very good candidate for conservative care, which consists of 8 weeks of very strict crate rest. More on that below.

When you speak to the vet today, speak to him about adding Pepcid AC (Famotidine). Omeprazole is a good acid suppressor but it takes 5 days to reach peak effectiveness and that may be why Baloo's poop is beginning to be a bit soft. Pepcid AC works quickly to suppress acid. Doxie weight dogs: 5mg Pepcid AC (famotidine) every 12 hours. NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound, 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours for as long as your dog is on the anti-inflammatory. www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html

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.
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm

STRICT 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.

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! www.dodgerslist.com/literature/slingwalk.jpg 

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.htm
 PRINT 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

Healing prayers for Baloo.

The 4 beads of omeprazole are from the capsule being open and then we give 4 of the beads from it.

Trazadone is 2-3 times a day based on if he is being spunky or not. Some days he is totally fine with his crate rest, others he will start whining, so that is a day that he gets the 3rd dose. He does not start jumping or anything, it is almost that the crate is just making him anxious that day so I give him that extra dose.

When he had his episode, there was intense pain. Only yelping and looking towards his read end. No loss of neuro function or anything like that, no strange eye movements or gum color, no urinating or anything. The yelping went on for about a minute, and then after that, it abruptly stopped like nothing had happened at all. 

I actually just saw this post. Since it has been 5 days, I’m thinking maybe the omeprazole is okay now? What do you think? He has not pooped yet today but I will be watching for when he does. His poop yesterday was actually back to being okay as well.

Thank you so much!!

Also.. no other dogs in his crate with him. For the most part, the other dogs are not even around him. Only if they are being calm they can then walk around his crated area.

I honestly am unsure about the amount contained in 4 beads. I was instructed by him to empty the capsules and use 4 beads. After counting it appears that there are 18 beads total in each 20 mg capsule. The only instructions are "Give 4 beads by mouth every 12 hours". I have been giving him a milk bone pill pouch with then beads smooshed into there and he eats it right up. He has access to water at all times, and I have noticed he drinks it after medication time.     

Edit: I also give Pet Naturals of Vermont probiotics, and his poop has returned to solid for sure today.