Welcome to Dodgers List. Jessica, hang in there. Contacted Linda founder of DL. She lives in TX and is looking for a vet for you.
It will help us work together with you and avoid offering ideas that could cause harm or lead the discussion in the wrong direction delaying help for your dog — please share a bit more detail with us:
❖1 Is there still currently pain?
☐ shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved
☐ tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position, appears restless
☐ Arched back
☐ reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow, ginger movements
☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight ☐head held high or nose to the ground
☐Not their normal perky selves?
Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose. If not in control your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds.
❖2 How much does your dog weigh?
A.. For how many days has Rimadyl been prescribed for?
C.. PEPCID AC: Phrase a simple question that you expect a simple "yes "or "no" to it. Does my dog have any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famtodine)? (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).
(NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html )
❖3 -- Eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit? mgs ?x/day -- - Poops OK - normal firmness & color -no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers? No diarrhea?
❖4 What is your dog’s name?
❖5 Did 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?
❖6 What was the date you saw the vet for CONSERVATIVE treatment?
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. That 6 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.htmSTRICT means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
- no PT
❖7 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 bladder control?
Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs. Review video then get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmDOGs with BLADDER CONTROL: 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!
❖8 Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
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