Welcome to Dodgerslist. 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 important to know that disc disease is not a death sentence! Struggling with quality of life questions for your dog? Re-think things:
There are two treatments for dogs with IVDD. There is surgery and there is conservative treatment. If surgery is not an option for you, Bella can be treated conservatively. Many dogs have recovered through 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. 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 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 most important thing you can do to help Bella recover is to immediately start Strict crate rest.
Can Bella 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?
If she has bladder control, carry her 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!
If she cannot sniff and pee, meaning she does not have bladder control, she will need to be expressed. To learn how to express, review the video then get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson from your vet.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm
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:
Is she currently in pain? ☐shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved ☐reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move ☐tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position ☐Arched back ☐ 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 between doses. If not in control your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds.
How much does Bella weigh?
Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and times per day given.
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?
PEPCID AC: 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!) Pepcid AC is prescription only in the UK. Ranitidine a different acid reducer, an older generation product and not as powerful, is available over the counter at the chemist in the UK if you get a no health reasons answer from your vet.
The usual dose of 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
What country are you in? The UK?
Is there any indication of GI Tract problems? —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?
Currently can Bella wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
I feel your stress and anxiety to raise funds for surgery. Our group has been formed since 2002 to provide the "best of best" practices for disc disease treatments. This is priceless information when trying to understand what vets are telling you and having to make important decisions.
So many here have not been able to provide surgery due to the dog's health, personal finances or just the desire to try the least invasive treatment first. Because so many members are heavily burdened with unexpected vet bills themselves, it is not likely you will find people in a position to help you financially.
What you WILL find on this Forum is support and education to help you with care during conservative treatment which has been successful in a great number of cases.
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?
What is your name? I am Romy.
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:
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:
