Mari's Guinness 2020BCK+2/16NCK conserv -Akita mx; GRAD 4/12

Thank you so much, Paula for the information!  I've just left a message for my vet to call me on Monday to talk about the medications -- Pepcid AC and getting her pain meds right!

I just finished getting her recovery suite together similarly to what I found on the main page. 

I think the vet may need to teach me to express her because I noticed after I cleaned her up and moved her to her suite, she leaked and was cleaning herself like a mother dog would clean her young before they learn how to pee and poo.

THANK YOU!

Oh, and her weight is 58 lbs.

Good news, Everyone! Guinness is now doing well with urinating. She still has trouble pooping -- she can't squat all the way down.
She is getting her movement back and becoming restless. She now passes the foot flip test on her hind feet. We still notice issues going from a sit to a stand when she gets up to reposition herself.
We are going to look into some calmers as she still has weeks to go before a full recovery.

It's good to hear how well Guinness is doing, Mari! Please do be aware that the less movement during conservative care, the better, so please refrain from doing the flip foot test.

A sling (a long scarf, ace bandage, belt) would be helpful in supporting Guinness' hind end when trying to squat.

www.dodgerslist.com/literature/slingwalk.jpg

Here are some tips to help calm your dog in the crate. If these do not help, it may be necessary to have the vet prescribe a mild sedative.

To calm your dog in the crate, it would be a good idea to cover the top with a towel. That should mellow him/her. It also creates a den like feeling that dogs love.

Using any oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives such as Acepromazine, Trazodone, etc. Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog. Other product brands may be available in your area or on-line… just shop by the active ingredient(s) on the label and the quantity for best price.

Place a DAP pheromone diffuser at floor level where the recovery suite is.
Dogs: Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml www.adaptil.com/us/Products/ADAPTIL-Calm-Home-Diffuser with dog pheromones

Use a diffuser with one oral calmer from below:
1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed
2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine.
3) Bach's Rescue Remedy is a liquid 5-herb combo to help with relaxation (Star of Bethlehem – Orithogalum umbellatum, Rock Rose – Helianthemum, Cherry Plum – Prunus cerasifera, Impatiens – Impatiens gladulifera, Clematis – Clematis vitalba)

Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the crate, petting. So anytime you see unwanted behavior ignore it, turn your back, leave the room if you have to. Preferable is to start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior. Anytime your dog is sitting or lying down quietly, give a reward. Soon your dog will see they get rewards for four feet on the floor, quietly sitting, etc.

Consider some of these ideas:
-- Many members have found a pet stroller to solve the whining problem because the stroller can be wheeled from room to room as you go about your activities. Pet strollers, however, should only be used when you are directly supervising. More details on strollers: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/strollers.htm

--Caster wheels can be added to a wire crate so the crate can be wheeled from one room to the next so your dog can stay with you.

-- Put a garment you have been wearing and have not washed in the crate.

-- Nan Arthur, CDBC, CPDT, KPACTP writes:
"According to the book, Stress in Dogs, by Martina Scholz & Clarissa von Reinhardt, the most well-behaved dogs get 17 or more hours of rest and sleep per day.
Teaching self-calming exercises can also help your dog to relax more. You can make something as simple as eye contact a very rewarding behavior that also acts as a way for your dog to “ask permission” when he wants something. When dogs have a focus and an understanding about how to behave to get what they want, they are much calmer overall. To do this, each time your dog looks at you, say, something like, “Yes!” or use a clicker to mark the second he looks at you, and then give your dog a high-value food reward. Wait for your dog to look up at you again, say, “Yes,” and reward again. Do this exercise 10 or so times and then say, “All done,” and put the treats away. Come back later and do it again until you can see that your dog is really starting to make automatic eye contact in hopes you will say, “Yes,” again and give him his reward. " [NOTE: treats should be subtracted from the normal daily kibble ration so as not to gain weight during crate rest.]

-- Play classical music or one of the wildlife TV shows.

-- Fill a Kong with soft dog food and freeze. Put part of the dog's total daily dinner kibble in the Kong to lengthen time to consume dinner. Good low cal snacks are carrots, apples, or frozen green beans, licking a frozen low sodium broth ice cube. Good thick low salt/no fat chicken broth is full of cartilage-building proteins and amino acids. Freeze it up into cubes for easy access as you need it. Fun and keeps the body hydrated: place cubes in a bowl for licking.

If a dog is jumping up at the sides of the crate, you can lower the ceiling of the crate. Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the top of the crate, punch holes in the corners and tie the cardboard down into the crate to the level of the top of the dog's head when standing. Or cover the top of the crate with a blanket or towel, bringing the blanket/towel down to the level of the dog's eyes so when he/she jumps up, he won't be able to see anything. That may discourage him/her from jumping up.

www.dodgerslist.com/literature/EmergencyCrate%20Training.htm

Relapsed disc 2/16      

Hi All,  Guinness had started to get better and we got the okay to start more short walks with her and room restrict her instead of a crate. So we did starting 02/10. We noticed during that week that she got on the bed when we were cooking dinner. She jumped off before we could help her down. A few days later, she started showing signs of weakness in the hind legs again, by 02/16 she couldn't walk well, and by 02/18 mobility was gone. This time it's much worse. The soonest we could get her to the vet was 02/18. The vet said that she could only feel deep pain in all four legs. She wouldn't get up at all, not even a sit, which she did all the time before. She has trouble raising her head and need assistance to pee.

[Moderator’s Note. Please do not edit
58 lbs
Crate rest stopped 2/10
Disc relapsed 2/16 QUAD
Dexamethasone as of 2/16?: 0.5mg 2x/day for 5 days,  Then 2/21 test taper __ pain/ _ neuro
Sucralfate, 1 gram 2x day
Gabapentin, 300mg 2x day]

She hasn't gotten much better since, and I'm starting to lose hope -- it seems like she might be, too. She seems depressed to me. The vet quoted us around $10k for surgery which isn't an option financially for us.

She will eat and drink, but sometimes we have to hold her head up so she can do it.

She hates us expressing her. She even tried to nip the vet when he was teaching my SO how to do it. She will nip at us if we do it for too long. (We were taught to express her while she is laying on her side. and to push on the blatter with a hand on each side just below the rib. Is there another method I should try?)

I have noticed, though, that now when I scratch her back legs, she flexes them. And when I express her, she will lift her leg -- she has done so with both hind legs. She also has started moving her front legs but its only small movements like stretching them out ahead of her. She still can't get up though.

When she eats, she seems to only take the smallest amount and no dry food. Only what she can lick up, she won't open her mouth too wide. Would it be safe to hold her in a sit position and try to feed her? I'm wondering if it's her position that is making it hard to swallow or something. (She is usually laying on her side.) Should I not move her at all or can I try to stand her up or put her in a sit?

I'm regretting not keeping her caged up longer. I've tried asking my vet these questions, but I don't think he is quite understanding what I'm asking since I don't seem to get much of an answer beyond being told to stay with the regiment.

I'm hoping that the movement in her legs is a good sign, but I am really worried about the fact that she can't seem to eat easily and she can't even sit up. You always hear of hind leg issues, but I can't find anything about issues with the front legs supporting.

Thanks, Mari

Thank you so much for the feedback. As always, you all are so helpful!

She hasn't shown any signs of pain, but she is on Gabapentin. Her tummy is tight, but I think it's because of her full bladder. (She fills up quick, we express her at least every 4 hrs and she drinks right after.)

She did get tested for a UTI and it came back negative. Her problem disc is L3 that is why the reluctance to chew is so worrisome to me, but I wonder if the neck now got hurt somehow.

Her medications are as follows:

Sucralfate, 1 gram, antiacid, 2x day, 1 hr before food (Vet said this acts like Pepcid AC and coats the stomach before using the Dex)
Gabapentin, 300mg, for pain. 2x day
Dexamethasone 0.5mg, steroid, give with food, 1 twice a day for 5 days, 1 once a day for 5 days, 1 every other day for 5 days

Thanks, Mari