Briana, what is the name of your dog? Welcome to you both!
Still having ability to wag the tail is a good sign that nerves can heal under conservative treatment. Will know alot more when we learn from you all the details about your dog.
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:
★1 How much does your dog weigh?
A.. Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg’s and times per day given.
B.. What was the start date or pred? The dose? and times per day? Date of steroid taper will start?
HIGHLY recommend to refresh yourself on the use of pred with a disc episode. If this link does not answer your question enough, please to ask it again. HERE IS THE LINK:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm C. Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC (famotidine) when taking any anti-inflammatory med (steroid or NSAID). We follow vets who are proactive against not eating, vomit, diarrhea, bleeding ulcers by giving doxie weight dogs 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory.
★3 Did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD? -- Is the vet a general DVM or a specialist surgeon (ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho)?
STRICT rest 24/7 during conservative treatment 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
Carry dog 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 there is no bladder control, you would be expressing every 2-3 hours depending on which meds he is on. Do not hesitate to express in the vet’s clinic and have the vet tech check your work, give you additional pointers. It may take a weeks worth of expressing to reach “pro level.” Doesn’t hurt to re-review the tips and video on expressing to keep your dog dry session to expressing session:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Express for poop, not the health issue urine is but to prevent anxiety of your dog finding poop where he sleeps.
★5 IS there is still currently pain?
IF pain. advocate that any of the pain meds be given 3x/day (every 8 hours).
- Methocarbamol works on the pain of muscle spasms.
-Tramadol is the general pain reliever.
-Gabapentin works on nerve pain.
There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. Look for your dog to be acting their normal, perky self when pain is fully under control round the clock.
Signs of Pain:
◻︎ shivering-trembling ◻︎ yelping when picked up or moved
◻︎ slow to move ◻︎ tight tense tummy
◻︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◻︎ head held high or nose to the ground.
◻︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
◻︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
◻︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◻︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◻︎ holds front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
◻︎ 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 via a phone call.
★6 Eating and drinking OK? Poops OK - normal firmness & color -no dark or bright red blood?
★7 Tell us about his current current neuro functions:
A. can your dog wobbly walk?
move the legs at all?
B. 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 control and needing for you to express your dog.