Welcome to Dodgerslist. We are glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve learned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! Learn more about us and how we team up with veterinarians:
dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/
Dodgerslist work's with vets:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/20/education-team-ivdd
Did your vet diagnose another IVDD episode? An IVDD episode is sometimes called a slipped disc or a pinched nerve.
If it is an IVDD episode or might be one, the most important thing you can do for your dog is immediately start Very Strict crate rest until or unless the vet tells you it is something other than IVDD.. The crate rest is much stricter than for a post-surgery dog. This is because with surgery, the out-of-place disc material is removed. With conservative treatment, the aim is that the damaged disc which may be protruding into the spinal cord area will, with time, be reabsorbed or shrink back enough that it no longer continues to aggravate nerves in the spinal cord. Strict crate rest will allow this to happen. You can think of it as a cast for a broken arm. The cast immobilizes the bone, allowing it to heal. We can't put a cast on a dog's spine, so we use the crate to immobilize the spine. It takes 8 weeks of 24/7 crate rest, out only for potty time or needed vet visits for the disc to heal.
More information on crate rest is here:
www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-proc
STRICT means:
- no laps
- no couches
- no baths
- no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy
- no dragging or meandering at potty times
Carry your 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.
Is she currently showing any signs of pain? The signs of pain we look for are:
- shivering-trembling
- yelping when picked up or moved
- tight tense tummy
-arched back, ears pinned back
- restless, can't find a comfortable position
- slow or reluctant to move in suite such as shift positions
- not their normal perky interested in life selves
If a neck disc:
- head held high/ nose to the ground
- 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 up flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
If your dog is showing any of these signs, let the vet know what you are seeing right away. The pain meds may need to be adjusted.
Did he start the meds this morning?
How long will your dog be taking the pred 2x/daily?
Are you giving the gabapentin every 8 or every 12 hours? The Methocarbamol also?
Gabapentin and Methocarbamol are good pain meds, but they do not last long in the body. They may have to be given every 8 hours to provide full relief.
Information about the different meds can be found at the link below:
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. The best way to learn to express is getting a hands-on lesson from your vet.
More info on expressing is here:
www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/
You mentioned that your dog could barely stand or walk? Can he move his legs at all? Or wag his tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
What is your dog’s name? Your name, too? I am Romy.
We encourage you to register and set up email alerts as timely interaction/communications is needed when helping your dog. How to register and how to do the email alerts here:
www.dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/7353/register-bookmark-dogs-post-thread When our dogs are having an IVDD episode, it is scary. It becomes less so when we learn all we can about the disease. You can refresh your memory with the information on our main website:
www.dodgerslist.com 
