Shana, welcome to the Forum. Two things we are interested in commenting on for you.
1) A dog who can't wag, and the surgeon says does not have deep pain sensation would not be able to pee. This damage to nerves allows only for the bladder to overflow when it has reached capacity. Mother nature then allow some urine to escape anywhere (in bed, on you when lifted).
All this overflowing could ruin the bladder tone with continued over stretching. And it invites a breeding ground for bacteria for the urine not escaping.
So please verify Wiley actually has the ability for the brain to successfully send a message to the bladder.
If Wiley can't pass the Sniff and Pee Test you'll need to take him to to the surgeon's vet tech or your own and get a hands on lesson.
SNIFF and PEE
The "sniff and pee test" is the only way for humans to determine whether bladder control exists. Carry the dog outdoors, set him down on an old pee spot for a sniff. Make sure that neither the sling nor your hands are on the stomach region as this could put pressure on the bladder. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning. Until you are certain that full voiding is always occurring, continue to do a quick express check after dog pees. Tell us what you observe.
NOTE: When the bladder is full, it fills the entire area of the abdomen; therefore, any pressure can cause the bladder to release urine for dogs who do not yet have bladder control. It might be necessary to maintain the pressure for a little longer than you anticipated. The bladder shrinks as it empties, making it more likely to escape your grasp. Feel around for it once more. A small bladder can move back toward the pelvic region. Continue pressing the bladder until it feels so flat, that one hand can almost touch the fingers of the other hand.
HOW TO EXPRESS for BOTH urine and for poop.
Get more out of the vet's hands on top of your hands type of lesson. First review bladder expressing at this link:
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dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/Expressing for poop is not the health issue that urine is. It is more that Wiley is not upset finding poop where he sleeps.
So do let us know what you observe on the sniff and pee test. If he doesn't pass it, let us know how the expressing lesson goes before the vet closes tomorrow on Saturday. Let us know what antibiotic the vet has prescribed. It takes but a few days for UTI's to develop when a dog who can not yet send a message from the brain to the bladder. Overflowing bladder is not a good thing.
SLEEPING
If Wiley has a bladder infection that might be the reason for not feeling well, not sleeping well?
Please spell out the details on his meds
Prednisone current dose in Mgs and x/day. Date of final dose of predGabapentin, trazadone, diazepam: ?mg and ?x/day for eachAdvise the surgeon or your own vet about not sleeping at night. To get things back in routine, it just may take a prescription. Then you can see about using a calmer
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
prescription sedatives (ACE, alprazolam or traZODone). Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog.
CALMERSPlace a DAP pheromone diffusor at floor level where the recovery suite is:
--DOG Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml
www.adaptil.com/Use diffusor 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
www.virbac OR....
2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine.
www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.php Will be watching for your update on Wiley.
