Michele's Chip 4/28 conserv; GRAD Je 23

Michele, sorry to hear 3 y.o. chip may have a disc episode.  Getting to the vet as you know  for a confirmed diagnosis quickly is important especially with any neuro deficit.  Hours DO matter in preventing further neuro damage increasing with the aid of a prescribed anti-inflammatory drug.  ⚠️Monday is a day away!

Monitor and assess neuro functions. Choose ER to get a diagnosis ASAP this not another disease that mimics IVDD. If IVDD then treatment can begin.

MONITORING NEURO FUNCTIONS
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there can be a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions if excessive back/neck movement for example.
     Nerves do heal in the exact opposite order nerve damage occured.

1.     4/28 Pain with initial tear of disc and ensuing swelling
2.  _____Wobbly walking
    ______ legs cross
3. ____Nails/toes scuffing floor
4. 4/28  Paws knuckle under. Dog is slow to correct or can't right the paw(s) at all
5. ___ Weak/little leg movement, can move his rear legs to reposition in crate
    ___ can't move up into a stand
6. ___ Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down)
7. ___ Bladder control is lost. Leaks on you when lifted. Can no longer sniff and then pee on that old urine spot outdoors.
8. ___ Tail wagging with joy is lost
9. ___ Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment. If surgery is not an option (for whatever reason) then the best option is conservative therapy.

    Surgery can still be successful in the window of 12-24 hours after loss of deep pain sensation. Even after that window of time, there can still be a good outcome. Each hour that passes decreases that chance.
Precious hours can be lost with a general vet who gets DPS wrong. Trust only the word of a neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) surgeon about DPS.
    🚩A quick overview of conservative treatment vs. a surgery:
dodgerslist.com/2020/02/10/surgery-vs-conservative/
    🚩Dr. Isaacs indepth Interview on surgery and conservative treatment: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/12/dr-isaacs-surgery-answers

Single most important care you can do  at home is the 100% STRICT REST to prevent escalation of neuro damage.

STRICT REST MEANS:
◼︎ Avoid dangerous detours. Follow the "Roadmap." Tape it to your fridge. D/L and print out: dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf
◼︎No laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎No chiro therapy whys: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/

◼︎Carry to and from the potty place. No dragging or meandering at potty times.
◼︎No PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc
◼︎At-home laser or acupuncture for 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.
   
 Details with lots of tips and ideas to make the next weeks of disc healing rest go smoother if this turns out to be a disc episode diagnosis: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/

Please keep us update on Chip, as you learn more.

Michelle if Chip has return of "normal" back leg function (always best is to describe for us what you observe than to use general terms) that would be a good nerve improvement. So are you saying he no longer knuckles under back paws?

Using any anti-inflammatory would tie the hands of the vet on his choice based on his diagnosis. Galliprant was specifically designed for arthritis. It is not the broad spectrum NSAID that is used for disc disease inflammation.

If Chip is observed in pain, then you could give gabapentin for nerve pain. It lasts for 8 hrs. Time dosing so that it is not in his system when he sees the vet. The vet does his best job of diagnosing, when there are not meds on board that block accurate assessment of the situation. Pain meds on board, hide symptoms of pain.
acetaminophen OR aspirin (mark the bottle "not for pets")
-- www.petmd.com/dog/poisoning/tylenol-acetaminophen-toxicity-in-dogs
-- Plumb's the bible for veterinary drugs: