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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 16, 2013 9:46:28 GMT -7
Frankie is a 6 year old pit bull that we adopted from a rescue organization a little more than 2 years ago. He had been abandoned and was starved when we got him, but he recovered and was happy and healthy until Sunday.
On Sunday, we noticed that his left leg was weak and he seemed tilted when he walked. We took him to an emergency veterinary hospital because we were about 2 hours away from our regular vet. This vet diagnosed him as likely having a torn tendon, gave him a pain shot and suggested we see our regular vet on Monday. Sunday night his leg seemed even weaker, but when we woke up Monday morning his back legs were paralyzed.
I took him immediately to our regular vet who diagnosed a herniated disk and sent us immediately to a veterinary neurologist. This doctor agreed with our vet's diagnosis and we scheduled an MRI. Based on the MRI which showed a large herniation in the thoracic spine he was scheduled for immediate surgery on Monday night. The surgery was successful and Frankie was recovering on Tuesday. The vet said he was recovering as well as could be expected and was still receiving pain medication. His legs were still paralyzed, but the vet said that was to be expected at this point. When I went to see him in the hospital yesterday he was just sitting in the corner of his crate. I don't think he can lie down comfortably. He barely looked at me, when I stroked him and spoke to him. He looked so sad.
This morning the vet called and said that he was now eating normally and peeded on his own which was good news. I will go to see him shortly and I am hoping he will look happier. and less frightened.
I am happy to find this forum and know that there is place where I can get advice from others who have been in similar situations.
Romy
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Oct 16, 2013 16:35:51 GMT -7
I'm so sorry to hear of Frankie's difficulties, Romy. My dog, Jeremy, is also a rescue dog and had been abandoned and had quite a few issues when I adopted him. A lot of love and TLC had brought him to a good place when two years after coming to live with me, he had his first disc episode and was paralyzed. His IVDD surgery caused him quite a set back. His aggression and hyperness was back full force. I think while he was in the hospital, he feared that he was again being abandoned. He wouldn't look at me, either, when I visited with him. His vet actually released him early from the hospital as he was not doing well there at all and she felt he would heal better at home. Once he came home, he began to improve quickly. Hopefully, Frankie will be able to come home soon where he will be much more comfortable. Here's Dodgerslist page about what to expect discharge day. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm#dischargeHere is a list of questions to ask on discharge day, too. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/dischargequestions.htmAlso these two pages would be helpful for you to read: www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htmwww.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmBe sure to get his recovery suite ready for his home coming. Here are some links to show you how: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htm www.dodgerslist.com/literature/EmergencyCrate%20Training.htmMy heart goes out to you and Frankie. Some dogs just seem to have more than their share of hard times. But he has your love now and that will see him through. Blessings to you both. |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 17, 2013 12:03:35 GMT -7
Frankie is doing much better now. When I went to visit him, he put his head on my lap and licked my hand.
He is still paralyzed and can not control his urine very well, but he was able to wag his tail when I spoke to him.
The vet told me he could go home on Saturday. I will have my discharge questions in hand and will have purchased the recommended crate supplies to make his recuperation as easy as possible. When he is ready, he will go to physical therapy. The vet said that water therapy should be helpful later on.
I am very grateful for this site. It is invaluable in letting me know what to expect and how best to help Frankie. I will continue to use the site for support during his recovery.
I hope that in time I will be able to offer some support to others in a similar situation.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Oct 17, 2013 17:03:23 GMT -7
I'm glad he's doing better, Romy. The surgery itself can cause some swelling around the spinal cord which can take 2-4 weeks to subside. Until this swelling goes down, those nerves to his legs still have pressure on them and are not properly receiving signals. My Jeremy was paralyzed with no deep pain sensation, had surgery and it took many weeks before he had the slightest movement in his hind legs. But within six months, he was walking again. It can take some time for the nerves to heal. It's a good sign that Frankie's wagging his tail. Be sure to get a hands on your hands demonstration of how to express his bladder before you leave with him. You can also learn to express his bowels, which isn't as messy as it sounds. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Water therapy can be very helpful once the stitches/staples are removed. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm And acupuncture and laser light therapy are excellent treatments that can started right away. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingacupuncture.htm Also, here are some exercises that can be done at home once he's off of medication - just run them by your vet before starting any of them. I found these to be really helpful in getting Jeremy back on his feet. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htmPlease let us know how he does when he gets home and what meds are prescribed. Continued prayers for a speedy and complete recovery for Frankie. |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 21, 2013 6:34:02 GMT -7
Frankie came home on Saturday. He is glad to be home and we are glad to have him home. He is still paralyzed and can not control his bladder or bowels. We set everything up for crate rest as recommended at this site. We are also doing the range of motion exercises that the vet recommended. He is being given Rimadyl and Gabapentin. I asked about a GI tract protectant because of the NSAID, but the vet tech that was giving us the discharge instructions said it wasn't needed. Frankie does not seem to be in any pain.
I also asked the veterinary tech giving us the discharge instructions about expressing his bladder. She said there was no need to as he was urinating on his own. He is urinating on his own, but it is just frequent dribbles. I hope that this will not lead to a UTI. We are using a male wrap with a pad for him. This keeps him quite dry and I am using diaper rash cream on that area.
He is going to have his staples removed later in the week. Our regular vet will be doing that. I will ask her about laser light therapy and acupuncture. The vet tech that we spoke to as Frankie was leaving the hospital had no idea if that should be started right away and the doctor was not available.
Romy
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Oct 21, 2013 7:19:19 GMT -7
I'm so glad that Frankie is home again, Romy. I'm sure you are, too! Here's some info about Rimadyl: srdogs.com/Pages/rimadyl.html As you can see, serious side effects can develop, sometimes with no warning. Please check again with the vet or surgeon and ask if there are any medical reasons Frankie may not take Pepcid AC. If your vet says your dog has no health issues such as liver, heart, etc to keep him from taking Pepcid AC, then do get it on board. It's much better to be proactive to protect his system than to have a problem develop and then have to deal with it. 30 minutes before each dose of the Rimadyil and thereafter every 12 hours. It doesn't sound like Frankie has complete bladder control and I'm sorry the vet tech didn't show you how to express. You should speak to the surgeon or your regular vet about that, too, and get a demonstration today. You're right, any urine that remains in the bladder can lead to a UTI. If he overflows (dribbles), that can stretch out his bladder. Even if he can release some urine when taken to a favorite spot where he sniffs and pees, he may not be releasing enough and should be expressed to completely empty his bladder. He should have a stream of pee, not dribbles. I'm glad to hear he's going to have the laser light therapy and acupuncture. It was quite helpful to my Jeremy. Please let us know how the expressing goes. |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 21, 2013 7:28:22 GMT -7
Romy, I know how happy you AND Frankie are to be back home! If Frankie can not sniff an old pee spot and then choose to release urine, he does not have bladder control and MUST be expressed due to health reasons. He may have a UTI now and that could be the reason for dribbling. So put on your detective hat, let us know if you specifically see him sniff and then pee. Has he had a urinalysis to prove there is no bladder infection and no need of anti-biotics? This is something that needs your attention today at your local vet. Be aware of using some diaper cream containing toxic to dogs…zinc. Any tine Rimadyl is used it is a very good idea to follow the lead of proactive vets and use Pepcid AC. That is why we suggest asking in a specific way. Is there any health reason why my dog may not take Pepcid AC. IF there is no reason do get 5mg of Pepcid Ac on board 30 mins before Rimadyl and thereafter every 12 hours. It is good to be knowledgeable about all meds your dog is taking in your roll as monitor: www.marvistavet.com/html/famotidine.html Let us know this morning what your vet says about Pepcid AC, results of urinalysis. |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 21, 2013 9:13:42 GMT -7
He cannot sniff and choose to release urine. He doesn't have any control.
I have just put in a call to my own vet about his bladder and the need to express.
I think I was just too willing to accept the vet tech's answer on Saturday. I have tried to educate myself about his condition and I should have been a better advocate for Frankie.
I will also ask my vet about the Pepcid using the phrasing you suggest.
I cannot thank you enough for taking the time to advise me.
Romy
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 21, 2013 11:17:00 GMT -7
Romy, we all have found it overwhelming with a disc problem…..so many things to keep in our minds. Even those of us who know this disease like the back of our hands, when it comes to our dogs, we too need a shoulder to lean on and someone to bounce thoughts off of…. that is why the Forum is here. I'm sorry you were not checked out via the surgeon himself, rather than the vet tech. You will get more out of the hands on top of your hands expressing lesson by first reviewing this page: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmLet us know how the lesson goes and also the PEpcid AC. Also UTIs can happen quickly in a matter of days…if he has not been expressed…might be worthwhile to cross UTI off the list with a urinalysis…discuss with your vet. |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 21, 2013 13:01:18 GMT -7
I spoke to my vet about this and she told me to bring Frankie in right away. When she saw him she said his bladder was huge. She showed my husband and me how to express. My husband was able to get a nice stream. I wasn't that great, even though she guided my hands. Well, practice makes perfect and I am sure I will learn to do it. We were told to monitor this carefully and return tomorrow if we were not able to get results. In any case we will see her again on Thursday.
After this, she put a catheter in, so he would be completely empty. We are to express before bed.
She also did a test for a UTI and gave us antibiotics in case he was positive.
I asked is there any health reason why my dog may not take Pepcid AC? She said no problem. I will give it to him tonight before his meds.
Words cannot express my gratitude for your guidance.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 21, 2013 18:50:47 GMT -7
Kudos to you for getting Pepcid AC on board!! Good job. Expressing is a new skill, so give yourself a break on learning. Many of us have gone back to the vet for another lesson where we expressed in the clinic and the vet tech checked our work…this is how you learn…practice. Don't forget to re-review the expressing information…sometimes it just takes more than once to absorb all the ideas. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Do start with every 3-4 hours expressing and move up to longer periods as you see he is staying dry inbetween sessions. Eventually you will find every 6-8 hours works, when you have perfected your technique. What is the exact name of the anti-biotic? Keep us updated |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 22, 2013 10:57:10 GMT -7
Success! We were able to express a nice stream at home. Frankie's back legs are getting stronger so we were able to support him more easily. I am very relieved that we are getting the hang of this.
Last night we watched many videos on how to express a dogs bladder, hoping that this,
in addition to the vet's instructions, would help. But we had next to no success and I have a call in now to my vet. I guess we need a refresher course. Part of the difficulty we are having is that he cannot stand on his back legs and one of us must try to hold him upright while the other tries to express. This is not easy because he is heavy. I am hoping my vet can recommend a different position for doing this.
The antibiotic is clavamox 375mg 2X a day.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 22, 2013 11:20:05 GMT -7
Alright!!! Congratulations! You are on your way to achieving the level of proficiency it takes to keep him dry session to session. Let us know how it goes the rest of the day, how often you express and if he stays dry in between times.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Oct 22, 2013 16:42:50 GMT -7
It took me quite awhile to get the hang of expressing Jeremy. I had the same problem since Jeremy couldn't stand and was quite heavy for me to manage alone. In the beginning, I mostly expressed him lying on his side. You can find some photos and explanation of how to express in a prone position on this page: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmThere are also some tips for expressing larger dogs on this page: www.handicappedpets.com/how-to-express-your-dogs-bladder.htmlGood job on getting a nice stream! Amazing how happy we can get about seeing pee, isn't it?!  |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Oct 28, 2013 6:08:35 GMT -7
Frankie had his staples removed on Friday. We had another demonstration on expressing. The vet said I was mostly emptying his bladder. I am able to get a urine stream, but sometimes I am still not sure if he is emptied. I am going back to have that checked today. The vet is nearby and she is very accommodating in doing this.
I have started him on laser light therapy. He has had two sessions. I saw some improvement in his condition after each one. He is now trying to push himself up, although he cannot do it yet. He also can stand on his own for a little longer when put in a standing position, such as for expressing.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Oct 28, 2013 11:44:26 GMT -7
That's excellent news that he can stand, even if only for a short while! Very good. I'm glad to hear that the laser light therapy is helping him. And kudos to you on getting the expressing down so well and for going back for more help to be sure he's empty. The bladder feels flat when it's empty and your fingers almost meet.
Continued prayers for Frankie.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Nov 7, 2013 7:40:29 GMT -7
It has been 10 days since I last posted, 25 days since his disk surgery. Frankie is continuing with laser light therapy. He has regained his old personality, which is wonderful to see. He wags his tail with great enthusiasm when he sees us. He continues to try to stand up. He can do this, but can stay up only briefly. As advised by the vet, we do range of motion exercises with him. One of his legs is significantly stronger than the other.
Frankie is regaining control of his bladder. This week he has "sniffed and peed". We were watching for that. After he pees we still try and express to see if anything is left. He still does not have a lot of bowel control. Sometimes it happens when he is outside peeing, but sometimes it just happens. I have tried a few methods of expressing this mostly because I do not want him to have to be in his crate with it if I am not home. I have not had success with this, but I have read of many different techniques for this and I plan to try a few more.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 7, 2013 12:02:44 GMT -7
Now that bladder control is returning, bowel contro. usually happens about the same time. The key to expressing for poop, is to know his body function schedule. So make a note when you feed, when poop plops out. Then you will see a patter and know when to express for poop about 30-60 mins ahead of time. For example my Clark's schedule is: Eats: 7am and 5pm I express for poop: 7am, 5pm and before bed at 10pm If you an feel the crown of poop in his rectum by stroking on either side of his tail, you know it is time to express. The upward movement of your finger is to activate reflexes to move foward. Have you seen the video on this page... it is the safest non-invasive method to use: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm#poop |
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