Kim's Theo RIP 3/20 surgery

Hi Linda,

Thank you so much for your quick reply.  Yes, Theo is a long hair dachshund.  Today is his 6th Birthday... Not a very good one.

I have known about crate rest because of you guys so I thank you for that.  In fact, everything I know about IVDD and its care, I got from you over the years.  I thing all dachshund owners should know about IVDD and get educated in case this happens.

Theo only started his first dose of Tramadol, Gabapentin and Omeprazole at noon today when we got home from seing my vet.  He had thrown up in his crate on his way back from the vet so she told me not to give him the Dex right away and wait till the med for his stomach was fully working and try to put food in his stomach.  He ate just a little bit so I was able to give him his Dex at 2.  He has been drinking fine but doesn't want to eat much.

The one thing that concerns me is that he is sitting up in his crate and can't lay down.  When he does, it hurts him to the point he sits up again in less then a minute.  I will call my vet about that because I think the meds should have provide a bit of comfort by now.

He takes 10 mg of Omeprazole once a day to protect his stomach.
50 mg of Gabapentin every 12h
1 mg of Dex every day
50 mg of Tramadol every 8h

The last time he peed and pooed were on his own last night when he still was able to walk.  My vet said his bladder wasn't full this morning. No, she didn't show me how to express it.  I did get a bit of leaking when I picked him up a little bit ago but just enough to wet his hair around his penis, nothing more.  I think he might need to go pee.  I am trying to find the video I had seen once on bladder extraction on your site and will try and help him. He hasn't eaten enough to really need to poop I think.  So far, he hasn't thrown up again apart from his car trip before he got all his meds.  He was on an empty stomach.

I am keeping calm around him because he seems to be wondering what is going on.  He is a nervous guy so I am calming him down but I am not giving him bad vibes.  I want to help him and don't want him to suffer.  These will be my guides in what my decisions will be.

Thank you for your support. <3

Hi Lisa,

I have talked to my vet again and she told me to up his dose of Tramadol.  I did and he is panting less and starting to lay down more often but still not very long.  He did eat a little bit from my hubby just now.  Not much but it's better then nothing.  

I have watched the video on expressing and tried it twice with no success.  Either I don't have it right or he doesn't need to go just yet.  I will try again and if I can't get him to go, I will take him to my vet first thing in the morning so she can show me how.

Is laser and accupuncture also good in cases where the dog has lost all movements and deep pain sensation or is it only good when they still have that?  Theo has lost all that and I wonder if that will help him?  I have heard that, at this point, only surgery could save him.  I don't know if this is true or not?  I welcome your opinion.

I've been busy taking care of him and reading things about his care and haven't had the chance to read about the Care Credit.  Is it available in Canada?  Maybe I should have mentionned I was near Montreal, QC, Canada.  I will try and look at all these sites you gave me.  Thank you.

Hi Paula,

you guys are all amazing. Theo wasn't getting any relief even with another 50 mg of Tramadol.  He hadn't been able to lay down for more then a minute all day and I could see he really was in pain.  He was getting exhausted and started to cry at 10pm. We took him in to the ER and they decided to do surgery on him right away since he had lost his deep pain sensation since the morning and was in obvious pain in his back. He is doing well this morning.  He hasn't gained any movement or pain sensation yet but he is comfortable. I pray he will recover.

I have to mention that a dear friend of mine contacted a group she knows that organise fund raisers to help dachshunds in these kinds of situations and they contacted me about Theo and offered ther help.  That is why I was able to get him his surgery.  Now, I have to have faith we will be able to raise the funds so I can reemburse his bill.  I just couldn't see him like this anymore.  He needs all the prayers you have if you do pray and, if not, all the positive vibes you can sned him!

I might need help with learning to express him eventually.  And many more questions along the way.  Thank you for your support.  I will update when I know more when he gets out.

Hi Linda, 
I spoke to the vet after dinner and he is stable.  He is not in pain anymore but there is no improvement yet.  I know it can be a while before we notice any change.  I will know more as we go.  I know it can be a slow day by day process.  He did go for a little walk (with back end supported) and was happy about that.  I am relieved that he doesn't seem to be in pain anymore.  The rest will come in due time.

The group that will be helping me is a group of people that belong to a Facebook group.  I don't think they want to stay "private" since they will be sharing Theo's fundraising page and all but I will ask them if they mind me posting them here before I do.

Again, thank you for your support.  I can't wait till I get him home and in my arms again.

Oh Linda!  You don't know how happy you made me hearing this!  I remember that Zira, my first dachshund that went down with IVDD and requiered surgery had started to have walking movement with her legs when held around the waist by a scarf exactly ten days after surgery.  She barely moved her legs but it was there! I have it on video in her therapy session.  In fact, she went from that to fully walking in just three weeks.  I give credit to her surgeon, the vet that gave her hydrotherapy + laser and also your website for posting a video on physical therapy to do with crated dogs post op to make sure they maintained muscle tone which I did three times a day with her.  It was our little loving time.  It's all coming back to me now about how she also hadn't regained movement or deep pain sensation when she came home and I was worried.  Yet, three weeks later, she was walking normally.  I have to have faith.  I have to remember all this.  It's all a blurr right now because of the stress but your comment unlocked my memory on the 10-14 days swelling post op.  You gave me hope that I can add to all the pieces of hope people have been sharing with me today.  Thank you.

Hi Robin,
Thank you for sharing River's story and for getting in touch with me through FB.  I didn't realize we knew each other.  So nice to hear good stories.

I visited Theo today and I didn't find him to be in a state I would have liked him to be.  He was still shivering and panting and didn't want to lay down when he was with me.  He also hasn't eaten since Thursday and didn't touch anything I had brought (home cooked) for him. He only drank some water.  I tried to help him lay down and massage him and pet him to get him to relaxe but nothing helped.  It was heartbreaking.  I aksed the vet if it was normal and he said he was on the maximum dose of meds they could give him and he didn't show signs of pain when he touched him so it must be stress.  I do hope he is OK and does get comfortable soon.

The group I was talking about that is helping me with raising funds are a wonderful group of people that created/are members of the Dachshund World group on Facebook.  They have been amazing in both moral support and guiding me through all this.  They will also organize a fundraiser and auction. Some Dachshund lovers are the best! 

I am talking to the vet again tomorrow morning.  Theo might be coming home. I hope he feels better tomorrow.

Unfortunately, Theo passed away not long ago.  He had developped myomalacia and his breathing was starting to be difficult so I had to give autorisation for them to euthanise him before I even got there.  I was on my way because I wanted to hold him in his final moments but he was an hour away and he deteriorated rapidly.  I didn't want him to suffer any longer.

Thank you for all your support.  I hope no one ever faces this situation with their baby.  I know this is an impossible wish but that's what wishes are for...

Kim, my heart is broken to hear this. I know you wanted to be with him, but you gave the gift he needed quick release from the disease that has no cure...Myelomalicia.... as it has a very painful end as the nerves to the lungs begin to shut down.  This information can help  you to better understand what happened.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Myelomalacia.pdf

Choosing some sort of action can help during these grieving days.

On behalf of sweet Theo, a legacy of helping to educate about IVDD. Ask Linda to send you a free packet for your vet and business-sized cards to hand out whereever you see owners of IVDD prone breeds.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/litorder.htm

There is a lovely website called the Dachshund Memorial Garden where you can pay tribute and even place a photo.  Many touching poems to help in this time of grief:
www.dachshundmemorialgarden.com

Join a pet grief group for support: www.dailystrength.org/c/Pet-Bereavement/support-group

John Denver's poetry in song says when you feel most alone love will bring you home:
[Perhaps Love]

Leo now lives where love resides eternally – in your heart! Leo did not leave you, just his body did.

"There is no death, only a change of worlds."  -Chief Seattle. 

Godspeed dear Theo!

((Warmest hugs)) with my most sincere condolences

Kim, I am so sorry for your loss. Theo had a very special mom who loved him very much. Bless you.

We do have a French translation that is printer friendly and maybe would not be too costly to get some extra copies made at your local print shop or copier??? We do not have any printed French materials. It would be a wonderful legacy in Theo's name to help educate about IVDD... thank you, Kim!
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/dodgersfrench.pdf

May your heart mend soon and move to thinking about the wonderful times you spent together ... how much your life was enriched by the mutual love you shared.