Welcome to Dodgerslist. My name is Paula what is yours?
These two pages are
very pertinent to decisions you'll be making:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmwww.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htmOften a general DVM vet will miss the critical interpretation of deep pain sensation. Surgeons want there to have been deep pain sensation within at least 12/24 hours for there to still be a good chance with surgery. So if surgery is your decision do not take the word of a general DVM, get to a board certified neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) specialist.
When things settle please let us know more about Jack so we can be of best help. He is still at the vet or is he at home now?
Are you doing 100% STRICT rest 24/7…that is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. no laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc. It takes 8 weeks to get the disc to form good secure scar tissue.
The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal.
-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy?
-- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg's and frequencies? Pepcid AC (famotidine) needs to be on board with any anti-inflamamtory. I'm guessing the vet is using a steroid for the anti-inflammatory rather than a NSAID? Cortisteroids (Prednisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, etc.) are involved with stimulating gastric acid secretion causing GI upset to the more threatening bleeding ulcers or holes in the stomach or intestine.
Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in protecting the stomach by giving doxies 5MG Pepcid AC (generic name is Famotidine) 30 mins prior to steroid. Pepcid AC is a generally safe over-the-counter suppressor of stomach acid production for healthy dogs. Dogs don't speak up at first signs of trouble like a person would. By the time we notice black or red blood in the stools, things can quickly go from bleeding ulcers to a life threatening perforated stomach. This is a very useful directory for canine meds:
www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html-- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk?
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions . When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order.
1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. Wobbly walking, legs cross
3. Nails scuffing floor
4. Paws knuckle
5. Legs do not work (paralysis, dog is down)
6. Bladder control is lost
7. Tail wagging with joy is lost
8. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for successful surgery. 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 vet that gets DPS wrong. So if surgery is an option for your famiily get to a neuro or ortho asap.
-- You will get more out of an expressing lesson for poop and for urine if you review this material first:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm-- Eating and drinking OK?
-- Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood?
-- If there is pain or neuro diminishment, dogs can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy. These therapies can be be started right away to help relieve pain and to also to kick start energy production in nerve cells to sprout. So if this therapy is in your budget, seek out a holistic vet.
ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html
www.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs.
Let us know if you have any questions. There is not a wrong or right answer to surgery vs. conservative. If pain can be controlled fully with pain meds then Jack may be able to self heal his nerves too. Surgery seeks to immediately relieve pressure on the spinal cord and then the body self heal nerves.
