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Post by opiedog1231 on Jan 2, 2014 7:45:43 GMT -7
Greetings! My name is Laurie and I have 2 dachshunds, 6 yr old Opie and 3 yr old Sage. I am a vet tech and a former breeder. I have owned dachshunds for 10+ years, and thankfully this is my first experience with IVDD. Unfortunately it happened to my pride and joy Opie. Opie retired from the show ring in the fall...he had been shown off and on since he was 6 months old. He acquired his first point at his first show, his 4 pt major at 11 months old and many singles off and on over the next 5 years (I was not an avid exhibitor, about 2-3 shows a year). He has 16 points under 10 judges...but never could snag that last major needed to finish. So, we embraced retirement. (Sage has 2 points on her, but early on I decided not to pursue her championship, showing wasn't my favorite pastime). I also made a decision to quit breeding as well...I was looking forward to just enjoying my 2 pet dogs. Around Thanksgiving I noticed Opie was reluctant to come off his front legs, occasionally cried when moved just right, and just seemed tense. Immediately I was concerned. We started him on pred, methocarbamol, tramadol and crate rest. at the end of one week we tried weaning him off the meds, symptoms returned. we did this for about 3 weeks before I started to see neurological deficits. at that point I immediately took him to Maine to .dr. Potthoff who confirmed back issue and necessary sx. I left my little boy there in the very capable hands of Dr. Potthoff and his amazing staff....although it broke my heart into a million pieces! I got the call later that night that he was in recovery and that he indeed had a ruptured disc at T12/T13 and calcification at T11/T12/T13/L1. They cleaned him up and he was given a good prognosis for a full recovery. The next day he was discharged. He was a bit wobbly in his hindend, much like he was when he was admitted, but at least I knew he was repaired on the inside. Since being home he has been in a small recovery suite in our livingroom, he is carried out to potty and that's it. Once in a while we will sit him on a big blanket on the couch with us just so his little heart isn't crushed...he has always been glued to me, so I think it does his soul some good to have that reassurance that we still love him (or maybe it just makes me feel better, I'm not sure). He is only on the taper dose of pred, and yesterday he seemed uncomfortable so I added some tramadol, he definitely seems more comfortable now. He was getting a little ornery about the confinement so I'm not sure if he overdid it a little. Thanks for allowing me to be a part of your group to share my story. Opie is a true gem to me, and I would be completely devastated if anything ever happened to him. I tell him all the time that he better be very old and crusty and stinky when its time for me to say goodbye....he really is like a 5th son to me. Anyone that knows me knows that I'm in love with this dog. Laurie and Opie
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,571
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 2, 2014 8:23:33 GMT -7
Laurie, glad you found your way over here from FB! Opie is a handsome boy…what a loveable face he has! With the surgery having relieved pressure on the spinal cord, Opie's nerves with time can regenerate to bring back a more stable walk. With With Opie feeling better he will likely do the unexpected that most dogs do…make a dash to the door when the TV doorbell rings, jump down seeing something go past the window. So you might consider being one step of head of him. When sitting on the couch how about putting his crate on the coffee table and pullling it right up to you. Then you can touch him through the wires. The recovery suite really is the safest place for Opie to heal in when he is not under your direct supervision doing surgeon directed PT or out for potty (leash, harness and if wobbly a sling to keep his rear from tipping over, keeping the back aligned. Is Opie on a GI tract protector? 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. What dose of prednisone is he currently on? how often do you give it? Tramadol (dose and frequency)? What did Dr. Potthoff direct for crate rest and for PT? Is Sage related to Opie? I highly recommend adding this comprehensive "must-have" $3 DVD on IVDD to your arsenal of IVDD educational resources. Friends, family and those who will be caring for Opie should also watch this DVD www.dodgerslist.com/literature/litorder.htm Thank you for directing others to Dodgerlist…. Linda will send you more business sized cards to keep on you and brochures for vets here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/litorder.htm Please do keep us all updated on how Opie is doing maintaining control of post-op swelling/pain with the tramadol dose and Pepcid AC to protect his stomach.
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Post by opiedog1231 on Jan 2, 2014 8:59:53 GMT -7
I just ordered the DVD and some literature. This experience will give me an opportunity to really learn about IVDD and help others once I've got a good grip on it. Is this always IVDD and is there anyway to know if descendants of Opie will be affected? Boy, does that weigh heavy on my heart...his breeder passed away a few years ago, so his parents were shuffled around, I do not know what their status is. I was never informed of any defects in his lines, but I'm not sure those things are always divulged. looking back is a mute point now...and I've informed everyone that has his offspring. I do not want see this happen to any others.
I only allow Opie to sit right next to me and never leave him unattended. I know the recovery suite is the best place, so the couch time is only when I feel he is stressed out in the pen. He settles down quickly and after a nap he is returned to the pen. I certainly do not want to jeopardize his recovery!
Opie is not on famotidine/Pepcid...his surgeon did not prescribe it, and my vet (boss) did not think it was necessary. However, I am not opposed to adding it.
5 mg Pred, once daily. Starting tomorrow it tapers to every other day. 12.5 mg Tramadol, every 8 hours (if needed).
Dr. Potthoff gave me a 3-4 week confinement plan, no PT plan.
Sage (spayed) is Opie's grand daughter. We are modifying her athletic abilities, since she thinks she can fly! Is there something else we can do?
I'm very excited to be a part of this community...I really appreciate the support!!
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Jan 2, 2014 19:05:26 GMT -7
Hi, Laurie Unfortunately, it isn't known if a dog has IVDD until symptoms arise. You'll need to make your home back friendly to protect both Opie and Sage. Here's our information on how to do that: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htmAlso, here is our information on after crate rest. You'll see at the bottom what activities are friendly and which are never again activities: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmPrayers for a speedy and complete recovery for Opie.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,571
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 2, 2014 19:05:32 GMT -7
Laurie, it is thought that IVDD does have a genetic component to it. It happens that some of the litter may be born with the gene while others never have a disc problem their whole life. That is the nasty part of IVDD it is so unpredictable. Some dogs have one disc episode while others can have multiple episodes. The way we live with the disease is to be saavy about the signs of pain, crating immediately to protect the spinal cord and getting vet help with meds to get the swelling down in the spinal cord and relieve pain. TAMU explains the reason for the crate rest the best I've seen: All patients with spinal cord injury whether they have had surgery or not, need to be on strict cage confinement. Rest allows for the healing of surgical incisions and will allow for scar tissue to form over the disrupted annulus.Many clients are confused as to why exercise restriction is often necessary after spinal cord injury in veterinary patients. While limited scientific study has been devoted to this topic, a period of exercise restriction combined with physical rehabilitation is believed to hasten recovery from spinal surgery and certain spinal cord injuries. Vertebral column injury and surgery can disrupt the normal stabilizing structures of the spine such as muscles, bone, joint capsules, and the intervertebral disk. Excessive, unrestricted activity after surgery or certain injuries can lead to vertebral column destabilization and prolonged healing of the injury site. The intervetebral disk, in particular, is very slow to heal and healing may be incomplete; excessive vertebral column motion after disk surgery may therefore lead to recurrence of disk herniation. Additionally, animals that are weak or incoordinated may accidentally traumatize themselves, leading to orthopedic and soft tissue injuries.Pepcid AC is cheap insurance and was moved to over the counter because it is a generally safe suppressor to stomach acid production for the healthy dog. I keep this page bookmarked to learn about my own dog's meds: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html
Very often with a dog who can wobbly walk, the PT the surgeon directs is the walk to and from the potty place where of course you have full control over his speed via leash/harness and use a sling as back up to keep his rear from tipping over and maintain alignment of his back. Something maybe to discuss with Opie's surgeon?
IF, if Sage was born with the disease, then her discs would be prematurely aging. That happens at age 1, however it is not until typically in the range of 3-7 years old that the vet and the owner first discover the dog was born with IVDD with signs of pain. Since you will need to make your home back friendly for Opie anyway, you might want to get a headstart on it with this good information for Sage's benefit: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm
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