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Post by Jean & Mimi on Mar 17, 2014 9:53:10 GMT -7
Shari, try not to be a wreck, as Baxter might pick up on this. As long as you are using the proper technique to pick up Baxter, then you are doing the right thing. If you see any signs of pain or yelping, then contact your vet as that is a sign that the swelling hasn't gone down. It is not a sign of you doing anything wrong to Baxter. You have done a great job loving him and caring for him. IVDD is scary, but we have to be strong for them so they can heal in the best possible environment. You can do it!
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 17, 2014 13:33:09 GMT -7
Thank you for the support. No problems with his potty break when I got home. No yelping or any signs of pain. Almost through the 48 hours the vet wants before we start to tamper to 5 mg predisone 1X a day. Right now he is being extra fussy (a good sign after the few days of him not acting right, he is acting like his normal self now). We leave soon for his laser treatment appointment.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 17, 2014 17:07:36 GMT -7
Shari we all will have our fingers crossed for a smooth taper of pred and continued no signs of pain! Please do keep us updated as the taper starts and continues.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 18, 2014 14:28:24 GMT -7
Day one of the tamper and no signs of pain.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Mar 18, 2014 14:48:00 GMT -7
Great news so far. Keep your eagle eye out for any sign of pain. Fingers crossed for continued success!
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 20, 2014 9:26:05 GMT -7
So far Baxter Boo's tamper to one 5 mg predisone a day is going well.
I have two other dachshunds in addition to Baxter Boo. Lacey is almost 13 years old and never had any back problems. Bonnie will be 11 months old on April 1st. I have been wondering about getting pet insurance for Bonnie. This is Baxter Boo's 3rd disc episode and it has been a major financial strain. With Bonnie, I am thinking of the financial help if anything were to happen like IVDD. Bonnie is very hyper and a jumper (we are trying to train her not to jump but she is stubborn) I am afraid of this happening with Bonnie too at some point.
Has anyone had pet insurance and what were there experiences?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 20, 2014 10:13:37 GMT -7
Shari, have you check our Links page to help you decide about insurance: www.dodgerslist.com/links.htmIs Bonnie a sibling/ related? There is thought IVDD has a genetic component.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 20, 2014 11:14:44 GMT -7
I will check out the link.
Bonnie and Baxter Boo are not related. I am just concerned because Bonnie is a dachshund and the way she jumps and bounces, it is an injury waiting to happen.
Although, interesting, a friend of my mother-in-law, also adopted a puppy from the very same litter as my Baxter Boo and that puppy also has IVDD. They both developed it about the same time in 2009.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 21, 2014 16:31:07 GMT -7
Baxter Boo is doing well on his tamper to 1 predisone (5mg) a day. On Wednesday, March 26th he will go to every other day for about 10 days.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 25, 2014 7:23:12 GMT -7
Tomorrow will be 7 weeks since Baxter Boo's 3rd episode. Today we start the tamper to 1 5mg predisone every other day (the last tamper he began to show signs of pain so we had to increase his meds). If all goes well with this tamper, he will take his last predisone April 8th. So we are looking at graduation mid to late April. Right now he is wagging his tail (not a full wag but a good wag) can put some weight on his back legs during potty breaks but cannot stand on his own and he is not walking. When crate rest ends in about a month he probably won't be walking so we are looking around at carts and discussing how to re-arrange the downstairs to make it more cart friendly.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Mar 25, 2014 9:05:18 GMT -7
We were able to rent a cart for $30 a month from the Veterinary rehab, to use while Stevie got stronger. She only needed it for a month. Worth checking into maybe?? Fingers crossed for a continuing successful taper
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 25, 2014 9:58:21 GMT -7
Had not thought about renting a cart, will look into that
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 27, 2014 9:31:00 GMT -7
Baxter Boo has been on crate rest 7 weeks, he will not be graduating next week as he is still on medication. We have begun tampering to predisone (5mg) every other day and so far this tamper is going well. Fingers crossed no signs of pain return. He is continuing with his laser treatments 2X a week and will continue 2X a week while he is on medication and then will probably going to 1X a week. Anticipated graduation day is April 22nd (which will be 1 week after his last dose of predisone) and will make 11 weeks crate rest. He is still not walking but every day getting more and more strength in his back legs.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Mar 27, 2014 10:03:25 GMT -7
You have been very patient with this extended crate rest, Shari. I'm so glad you understand the necessity for it and are taking it nice and slow. Continued prayers for a pain-free taper. Good to see that he's gaining more strength in his hind legs. Hopefully, once he's completely off crate rest and he's allowed some time to gradually increase his movement, he'll be able to stand and get those legs moving.
Blessings to you both.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Mar 27, 2014 10:14:13 GMT -7
Shari - Mimi had 10 weeks of crate rest so I have totally been in the same spot you are. You are doing a tremendous job and I know how badly you want to snuggle with Baxter. You are giving him the very best chance at recovery, and the way I looked at it was it just gave that scar tissue even more time to firm up
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Mar 27, 2014 17:08:53 GMT -7
Thank you Mimi
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Apr 3, 2014 12:39:48 GMT -7
Yesterday was the 8 week mark for Baxter Boo, however, he is still on crate rest. I miscalculated before, he will take his last predisone on April 8th, so April 15th will be one week without meds. Probably wait until the 19th when we can be home to work with him for his official graduation from crate rest.
He is doing well on this 2nd attempt of tampering to one 5 mg predisone every other day. He is continuing with laser treatments 2X a week, he will go to 1X a week after he has been off meds for one week.
We are looking into renting a cart, the vet gave us some numbers of places to call. Since he is still not walking and can only stand with assistance. He does have full control of his bladder and bowl (although sometimes we mis-read his signals for being fussy).
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Post by Pauliana on Apr 3, 2014 13:01:14 GMT -7
Hi Shari,
I am glad Baxter Boo is doing well on his Prednisone taper.. You are wise to wait until he is off meds for one week for graduation.. Great that he has bladder and bowel control. That does bode well for him being able to walk eventually with more nerve healing.. Fingers crossed! Let us know how he gets along with his wheel cart when you find one to rent.. : )
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Apr 8, 2014 4:39:12 GMT -7
Baxter Boo took his last predisone this morning. If all goes well he will graduate one week from today!
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Apr 8, 2014 5:27:16 GMT -7
OOOH so exciting! Fingers crossed for a successful next week
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Vita & Emmie
Helpful Member
Currently graduated for the 3rd time; walking and running!
Posts: 189
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Post by Vita & Emmie on Apr 8, 2014 7:24:31 GMT -7
You can do a week! What's one more week when you've been through so much? Hope the taper goes well!
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Apr 10, 2014 8:43:50 GMT -7
We're counting down the days right along with you!!!
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Apr 11, 2014 16:39:31 GMT -7
Baxter Boo is doing great since taking his last predisone on Tuesday (he has been off the tramadol for awhile). Counting the days until Tuesday. We are in the process of getting his cart (sent the measurements in). His cart should arrive around the 25th.
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Vita & Emmie
Helpful Member
Currently graduated for the 3rd time; walking and running!
Posts: 189
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Post by Vita & Emmie on Apr 12, 2014 16:26:06 GMT -7
Hi Shari - so he gets a cart made-to-measure even for a rental? Or did you decide to purchase? What brand of cart will it be? I can't wait to hear how it goes!
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Apr 13, 2014 10:18:30 GMT -7
We decided to actually buy a cart. Ordering from Dogs to Go in Texas, it was the same cost to buy from them as to rent from another place. So we decided to go ahead and buy.
We have re-arranged most of the house to make it cart friendly, we have only the kitchen left. The dining room and living room now have plenty of floor space to allow Baxter Boo freedom to get around in a cart.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Apr 15, 2014 14:26:51 GMT -7
Baxter Boo has gone a full week without medication and is doing great. He can stand with assistance, wag his tail, has full control over his bladder and bowels. His cart should be here by the end of the week. After 10 weeks of crate rest he is ready for graduation. For those of you who have had to do a cart, does your dog sleep with you? And if so, do you put him in the bed without anything or with something? Since he does not have use of his back legs to walk and stand on his own, I am concerned about him scooting on his butt all over the bed (concerned he may hurt himself) and was thinking of maybe getting him a dog bed with sides to keep him more restricted and lay the dog bed in the bed with me. Our bed is already on the floor with sides so there is no way he can scoot his way off the bed.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 15, 2014 17:53:13 GMT -7
Shari, what splendid news... you stuck in there with Baxter and now he's graduated! Clark sleeps with me under the blankets of course! If you feel Baxter moves around too much at night, you may wish to put the crate or that dog bed with sides on top of your mattress. If he is not that active, then the little bit of scooting on the sheets will not hurt his skin. Are you prepared with a scooting garments to prevent rug or floor burns when scooting. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm Let us know how he takes to the cart. Remember the cart is only for a couple of hours at a time when you are there to supervise.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Apr 18, 2014 16:10:13 GMT -7
Baxter Boo's cart has been made and been shipped, should be here sometime next week. We got a dog bed with sides and tonight will be the first time in 10 weeks he has slept with us.
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Post by John & Marley on Apr 18, 2014 18:39:03 GMT -7
Lucky Baxter Boo getting to sleep with her Peeps tonight, its been since Feb 5th since Marley has slept with me, Im waiting another week or two of his rehab before he joins me again, fortunately for him I work from home so he has me 24/7 so he has adapted well. wonder who is going to enjoy it more - you or Baxter Boo ?
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Apr 19, 2014 17:32:46 GMT -7
Baxter Boo did great his first night in bed with us after 10 weeks. He even let us know he had to go to the bathroom this morning, no accidents in bed.
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