Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Mar 13, 2014 4:56:53 GMT -7
I'm so very sorry to hear of Abby relapse, Debbie. Hang in there - she can get back to a good place again.
We'll be watching to hear what the vet says.
Continued healing prayers for Abby.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Mar 13, 2014 6:52:25 GMT -7
So sorry to hear that she has had a setback. Please let us know what the vet says. Just know that you are being so amazing and doing everything you can for her  |
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Debbie&Abby
New Member
surgery 4/2010, 6/2011; conservative 2/14/2014
Posts: 24
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Post by Debbie&Abby on Mar 13, 2014 6:53:49 GMT -7
Thank you Marjorie, I put a call in to the vet and her vet isn't in today. There are 2 other vets in the office though. The girl I talked to asked how she was this morning and I told her Abby was doing well, just not quite as feisty as she has been but that could likely from the meds. Her recommendation was to hold off on meds this morning so I can observe her for pain, that she could have just had a muscle spasm yesterday. If she doesn't hear back from me today , Abbys regular vet will be in touch with me tomorrow morning to address the valium. If Abby does show signs of pain today then I am to call back and one of the other vets in the office will see her today . They are in until 6pm today.
Thank you Jean, I sure am trying. Some days are harder than others , that's for sure. But I will do my best to do what I have to to get this baby well
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Debbie&Abby
New Member
surgery 4/2010, 6/2011; conservative 2/14/2014
Posts: 24
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Post by Debbie&Abby on Apr 8, 2014 9:00:25 GMT -7
An update on Abby. We saw the Vet last Monday, March 31. We have been having some major anxiety issues. First off , the Vet said to keep the date for finishing crate rest for April 10. She doesn't believe that (what happened March 12) was a disc and was most likely an anxiety thing. She said, had it been her sliding backwards ( disc episode) that the one prednisone and the pain meds that I gave her on the one day wouldn't have been sufficient . We tried the Valium for anxiety on the 13th and the 14th of March , it didn't faze Abby . I took her in Monday ( March 31) because Abby wouldn't eat or drink anything, hadn't for 2 days . She wasn't in pain, just refusing to eat or drink. My vet ran a complete blood panel and urinalysis and all was perfect which the vet was actually surprised , especially with the blood sugars and kidneys due to her having been on prednisone. She is very pleased with how well Abby is doing physically . She believes its anxiety and prescribed Xanax for Abby in hopes it would see her thru her crating and to help with the separation thing as well. Abby had a reaction to the Xanax, it worked just the opposite with her. I would advise anyone trying any new meds on your dog , to please be there to observe them the first time they take it to make sure they can tolerate it well. Anyway, Vets suggestion was to take her out to eat (closely supervised) and let her lay in her bed a bit before putting her back in her crate so we have been doing this since April 2. If she tries to get up and walk around she gets put up and she's pretty much learned that. It's not ideal I know, but between the vet and I, we saw no other way to do it. We had to keep her quiet and still and get her to eat and drink and I needed to stay sane. Good news is shes doing great and is a happy puppy again and I know she will be very happy when I can allow her to walk around some.
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 8, 2014 9:47:06 GMT -7
Only one pred pill and pain meds for one day, it is likely then Abby's healing disc did not suffer a tear, since there was no other pain. We were not aware you only gave the meds for one day. Was the vet on 3/31, a general DVM or a specialist? Quite true sedatives do not work the same for every dog. For some dogs the opposite effect of wiring them up happens. On graduation day you will want to begin a slow incremental introduction back to physical activity over the course several weeks. Discuss this plan with your vet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm |
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Debbie&Abby
New Member
surgery 4/2010, 6/2011; conservative 2/14/2014
Posts: 24
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Post by Debbie&Abby on Apr 8, 2014 11:34:42 GMT -7
That is my mistake, I should have updated that. I saw the vet the following day ( March 13) She wanted to see her before prescribing the valium. And then saw her again on March 31. Oh and it was my DVM, however she seems comfortable with IVDD and also consults with our Neuro. She pretty much examines her the same as the Neuro does and if not sure , she will send us to the Neuro to be on the safe side. We had reached a point that we had to examine her over all health and reach a happy compromise. I have been wondering though, We are pretty certain Abby is a puppy mill puppy ( she was at a flea market with some other puppies and I fell in love with her, paid for her, got her papers and took her home ) Upon taking her to her first vet visit my vet recognized the name of the kennel on her health certificate and told me they have lots of puppies and take them to all the flea markets. Then he lectured me about buying puppies at flea markets. I wonder if this could be why she has so much anxiety about the crate? She was 8 weeks old when I got her , so still very young. But , maybe that is why she gets so upset about being crated. I sure wish I knew the answer !
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Post by Pauliana on Apr 8, 2014 21:12:15 GMT -7
Hi Debbie,
That would seem to make sense given her reaction to the crate... Puppy Mill puppies and their Mom's are in miserable crated situations and many are abused.. Not like a loving home where a pet sleeps in a crate for bedtime or when having an IVDD episode with tender loving care.. That would account for her fear and anxiety for sure.. Even being that young some part of her remembers and panics.. Poor darling.. She has your love and reassurance now, but she will need continuing reassurance and nurturing to get past that awful memory..
I found out after getting our dog Tyler that his parents were puppy mill puppies but they were raised afterwards in a home together...not in a crate full time but for bedtime mostly.. When Abby had her puppies she raised them in a larger crate and then a kitchen with lots of attention and care from our cousins.. because of the other dogs around the house.. Tyler is comfortable in his crate with good memories of his mama nursing him in one.. So he is second generation away from a puppy mill but he loves his crate and feels it's his safe place.
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Debbie&Abby
New Member
surgery 4/2010, 6/2011; conservative 2/14/2014
Posts: 24
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Post by Debbie&Abby on Apr 9, 2014 6:42:24 GMT -7
Hey Pauliana,
I have come to think that pretty much has to be our problem. I have had many dogs and never had the problems with them that I have had with Abby. Not emotionally nor health wise. I so wish they would outlaw puppy mills. I am so happy that your dogs parents got out of that situation and into a good loving home. And at the end of the day I am glad I was able to rescue my Abby from that life.
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Post by Pauliana on Apr 9, 2014 20:10:04 GMT -7
Hi Debbie,
I hope the outlawing of puppy mills happens very soon, I very much agree with you! Interesting that Tyler's mom is named Abby and came from a puppy mill like your Abby.. I am glad they are in loving homes and escaped that life too.. : )
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 18, 2014 9:40:42 GMT -7
How is Abby doing today? She should be graduated, did you implement a slow and gradual introduction to physical activity?
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Debbie&Abby
New Member
surgery 4/2010, 6/2011; conservative 2/14/2014
Posts: 24
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Post by Debbie&Abby on Apr 18, 2014 10:00:22 GMT -7
Abby is graduated !! She is doing beautifully ! and yes, very slow, she is currently confined to one room with the help of an xpen used as a gate and a baby gate to keep her confined to the family room. Pillows tossed on all the furniture ( as always since her first surgery ) At potty time she gets a short walk ( 3 to 5 minutes ) with a few extra short walks between potty times. And when I water plants out back she goes on the back porch that has railing with a gate at the ramp that is kept closed for now, so she is happy she can lay on the porch with our outside kitty while I water the plants, and I am happy that she cant leave the porch. next week we will add a couple of minutes to our walk, and take it from there. She is my happy girl again and that is such a relief. Thank you for all your help and reassurance ! |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 18, 2014 10:46:39 GMT -7
Wonderful report, Debbie. Now you know we must have a picture on her deck porch perch... we love to see happy graduated members. Sounds like you have well prepared yourself for post graduation procedures and activities. Good Job! Here are directions to post Abby's photo for this Fall's calendar and to let us see your sweet girl today. This will be great inspiration to those just starting the IVDD journey that there is good hope at the end of the graduation. dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/260/upload-photo-dog |
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Debbie&Abby
New Member
surgery 4/2010, 6/2011; conservative 2/14/2014
Posts: 24
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Post by Debbie&Abby on Apr 18, 2014 16:49:49 GMT -7
Thank you Paula,
As soon as we get decent weather I will get a picture of her out there. I am in Florida and we are getting tons of rain thru tomorrow !! Plants are loving it, but Abby is not !
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