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Post by Andrea & Bentley on Mar 14, 2014 22:01:06 GMT -7
My name is Andrea and my Bentley is a 9 year old mini dachshund. On February 13th my daughters came home from school and went to let him out of his kennel and he was completely paralyzed. I rushed home from work and took him to a 24/7 emergency vet that my regular vet recommended.
The surgeon said with surgery he had a 80-90% chance of recovery, and he operated that night. Bentley had little improvement the next day, or the following days but we were able to bring him home on the following Monday. He was able to pee-pee by Wednesday and I was hopeful even though there was no motor. He was not eating or even drinking voluntarily so I was squirting water in his mouth with a larger syringe as well as feeding him with a blended bland diet. We had him on a lot of Meds and it was a juggling act to get him comfortable. He never really seemed to feel good and would cry all night, even when I slept next to his mat.
He had a follow up appointment on February 28th and the surgeon was not happy with his progress. He felt there was still a blockage and wanted to do another surgery. Bentley was not getting better, and we went for it. He removed a "stone" which I guess is basically calcified disk material. After the surgery Bentley was not breathing well and the surgeon thought it could be because of the second operation and inflammation in the neck area ( the location of the incision) or because of the complete paralysis. We had him on steroids, stomach Meds, pain Meds, and oxygen. It came down to the line.... No breathing improvement by the 5th of March and we were going to have that "difficult conversation". Well he surprised me! That day he had improved a lot and we brought him home on the 7th. He is now peeing, pooping, breathing, and finally some moving! Back legs are moving a lot, but not a lot happening in the front. Doc said it can still take a while though. He expects him to be walking within a month, and we start therapy on Tuesday. I can't tell you what an ordeal this has been. So happy things are getting better now. Thank you for this page and all the info. I need all the help I can get!
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Mar 15, 2014 5:03:22 GMT -7
My goodness, Andrea, you and your Bentley have been through a lot! Thankfully, things are on the mend now. It sounds to me that there were damaged discs in the neck and in the back, is that correct? Is Bentley still on any meds? If so, please let us know what the doses are in mgs and frequency given. What instructions were given for crate rest and PT at home? Here are some tips for helping that neck as it heals from the surgery, such as raising the water/food dishes and softening hard kibble: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmWith this disease self education is critical not just so you make sure the right things are being done for the best recovery but for your own emotions. The unknown is simply a scary place. Get ready to fight this disease now and in the future by knowing all things IVDD. There is no better place to start than on our main web page with "Overview: the essentials" and then read all you can as soon as possible. Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmIt takes 2-4 weeks for the swelling to resolve after surgery. Improvements often happen after that timeframe. Answers about IVDD Surgery: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm Dr Isaacs' says: "I also advise that at 2-4 weeks we are not seeing the end result of the healing process - this typically does not occur for 6-12 months and in some cases even longer." Dogs with IVDD must be carried with their spines horizontal, carrying both ends. There's a video on this webpage showing how to properly lift and carry: Dogs with neuro diminishment can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy. These therapies can 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 Also water therapy can be performed after the stitches/sutures are removed. Some of these exercises can be done right in the bathtub. Just be sure to check with the surgeon before starting any of these. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htmYou're not alone in this - we're here for you. Prayers for a full and speedy recovery for Bentley. |
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