Lyn's Ellie May 3/12 conservative terrier mix UK

Lyn, which type of vet: general DVM vet OR a specialist DVM/ACVIM neuro or ortho DVM/ACVS said surgery would not be a consideration. Only a specialist is qualified to make that call

Fill us in a bit more if you will:
--What is your dog's name and yours?

--What breed is your dog and did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD or disc damaged due to fall. Was an xray taken to rule out fractured vertebrae due to fall?

-- Are you doing 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7. 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.
Good ideas on implementing crate rest: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm

-- Is there still currently pain in addition to shivering, trembling such as yelping when picked up or moved, pain nearing next dose of meds, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy?   Did the vet believe the problem area is more in the neck or lower on the back?  Do not  have any patience with pain. It is not only torture but is hinders the entire healing process. The correct dose in mg, the correct frequency and the right combo of meds will have pain fully in control in 1 hours and stay that way dose to dose. Pain is not a one size fits all deal and take communication to let the vet if adjustments need to be made. Background info to help you discuss pain control with your vet today:  www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm

-- How much does your dog weigh? What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg's and frequencies?
       Anti-inflammatories can increase GI tract damage. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason my dog may not take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours. We ask that all members read about each med their dog is on or may take as a safety measure. This directory very good for learning about each of your dog's meds:
www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.htm

-- Eating and drinking OK? How are poops today- normal color and firmness, no dark or bright red blood?

-- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all (front or rear legs)? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk? The very, very lightest least aggressive range of motion and leg massage is necessary for paralyzed legs during conservative treatment. The information highlighted in PINK pertains to a dog who can't walk once off all pain meds and no more signs of pain.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm

-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? That is a sign there is no bladder control and the need to get a hands on expressling lesson today. Review first to get more out of the lesson:   www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm   How to express for poop.  www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm#poop

-- 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.

Some meds can cause constipation. There is a better choice than Lactulose which has side effects of flatulence, bloated stomach, and cramping.  Pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with a teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. To firm up the stool add 1 teaspoon pumpkin to kibble and no extra water 1x a day. Note alternatives: really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel off; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potoato.

Welcome to Dodgerslist Lyn!

Panting and shaking are also signs of pain. Metacam is an anti inflammatory that is working on the swelling which is causing the pain. It can take from 7 to 30 days to get that swelling down.   Disc injuries are very painful even though Ellie May isn't yelping she is showing pain in other ways.. Shaking, trembling, reluctance to move..  I would discuss a pain reliever with the vet. Pain hinders healing.  Her legs buckling is nerve damage. Nerve damage can reverse in time..  

Weeing once a day isn't enough. When urine sits in the bladder too long bacteria multiplies and the result is a Urinary tract infection which also causes pain and burning.  It would be wise to take a urine sample in to her Vet for testing.    Did you check out the link in Paula's post about expressing Ellie May?  It will help you get more out of your lesson from the Vet or Vet tech on how to express.  She should either wee or be expressed at least every 4 hours.  

It would be best to walk her with a harness and a leash with a sling as in the picture below when taking her outside to help her balance..



So sorry to hear about Ellie May's fall.  Traumatic for all concerned. Sending comforting thoughts and prayers to you and Ellie May..

Lyn, dogs are very good at hiding pain. They do that as a form of protection instinct, because if they were in a pack, weakness is a risk. When we actually see signs of pain (shaking, panting, reluctance to move), there is definitely pain. And that pain must be addressed with your vet immediately so it can be brought under control. Pain does hinder healing and there is no reason for it when pain meds can and should be prescribed.

She's showing these signs of pain when she's taken out to do potty. The movement to try to potty is causing her the pain. Spinal injuries are very painful until the anti-inflammatory works on getting the swelling down. That swelling is pressing into the spine. It can take 1-2 weeks or a month for the Metacam to get the swelling down. Meanwhile, pain meds are vitally important.

Also, urinary tract infections are common with paralyzed dogs. You should take in a urine sample to have it tested ASAP. When a dog has a UTI, it can be painful to urinate. You mentioned that she takes a long time to pee. She may just be trying to find the right spot to go or it may be painful to urinate.

Dogs are clean creatures and very seldom will urinate in their crate unless they are not taken out often enough or their bladder is overflowing. Allowing the bladder to fill up and overflow is not healthy for the bladder as the bladder can stretch out of shape and may cause permanent damage to the bladder. I just wanted to point that out although you already did say that you would look into the expressing more. It's best to get a hands on your hands demonstration on how to express. It does take a bit of practice but you'll get there. Once Ellie's pain is under control, it won't be such a hardship to take her out to pee and you can try to express more often. You might also try to express her on a pee pad inside the house so she doesn't struggle to find the right place. Or in the tub on a rubber mat. have you tried a sniff and pee test to see if she has bladder control? Take her out to a place where she's peed before, support her without pressing under her belly and see if she can release urine on her own. If not, then she does need to be expressed.

Please also confirm that you have spoken to your vet about giving Ellie 5 mg of Pepcid AC 30 minutes before the Metacam and then every 12 hours thereafter for as long as she's on the Metacam. It's most important that her GI tract be protected from the side effects of the Metacam.

The massage and passive exercises should NOT be done while Ellie is on medication. As long as Ellie is on medication, it's unknown whether she still has swelling around her spine or not. Those exercises should wait until that swelling is completely gone and all meds are stopped. After all meds are finished and there is no pain/swelling, then the very, very lightest least aggressive range of motion and leg massage is necessary for paralyzed legs during conservative treatment. The information highlighted in PINK pertains to a dog who can't walk but only after all meds are stopped and there is no pain. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm

Her spine should be supported while going potty with a harness and sling. You can also try to use some push-in-the-ground plastic fencing to make a 6' potty area for her to use. That might help lessen her desire to move around too much to find that perfect potty spot.

If you haven't seen it yet, here's a video on how to properly lift and carry an IVDD dog:



Please let us know what the vet says after speaking to him about Ellie's pain, adding Pepcid AC and bringing in a urine sample to be tested. And let us know how the sniff and pee test and/or expressing goes today.

Healing prayers for Ellie May. Things can take a while to settle down in the beginning but you'll soon get to a better place in Ellie's recovery. We're here for you!

Ellie is much brighter and moving all legs. Front ones getting better every day. Still the paws from last joint that buckle, but certainly better.
Have gone the special confined place inside for toilet route today rather than wrestle with her outside and that has worked well, thank you for tip!
Am on the case with the over the counter stuff for tummy and picking up puréed pumpkin tomorrow. Finally found some at waitrose.
I know there is a long way to go and at least 4 more weeks of crate rest and still no guarantee of how much mobility she will have, but the thought that if we had listened to vet then she wouldn't even be here is just awful! He was a good and very kind vet and had her interests at heart but possibly ill informed on just what crate rest and time can do! He does now and is as pleased as we are!