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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 2, 2014 11:22:35 GMT -7
Hi all! My name is Teresa and my little girls name is Daisy. I guess I will start at the beginning here. Daisy is a rescue, I've had her for almost 2 years (got her from the pound). She came to me very ill, she had been a breeder and had never been fixed. They estimated her age to be 4 but my vet thinks she was closer to 6 which would make her around 8 now. She is overweight, 21 lbs. She is on thyroid meds, and was on pretisone for 4 months for a staph infection inside her ear canal. She also had a couple of mammary gland tumors (small ones) that were removed when my vet spayed her. Flash forward to Monday March 24th. She had another surgery, all of her mammary glands down her right side were removed. She is literally stapled from her shoulder to her vaginal area. She was on bed rest and was doing well. Wednesday morning (less than 48 hours later) I carried her out to pee at 3 am. She took about a step and a half and SCREAMED out in pain. I instinctively knew it was her back. I gently carried her in the house and met my vet at 730 that morning. At 10:00 she called me and sent me directly to Texas A&M for an emergency Neurology appt. She had surgery at 4 that afternoon. SO, she is cut all the way down her tummy and on her back. We can't use a sling to help her walk because of the abdominal surgery. So things are very different for her. She is my first small dog, I've always owned labs. She is on Tramadol, Vetprofen and Cephalexin. She will also be on ammoxocillian starting this afternoon because of a UTI. She had to have a urinary catheter because we cannot express her (due to the staples in her tummy). Any encouragement, advice, or help would be appreciated. I found the forum through a google search. I am just in awe of her courage and fighting spirit. Any human that would have had these two surgeries in less than 48 hours wouldn't be this strong! (she has a facebook page.. just search for Diva Daisy and Freeloading Freddie). Thanks! Teresa (Edit to say: I moved this because I posted it in the wrong forum) Read more: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/1606/daisy-diva#ixzz2xkqMhHvY
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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 2, 2014 13:18:58 GMT -7
Teressa, thank you so much for helping this little girl...she has found a heavenly forever home with you. What a journey for Daisy with two surgeries to deal with.
-- Could she move her legs just prior to the back surgery and can she now move them all? -- Have you seen her wag her tail if you specifically do some happy talk to her? -- I understand the need for the catheter. It kinda of eliminates being able to identify if bladder control has returned. The only way for us humans to know if there is bladder control is with the sniff and pee test. Carry outdoors, set on an old pee spot to sniff it. See if urine is then released. Make sure your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning.
-- Is her pain fully under control dose to dose of Tramadol?
Often the swelling from the surgical back procedure will cause a temporary neuro setback. In two weeks post op then you will have a better idea of the direction healing is going in. Stay strong for that very strong girl!!!
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 2, 2014 14:02:37 GMT -7
Paula,
Thanks for the reply!! She was down before the surgery. There didn't seem to be any movement at all. She is allowing me to do the exercises with her legs and there seems to be some back leg movement. Her left leg seems much stronger than her right.
As far as urinating, we can't hold her under her tummy at all because of the staples. So I am holding her up by the base of her tail. So far so good. She urinates fine but hasn't had a bowel movement yet. I know that's due in part to the pain meds. I've already spoke to her surgeon and her regular Dr too.
At A&M she was seen and the surgery was done by the head of neurology with the head of anesthesia there too. They were very concerned with the previous surgery and the 48 hour time lapse between the two surgeries.
Poor baby. She's the love of my life!
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 2, 2014 16:47:09 GMT -7
I have a question. I think the crate I am using is too small. When I picked her up at TAMU I had it with me (I had to bring her back alone on the long car drive because my husband is offshore). They said it was fine, but I don't think so. I am NO expert, hence I'm coming to you all! She can stand up, and she can turn around. But when she turns around she really has to ... twist (for lack of a better word). Should she be able to stand up and turn completely around without "twisting"?
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Post by Pauliana on Apr 2, 2014 20:03:44 GMT -7
Hi Teresa, welcome to Dodgerslist from me too. Yes it does sound like her crate is too small, she shouldn't twist. The best size is the one where she can fully stretch out her legs and comfortably turn around. Here is a link to our recovery suite article that shows the different crate ideas.. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htmMy goodness little Daisy has been through so much with the two surgeries, but she has a great Mom taking care of her and a fighting spirit that will help her to heal.. Sending comforting thoughts..
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 3, 2014 6:18:13 GMT -7
Thank you so much!!! My husband comes home today from the rig so when he gets home I'll send him to Petsmart for a new crate. Good news this morning is she pooped! Yea!
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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 3, 2014 6:31:29 GMT -7
You might try a figure 8 sling to help hold her up - many male dogs use these as they don't put pressure on the abdomen - maybe it will work for your little girl. You basically tape the loop handles of 2 leashes together and use those to put her hind legs through. Kind of like ---------OO--------- not the best picture or image - I am trying to find the real picture for you. She looks like a love and so lucky to have found you from the "Supplies List" www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htm
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 4, 2014 16:24:38 GMT -7
Daisy went to see our vet today and she removed the staples from her abdomen and the sutures from her back! She even took a couple of steps to show off for Dr. Michelle! This afternoon we had her crate outside on the deck so she could enjoy some sunlight, and her brother (Freddie the Freeloader, also a long haired dachshund) and my daughters two labs were running around the acreage playing with "stuffies" (stuffed toys). She was getting a little jealous so I went and got the two stuffies our vets office manager bought just for her and put them in her crate. She chewed on one and made it squeak which made her wag her tail and she seemed very content!!!! Her eyes are clear today too! We are so excited with her progress. Her meds have been changed a little. She is now on Amantadine and Alprazolam. She hasn't been sleeping well since she came home from the hospital. I assumed it was because she got used to a light always being on 24/7 and movement around her the whole time. So we talked about her and I both not getting any rest. Hence the change in meds.
All seems OK for now! I'll check in again soon!
----- That sling is fantastic! I will show my vet tomorrow and see what she says!
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 5, 2014 7:26:01 GMT -7
Question. The six weeks of crate rest. Does the week in the hospital count towards that too? Or six weeks from when she got home?
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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 5, 2014 8:47:46 GMT -7
The 6 weeks is from the date of surgery, the same date as we have in the Daisy's subject line.
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 5, 2014 14:38:25 GMT -7
Thanks! That means May 7th!
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on Apr 9, 2014 15:38:54 GMT -7
HELP!!!!! She's driving me crazy!!!! It's only been two weeks. This morning I opened her crate door to feed her, never did my feet moveat all, turned my head to scold the two labs and male doxie and when I turned my head back she was gone!!!!! She had jumped out of the crate and "ran" across the room to eat the boys food!!!!! Just now I opened the crate door to put her food in and if I wouldn't have been quick she would've been out again!!!
I know she's feeling better and I understand that she doesn't know that she could make things worse!! Does anyone have any tips? She literally cries in the crate. Non stop. I've tried covering it, we've put it in another room. We've put her on a rolling tray so she goes everywhere I go!!! Help!!!
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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 9, 2014 22:29:41 GMT -7
Can you place an ex-pen in front of the recovery suite so that she will not be able to escape. You can also use an expen in this manner while fixing her bedding. Consider some of these ideas: -- Many members have found a pet stroller to solve the whining problem because the stroller can be wheeled from room to room as you go about your activities. Pet strollers, however, should only be used when you are directly supervising. More details on strollers: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/strollers.htmTeaching self-calming exercises can also help your dog to relax more. You can make something as simple as eye contact a very rewarding behavior that also acts as a way for your dog to “ask permission” when he wants something. When dogs have a focus and an understanding about how to behave to get what they want, they are much calmer overall. To do this, each time your dog looks at you, say, something like, “Yes!” , and then give your dog a very tiny piece of high-value food reward. [NOTE: for crate resting dogs, shift your body a bit] .... wait for your dog to look up at you again, say, “Yes,” and reward again. Do this exercise 10 or so times and then say, “All done,” and put the treats away. Come back later and do it again until you can see that your dog is really starting to make automatic eye contact in hopes you will say, “Yes,” again and give him his reward. [NOTE: treats should be subtracted from the normal daily kibble ration so as not to gain weight during crate rest.] wholedogtraining.com/images/stories/Are_all_dogs_trainable.pdf-- During the day try the coffee table or the dinning room table so there will be a view out a window and a better perspective on what is going on in the house from a high. Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the crate, petting. So anytime you see unwanted whinning behavior ignore it, turn your back, leave the room if you have to. Preferable is to start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior. Anytime your dog is sitting or lying down quietly, give a reward. Soon Daisy will see she get rewards for four feet on the floor, quietly sitting, etc.
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on May 3, 2014 16:41:47 GMT -7
We graduated!!!!!! Diva Daisy is now walking!!!!!!!!!!!!! I've increased her activity 25% this week, and will continue to do so for the next four weeks! She went to see the Neurologist on Friday and he was beyond impressed! I showed him the videos I had been taking since she came home, on a week for the past four + weeks and what an improvement! She's a tough little girl, 2 major surgeries in 48 hours!!!! We are so so proud of her and we are looking forward to the next 8-10 years with her in our lives! Thank you all so much!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
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Post by PaulaM on May 4, 2014 12:10:42 GMT -7
Hmmm maybe 3 days early? Good news that she is now walking and you are slowly increasing physical activity.
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Post by Teresa & Daisy on May 5, 2014 6:26:54 GMT -7
What do you mean 3 days early? It was the appointment that Texas A&M University, who I trust implicitly set up for her. I am not 100% sure why you would say that but if you could elaborate I would love to hear why. Thanks!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
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Post by PaulaM on May 5, 2014 12:34:14 GMT -7
Post op crate rest is typically for 6 weeks and we count from the date of surgery in your subject line to get the May 7th graduation date. So very pleased how well Daisy is doing.... she had a battle with those two back to back surgeries!
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