Michelle, welcome to Dodgerslist. Vita has given you excellent information. It is the 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks that is the single most important part of conservative treatment. 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.
This excellent document will help you to set up a good recovery suite to help make the 8 weeks go smoother:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm Can you fill us in on some important details so we'll be better able to support your and Leo:
-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy?
-- How much does Leo 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 our approx 12-20lbs doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours. 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 Leo move the legs at all? 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? How often do you express? Depending on which meds you list for us, it may take expressing evert 2-3 hours til off of a steroid. Glad to hear you are up for getting a 2nd lesson. Express right there in the clinic and let the vet tech check your work and give you pointers. This video will let you get more out of the lesson if you review it first:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm-- 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.
You can place the recovery suite on a sturdy table near were you work. Dogs often like being up high plus then you can put your fingers through the wires to touch him as you work. There are calmers you can use to help him relax too. check out our emergency crate training article for that info:http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/EmergencyCrate%20Training.htm
Caring for an IVDD dog is all about education to know, fight and win with this enemy. It is easy to make mistakes and not be committed to the treatment when full understanding of IVDD has not yet been achieved. This Forum is here to help Leo get things right asap while you work on absorbing all you can from our main web page. Are you ready? Here's the page to bookmark to become savvy about IVDD:
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm 
I can't imagine how I am going to get through weeks of this. Any help or advise would be greatly appreciated!!
