Welcome to Dodgerslist. My name is Paula what is yours?
First things first, if there is any suspicion that this is disc related, you do need to assume you are actually dealing with a tear in the disc so that nerve damage does not progress to severe irreverible nerve damage of being permanently parlayzed with loss of bladder control.
100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks …. 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 suspicioined bad disc. True conservative treatment will start as of today 4/5...that is the date you see in Champ's subject line.
The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe from other pets and kids from bothering them. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal.
Please help us to better understand Champ's situation:
--Did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD, a slipped disc, a herniated disc? He certainly IS progressing in a typical path of disc and nerve damage.
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions:
1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
<--- Champ2. Wobbly walking, legs cross
<--- Champ3. Nails scuffing floor
<--- Champ?4. Paws knuckle
<--- Champ?5. Legs do not work (paralysis, dog is down)
6. Bladder control is lost
7. Tail wagging with joy is lost
8. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for successful surgery. Surgery can still be successful in the window of 12/24 hours after loss of deep pain sensation. Even after that window of time, there can still be a good outcome. Each hour that passes decreases that chance.
-- Would surgery be a consideration for your family if necessary?
-- 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 Champ weigh? Please list for us all meds with their doses in mg's and frequency given
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 If you are having to feed chicken and rice, that tells me there is quite possible already GI tract problems that need attention tonight. I would get Pepcid AC on board AFTER reading about it to verify as far as you know there are none of the health issues listed and then when you can get ahold of your vet keep him in the loop.
-- Eating and drinking OK? How are poops today- normal color and firmness, no dark or bright red blood?
-- 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.
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 and no way to know if your vet knows this disease.
This Forum is here to help Champ 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:
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmWe look forward to learning more about Champ with the answers my questions.
???thanks for all your help!!!!