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Post by Jeff & Penelope on Jun 7, 2013 10:04:01 GMT -7
I just wanted to give an 8 week update. I can't believe it has only been 8 weeks. Anyway, Penelope is continuing to improve. She still has some issues with her right hind leg...she can use it but it's a little unstable at times and she will drag the paw once in awhile. Having said that, it does appear she has gained some strength with it and she has begun to show more signs of normal walk with it...though she still has a ways to go. We go on our walks every day, which seems wear her out. She wants to run after squirrels in the back yard and play with the other dogs in the house...I do what I can to keep that to a minimum. She wants to jump on the sofas but is learning they are no longer for her so I often find myself sitting on the floor with her. I also thought she would hate her crate but not so. Before the back problems, she liked her crate and would go in on her own from time to time. She still goes into it from time to time despite having been crate bound 8 weeks. Thanks to everyone on the forum for your help and advice. Those of you just going thru this, hang in there. It gets better. Have patience.
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Ticker Marie & Daphne
New Member
New problem - uncontrollable kicking of back legs when walking
Posts: 104
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Post by Ticker Marie & Daphne on Jun 7, 2013 12:00:01 GMT -7
Glad Penelope is continuing to improve. Sounds like she and Daphne might be in the same boat. Surgeon said Daphne is slower than most to recover and put her on 6 more weeks of crate rest! I only hope she will continue to improve also. My Daphne has issues with her left hind leg and sometimes the right one too, her second surgery was April 15th. If I hadn't taken videos of her walking on different dates I don't think I would think she has made much improvement, but after watching I can see some. Wishing you both continued success and more improvements with each passing day.
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Post by Sherry Layman on Jun 8, 2013 5:22:52 GMT -7
Great news about Penelope. I have also had two dogs with IVDD who loved their crates prior to the events and continue to love the crates after, one was a surgical and one was conservative. Dogs just don't think the way we humans do...thank goodness!
Penelope will continue to regain strength in that leg, eight weeks seems like eternity but in terms of healing it's very very early on yet. Walking is great therapy. If you have access to acupuncture it can be very helpful in stimulating the nerves and muscles as well.
Keeping Penelope from jumping on and off furniture is great. I have ramps so my dogs can still join me on the couch but that requires some training as well. Everyone chooses what works best for them and their household routines so do what seems best. One thing you might do is buy a special bed or two for the floor now that she's spending her time there, it might make it more appealing. I have a couple different types in rooms where I don't have ramps and the dogs seem quite happy to spend their time in the beds. Don't forget to pile the blankets in the beds too as Dachsies love to burrow under blankets! I have purchased pieces of fleece or even the soft fuzzy blankets that are popular for throws and beds now and cut them into smaller pieces just right for their beds. Be creative and keep up the good work!
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Post by Jeff & Penelope on Jun 8, 2013 20:55:21 GMT -7
Tickermarie...thanks for your words of encouragement.
sherry...I have an appointment with for Penelope on Tuesday for electro-acupuncture. I'll update you after Tuesday.
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Post by Jeff & Penelope on Jun 11, 2013 15:19:14 GMT -7
Penelope had her electro-acupuncture/laser therapy treatment today. Penelope did ok but I know she was not thrilled with someone poking at her. We go back for another treatment next week. The vet says he usually does about 3 treatments. When I got penelope back home, she ate and went right to her crate to rest.
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Post by natureluva on Jun 13, 2013 16:34:26 GMT -7
Hi Jeff, glad to hear that Penelope is getting acupuncture and laser. My dog also had electro-acupuncture, but he had acute nerve damage, so I am surprised your vet performed it on a walking dog. It is powerful stuff. If Penelope appeared uncomfortable during the acupuncture, you may wish to discuss doing regular acupuncture instead of electro. Just a thought. I'm sure your vet knows what he/she is doing. :-) After my dog's acupuncture sessions, I noticed his movements were stronger and he was serenely playful and relaxed. He slept soundly during those evenings, too. I really believe acupuncture gives our pups emotional benefits as well as physical. Here are two links, which you may have already read, but just in case...one to safeguard your home for the IVDD dog, and one to slowly reintroduce your dog into activities after crate rest: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm and www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm. Penelope is doing really well. Keep up the great work with her! Best wishes, ~Lisa
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Post by Jeff & Penelope on Aug 25, 2013 7:30:29 GMT -7
4 month update:
Just wanted to provide a quick update on Penelope. It's been a little over 4 months since her surgery and she is doing well tho not back to normal. She still drags her right hind leg a little but at times picks it up. She has a little hiccup in her giddy-up but doesn't seem to be bothered with it. I've not noticed any improvement for awhile now so my feeling is that she has plateaued and this may be what it is. Although, I always hope for more improvement.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 25, 2013 9:39:54 GMT -7
How long has it been since you last saw improvement in Penelope? With my Jeremy, he would reach a plateau and not have any improvement for a couple of weeks and then start improving a bit more. As each plateau was met, there was less and less improvement. But over a year after his surgery, he was still getting better. I remember the surgeon telling me three months after the surgery that Jeremy would not get any better than he was at that point. She said that most of the improvement is shown the first three months. Well, Jeremy proved her wrong on that point! It took a good year but he was doing great before his second disc problem set in. So there's definitely room for hope for Penelope for continued improvement. It does sound like she's doing very well, though, right now. Continued prayers and blessings to you both.
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Post by Jeff & Penelope on Apr 6, 2014 7:24:49 GMT -7
It's been almost a year since Penelope's surgery and I thought every thing was going well. Since her surgery last April, her right hind legs has always been "lazy". She can walk on it but still knuckles from time to time and walks with a limp....so it's not where it used to be. That was ok because she never seemed bothered by it.
3 weeks ago, she began acting odd. She was walking slow and did not want to get up off her doggie bed except to get a drink or eat. So, I rushed her to the vet and and started her on meds: tramadol and prednisone. The vet checked her spine and said she appeared a little tender in one spot but did not seem too bad. They informed her surgeon the next day. They contacted me on Monday and said to follow the meds as prescribed and call if she did not get better or worsened. I also started her on strict crate rest as well as acupuncture/laser therapy (this began 5 days later). She received her first dose of meds Sunday evening and by Monday morning she was a changed dog. She was barking and moving in her crate. I gave her one tramadol Monday monring but that was all she seemed to need. However, we finished the prednisone as prescribed: twice a day for 3 days, once a day for 3 days, then every other day for the last 3 pills.
She has just finished her third week of crate rest and seems to be back where she was before this last episode. However, she will continue the next 5 weeks in her spa (that is what I am calling her crate now) and getting acupuncture/laser therapy.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Apr 6, 2014 8:40:55 GMT -7
Jeff, I'm sorry to hear that Penelope has had another disc episode. But I am very pleased at how well you handled this! You did a great job in getting her seen right away, getting her the meds she needed, crating her right away and continuing with the full 8 weeks of crate rest. This seems to be a mild episode and that's wonderful news that she was able to taper off the Prednisone successfully with no pain. If you didn't include Pepcid AC to protect Penelope from any side effects of the Prednisone, do try to remember to include it any time in the future when she needs to take Prednisone. One of the side effects of Prednisone is GI tract problems and giving 5 mg of Pepcid AC 30 mins before the Prednisone and then every 12 hours thereafter protects the GI tract. That goes for any steroid or NSAID Penelope may ever be on. She's eating and drinking OK? Poops OK - normal color, firmness, no dark or bright red blood? I estimated that crate rest began on 3/15 - is that correct? Please be aware that crate rest for a dog on conservative care is much stricter than crate rest after surgery. Carried in and out to potty. 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. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmAgain, I'm sorry that Penelope has had another disc problem but am very glad to hear that it's a mild one. She should be just fine with continued crate rest in her "spa" for the full 8 weeks.
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Post by Jeff & Penelope on Apr 6, 2014 18:56:33 GMT -7
Hey Marjorie...Thanks!
Yes, the episode began on 3/15. she eats and drinks fine. This dog never has an issue with eating. In fact, even when she had a bad episode last year she ate. Nothing...and I mean nothing stops this dog from eating.
As far as crate rest goes...she's been getting the full on SPA treatment. Picking her up to take her out and in from potty. Never getting out of the Spa unless to go potty. Bedding cleaned and fluffed just as she likes it. Nothing but the freshest tap water and her favorite treats. And 20 minutes a day of me trying to fit in her pen for some petting. ;-)
Actually, she's been pretty good with her pen...i mean Spa this time. Very little whining unless she needs to go potty.
It's odd because both the surgeon and the vet doing the acupuncture/laser said only 2 weeks of crate rest. I'm making it 8 weeks tho...we definitely do not want to go thru what we went thru last year.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Apr 7, 2014 5:16:28 GMT -7
Jeff, you are being so wise in keeping with the 8 weeks of crate rest. While your vets seem really on top of things, they may be thinking this episode is really mild, and are missing the tremendous value that crate rest provides. Good for you for being such an amazing advocate Glad she is feeling well. These next five weeks will fly by
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