Blakely's Penny 4/15 surgery

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Blakely & Penny
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Blakely's Penny 4/15 surgery Apr 21, 2014 18:40:48 GMT -7

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Post by Blakely & Penny on Apr 21, 2014 18:40:48 GMT -7

On Saturday I noticed Penny was not acting herself. She wasn't following me around, refusing to go down steps, and acting lethargic. I immediately took her to a Pet ER where they diagnosed her with a pulled groin muscle. The following day I noticed she was still struggling to get around but thought it was due to the pulled muscle. By Monday afternoon I saw Penny fall over several times when she went into her cage. I rushed her to our normal vet and got the news I had been dreading....it was her back. The vet decided that they should keep her overnight and have me take her to the neurologist first thing the next morning. When I picked her up she had lost function of her legs but still had deep pain. When we got to the neurologist an hour later she had lost deep pain and they put her in for emergency surgery. I was so anxious during the surgery, but 90 minutes later they called to tell me they had removed four discs T-11, T-12, T-13, L-1 from her back. The next day I got to see her for about 5 minutes because she needed to get back on her IVs, but she was still my sweet little girl. The next day we had a much longer visit and she seemed much more comfortable and was able to express her bladder on her own. When I picked her up on Friday she was neurologically unchanged and I was given a set of physical therapy exercises to do with her (massages, butt tickles, standing with a towel for support, and leg bicycle stretches) to do four times a day. They told me that as long as she was still she could sit next to me on the floor, which she did for pretty much the entire first night. I crated her at bedtime, but woke up to any movement she made and was constantly trying to make her comfortable. The next day she did four rounds of PT but stayed in her crate more of the day. By evening I felt like she was in a lot of pain and called the vet (they have an emergency clinic) they told me to give her an extra half of a pain pill and to call back for neurology in the morning. I woke up at 4:00 am and went to check on her. She was sleeping so I headed back upstairs and almost immediately heard her whimper for me. I couldn't leave her so I went back downstairs to lay down next to her crate (not the most comfortable thing, but she seemed to want me close by). On Saturday the neurologist put her on methacarbonal which really seemed to help her. She did one round of PT in the evening and had a few massages during the day and she seemed so much more comfortable. Today I have noticed she seems extremely uncomfortable lying down. She has not been sleeping nearly as much and I am concerned she is uncomfortable. The past few days I have been able to help her lie down and she falls right to sleep. Today she does not want my to help her lay down at all. I am having so much trouble just letting her be.......will she be able to reposition herself and get comfortable? Is it bad for me to try to move her into positions I think will be comfortable? I am in a constant state of anxiety about whether she is hurting or not:(

Last Edit: Apr 22, 2014 11:37:51 GMT -7 by PaulaM

Pauliana
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Blakely's Penny 4/15 surgery Apr 21, 2014 21:50:40 GMT -7

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Post by Pauliana on Apr 21, 2014 21:50:40 GMT -7

Welcome to Dodgerslist, Blakely! We are really glad you have joined us. I can tell you one of the most important things you can do for your Penny is self education about the disease your dog was born with. Knowledge is to make sure the right things are being done for best recovery. And for yourself, knowledge lets you step out of a very scary place…"the unknown" and the toll it can take on emotions.

Get ready to fight this disease with this current episode and in the future by knowing how you can help now and after crate rest is over. There is no better place to start than on our main web page covering "All Things IVDD" at this link www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm Tape this flyer to your fridge so the whole family knows what things are emergencies: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/FridgeInfo81907.pdf

Add this comprehensive "must-have" $3 DVD on IVDD to your arsenal of educational resources. Friends, family and those who will be caring for your dog should also watch this DVD www.dodgerslist.com/store/DVDorder.htm Tape this flyer to your fridge so the whole family knows what things are emergencies: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/FridgeInfo81907.pdf

In order get a better idea where your dog is post-op, could you please answer these questions?

▷ Are you now doing 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty and for surgeon directed PT? …. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No chiro (aka VOM)? What did your surgeon direct for PT and for crate rest?

▷ Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy? If so call the Vet and have her medications adjusted so she is pain free from dose to dose. You have to be the eyes and ears for the Vet and advocate for Penny's pain control. Pain hinders healing.

▷ How much does your dog weigh? List the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg's and times per day given? What was the start dose if a steroid, date of taper? Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason for my dog 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.
▷ Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk?
▷ Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up?
▷ Eating and drinking OK? Poops OK - normal firmness & color -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.

Last Edit: Apr 21, 2014 21:52:48 GMT -7 by Pauliana

Pauliana & Tyler www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory/tylerApplegate.htm

Blakely & Penny
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Blakely's Penny 4/15 surgery Jul 13, 2014 19:48:00 GMT -7

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Post by Blakely & Penny on Jul 13, 2014 19:48:00 GMT -7

Hello and thank you for all of the wonderful advice and inspirational stories you have provided to me during this process. My miniature daschund had back surgery about 3.5 Months ago. Unfortunately Penny did not regain use of her back legs or bladder. She is a fighter though and this has not slowed her down at all. Adjusting to our new lifestyle had been quite a steep learning curve and I have some questions about how to give Penny the best care possible.

I express Penny's bladder 4-5 times each day. I keep hearing stories of ruptured bladders and have become worried that this could happen to us. How would I know that I had ruptured her bladder?

Penny has suffered from two UTIs since surgery. The first was caused because we thought she was peeling on he own when she came home from the vet, however it was just leaking. She went almost a week with out having her bladder expressed.....which obviously caused her to suffer from a UTI. She ha been on a cranberry supplement since then. She currently has a second UTI and is finish the last of 4 weeks of antibiotics. Is there anything I can do to decrease the likelyhood of this happening?

Penny got her custom made Eddie's Wheels two weeks so. We are still easing into them. She still scoot in the house but I have notice this becoming more difficult for her. She scoots with one leg sticking out to the side which makes scoot in more uncomfortable.Has anyone else.noticed scooting becoming more difficult over time?

Last Edit: Jul 14, 2014 7:11:10 GMT -7 by PaulaM

PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA

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Blakely's Penny 4/15 surgery Jul 14, 2014 7:44:51 GMT -7 Marjorie likes this

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Post by PaulaM on Jul 14, 2014 7:44:51 GMT -7

Blakely, there is still time that nerves may heal enough to bring back function. Are you doing PT at home to keep the joints flexible and circulation up in the muscles? Something like: Are you trying some at home water therapy: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm A protective garment mentioned below can cut down on friction making it easier to scoot in the house.

In what way are you seeing that Penny is uncomfortable when scooting? Just that she can't control her leg nerves and thus a leg sticks out? Clark is a frog like scooter. Both of his legs stick out to the front.
About the UTI's, let's hope this was a simple bladder infection since it was so far timewise from the first vs. a relapse or other complication such a stones.
-- main thing is to make sure you have not gotten a bit sloppy with expressing (I know this because I did and Clark got his first UTI because of it). Make sure you are fully expressing the bladder. When you think it is flat, then wait a few seconds and feel again that there is no more urine to be expressed out.
-- Staying clean. Wiping in the wrong direction can place bacteria nearer the entrance of the urethra making female dogs more susceptible to infections. There is a question if use of anti-bacteria wipes and their overkilling of both the good and the bad bacteria is warranted. Thought is the immune system may become ineffective and contribute to the development of resistant bacteria. Clean your dog with simple non-scented baby wipes or soap and water cleansing if necessary.
-- Protective garment Bacteria have a very short pathway into the bladder when scooting on the floor or sitting on the ground especially for females. Butt protection "panties" can help keep this area clean.
Jill's no-sew idea: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/aftercraterest/Buttprotect.htm
Clark's easy sew idea: users.cyberport.net/~milnerwm/bumpad1.html or possibly Ollie's cape might work:
Read Ollie's story where you will find a link to easy directions for the scooting cape and enjoy the youtube of Ollie having fun! www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory/ollieWahbe.htm
-- Fluid intake Keep water available at all times. If feeding dry kibble, reconstitute it by adding equal parts liquid as kibble for each meal. Water in take is a total of moisture in food and what the dog drinks on their own. Dogs normally take in about 20 to 40 milliliters per pound of body weight per day or about 3 to 4 cups of water per day for a 20 pound dog. Water intake is also dependent on the activity level of the dog and how hot the weather is. Cool weather, sleeping longer would make a dog less thirsty. Because the Dachshund breed has a high incidence of heart problems avoid pushing fluids by tempting with no-salt broths unless specifically directed by your vet.

About the ruptured bladder, I don't recall in my years here since 2007 and thousands of dogs about hearing an owner caused a rupture of a bladder. Do ask your vet about it, just so you will know the indicator(s).

Hi there Guests❗️ REGISTERING would help us to help you and your dog best: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/7353/register-bookmark-dogs-post-thread

Disclaimer:
This information is presented for educational purposes and as a resource for the IVD dog community. The coordinators are not veterinarians or health care professionals. Nothing herein should be interpreted as medical advice and all should contact their pet care professionals for advice. The coordinators are not responsible for the substance and content contained herein and do not advocate any particular product, item or position contained herein.

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Blakely's Penny 4/15 surgery

Post by Blakely & Penny on Apr 21, 2014 18:40:48 GMT -7

Post by Pauliana on Apr 21, 2014 21:50:40 GMT -7

Post by Blakely & Penny on Jul 13, 2014 19:48:00 GMT -7

Post by PaulaM on Jul 14, 2014 7:44:51 GMT -7