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Post by Lauren & Mason on Apr 23, 2014 17:30:24 GMT -7
Hello, we have a 20lb daschund his name is Mason. On Thursday the 17th he was out in the yard was just sitting there. I carried him inside and he was unable to walk, at this time he had the ability to try and walk while dragging 1 hind led. Prior to this we noticed he was alittle slower, using his stairs and didn't want to be picked up, and yelped the night before when we tried to lift him.
Anyway, I call our vet and brought him up for a visit. He received a steroid shot, pain reliever, and they conducted xrays and blood work and kept him overnight. The Vet called us on Friday and let us know Mason's blood work and xrays came back normal, though he was not expressing urine, and he had deteriorated additionally to full lose of his hind legs. he thought it would be a good idea to keep him over the weekend to hook him up to a cath to help his bladder. We agreed.
When we picked him up on Monday, He still had no use of his hind legs, though he still had deep [ain sensnation, also when you tickle his feet he twitches his feet. We received a lesson on how to express urine and have been working on this ever since we brought him home on Monday night. We weren't doing a very good job and brought him back to the vet on Tuesday for another lesson, since then I have been able to get some good urine deposits out.
Then this morning, I brought him outside and asked him to do pee-pee, he walked over to his normal pee spot, with my help and he peed!.. not a tremendous amount but something!!! It was a miracle... I have been bringing him outside every 2 hours and repeating the same pee. So we know he has the capability for his bladder to speak to his brain!
He is on a slew of medicine.. from prednisone to clavamox.. and 5 others inbetween... could the meds be doing this as well?
thanks
The issue that im having is his bladder seems to always be leaking, no matter how many time we go in the yard, or how much extra I express on my own. It seems something is always dripping out anyway. Is this some other problem now? Will it get better over time? Should I just keep doing what Im doing? or should I contact my vet and see what he thinks?
We start acupuncture on Monday, and he is on crate rest for at least the next month. I would like to get him a rear hind sling to help him go potty outside, right now Im just holding his legs and waiting for him to pee.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 23, 2014 20:22:58 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist. Leverich is that right? In our little group we just go by first names. Mine is Paula. With prompt crating and getting medical help, it can well be the meds that are bringing down spinal cord swelling enough to allow nerves to function once again. Did you see Mason sniff an old pee spot in the grass and then choose to release urine outdoors? That is the test to verify bladder control. Were your hands on his tummy or his thighs when you saw him pee by himself? Leaking on you when lifted or finding urine leaks in bedding is a sign that either there is not yet bladder control or a possible bladder infection is going on. A urinalysis can quickly determine if antibiotics need to be on board. Also when first learning to express, your skill level may not yet be there. The idea is to express every 2-3 hours. At each session be able to feel the last stage of emptying where the fingers of one hand can almost feel the other. Once you are good at expressing he should stay dry. Good material to review while honing your expressing skills: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy? --Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg's and frequencies so we can better support you. 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. 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 Mason wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk? Check out our supplies list for many other excellent care tips in addition to this figure 8 sling: Self education with this disease is critical. 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 takes on your emotions.
Get ready to fight this disease with this current episode and in the future by knowing all things IVDD. There is no better place to start than on our main web page with "Overview: the essentials" and then read all you can as soon as possible. Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
We look forward to learning more about Mason with your answers.
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Post by Lauren & Mason on Apr 24, 2014 5:02:53 GMT -7
Hello, sorry my first name is Lauren.
He doesn't appear to me to be in discomfort, at this time. He allows me to pick him up to go outside. Other than outside I don't pick him up. He's in a gated area where he has his bed, which i lines with a towel and pee pee pad. His most discomfort is that he has a hard home settling in and getting comfortable.
Mason is on a ton of medicine. Sucralfate 1gr- twice a day given 2 hours before meds. Famotidine 20mg - 1/2 tab twice a day Prazosin 1mg - 1 pill twice a day Clindamycin - 75mg - 3 pills twice a day SMZ- 1/2 tab twice a day Prednisone 10mg - 1/2 tab 3 times a day
So yes I believe he peed on his own. I had to hold his back legs for him cause he wanted to walk, but he went to a popular pee spot stopped and peed. It wasn't a tremendous amount but something. He did it a few other times after.
This morning he pooped, it's formed but soft. It's a bright brown color. Not normal, but no blood either. It takes him much longer to poop now, and seems to strain. But he's getting it out.
He is still leaking urine. I just can't seem to get it to stop no matter what I do. I made a sling out out of two scarves to help him walk a bit easier in the yard. I think that's okay. He didn't seem to mind much. Not that it's light out I'm going to take him in the yard and see what happens.
He currently has no use of his back legs. I think his tail moves but no at his control. And he does have the deep pain sensations. His reflexes are marginally better, but does not do anything when you flip his paw upside down. If you push his hind legs up he will push back on you. And some times when you tickle his feet he will move his feet.
He eats good, and drinks plenty. I take him out every two hours. But overnight he doesn't go out. Should I take his water bowl away?
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Apr 24, 2014 5:53:02 GMT -7
Lauren, the hallmark component of conservative care is 100% strict crate rest 24/7. Only out of the recovery suite for potty time being carried in and out to potty with only a very few steps taken to do his business. The recovery suite should only be large enough for him to stand up, turn around and lie down with his legs extended. Think of the recovery suite as a cast for his spine. The less movement of the spine the better. The area you currently have Mason in may be too large an area. Please read more here about the recovery suite: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmDisc ruptures or tears are painful and Mason is not on any pain medication. The fact that he has a hard time settling in his bed and getting comfortable indicates that he is in pain. Dogs can be very stoic about pain and are very good at hiding it. You need to advocate strongly for pain meds for Mason today so he can heal in his recovery suit in comfort. Pain hinders healing. Prazosin is usually given when expressing is difficult. It reduces the sphincter tone. If Mason does have some bladder control returning, he may not need that. I would speak to the doctor about the leaking and see if he thinks that may be related to the Prazosin. Even when a dog does get some bladder control back, they may not be able to completely empty their bladder. You may need to express him after he has gone on his own to be sure his bladder is empty. I would also get his urine checked today to see if he has a urinary tract infection, which can cause leaking. From a very quick internet search, it would appear as though he's on two antibiotics - Clindamycin and SMZ. Do you know the reason for that? That may be causing softer poop. I would check with the vet as to why those meds are being given. Research and become familiar with any and all meds given - here's a good place to start: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.htmlYou can give him his last bowl of water about two-three hours before his last trip outside to pee. Please let us know what the vet says after speaking to them today. Healing prayers for Mason.
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Post by Lauren & Mason on Apr 24, 2014 18:19:45 GMT -7
Hello, so I spoke with the vet. He said it was good that's Mason was urinating anything on his own. But assures me it would e at least 2 weeks for full function to return and I would have to continue expressing until then. He doesn't believe mason to have a UTI, as he just reviewed him on Tuesday. He said I proabaly need additional practice expressing.
He said one of the medications he is on lowers the blood pressure, and therefore did not want to give him pain killer that would additionally lower the pressure. He said that prednisone acts as a pain killer, so that's that. He does seem more clam this evening. We go out one more time before bed!
He wants him to continue his corse of treatments with the meds until we see him again on Monday. He will also begin acupuncture as well that day.
I made the sling with an old pillow case, seems to be helping somewhat. I'm going to buy a male wrap for mason tomorrow to help with the leakage and keep his feet dry. I hate they are always getting wet.
He did not seem to have any more improvement today. Poop was still soft, and I may make him some rice tomorrow to help bind him better. He seemed to move his tail today, I'm pretty sure it's happening involuntary, but maybe that's a good thing.
I have him in a very small space, just enough room for his bed and food. When we come in from outside I usually let him sit right outside his space on a Matt for a few minutes before putting him back in his bed.
I just hope he gets better, he's 13 years old currently! I dont understand why on the X-ray they didn't see anythig and not sure if that was a good or bad thing. It's bothers me we are treating for back injury and hoping it's not a tumor! I wish there was some other way to determine if he was going to get better or if this will just progress into something worse.
What if any luck have you seed with dashunds that bladders don't function and then come back online? And how long does that take? I think out of everything this is the worst part of his injury! I can handle everythig else! I just want his bladder to come back!
Thanks for all the helpful information! And listening! It's been a weeks since his injury today!
Lauren
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Post by Pauliana on Apr 24, 2014 21:55:31 GMT -7
Hi Lauren, Regular X-rays (radiographs) are good for evaluating bony abnormalities (fractures, infection of the bone, tumors of the bone). Intervertebral disk and spinal cord are not visible on a radiograph because they are soft tissue and not bone. Did the vet say why Mason is on two antibiotics. If he doesn't have an infection, why is he being treated with the antibiotics? Here are the side effects of Clindamycin: "If any of the following serious side effects occur, stop giving clindamycin and seek emergency veterinary medical help: an allergic reaction (hives; difficulty breathing; or swelling of the face, lips, tongue, or throat). Stop the medication and talk to your veterinarian if any of these side effects occur: diarrhea that is watery or bloody; fever; chills; body aches; nausea; stomach pain; loss of appetite; dark urine; jaundice; urinating less than usual or not at all; fever; headache; or blistering or peeling of the skin. Side effects other than those listed in this guide may occur. Talk to your veterinarian about any side effect that is unusual or especially bothersome to your pet." From 1 800 Pet Meds Here is a link to side effects and info about SMZ: www.petmd.com/pet-medication/smz-tmpPrednisone is NOT a pain killer. It is an anti inflammatory. What it does is work on the swelling that is causing the pain.. That takes from 7 days to 30 days and in the meantime Mason needs relief from pain. The effects of the Prednisone take time to work.. it isn't immediate or within the hour as a pain reliever at the right dosage would be. Pain slows down healing! These are the pain relievers commonly used with a disc episode. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm REGAINING NEUROLOGICAL FUNCTION has no time limit for nerves to heal. Nerve repair is individual as each injury is different and each dog’s ability to heal is different. If deep pain perception (DPP) is present, even in paralyzed legs, there is a chance your dog may be able to walk again. For those dogs who have lost DPP, do know nerve regeneration can take place and that function may return. Once deep pain perception is regained, your dog has a chance at a walking recovery. Thousands of dogs on Dodgerslist have regained functions in as little as 2 weeks, others 11 months, and still others 3 years later. IVDD is a disease of patience to allow the body to heal on its own terms. Acupuncture and Laser Therapy stimulate the cell’s metabolism that leads to the body’s natural repair abilities and can be started at any time However, it is known that neurological function usually returns in the reverse order of the damage. The first big sign you want to look for is that wonderful tail wag! 1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.) 2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you, getting a treat or due to your happy talk. 3. Bladder and bowel control proved by passing the "sniff and pee" test. Take your dog out to an old pee spot in the grass. Let him sniff and then observe for release of urine. 4. Leg movement, and then ability to move up into a standing position, and then wobbly walking. 5. Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly placed paws. 6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.
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