Alex' Lucy 05/06 Conservative — Japan

Welcome to Dodgerslist! I'm so glad you've found us! First thing to know is that it IS in the cards for your dog to get back to enjoying life after recovering.
YES, Your Dog CAN Have a Great Quality of Life! - www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

Generally speaking, X-rays are used to rule out other problems mimicking IVDD as they show bone and not soft tissue. Some institutions have the new, state- of-the-art x-ray technology not available in most general practices that can offer better disc information. Typically X-rays can be used to “suspicion” a disc problem if read and interpreted by a vet experienced in diagnosing IVDD from x-rays. MRI, myelogram, and CT’s can prove the exact location and are used by surgeons in planning surgery.

With this disease self education is critical - not just so you make sure the right things are being done for your dog's best recovery, but also for your own emotions. The unknown is simply a scary place! Get ready to fight this disease now 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. Are you ready? Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

Have you started crate rest with Lucy?   www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm
Do everything possible to preserve the spinal cord with good crate rest principals! The true success with IVDD is measured by the most important goal of returning your dog to a pain free, happy and full-of-love quality of life after crate rest. Should paralysis occur, please know that dogs do not view the lack of ability to walk as a minus as humans do. Dogs adjust to what is and then get on with the business of fully enjoying all that life has to offer until nerves repair! 

In order to help you more, could you please answer these questions?

► What is your dog's name? Your name, too.
► What breed is your dog and did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD, aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc?

► What was the date you saw the vet and started the all important 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for this current disc episode? …. STRICT means 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)?

► Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy?  You mentioned Lucy was having these symptoms.  She is in pain so do discuss this with your Vet and make sure she is prescribed pain medication as well as an anti inflammatory to get the swelling down.. And a stomach protector to protect her from the side effects of the anti inflammatory.. We use Pepcid AC here in the States..

► 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? The very, very lightest least aggressive range of motion and leg massage is necessary for paralyzed legs during conservative treatment nt once off of all meds and there is no more pain. The information highlighted in PINK pertains to a dog who can't walk.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm
► 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.

There is a page on the main Dodger'sList site that overviews the 4 Phases of Healing from a Disc Episode: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm I've found it to be such a great resource to read and re-read!
Medications for =
--Phase 1: total pain control dose to dose of pain meds, while
--Phase 2: the anti-inflammatory resolves the swelling/inflammation causing the pain.
Time and the Body work to =
--Phase 3: develop secure scar tissue over the 8wks of 100% strict crate rest to protect the healing disc(s)
--Phase 4: regain neurological function, which can happen weeks, months, or years later. The great thing is that there is no "expiration date" for healing nerves!
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm


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


Healing thoughts and prayers!

Alex, when the symptoms are mild of a slight bulge to the disc it may not show well on an X-ray which shows hard tissue of bone. Xrays are mainly used to rule out other disease that might mimic a disc problem such as fractures, tumors, infection of the bone/vertebrae. It is the expensive $1000 MRI picture that shows both the hard and the soft tissue of spine, spinal cord, nerve roots, and intervertebral discs...MRI's are normally reserved for just prior to surgery.

It is really, really important to know the exact names of all meds/shots given. When you have the chance to call and see if you can get the names.

Not eating is a real big red flag to us. Please don't take any chances, get a stomach protector on board today. Pepcid AC (famotidine) should be on board right away. Because we don't know the names of Lucy's at home  meds there is always the possibilty the two classes of anti-inflammatories were prescribed together. If you find out that was the case a 2nd GI tract protector would need to be on board pronto and one would need to be stopped at once, the NSAID. Learn about Sucralfate in case you need to advocate for Lucy: www.marvistavet.com/html/sucralfate.html

where to d/l card:  www.dodgerslist.com/literature/MedCard.pdf


We do not see novacain, a local anesthesia, being used for the pain from a disc episode. See if you can discuss some at home pain meds if you are seeing pain still today at home. Good reading here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm

Do not be dismayed if a seven day course of anti-inflammatory does not resolved all swelling. It can take anywhere from 7-30 days typically for all inflammation to resolve. It is prudent to try a course and see if there is still pain, meaning another course is called for. Since we don't know the names of Lucy's meds whether a steroid or an non-steroid anti-inflammatory (NSAID), you will have to read up on the two classes of anti-inflammatories to be aware of warnings, what to expect, what signs to know to monitor for, etc. :http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

So Lucy is now ONLY on Rimadyl, an anti-inflammatory. Rimadyl is not a pain reliever. It can take 7-30 days to resolve painful swelling in the spinal cord. In the meantime Lucy should not be made to suffer with ANY pain. Can you call and get Tramadol on board? Methocarbamol is for the pain stemming from muscle spasms so often associated with a disc problem. Pain is one thing to have no patience with. Proper management of pain control means getting it under control as fast as possible; the longer you wait the harder it is to control the pain.  Waiting also can cause any subsequent pain to be more intense and severe. So if pain control meds proper to Lucy's needs were on board pain would be in control in one hour and stay that way dose to dose.

Reluctant to eat is quite worrisome. Please see what you can do to get a GI tract protector on board. If Pepcid AC (famotidine) is avail w/o prescription there AND you have read this article about health issues, then I would get it on board and then keep the vet in the loop in the morning. Pepcid AC reading: www.marvistavet.com/html/famotidine.html These other earlier generations of protectors are not as good as Pepcid AC but may not need an Rx: Ranitidine www.marvistavet.com/html/ranitidine.html

YOu will need to monitor the neuro signs and promptly report to the vet about going in a diminishing direction. Loss of neuro signs means a vet will often want to move to the most powerful of anti-inflammatories... the steroids. You'll be forarmed with good info to make sure the right GI tract protection is done and be aware of the dangers if a switch with no 4-7 day washout. Important reading on anti-inflammatories and worth maybe printing out to refer to: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions . When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order.
1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. Wobbly walking, legs cross < Lucy is here
3. Nails scuffing floor
4. Paws knuckle
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. Precious hours can be lost with a vet that gets DPS wrong. So if surgery is an option for your family get to a neuro or ortho asap.

I'm so sorry to hear that your child had a medical emergency, Alex. I hope all is OK.

I am concerned when you say that there are no more signs of "severe" pain and that Lucy isn't in "as much" pain. There should be NO signs of pain at all. Pain needs to be completely under control. Signs of pain are shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, nose held to the ground, head held up high, tight hard tummy. IVDD episodes can be very painful and dogs are very good at hiding pain. Please let us know what you're observing. If you are observing any pain at all, you really need to contact a vet to have a pain med prescribed.

Being wobbly in the back is nerve damage. That can heal in time but it can take months. You should use a sling to help support Lucy's spine when she's going potty.  You can use a scarf, tie, ace bandage.  Use a harness to control how many steps she's taking, which should be a very few at potty time.



I'm glad Lucy is feeling better. But it's most important that there be no pain.  Please be sure that her pain is under control today and be sure to get the Pepcid AC on board for as long as she's on Rimadyl.  And please keep us updated.

Healing prayers for Lucy.  And again, I hope all is well with your child