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Post by Angela & Rusty on May 30, 2014 7:20:49 GMT -7
Hi everyone. I'm Angela. Mom to Rusty, Baxter & Odie (3 dachshunds) Rusty went down on Monday 5/19/14 and had surgery on Thursday 5/22/14. He came home to me 2 days ago. We were given a 10% chance that he will ever walk again. When we got the call that he could come home they were able to get a reaction from him that he does have some feeling in his toes so we have better hope more that 10% :-) He is on 6 weeks crate. Bicycle exercises 2 times a day. He walks well with a sling and we were told he had no control over going potty but he does! he pees and poos on his own  Our only worry right now is 2 days home and he will not eat a single thing. He wont eat his reg kibble or soft food. I've even tried to offer some of his favorite "human" foods (he would only get a bite on) like cheese, chicken, hot dog, pizza! and he wont take a bite of anything. Last night I cooked breaded chicken tenders for dinner. I took a small piece and broke it up and put it in his dish. You can tell he wants to try to eat but he just wont. When he does take a bite, he acts like he cannot chew it. Even his bark has a hoarse sound to it. Could his mouth or throat be irritated from when he had the tube in for the surgery? Maybe that's why he wont eat? I don't know what to do about getting him to eat something. He didn't eat at the vet hospital either (only a bite here or there) and he was there 5 days. Worried! |
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on May 30, 2014 11:52:27 GMT -7
Angela, welcome to Dodgerslist. Can you tell us a bit more about Rusty. -- What meds if any did he come home on? Exact names, dose in mgs and how often given? Is he on a stomach protector such as Pepcid AC (famotidine)? -- Does he drink water? How about warmed tasty nutrional broth...will he try that? Boil up hamburger, let chill and remove fat disc. He might lick the broth and maybe try the meat? Have you soaked his kibble overnight in the fridge with no-fat, low salt meat broth to encourage eating? -- Do you specifically see him sniff an old pee spot and then choose to release urine...that is proof of bladder control. Leaking on you when lifted or finding urine leaks in bedding is likely a sign that bladder control has not yet returned. Info on manually expressing the bladder. Please let us know what you observe about bladder control. IF you got a lesson on expressing. Dr. Isaacs addressed this concern about being hoarse www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm....If the dog is coughing, gagging, or hoarse from tracheitis due to the endotracheal tube, what treatment can soothe these symptoms? If you notice these symptoms it would be worth having a veterinarian examine the dog. Sometimes this can be the initial signs associated with aspiration pneumonia and it is best to identify as soon as possible." Let us know what your surgeon says about the not eating/hoarse voice. |
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Our only worry right now is 2 days home and he will not eat a single thing. He wont eat his reg kibble or soft food. I've even tried to offer some of his favorite "human" foods (he would only get a bite on) like cheese, chicken, hot dog, pizza! and he wont take a bite of anything. Last night I cooked breaded chicken tenders for dinner. I took a small piece and broke it up and put it in his dish. You can tell he wants to try to eat but he just wont. When he does take a bite, he acts like he cannot chew it. Even his bark has a hoarse sound to it. Could his mouth or throat be irritated from when he had the tube in for the surgery? Maybe that's why he wont eat? I don't know what to do about getting him to eat something. He didn't eat at the vet hospital either (only a bite here or there) and he was there 5 days. 
