Jake's Milo 6/10 Conservative

Welcome to Dodgerslist, Jake. Rovera is a NSAID, so no, he should definitely not also be on Prednisone, which is a steroid. NSAIDs and steroids should never be taken together.

If Milo can wag his tail, then he most definitely still has deep pain sensation. And yes, bladder control can return. Nerves can take a long time to heal, think more in terms of months, even a year or more.

With this disease self education is critical not just so you make sure the right things are being done for the best recovery but 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. Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks is the SINGLE most important thing you can do to help your dog-- it is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. 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.htm

Can you give us a bit more in essential information about your dog:

1. Is there still currently pain? Signs of pain are holding the head in an unusual position, head held high or nose to the ground, shivering/trembling, not wanting to move much or moving gingerly, yelping, tight/tense stomach muscles, arched back, holding leg up flamingo style, not wanting to bear weight on the leg, just not their usual perky-interested-in-life self.

2. What breed is Milo and how much does he weigh?

3. Pepcid AC should be given to protect your dog from the excess acid produced by the anti-inflammatory. Please get your vet's permission to give 5 mg of Pepcid AC (generic is famotidine) 30 minutes before the dose of the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours). Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "Is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?" If your vet says your dog has no health issues such as liver, heart, etc to keep her from taking Pepcid AC, then do get it on board.

4. Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all?

5. Can your dog sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? I'm glad you're seeking a lesson on expressing. You should, from time to time, do a sniff and pee test (take Milo to a place where he's peed before, let him sniff, support him under the hips, not the belly and see if he can release urine on his own). That's the only way you can tell if bladder control is returning.

6. Eating and drinking OK?

7. Poops OK - normal color, firmness, no dark or bright red blood?

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

Laser light therapy, acupuncture and electroacupuncture which sends a microcurrent of electricity to and from acupuncture points (which are really big nerve bundles), can be very beneficial at helping to re-establish the nerve connections in the body. Any one of these therapies can be started right away ... they not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration.
NOTE: Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs.

Please don't despair. IVDD is not a death sentence. Many dogs regain use of their legs and even if they don't, their lives can be happy ones.
www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

Milo is mini doxie and weighs 15-16lbs. Just before I took him to the vet I brought him outside and he urinated on his own. His tail was wagging almost as if he wasn't hurt. He did try and scratch his ear with his rear paw as well. He was also more inclined to try and hold himself up. He still can't walk but this is a marked improvement from 06/10.

The vet showed me how to expel his bladder if it becomes necessary. We have a follow up visit 06/20 unless he declines. Vet seemed fairly optimistic and did indicated that there was nothing in his blood work from 06/10 that would prevent him from taking Pepcid. Doesn't seem to be in pain. Earlier in the week he definitely was holding his head up, now more relaxed.

The vet I go to does offer both the laser treatment and acupuncture. The laser was $31 for 15 minutes which would be the maximum amount if time. Seems reasonable? Not sure how much acupuncture is yet.

Thankfully he was crate trained and hasn't put up to much of a fuss while in the kennel. Keeping my fingers crossed that he continues to make some improvements.

That's wonderful news that Milo was able to release urine on his own, Jake! Be sure he's releasing a good stream of urine each time he goes. If he did lose his bladder function and it's just returning, he may not have complete control yet and you might need to express him after he goes on his own until he's completely emptying his bladder on his own. But if he is going enough on his own, then you shouldn't express him.

One thing I forgot to ask in my first post - how often are the medications being given each day? Be sure to get the Pepcid AC on board ASAP.

Did the vet mention that the damaged disc is in Milo's neck? The fact that he was holding his head up earlier in the week indicates that it might be a cervical problem, though some dogs do hold up their heads when they have back pain. If it's a cervical problem, you should take a look at this page on tips on how to help with a cervical disc:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htm

Milo has made some good nerve improvement in a very short time so keep up the good work and keep him crated for the full 8 weeks. Please keep us updated.

Jake, did the vet say where he thought the problem disc was... in the neck or his back? If this is a neck disc, these are the extra things you can do to help at home: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htm

When the disc is in the back, then a dog may have an arched or  humped back because they are trying to hold their back in the least painful position. Is that what you are referring to?


Do you now have Pepcid AC on board.  Milo does not need bleeding ulcers on top of what he is dealing with. Use of NSAIDs such as Rovera, really to require being proactive about GI tract protection.  5mg of Pepcid AC (famoitidine) 30 mins before Rovera and thereafter every 12 hours. Give Rovera with a meal. 

Can you specifically tell us that you are not seeing any  hint of pain, as Tramadol at 25mg is a very light dose of pain relieve.  No shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, not reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy, head held high or nose to the ground, not normal perky self? 

Milo is on day 7 of crate confinement. He's starting to get antsy in the crate, which I hope is a sign if improvement because last week all he did was sleep. I'm wondering about bladder control and bowel movements. He is having regular bowel movements when he is taken out of his kennel with occasional urinating when he I taken out. The past few days he has been having more accidents on his kennel. I try to take him out every 2-3 hours. When he goes on his own I haven't been manually expressing his urine. Is it unusual for him to have more control over bowels movements than his bladder?

Go back to vet on Friday.

Thanks.