Ashley, you have a challenge on your hands being in mid move. I must say that Lala is an extremely lucky girl that she has not lost neuro functions from lack of crate rest. The reason for the crate rest upon ANY suspicion of a disc problem is to prevent the disc from further tearing to avoid surgery. At this point Lala is a good candidate to recover IF you can commit to 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out for a very, very few footsteps at potty time. The photo Pauliana gave you above shows the need to be using a sling to keep her back aligned and butt from tipping over. The harness is to keep her from traveling too many footsteps or from darting off. The focus is to protect her spinal cord from being damaged by the disc that is trying to heal.
Not all vets will know IVDD....this is why it is so important to do your own reading so you know when to ignore harmful advice, completely understand why the meds, why the rest, why it takes time. Hopefully in the next days you will be able to absorb as much as possible from this page:
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm You will need to be a savvy IVDD dog owner to be in a position to hire the right vet to be on Lala health care team. Knowledge on your part makes you the powerful Captain of Lala's heath care team she needs you to be.
I would get Pepcid AC (famotidine) on board after reading and confirming with your knowledge of Lala not having any health issues. Avail at grocery story as the brand name or brand X containing only one active ingredient: famotdine.
www.petplace.com/drug-library/famotidine-pepcid/page1.aspx Just like people get stressed with changes of jobs, moving, etc. ulcers can happen...same for dogs. Lala's life has been turned upside down with her disease and the move. Then add an acid producing med such as Prednisone, she is at more jeopardy for GI Tract issues of nausea, not eating, vomit, loose stools, blood in stools, bleeding ulcers to the life threatening perforated stomach lining. We follow the vets who are proactive in be adamant about stomach protection rather than waiting for bad things to happen. As soon as you get a vet on board be sure to keep him in the loop about all of Lala's meds. The not eating less may be as you say OR it may well be the serious side effects of Pred and why we strongly stay to get on Pepcid AC.
How many times a day are you currently giving 5mg of Prednisolone?
How many times a day are you giving Diazepam, how many mg each dose?
It appears Lala has been on Pred since early May? I would say you need to get with a vet today and work out a taper of Pred. No one wants a dog on IVDD meds any longer than to get the job done... all meds have side effects. The only way to know if all the swelling is gone is a test taper. Often it takes being at the anti-inflammatory dose of pred (5mg 2x/day) anywhere from 7-30 days. When the vet guesses swelling might be gone there will be a taper. Usually the first course will be 5 or 7 days and then a test taper. The dose is lowered to less than the anti-flammatory dose level. Your job at home would be to assess just how well reduction of painful swelling is going by observing for any hint of pain (shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy).
Rule of thumb is: pain = swelling = more time on the steroid prednisone, pain meds and Pepcid AC needed. If the Pred taper goes well by there being no hint of pain surfacing, then it continue to the finish. All then that is left is the care of her disc....the completion of 8 weeks from today of 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty. Just so we are on the same page that 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). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc.
The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe from other pets and kids from bothering them. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal.
If diazepam is working as a calmer for Lala to help her relax in her recovery suite (it also can be a pain reliever for disc episode disc spasms), it may be the med to continue with. Other options are using any oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives such as Acepromazine, Trazodone, etc. Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog. Other product brands may be available in your area or on-line… just shop by the active ingredient(s) on the label and the quantity for best price.
Place a DAP pheromone diffuser at floor level where the recovery suite is. Some brands to consider:
--Comfort Zone (DAP) wall plug-in diffuser 48ml
www.petcomfortzone.com/dogs.html --Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml
www.adaptil.com/ Use a diffuser with one oral calmer from below:
Oral calmers:
1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed
www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/anxitane-l-theanine-chewable-tablets/behavioral-health 2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine.
www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.php 3) Rescue Remedy is a liquid herb combo to help with relaxation
www.bachrescueremedypet.com Let us know that Pepcid AC is on board, that you have a vet to supervise Lala while on Pred.