Paco RIP — 7/12 conservative NECK??

Welcome to Dodgerlist.  My name is Paula, what is yours?

--What breed is your dog and did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD?

-- What was the date you saw the vet and started the all important 8 weeks of 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only 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)?

Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep your dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash will control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on nor escaping!

-- Is there still currently any of these signs of pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy?

-- 1. How much does your dog weigh? 2. Would you give us a list of exact med names currently given, their doses in mg's and frequencies?
Anti-inflammatories such as carpaquin 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 Paco move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk? Keep in mind the very, very lightest least aggressive range of motion and leg massage will be necessary for paralyzed legs during conservative treatment once off all pain meds and no more signs of pain The information highlighted in PINK pertains to a dog who can't walk .
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm

-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up?

-- 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.


We are happy you are here.  Our hope is that you will take on the duties of self education to be able to understand the IVDD enemy and take an active roll in working with the vet, be an integral part of making decisions based on a sound understanding. I hope in the next couple of days, you will begin to devour each of the articles in our Disc Disease 101 area. Paco is going to be dependent on your abilities.
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

Make sure your whole family can identify IVDD emergencies with this Fridge flyer: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/FridgeInfo81907.pdf  

Yes, your vet needs to be aware of the worsening of Paco's condition ASAP. If he isn't available today, an ER visit is in order. Meanwhile, keep him strictly crated to avoid any further damage to the spine.

Also, Paco is still is pain and needs to have his meds adjusted today to get that pain immediately under control. A tight tummy and keeping his head very straight and upwards are signs of pain. Have no patience with pain as pain hinders healing. Be sure to give the Tramadol every 8 hours. The vet has room to move up on the dosage of pain. Also Gabapentin can be added. Methocarbamol is often given as a third pain med to address the pain of muscle spasms.

Be sure to get the Pepcid AC on board today as Paula recommended above.

Due to the worsening of condition, the vet may want to switch from Carpaquin (a NSAID) to a steroid, such as Prednisone. Usually a switch from a NSAID to a steroid requires a 4-7 day washout period. However, that would mean Paco would not be on an anti-inflammatory for that period of time. If a switch is deemed necessary by the vet, be sure he adds Sucralfate as a second stomach protector along with the Pepcid AC to double protect Paco's GI tract.

You also need a hands on your hands demonstration on how to express Paco's bladder. It doesn't sound as though he has bladder control. The only way to tell if a dog has bladder control is to take him out to a spot where he's peed before, support his hind legs but not under the belly, let him sniff and see if he can release urine on his own. If not, then he does not have bladder control and must be expressed. If his bladder overflows, it can stretch the bladder out of shape and urine lying in the bladder can lead to urinary tract infections. Here is our information on expressing for you to review before the vet demonstration:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm

It sounds as though Paco may be having a disc in the neck that has ruptured/torn since he's keeping his head up, though some dogs do that as a sign of pain. Does he have pain when turning his head or eating hard kibble? Here are some tips that help with neck injuries, such as raising the food and water dishes so your dog doesn't have to bend his neck down to them, moistening hard kibble, etc. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htm

He may have lost bowel control, too. You can express the bowels also or reflex will take care of it. If he doesn't have a bowel movement today, try some pumpkin. Pumpkin can help firm up stools OR it can help to loosen stools. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with a teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. To firm up the stool, add 1 teaspoon pumpkin to kibble and no extra water 1x a day. Note alternatives for constipation: really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potato.

Please let us know what the vet says today and what is prescribed. Healing prayers for Paco.

Let us know more as you find out.  My name is Paula what is yours?

Read over this information on surgery so you have some background on why you are choosing surgery and things you might wish to discuss with the surgeon. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htm

Dr. Isaacs answered alot of questions we've had about surgery: "Surgery needs to be a decision an owner enters into recognizing the risk, but also recognizes the benefit. This way if something unforeseen occurs an owner can be comforted and at peace with the fact that surgery was the right decision and they did all they could for their dog." You will find it worthwhile to read the rest of his answers about surgery: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm

We anxiously await your next post and will keep Paco in our thoughts.

I'm so sorry to hear this awfully heartbreaking news. Did a board certified Neuro surgeon (ACVIM) say he had to be put down or the ER vet?

I would like to understand so that we will be better able to help another.
- What pain meds did they try other than just tramadol to get pain in control?
- Were they not willing to try surgery or continue with conservative treatment to allow the disc to heal and eventually the nerves to see if they too could likely heal?
-- what exactly was the worst seen in 20 years... did they start the surgery?

When you can talk about it please do tell us more about the vet visit.

There is no way to know the full measure of your personal grief and overwhelming sense of loss. There are no words to comfort... just know we are here.

God speed sweet Paco your mom surely loved you very much.