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Post by Yvonne & Nico on Jul 16, 2014 10:12:20 GMT -7
I have a 9 year old dachshund who's had 2 spinal surgeries and recently just got a wheelchair. My mom purchased the wheelchair from someone in Taiwan, and brought it back to the states. I sent in pictured measurements for the guy to customize wheels for my dog. On saturday he played on his wheel chair for 45 minutes-1 hour which was the longest we had let him play on it in a week, and on sunday morning he seemed to be exhibiting lower abdominal pain (since I express his bowels and bladder) I noticed that when I went to pick him up by his stomach to express his bowel, he would let out huge cries. My friend who's a horse vet says that maybe he's just sore being that it has been a while since he's worked those muscles, but I can't seem to find anything else on line that supports that theory! But he's eat drinking, and moving around minimally as he usually does without the wheelchair, and he seems to be in less pain thane was 3 days ago, but I am incredibly concerned still. But every time I take him to the VCA it's 5,000$. I'm just hoping someone can shed some light on this situation...As I am desperate...
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Sabrina
Helpful Member 
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471 
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Post by Sabrina on Jul 16, 2014 10:35:45 GMT -7
Hi! Welcome to Dodgerslist! We are really glad you have joined us. I can tell you one of the most important things you can do for your dog is self education about the disease your dog was born with. Knowledge is to make sure the right things are being done for best recovery. And for yourself, knowledge lets you step out of a very scary place…"the unknown" and the toll it can take on emotions. The first thing to do would be to get in touch with your dog's surgeon to report all that you are observing. After surgery, did you work with a PT? If so, I'd talk with them, too. In order get a better idea where your dog is post-op, could you please answer these questions? ▷ What is your dog's name? Your name, too. ▷ What was the date of the surgery? If less than 6 weeks ago: Are you now doing 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty and for surgeon directed PT? …. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No chiro (aka VOM)? What did your surgeon direct for PT and for crate rest? ▷ How much does your dog weigh? Is he on any medications? If so: please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg's and times per day given. (If he's on an anti-inflammatory, it's important for his stomach to be protected: 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? ▷ Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm▷ Poops OK - normal firmness & color -no dark or bright red blood? Here is the Dodger'sList info on expressing for poo - did your surgeon/PT instruct you in a different method? www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm#poopGet ready to fight this disease with this current episode and in the future by knowing how you can help now and after crate rest is over. There is no better place to start than on our main web page covering "All Things IVDD" at this link www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm So the whole family knows what things are emergencies tape this flyer to your fridge : www.dodgerslist.com/literature/FridgeInfo81907.pdfThis is a comprehensive "must-have" $3 DVD on IVDD to add 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 ))Hugs!(( Let us know some more about your dog so that we may better advise you! |
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Jul 16, 2014 11:07:53 GMT -7
Sabrina is absolutely right, your dog does need an emergent evaluation to determine what's going on. When my Jeremy first went down, I thought he had abdominal pain, too, but it was his back. They explained to me that when you press on their tummies, it pushes everything up against the back and they exhibit pain.
He may just have a urinary tract infection that makes it painful for him to be expressed. He would still need to be seen so antibiotics can be prescribed. And yes, if the wheelchair doesn't fit him correctly, he could be sore from that. But until you find out what's going on, you need to treat this as a disc episode and keep him strictly crated to protect the spine.
Please let us know what the vet says after the evaluation. An evaluation with a surgeon or a vet would not necessarily mean that surgery is necessary and shouldn't be too expensive. If this is a disc episode, strict crate rest for 8 full weeks, an anti-inflammatory to get the swelling down and pain meds are necessary to treat it.
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Post by Yvonne & Nico on Jul 16, 2014 11:53:14 GMT -7
Thank you so much for your quick reply, and I should have provided more information. - My name is Yvonne, and my dachshund's name is Nico.
- His 1st surgery date was march of 2009- he was healing and walking again (under vet supervision) a month after the surgery. My step dad took him on his vet recommended walk, and a pit bull came out of a garage and bit him right where he had just had surgery. He was rushed back to the VCA and we were told his chances to ever walk again or feel anything below his waist was very slim. He was crate rested for another 6 months after he was attacked. He was fine for 4 years, me and my family have gotten really good at expressing him and he's been a very happy pup. NYE this last year I noticed he wasn't moving around his neck much and started crying every time he moved. I took him to VCA and before they even gave him an X-ray, they showed me an estimate of how much the surgery was. And it had gone up 2000 since his first. My family all pitched in to help pay for it. Anyways, he had his second surgery and was crate rested for another month or so until the vet said he could be fitted for a wheelchair or just go back to his normal behaving self. So 6 months later my mom buys him a wheel chair and the day after an hour of riding, he seems to be having pains on his abdominal.
- My dog weighs 13.5 LBS And takes no meds
- My dog is paralyzed from the waist down, but his legs do have some action and once in a while, he "drunk walks"- his tail has a mind of its own. Basically his back end and his front end are operating separately.
- When his bladder is really full and he's excited sometimes he'll squirt out, but outside of that I still have to fully express him about 4 times a day.
- His poop is definitely normal. And again, he's eating and drinking fine and only whines when I try to poo him and have to lift up his abdominal a bit...
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Jul 16, 2014 12:17:35 GMT -7
Thanks for the additional information, Yvonne. I don't think he would still be having abdominal pain days after using the wheelchair. He showed no soreness from the chair during his other use of it - only after using it for an hour? Is his belly red and sore from the chair? Usually an ill-fitting wheelchair would cause friction sores. It sounds as though more than that is going on - either another disc episode (with back pain only appearing to be abdominal pain as explained previously), a UTI or something else may be going on. He needs to be seen by a vet. A disc episode doesn't always necessitate surgery. Conservative care can often be tried first. Conservative care consists of a full 8 weeks of strict 24/7 crate rest, only carried in and out to do potty, an anti-inflammatory to reduce swelling and pain meds to control pain. You should be able to have a consult with the surgeon or vet, explain that you are looking to have an evaluation made to determine what is causing Nico's pain, that if it is another IVDD episode, you are interested in trying conservative care and just want meds prescribed. You can take a look at our page on features to look for when getting a cart to see if Nico's cart conforms to that. www.dodgerslist.com/links/cart.htmBut I do think that a vet evaluation is in order. |
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Post by Yvonne & Nico on Jul 16, 2014 12:32:47 GMT -7
He does seem to be feeling a little better than does yesterday. And now that I'm feeling around for it, it seems do be more his lower ribs and upper stomach region.
The Vet returned my call and said that he most likely over exerted himself, perhaps bruised his rib. She prescribed tramadol and gabbapenten for 2 days on and 2 days off, and if the pain l persists then to bring him in. For now it's crate rest for him! Thank you for all your help and I'll let you know how he feels in about 4 days!
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Post by Pauliana on Jul 16, 2014 20:03:08 GMT -7
Hi Yvonne Thanks for the update on Nico! So sorry he is having a rough time right now! What is the dosage and frequency given per day on the Tramadol and Gabapentin? Here is an article that explains how to gradually ease into activity after crate rest is over. When he is well recovered then re introduce him to the wheelcart a few minutes at a time so he doesn't over do it. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmI would also take the wheel chair with you when you take him to the vet to make sure it is fitted correctly and adjusted to him. www.dodgerslist.com/links/cart.htmSending healing thoughts and prayers to Nico. |
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