Cindy's Lola 2015 Surgery 4-6wks — Boykin Spaniel

Welcome to Dodgerslist, Cindy! First thing to know is that it IS in the cards for your Lola to get back to enjoying life whether immediately walking or waiting on more nerve repair - IVDD is not a death sentence. Find out why that is true: www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

Look forward to learning more about your dog with your answers to these questions:

▷ Is the surgeon a general practice DVM or a specialist (ACVIM neurology or ACVS otho)?
▷ What was the date of the surgery? 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 post-op crate rest?
▷ Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy? Pain means your vet needs to know asap so that pain meds can be adjusted.
▷ How much does your dog weigh? Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg's and times per day given? What was the start dose if a steroid, date of taper?
Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC. 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 against not eating, vomit, diarrhea, bleeding ulcers by giving doxie weight dogs 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?
▷ Eating and drinking OK? Poops OK - normal firmness & color -no dark or bright red blood?
▷ 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
Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs.

Excluding an emergency of pain not being controlled or diminishment of nerve functions that require prompt vet help, we have excellent resources for many IVDD questions members have. While you are waiting for a reply, do check out our "All things IVDD" resources for getting the recovery suite setup to an excellent tip about pet strollers: www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm

Hi Pauliana,

Lola is a 4 1/2 yo Boykin Spaniel weighing 26 1/2 lbs. On the small size for her breed. Very thin and lithe. Her date of surgery was 2/19/15 at Virginia Tech Small Animal Hospital in Blacksburg, Va. 2 hours from our home. They are considered the best veterinary teaching hospital in Virginia. She was seen in Neurology. Her MRI showed moderate extradural spinal cord compression from ventral and left cranial L5 to cranial L6, caused by a combination of L5-6 intervertebral protrusion/extrusion, hemorrhage and dilated verterbral sinus. It also showed non compressive protrusions and degeneration in multiple other sites. The Chief resident of the Neurology Dept performed a Left hemilaminectomy at L4-L6. Surgery was without complications and her hospital recovery was uneventful. She has about 25 or so staples in her back which do not seem to bother her. She was discharged on

[26.5 lbs]
Gabapentin 50mg bid,
Tramadol 50mg bid,
Carprofen 50mg bid. No steroids. She was also just finishing some antibiotic for a concurrent UTI, and the are done. She will be seen by the regular vet on Monday to recheck the UTI, and remove staples.She will be seen by Neurology in Blacksburg in 1 month.

We were to to keep her in a small room (bathroom), kennel or crate. This has been somewhat problematic as this breed is extremely active by nature. She is carried to a different room and crate from time to time and only walks to go potty.She is mostly in the crate, but is occasionally allowed out on a palette on the floor to rest quietly. During this time she is tethered to either my husband or me and is not allowed to walk. She seems to understand this and is more quiet when doing this than when in the crate. She is totally bored and restless in the crate and I am looking for something to occupy her. I have given her frozen kong with peanut butter and marrow bones. They are very short lived. She does not appear to have pain and would like to do all of her crazy running and jumping that is so typical of the breed.

Her gait seems normal to me. Prior to the surgery she was ambulatory with mild hind limb paraparesis w/o ataxia. She had lost control of bladder and bowel but seems to have regained them. She poops and pees fine, and appears to posture for both. We have so much snow here it is a bit hard to judge. Her appetite is much better than in the past. Probably since she is so restricted in other ways.

I am confident she will make a good recovery, but I am very concerned for her future, especially since she clearly has disc disease. The neurologist said said the chance for recurrence is about 20%. The literature in other dogs seems to support this. I am also interested in the etiology. Lola was spayed before her first heat which I have never done before. I have usually waited until after. I am wondering if the lack of hormones contributed to an early onset of IVDD.

I think I have addressed the questions you posed but if not please let me know. As I said , am a novice at boards/forums. Thanks

Hello Linda,

Thank you for your concern. I have heard of two other Boykins with IVDD. In general I cannot seem to find anyone who knows much about it in the breed. They have other problems including DM, but not IVDD. While this is a tragic problem for any breed, in the Boykin breed I cannot imagine it would be anything short of devastating. This breed lives for activity, running, jumping, playing....all non stop. If I am not entertaining mine she is entertaining herself. In any case, I am trying my best to get educated. You Forum certainly has more educational material than I have been able to find so far. Very helpful. Thank you. Cindy