kalar
New Member
Posts: 1 
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Post by kalar on Apr 26, 2013 17:25:59 GMT -7
My 10 y/o female doxie, Tilde, injured her upper spine yesterday while digging furiously for a mole. I raced her to the vet. They put her on a drip and steroid injections every 4 hours and are keeping her as still as possible. They are even using puppy training pads under her so she can 'potty' whenever she needs to. She is able to eat and drink with a little help. She has lost the use of her front legs but they are still 'pain sensitive' which I'm told is a good sign. Everything else is fine. She may be able to come home tomorrow. I have a carrier I can keep her in to reduce movement. The vet told me how to make a sling/harness for her front end to help her outside for potty purposes but I'm also told that movement should be kept at a minimum for two weeks. Also, does anyone use homeopathics to help with situations like this? I'm by myself in caring for her. ♥ Any information or advice on caring for her would be appreciated on helping with her recovery. I hope this post makes sense. I'm so tired from the stress of it all and I miss her so much.
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Post by natureluva on Apr 26, 2013 18:10:11 GMT -7
Hi there, my name is Lisa, what's yours? Welcome to Dodger's List! We're glad you found us. Conservative (non-surgical) treatment of IVDD consists of EIGHT weeks of strict crate rest, plus meds to reduce inflammation on the spinal cord and control pain. It takes longer for discs to heal than even bones due to their low blood supply, and that is why 8 weeks of strict crate rest are needed. Please read up on conservative treatment here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/conservative.htm We highly recommend acupuncture and laser light therapy as complementary treatments for IVDD. They both stimulate the nerves to heal and reduce pain and inflammation, and acupuncture has the additional bonus of relaxing the dog. These treatments can begin asap, as long as you can safely transport your dog to and from the appointments (crated). You can ask your vet for a referral to a holistic vet that does acupuncture and laser light therapy, or you can search for one in your area here: www.holisticvetlist.com/ The best way for you to help Tilde is by learning about her disease. Here is a brief tutorial on IVDD: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/IVDDcourse/index.html . If a dvd is more your style, we have an excellent one available for only $3 including shipping. It's great to have on hand to show to family/friends/petsitters so they will know what they can and cannot do with your dog and how they can help: www.dodgerslist.com/store/DVDorder.htm When Tilde is discharged, please let us know the exact names of her meds, along with the dosages and frequency of dosing. If she is on a steroid, she should also be taking a stomach protectant such as Pepcid AC due to the excess acid the steroids produce. The usual dose is 5 mg of Pepcid AC given 30 minutes before each dose of steroid. We look forward to hearing more about Tilde! Please feel free to ask any questions that come to mind. Best wishes, ~Lisa |
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