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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 6, 2016 12:34:25 GMT -7
Hi, I have a 17.8 lbs dachshund name Brownie. My name is Carolina. Brownie first started having symptoms Jan. 27. It began with him yelping when I would try to pick him up. He became resistant to going up and down the stairs and would no longer jump to get on the bed or in the car. Initially I thought he had sprain one of his legs. So I scheduled an appointment to meet with the vet the next day. The vet did a comprehensive exam and thought that he may be displaying symptoms of IVDD. That was the first time I ever heard of that. She sent him home on prednisolone, tramadol, and metacarbamol. I, unfortunately, did not restrict his activity. Something I regret everyday, now. After he completed the medications, he started to show improvements. I thought he was back to his old self. On the night of Feb. 22 he was yelping out again, but this time it was worse. His back was hunched, his legs were wobbly, and he looked like he was in pain. I had a terrible feeling. I watched him over night and by the morning, Feb. 23, he was even worse. His gait was more unsteady, but he was still able to stand and walk at that point. I took him in that morning to my primary vet. She suspected he may have ruptured a disc, but could not be sure with the x-ray. She told me she would contact a radiologist to verify. I waited until 5 pm that evening for the call to tell me what I felt I knew. Another huge mistake. He was getting worse by the second. I could not wait any longer and took him to the emergency vet that night. By the time he got there, he was able to urinate very little, could only stand, and no longer walk. The emergency vet evaluated him and said she was almost sure he was suffering from a ruptured disc, but the surgeon was not there. By 12 am on Feb. 24 he could no longer stand and had lost deep pain sensation in both of his hind limb. I cried my heart and soul out. I couldn't stop thinking about how much time I wasted. All I wanted was to have my baby back. At that point, I knew I had to give it to God and trust he would take care of him. By 8 am I received the call from the surgeon confirming he lost all neurological functions in his hind legs and he would have to go into surgery immediately. By 10:30am I received a call from the surgeon saying that Brownie had come out of the surgery successfully. He also said that he had 3 ruptured disc and a hematoma that he was able to clean up. He told me to wait till the next day to come see him. I cried for the rest of that day, but was so grateful to God for giving us the chance to fight. I was so happy to see him the next day, but it broke my heart seeing how exhausted he was from the surgery. 4 days later, he was set to come home. I practiced expressing his bladder at the hospital and felt unsure if I really knew what I was doing. After I brought him home, I struggled finding his bladder and knowing if I completely emptied it. I would constantly find a wet pad after expressing him and one night had a scare when his breathing became sporadic. I had to rush him back to the emergency vet. I thought it was another complication, but turns out his bladder was really full. The tech taught me how to do it again. After that occurrence I felt confident I knew how his bladder felt when it was full and empty. I'm still learning how to better express his bladder with each attempt, but I know I have to be confident and put fear behind me if I will get better at this. Brownie is 11 days post-op and currently has no deep pain sensation in his legs. He does wag his tail when I pinch it. I really want to believe it is a sign of improvement, but will not know for sure until I bring him in this week for his suture removal and neurological evaluation. I plan to start physical therapy as soon as I get the green light from the surgeon. Apart from that, everyday he is looking better and stronger, which makes me happy, but also nervous because I catch him trying to roll on his back and play or scoot around. I stop him every time I see him doing anything that puts his spine in an awkward position. I would like to know how to tell if he's regaining bladder control. It seems like recently he's been clinching his tummy when I try to express him and it makes it hard and sometimes impossible to get urine out. Also he's losing muscle mass quickly. I do passive ROM on his hind legs, but it feels like all his muscle tone is gone. Is there anything else I can do to slow down muscle loss?
Answers to the other questions:
--I know he is a surgeon, but unsure if he is a specialist surgeon.
--Conservative treatment started on Jan. 27, but i did not restrict activity. I was completely naive on the monster IVDD can turn into. Disc ruptured on night of Feb. 22, I believe and he had his surgery on the morning of Feb. 24
--He fights me when I try to express his bladder and will try to bite me when I move him. He is on tramadol 50 mg for pain
His last weight was
17.8 lbs. He's currently on
tramadol 50mg ( 1/2 tablet given every 8 hours),
prazosin minipress 1mg ml (0.5 ml liquid dropper given every 8 hrs), and
▼prednisolone 5mg. The prednisolone was given every 12 hours 2/24-2/26 at the hospital and then once he came home (2/27), was suppose to be given every 24 hours for 3 day and then every other day for 3 days. And he's also on
Zonisamide 50 mg twice a day for seizure, but has not had a seizure in the last 3 years.
I, however, got confused with his medication instructions and gave it every 8 hours when he came home for two day. I had given him four doses before I caught my mistake. I spoke to the vet about it and was told to not give it again for 24 hours and then continue with the rest of the tapered dose. I did notice dark blood in his stool that lasted for 2 days, but then stopped.
He was not given any stomach protector
--His poop was initially soft and brown, but became solid after a couple days. He poops about 4 times or more a day, normal color and firmness. He wants to eat a lot, but I give him 1.25 cup of food a day and allow him to drink water as often as possible. He drink a lot at a time, which causes his bladder to fill quickly.
--He cannot walk currently. Last check at the hospital, he was deep pain negative. He will wag his tail when I pinch it, but only when i pinch it.
I express his bladder every 4-5 hours. I'm not sure if he would pee on his own if he sniffed a familiar spot. Some times I do find the pad he lays on is wet. In the beginning i would find the pad soaked, but I'm finding the pad dry more often.
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Post by John & Marley on Mar 6, 2016 14:20:17 GMT -7
Its only been two weeks or so since surgery One of my Dogs did not have any movement with his back legs for 10 (TEN) weeks after surgery and made a complete recovery. TAKE TIME, Read everything you can in here and do not take any SHORT CUTS.. Good LUCK..
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 6, 2016 14:23:34 GMT -7
Carolina, welcome to Dodgerslist. Sorry to hear no one was able to give you an understanding of the disease Brownie was born with. Now that you know the seriousness of it...I know you will feel more comfortable in living with Brownie for the many happy years ahead to quickly get up to speed on IVDD. This on-line 10 minute course is a perfect way to get the knowledge you will need to fight this enemy. Some dogs will have only one episode while other may have multiples. That is the unpredictability of this disease. So as things settle down, return to this bookmark to become the IVDD savvy pet owner Brownie will look to for protection from everyday home life to getting a dental: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/IVDDcourse/index.htmlBrownie is tell you something with that fighting during expressing. Is it also biting you when expressing or is it at other times? My first thought is some degree of bladder control might be coming back. Dogs would then not like you expressing them. So here is what you should do. Give Brownie the "Sniff and Pee" test. This is the only way for us humans to know if there is bladder control. Carry outdoors, set on an old pee spot to sniff it. See if he releases urineon the spot. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning. You should do a quick express check to verify there is full voiding until you are certain it is consistently happening. Let us know what you observe. You will want to be able to identify neuro functions as they return. There is no timeline or expected date just the usual order of return. Nerves heal typically in the reverse order of the damage to the spinal cord. 1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist (ACVIM or ACVS)
2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you, hearing some happy talk.
3. Bladder and bowel control verified with the "sniff and pee" test.
4. Leg Movement, and then ability to move up into a standing position, and then wobbly walking.
5. Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly place the feet.
6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.If biting at you at other times this is a warning that something is not right and you'll need to alert your vet to the circumstances when he bites. Biting when moving him often is a sign of pain. Again the vet needs to know, maybe pain meds need to be adjusted for any residual post op pain. Let us know what your surgeon or regular vet says. Another issue might be if not expressed fully and his bladder was overflowing urine, bacteria are now breeding in the bladder (UTI). UTIs can have a painful burning sensation. Since you are just getting the hang of expressing, he may already have a UTI. A urinalysis done in the vet's office can verify if an anti-biotic needs to be on board. Can you look up your vet and find out if he is a specialist with extra letters of ACVIM or ACVS in addition to the DVM credential? Or tell us the name of the hospital. |
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 6, 2016 14:53:48 GMT -7
He does not have those extra letters behind his name only DVM, MS. What do those extra letters mean? He tries to bite me whenever being moved. Either being expressed or whenever I try to move him in general. This isn't entirely new for him. Before all this started, he would run away from me if I tried to move his body. And he's done this his entire life, but he's more aggressive now.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 6, 2016 15:10:23 GMT -7
Carolina, I would do as vets do when it is known something can be painful, they assume it would be painful. It can take 2 weeks for all the painful swelling caused by the surgery to subside. It is not quite two weeks yet, so perhaps Brownie is suffering with some pain.
So soonest you can alert your surgeon about the aggressiveness and the biting. Biting is definatley Brownie telling you something and should not be ignored. Has his behavior been since you brought him home from the hospital?
For a 17 lbs dog Tramadol has been prescribed at a rather low level.
Might be a good idea to rule out a urinary tract infection (UTI) as a source of pain with a urinalysis on Monday.
What is Board Certified?
When looking for a vet or surgeon, patients generally see many alphabet credentials and certifications in a title. Many times these credentials are confusing, and there is little opportunity to weigh the relative value of seemingly similar credentials.
With a four year general practice veterinary DVM degree and a license, a vet may practice any kind of medicine or surgery with or without additional special training.
The American Veterinary Medical Association mandates the use of “specialist” be reserved only for veterinarians who have completed advanced study to become a “diplomate” , board certified. Diplomates have completed additional coursework, approved residency and passed the board’s exam and may rightly then use ACVIM or ACVS in their title.
ACVIM (Neurology) indicates having completed board certification from the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine. These veterinary surgeons are specialists in neurological diseases such as IVDD.
ACVS indicates having completed board certification from the American College of Veterinary Surgeons. These vets are specialists in orthopedics (injuries and diseases of the bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, and nerves)
While many vets who are family practice DVMs (not board certified) might offer neurological surgery, board certification is a good standard by which to measure competence and training.
You can be confident that vets who are board certified (ACVIM or ACVS) have at a minimum the proper training in their specialty and have demonstrated their proficiency through supervision and testing. While there are many non-board certified vets who are highly competent, it is more difficult for a dog owner to assess the level of their training. Naturally, board certification alone does not guarantee competence, but it is a standard that reflects successful completion of an appropriate training program.
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 11, 2016 14:02:22 GMT -7
Brownie is now kicking both of his hind legs whenever I press on his toes... something he did for the first time, yesterday. The day before that, the surgeon said he believes he still does not have deep pain sensation.
I'm almost sure he does. Next week, he will start physical therapy and I will wait to see what that vet says. He's also doing a lot better with me expressing him. It seems like everyday that passes, he's doing better and better. I have, however, notice that the glands in his neck seem like they're swollen. Could he have an infection?
Thank-you for all your input!
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 11, 2016 14:35:27 GMT -7
It is very good news that Brownie is doing so well. Is he showing any signs of pain? What meds is he taking now?
I am not sure about the swollen glands, you should run it by your vet.
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 11, 2016 15:24:55 GMT -7
It does not look like he's in any pain. He's becoming more like his old self every day that passes. It's actually becoming a task to keep him from moving around so much. He's completed his prednisolone and tramadol. The doctor only had him on the tramadol for 10 days post-op. So now he's only taking the zonisamide that he's been on for the past 3 years.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 11, 2016 15:47:53 GMT -7
That is great. If Brownie has deep pain sensation than the next thing to look for is tail wagging in response to something that makes him happy. I remember how happy I was when I saw it after my Frankie's surgery.
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 11, 2016 15:54:26 GMT -7
That's the part that puzzles me. He'll only wag his tail if I put pressure on it; otherwise, I have yet to see him move it on his own.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 11, 2016 19:08:02 GMT -7
Carolina, it can be very confusing as to what leg, tail movements mean when you can't ask "hey, Brownie why'd ya do that?"
Nerves heal typically in the reverse order of the damage to the spinal cord:
1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.)
2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you or when you do some happy talk to him.
3. Bladder and bowel control verified with the "sniff and pee" test.
4. Leg Movement, and then ability to move up into a standing position, and then wobbly walking.
5. Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly place the feet.
6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.
For us humans to be able to distinguish between reflex and brain directed, we have to see some sort of head level involvement with the tail, with a limb or with release of urine so we know the movement was done with purposeful thinking.
--- Sniff (head level nose) then release of urine would be brain directed.
--- Hear (head level ear) you doing some happy talk and then tail wags is brain directed. Tail movement during potty time can often be a reflex
--- Itchy sensation at at neck and then tries to scratch would be purposeful movement. Tickling paws, etc can cause reflex leg movements.
Let us know if that tails moves when you do some happy talk or sees a treat coming his way. That is one neuro function, a happy tail wag that can't be incorrectly identified. It is still very hearly in the nerve healing department so do think more in terms of months rather than days/weeks for the slow self repairing nerves.
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 17, 2016 21:24:07 GMT -7
I brought Brownie to rehab for his evaluation today. He was resistant and tried to bite the doctor and the tech when they were examining him. He's pretty much been doing that since these back problems began. I just don't know what could be causing him to respond that way. The doctor asked if he's having pain. And I just don't know. So he put him on
[17.8 now 16.4 lbs]
gabapentin 100mg every 12 hrs.
The doctor also thought, after examining him that he did not have deep pain sensation. Brownie is moving his hind legs and tail but only when pressure is applied, and the doctor says that it is more than likely just reflexes. Monday will be his first day of therapy and today he's 3 weeks post op. I'm praying he will make a full recovery. It breaks my heart seeing how much he wants to be his old self, but just can't.
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Mar 18, 2016 7:12:15 GMT -7
Did the vet run a urinalysis while Brownie was there? If not, it would be a good idea to take in a urine sample and have them test it for a urinary tract infection. That can make a dog feel very sick and might make him aggressive. There are not always obvious signs of a UTI.
I don't know Brownie's history but I know that with my Jeremy, who is a rescue dog and has had some aggression problems in the past due to being abandoned and who know what else, his surgery brought back all of his aggression. I believe his fear of again being abandoned came back during the hospital stay. It took a couple of months for him to get back to feeling more trusting again.
How many weeks of post-op crate rest did the surgeon prescribe? Has Brownie started any physical therapy yet?
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 18, 2016 12:46:05 GMT -7
He did not do a urinalysis yet, but said he would do one once he starts therapy. His urine looks like a normal yellow color and smells normal to me. He is on crate rest for 6-8 weeks post-op and currently 3 weeks post-op. The gabapentin seems like it's making him more relax. So I think he may have been having some pain. Oh and I forgot to mention that his weight is down to 16.4 lbs. I've been very strict with his diet to get him back down to his pre-steriod weight.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 18, 2016 13:13:47 GMT -7
It is possible for Brownie to have a UTI even without changes to the look and smell of the urine so it might be worthwhile to do the urinalysis.
Don't be too strict with his diet at this point, he needs the nutrition to heal. After crate rest is plenty of time to think of weight loss.
My Frankie did not have DPS after surgery. Regardless of tha,t he regained his ability to walk and bowel and bladder control. These functions took months to return but return they did. What helped him the most was walking on an underwater treadmill.
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Apr 1, 2016 19:07:15 GMT -7
Hi, I'm having a bit of a set back. I had just got home from therapy with Brownie. My aunt was sitting in the back seat with him. When she went to get out of the car, Brownie crawled behind her and fell from the car to the ground. Unfortunately, she had opened the gate on the pet carrier that I had him in so he was able to get out. I immediately picked him up. I don't know what to do. He looks and acts completely normal. But I know that looks can be deceiving. After bringing him inside, I was able to feed him and express his bladder. He was doing so good and making progress in therapy, I hate for him to be back at square one. What should I do?
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Post by Pauliana on Apr 1, 2016 20:01:38 GMT -7
Hi Carolina!
So sorry to hear about Brownie's fall. Is he showing any signs of pain at all such as shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move, tight tense tummy, restless, can't find a comfortable position. Ears pinned back, arched back. Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight, head held high or nose to the ground. Not their normal perky selves? Any other symptoms that you are noticing now that weren't happening before the fall?
If he is having problems I would get him to his Vet right away.
Make sure your Aunt knows for the future NOT to open the carrier. If he is acting normal, hopefully he didn't hurt himself in the fall. Keep watch over him and please keep us posted on how he is doing.
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Apr 1, 2016 20:25:06 GMT -7
If I had not seen him fall, I would not know anything happened. His personality is the way it always is. He doesn't shiver or look like he's in any pain. I touch his body to see if it'll cause him any pain, but reacts like nothing is wrong. I will continue to monitor him in case of any changes. Thank you for your response!  |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 2, 2016 11:25:42 GMT -7
Looks like Brownie has graduated from his 8 weeks of post op crate rest. Thank goodness you are reporting no effect from yesterday!!! Can you tell us where he is in neuro functions: --- Can he move his back legs at all outside of anything at potty times? --- What kind of therapy is he doing currently? With graduation completed, you will find some excellent ideas, tips, etc for introducing Brownie back to enjoy a normal life at home: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled conditions. Not free reign of the house and yard immediately! LOL Did Brownie have a UTI back in mid March? Would you help, we are compiling surgery costs around the USA. We have a directory where you can share surgical costs: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-posting State: Hospital: Address: Cost: Date of surgery: What was included in cost (MRI?, days stay, ER? PT? meds for home, sling, etc.) Comments: |
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Apr 4, 2016 12:35:59 GMT -7
Yes, thank goodness it did not harm him! He's been completely normal after the fall. He still cannot walk, but has strong reflexes in his hind legs. He will move them when I press on his paws. I also purchased a "help em up" harness for him and that has made it easier to bring him outside. When I do bring him outside, his hind legs are strong enough to keep him up maybe for a couple of second, but I still need to hold up the back portion of the harness. He's been going to rehab twice a week for the last 2 weeks, where he gets acupuncture and laser therapy. I have not notice much difference in him since starting the therapy. Hopefully he'll show more improvement soon. The techs that work with him says that he's been doing very good in therapy, but I wish I could see that translate to his neurological functions.
I'm not sure if he can urinate on his own yet so I continue to express his bladder. I've been taking him outside before I express him just to see if he would try on his own. And he'll walk to his favorite spots and act like he will go, but just end up sniffing and walking pass it. I have a feeling that he would go if he was able to lift his leg up like he used to. Also, I notice that when I express his bladder, I can feel him stop his urine from flowing.
He was never tested for a UTI so i'm not sure if he has one. The vet never mentioned that it was needed.
Brownie's surgery was performed in Spring, Texas at North Houston Veterinary Specialist
His surgery was ~$4000
Surgery performed on Feb 24 2016
He had an MRI done that showed three ruptured discs, He was in the hospital for 4 days, was sent home on prednisolone 5mg, tramadol 50mg, and prazosin He's now in physical therapy for 10 sessions, and I use a full body harness to lift him. Once his therapy is complete, the vet will reevaluate him and determine if he will need to use a cart to move around.
This has definitely been a roller coaster. I never imagined something like this would happen to my dog. It was devastating and overwhelming in the beginning, but Brownie and I both learned to adjust and we will continue adjusting so that he can live the best life possible. Thank-you for all your assistance in the process!
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Apr 4, 2016 13:07:58 GMT -7
I'm very glad to hear that Brownie had no problem develop due to his fall, Carolina. Hang in there, nerves can take such a very, very long time to heal, months, even a year or more. Keep trying the sniff and pee test to see if he can start releasing urine on his own. And please do continue to keep us updated on his progress.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 4, 2016 13:41:18 GMT -7
There is no time line for regaining nerve function. As Marjorie relayed, it just takes time. Better to think in terms of months rather than days/weeks for nerve repair. Carolina, thank you very much for the information on Brownie's surgery. I looked up Northern Houston Veterinary Specialists at Spring Creek and see the board certified surgeons there are all ortho surgeons (DACVS). Would you be so kind to post your recommendation and information on the directory page at this link: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-posting State: Hospital: Address: Exact Cost: Date of surgery: What was included in cost (MRI?, days stay, ER? PT? meds for home, sling, etc.) Comments: |
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Apr 6, 2016 10:03:03 GMT -7
My dog Brownie has had 4 physical therapy sessions and does not appear to be making much improvement. He's currently 6 weeks post-op with crate rest. He's pretty much back to his old self, but still not walking. I know nerves take time to heal, but I was wondering if I should be seeing some kind of improvement since he is in physical therapy. His therapy includes soft tissue stimulation and acupuncture. Whenever I take him to therapy I ask for some kind of update, but they give me very little information. Most days I don't even know what they're doing with him. I just drop him off and pick him up. I feel left in the dark and somewhat frustrated. Is this how therapy suppose to be? I'm trying my best to take care of him at home, but I wish they would educate me more on things I could do myself. I also purchased a full body harness from 'help em up' and it's quite complicated to adjust so that it fits him properly. I've only used it two times and I notice that he now has a bruise under one of his hind legs. I don't think I'm putting it on him right. I'd appreciate any advice I can get. Thank-you!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 6, 2016 16:15:59 GMT -7
Carolina, you can do the ROM and massage at home to help maintain the muscles with lost nerve connection and to keep the joints from freezing up... keep them limber.
Laser therapy light energy or acupuncture are to stimulate the nerves to sprout. It may take more than 4 weeks to see if there is an effect on the very slow growing nerves. When you pay for something you deserve to have a report/discussion with those providing the service. If you do not like the service you are receiving then, don't hesitate to hire another. You are the captain of of Brownie's heath care team. Hire and fire to best serve Brownie. I'm not personally familiar with the harness and how it fits a dachsie. From the picture on the their web page, it appears an unpadded strap goes right under the delicate penis area. You might check your auto department for a seat belt strap cover...one of those sheepskin shearling ones. Perhaps you could wrap it around the abrasive bottom strap of rear harness. The shearling won't ravel, so you can just cut it to size with scissors. ![]() Until you resolve, here a simple solution where you would just use Brownie's own harness with this homemade figure 8 sling: Are you considering a wheel chair so Brownie can get back to enjoying life while waiting on more nerve healing to take place? MOre about cart features for the IVDD dog: www.dodgerslist.com/links/cart.htmLife is a journey. No matter where you are in the travels, live in the now. Dogs know to take life a moment at a time and enjoy it for all it has to offer. They move forward in life in the best way they can. We can learn a lot from them!
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/aftercraterest/garment500collage.jpgWhat kind of garment protection do you have, so Brownie can scoot about his house? www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm#garments Ollie’s Cape: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/incontinentdown/Olliecape.pdf Clark’s Bumpad: users.cyberport.net/%7Emilnerwm/bumpad1.html [for dogs who scoot like a frog] Tandy’s Butt Protect: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/aftercraterest/Buttprotect.htm Airy mesh panel www.handicappedpets.com/index.php/walkin-wheels-drag-bag.html [drag bag] |
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Jan 8, 2018 20:01:58 GMT -7
My dog will not poop on his own! My dog has been paralyzed for almost 2 years and I've been expressing his bladder ever since. His stool always came out by itself.
Recently he had a pretty bad UTI that almost made it impossible for me to express him because i couldn't get any urine out. Initially i was suspecting he may have had a bladder stone so the vet took an xray that showed his bladder was fine with no stones, but the vet did comment that he had a lot of stool in his colon. The vet put him on clavamox and everything went back to normal with his bladder. As I thought things were getting back to normal, i noticed my dog's tummy was distended and his poop had stop coming out on it's own. For 5 days no stool came out on it's own, but i was able to get stool using the ice method on each of those days. I told the vet my concerns and he believes he has constipation as a result of the UTI. He put him on lactulose that he's been taking for the past 3 days and he had a soapy enema yesterday that pulled out a lot of stool. [Moderator's note: please do not modify
Lactulose]
Before he got the enema my dog looked like he was not doing too good. He stopped barking at people, which he loves to do and he was eating less and less. He just looked miserable and his tummy was distended. After the enema it's like night turned to day. He started barking again, eating again, back to his old self. I felt so happy to see his change in spirit. Today i came home (praying that i would come home to a lot of poop) and nothing. I feared he would get backed up again so i put on a glove and expressed his bowel again and out came the poop, soft but not liquid. It should have been easy to push out, but it won't come out unless i do it. I don't mind doing it, i just don't want him to get backed up again. Has anyone experienced anything like this? Will his bowel get back to normal? Does anyone express their dog's bowel for them? Could that cause any problems? All help is appreciated! |
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Post by Pauliana on Jan 8, 2018 22:58:01 GMT -7
Carolina, since Brownie's reflexes aren't pushing poop out on it's own, you should definitely express for poop, as well.
Here is a video that shows how to express for poop:
The good news is auto reflex causes all the poop to come out on its own. All you need to do is figure out your dachsie's schedule so you can act before surprise poop ends up on the floor.
Feed your dachshund a good diet of quality protein and no corn (corn has a higher fiber content than other grains). If you feed a dry food, soak the kibble with an equal amount of water. Provide access to water during the day. Dogs normally take in about 20 to 40 milliliters per pound of body weight per day or about 3 to 4 cups of water per day for a 20 pound dog. The water is a combined total of both moisture contained in the food and liquid intake. You'll find smaller and nicely formed BM's to deal with when food has less fiber. Feed twice a day, and you'll have two to three poops a day.
When the dog is finished, squeeze the sides of the anus to stimulate the emptying of the anal glands. A healthy dog, squatting, would empty the glands normally when going on its own. But we must do this for a paralyzed dog to prevent anal glands from getting too full.
Paralyzed dogs may not have regular, daily, bowel movements. They must go a minimum of every other day to avoid developing painful, hardened (or hard) stools. The fiber in pumpkin along with water, will soften stools. Add one teaspoon canned, plain, pureed pumpkin one time per day to kibble with equal amount of water as kibble, plus providing water access during the day).
To know how long it takes for your dachsie to process food, put a few small pieces of raw carrot or kernels of frozen corn in with dinner. The veggie pieces don't digest — watch for the stool with veggies and you'll know your pup's digesting time. Often you will be able to park your pup's butt over the toilet and then flush away…. How easy is that!!
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Jan 9, 2018 6:16:08 GMT -7
Ok, I will definitely do these things from now on. Last night he pooped a normal amount by himself for the first time in 6 days so I think the constipation is starting to go away. His abdomen is still tight and distended to me, but I will try the things you mentioned and see if it can further help pass more stool. Thank you very much!
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Post by Carolina & Brownie on Mar 30, 2023 17:28:27 GMT -7
Hi, i have a 13 year old dachshund, who has been paralyzed for 7 years due to ivdd. He's had surgery in the past for ivdd, but was never able to walk again. Over the 7 years he's put on a lot of weight, but managed to take some of it off in the last year. I need to have his teeth clean. Has anyone had any issues with dental cleaning/anesthesia with their paralyzed dog?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 31, 2023 7:34:03 GMT -7
Carolina, good to hear Brownie has lost some weight. What's his day like, going on daily walks in his cart, enjoying sniffing everything, having fun? We'd really LOVE an update to know how things are going! There are things to consider with any procedure that requires anesthesia with a dog that was born with IVDD. Dr. Isaacs (Neuro ACVIM): Answers a question from our IVDD community about dentals: dodgerslist.com/2020/08/14/dentals-with-an-ivdd-dog/Ideas to consider for your peace of mind and to ensure safe handling of Brownie: 5 Things to know about dentals dodgerslist.com/2020/06/26/ivdd-precautions-anesthesiaBehind the scenes, teeth cleaning: |
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