jenni
New Member
Posts: 2 
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Post by jenni on May 19, 2013 12:23:03 GMT -7
Hello,
I am not even sure where to begin. In the end of April my Snoopy, a mini long haired Dachshund, started moving slowly and just wasn't himself. We took him to a vet and she gave him an anti-inflammatory and within a few days, he was back to his old self. The following week, the slowness returned and I gave him some more of the anti-inflammatory, but it didn't seem to help. He then lost the use of his back legs. We took him to another vet right away. This was on 5/7. He has been on Prednisone ever since, but he has been on that for three weeks, and is almost off of it. He is also on Clavamox, and only has a few days left on that. He has been doing acupuncture since 5/8, about 2-3 times a week, and herbal supplements to go along with it since 5/14. He barks constantly when in his crate, for 2 whole days straight, night and day. Nothing worked. The sheet over the crate, a dark room, sitting with him. He only stressed himself out more. I should mention we also have a six week old baby and all of this happened the day my husband went back to work. So, instead of him being in his crate, which he detests, he spends most of his time in his travel airline bag which has wheels on it and helps with bringing him with me around the house and out for potty breaks. And occasionally, he comes out to sit on his bed (the vet approved this). We sit next to him when he is on his bed and his moves no more than if he were in his crate. He sleeps in his travel bag which we prop up against the headboard on our bed to make sure he is safe. He still has separation anxiety at night time, so we are slowly taking him off of the sedative. He has been letting us know when he needs to go potty, even in the middle of the night, when he's thirsty and hungry and wags his tail, all since around 5/10. When we have him outside we hold him up in the back and he loves to walk around the yard and sniff, and sunbathe when the sun is out. We think he is responding well, but the vet is concerned because he feels that Snoopy should be standing on his own by now. It has only been a few weeks, so I think him trying to stand on his own is too much. We are taking him to see a surgeon on Wednesday 5/23. I am wondering if he is on the right track, or is the vet right to think surgery or a cart is a better option. Either way I just want my happy puppy back, we just feel lost with not being able to help him.
Thank you,
Jenni |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on May 19, 2013 13:03:54 GMT -7
Jenni, glad you have joined us all. Recovery suites come in variety… it sounds like you found the one that would work for Snoopy. The importance of the recovery suit is to allow the disc to heal. There are no meds to help a disc heal…. just time of 8 weeks and limited movement of the back. Just so we are on the same page on what rest is….. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks …. 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). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal. In fact there is no time table or limit for nerve to heal. Until graduation date stick with the 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7. What is the date at the end of April he started crate rest and meds. We guessed Apr 30, is that right? What are the names of the herbal supplements? What is the name of the sedative? Snoopy is going is SUCH a good direction of healing….wags tail, has bladder control and he is in no pain, right?…. now it is your turn to have some of that hard-to-have patience to let his nerves continue to heal. Surgery does not heal nerves, it serves a different purpose. There is so much I would like to share with you on this disease. But I think it better you choose which areas you first want to explore. REading is one of the most important things you can do to protect Snoopy from those who have not yet educated themselves on this particular disease. You will find great information on the main Dodgerslist website and hopefully your vet will also be open to learning what you have found out: www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm |
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jenni
New Member
Posts: 2
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Post by jenni on May 19, 2013 13:37:35 GMT -7
He did not go on crate rest until 5/6. The first vet we took him too thought it had to do with inflammation in his hips and legs, he has bowed legs in the back. When she did the exam on him he did not whine or show any signs of pain, so she did not think it was IVDD. It was not until the following week that he lost use of his back legs and went directly on crate rest. He has had a quick bath, approved by the vet, because he had a bandage on that held on to the urine smell pretty bad, even after it was removed. Since then we have only used bathing wipes and waterless shampoo. He does not show any signs of being in pain. Yesterday was the first time he whined when being picked up to go for a potty break, and has not done it since. When we have him outside we do not let him drag his legs, we hold up his back end and he walks around on his front legs. The vet recommended that we let him get a little bit of his energy out because he has been showing signs of restlessness. Puzzle toys do not work with him, but he does get the occasional dingo. He also likes to sit outside in his travel bag and enjoy the sunshine.
The herbal supplement is Double P II, one capsule twice daily, and the sedative is Acepromazine, which was a 1/2 tablet we would give him at night, and have now moved it down to a 1/4 tablet at night.
I am concerned that the vet has expectations that he should be standing on his own to soon, and since that is not happening, he wants him to see the surgeon. I do not mind him going to a consultation, but I feel that if he is moving in the right direction, surgery might not be the right answer.
The X-ray showed what they believe is calcium build up between two of his vertebrae, and that is all we have to go by.
Thank you for your help.
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Post by Pauliana on May 19, 2013 20:59:01 GMT -7
Hi Jenni,
All this and a brand new baby too.. Congrats on your new baby!!
It isn't a good idea for Snoopy to get "a little bit of his energy out" because his spine and discs need to be kept still in order to heal. Think of the crate rest as a cast of sorts to allow the disc and spine to heal and to prevent further damage.. I know it's hard for them to be on crate rest and while most dogs get restless, it is for their own good.
It doesn't hurt to have a consultation with the surgeon, whether you opt for surgery or not.. If it is a board certified neuro or ortho specialist.. They deal with cases of IVDD many times a day and are quite experienced at treating this condition. It does sound like Snoopy is going the right direction in healing and you don't have to opt for surgery but just getting a second opinion is a good idea.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on May 20, 2013 9:02:27 GMT -7
Jenni, this is one disease that requires owner reading in order to protect our dogs. Use of Chinese supplement also requires reading as you are now the leader of his health care team. Usually there are many herbs contained in the formula each needing to be read up on. With Double P II it is very hard to find information on this supplement. Snoopy has a neuro problem with his disc episode. We know the meds that help with inflammation that are tried and tested. Double P II is concerning! The purpose of surgery is to immediately remove the disc materials that are compressing the spinal cord so that nerve healing can start to repair. Surgery does not repair nerves. I agree with you, if Snoopy is showing evidence of nerve repair, then I'd give conservative a chance unless you see he is going backwards with diminished nerve damage or your vet can't get pain under control, then I'd certainly want a consultation with a board certified surgeon. This is a good article to learn just what calcifications mean: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CalcifiedDiscs.htmSo stick with the 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks…. no walking about during potty times…. just a very few footsteps to get the job done. Limited movement IS the hallmark component of conservative treatment so as to allow the disc to heal. Better to be a bit restless than to cause damage to the spinal cord, right! If he is being rambunctious in his recovery suite we can tell you about some milder calmers than the heavy duty ACE you could try. Let us know. |
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