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Post by sassysteph24 on May 24, 2013 15:36:57 GMT -7
The name of my beautiful fur baby is Zoe. She is an almost 4 yr old Red Doxie experiencing her 2nd back episode. We took her to the vet on Monday May 20th, after noticing her problem over the weekend prior to taking her. She was started on Prednisone 7.5mg twice a day for 5 days, at this time we are at 5mg twice a day for 5 days, then it will go to 5mg twice a day for 5 days then 5mg every other day for 5 days. I am also giving her Tramadol twice a day, Tagamet to protect her stomach and giving her Vetri-Disc back support supplement.
I know it has only been 4 and a half days of 100% crate rest with exception of taking her out to potty, but I feel like i'm struggling emotionally as much if not more than she is..... When I carry her outside to potty, there is some shivering still noted at times. I of course am using a harness and a scarf for back support and limiting her steps when outside but she does not like this at all cuz she still wants to roam and sniff like crazy. In the beginning of the week she could wobble walk, now i feel she is declining and drags both back legs while i'm supporting her of course. She looks like we are doing wheel barrel walking which tears my heart out. Doesn't seem to phase her at all as she still wags her tail. I haven't noticed any real bed wetting but am starting to wonder if she is getting all her urine out when we go out. I feel like she starts to pee but due to the unsteadiness gets out of her squat rather quickly. How can i tell if she is emptying her bladder well enough?? I don't want her to get a UTI on top of her other problems. Still is pooping fine, although she starts to walk away before she is finished as well.
No problem eating or drinking thankfully.
I read one site that claimed that we should not even be carrying her out to go to the bathroom, i am wondering if that is true or if it is ok to do with limiting her steps and movement and supporting back with scarf?? I feel so defeated and discouraged along with overwhelming sadness. Any words of encouragement would be well appreciated as i still have 7 weeks of crate rest ahead of me.......Sigh. July 15th better get here quickly....
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Post by Sally & Vinnie on May 24, 2013 16:16:48 GMT -7
Hi, I take it your name is Steph? Glad you found Dodgerslist and are up to speed with crate rest, meds, and vet visit. The reality of your pup suffering with IVDD is overwhelming and can make you feel sad. But, try not to let your pup catch your mood. They are very perceptive! My oldest Doxie, Vinnie went down hard with IVDD over a year and 1/2 ago. He had surgery, but never regained deep pain. If you saw him now he would make you smile. He either tools around in his drag suit or wheelchair. Two of us have become experts at expressing and it as become our new normal. My second Doxie Hitch started to show signs of IVDD and we jumped on it with cage rest, he will graduate on Monday and has done very well. Just keep the faith and read everything you can on here and ask questions? We are all in this together for our fur babies!
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member 
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335 
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Post by StevieLuv on May 24, 2013 17:46:32 GMT -7
Hi my name is Maureen, and our Stevie is half way through the crate rest of her 2nd IVDD episode. It does take some time for the swelling to go down, and that is why you are seeing her back legs not moving much, but the tail wagging is an excellent sign so please don't despair. Do watch for signs of pain like the shivering you mentioned. You know your girl better than anyone and can tell if the shivering is caused by pain. When in doubt, get the Vet to treat more agressively for pain - healing is faster when pain is controlled. You can get a hands on lesson in expressing her bladder from the Vet or Tech, I know that Stevie will stop peeing if she loses her balance, so I have to support her alot with the sling, or her butt plops to the ground. You are right to carry her outside to potty and there is a video demonstration on this site that shows how to lift and carry if you are not sure of the safest technique (I really have to learn how to attach these references!)
I know that you feel like you are coping all alone, but you aren't. We are here for you, and are all in this journey together. Keep your chin up - you CAN do this and we'll do whatever we can to cheer you on! Keeping you in thought and prayer:)
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Post by Pauliana on May 24, 2013 18:51:32 GMT -7
Hi Steph, welcome to Dodgerslist! First of all, here is the very helpful video on how to lift and carry your Zoe, that Maureen mentioned! This should help you to support her back while you carry her outside to potty. These disc episodes are so stressful and overwhelming, after all our dogs are family and when they hurt we hurt. As Maureen said, we are here for you! It's still early yet and as the inflammation goes down, you should start seeing signs of improvement. It's the limited movement in crate rest that heals the disc, while the medications ease the inflammation and mask the pain. The fact that Zoe is shivering shows she is in pain and that means her pain medications need to be adjusted, so she can be pain free dose to dose. Tramadol is a short acting pain reliever. It works better dosed every 8 hours or 3 times a day. Please discuss with your Vet. Please check out this link to refresh your memory on IVDD as you are Zoe's advocate.. www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmIt doesn't phase Zoe because dogs don't care how they get from point A to point B, what they care about is your love, food, a comfy place to sleep and making you happy with their love.. To encourage you please read this link. www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm and also check out our success stories. I know you have been through this before but all is not lost. www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory.htm |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,610
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Post by PaulaM on May 24, 2013 20:31:01 GMT -7
Steph, when carry her to and from the potty place for her very, very few footsteps to do her business, try to keep the back as horizontal to the ground as possible…rather than a wheelbarrow effect of hiking the rear up too much. How about setting up an ex-pen in the grass or some of the poke in the ground garden edging fence to provide a physical and visual barrrer to let her know no sniff fests are going to happen. Shivering when taken out to potty or nearing the next dose of the pain med, Tramadol, indicates her pain is not yet under control. Your vet needs your feedback on signs of pain to know he still needs to use more options to get pain under control. Pain is not a one size fits all deal. So read up on the typical pain meds used with a disc episode in preparation for discussion with your vet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm How much does Zoe weigh? Watch on the taper if pain is still existing. Your vet needs that information. Often it takes being at the anti-inflamamtory dose of prednisone (5mg 2x/day) for 1-2 weeks or even for some dogs more like a month before all the swelling is gone. On the taper the dose is lowered to less than the anti-flammatory dose and that is the time to assess just how well reduction of swelling is going by observing for pain. The rule of thumb is: swelling = pain = longer time at the anti-inflammtory dose
If there is no pain on the taper then it goes to completion. To have a clear picture on a taper, pain meds are also stopped or backed off too. If there is no pain, then the taper continues to the finished and no meds at all are needed. As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions. When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order. 1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord 2. Wobbly walking, legs cross 3. Nails scuffing floor 4. Paws knuckle 5. Legs do not work (paralysis, dog is down) 6. Bladder control is lost with leaking when lifted or finding urine leaks in bedding. 7. Tail wagging with joy is lost 8. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function As everyone mentioned reading, reading is one of the best things you can do for your own mind and to protect and best care for Zoe. |
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