Don's Max 5/30 conservative England

First thing to know is that it IS in the cards for your doxie to get back to enjoying life after recovering. What can make a great deal of difference is your own self education. Knowledge is the best defense in fighting and winning with this disease. Reading others posts on the forum can be of comfort. But the meat of what you need to know is on our main web page. A very quick way to get up to speed on meds, how healing happens and when for each of the phases is the "Overview: the essentials" yellow button. Then work your way through the rest of the orange and blue buttons to complete your education. Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

We can be of best support to you if you can fill us in on specific details:

--What is your dog's name?

-- What was the date you saw the vet and 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times?

-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy?

-- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies?

-- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk?

-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up?

-- Eating and drinking OK?

-- Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood?

Don, do you live outside the United Sates.. just wonder due to the way you wrote the date.

Rimadyl shoud be used with a stomach protector, was Pepcid AC ever prescribed?

The only way with a disc episode to know when all the swelling/inflammation in the spinal cord is resolved is to stop Rimadyl. IF signs of pain surface then the vet will know to prescribe Rimadyl for a bit longer. Rimadyl and all these meds carry with them the potential for significant bad side effects to the body's systems. So it is prudent to use them only til they have done their job and then get off of them. Has the vet discussed when he thinks the swelling might be gone and when you should stop Rimadyll?

So what is supposed to work with Rimadyl is the reduction of swelling in the spinal cord.

Nerves healing is another phase and happens on a different time line. Because Max has bladder control and can move one leg he is likely to have nerve regeneration continue. All of this is explained so you can see what to observe for at the main website: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm

Disc disease is a disease we can live with. Vet's who do not know this are just not fully educated on the disease. So this puts you in the position of having to be educated yourself. Let us know how your readings over at the Main Dodgerslist website www.dodgerslist.com/ are coming along. Also what your vet says about stopping Rimadyl to test if it is needed anymore.

Even though your vet didn't mention Pepcid you should ask him if there is any reason Max cannot take it. If the answer is no then you can purchase it yourself as it is not a prescription medication. We recommend 5mg twice daily about 30 minutes prior to the Rimadyl. Do not wait until next week when Max sees the vet again, call them and ask then start it right away. Rimadyl is very hard on the stomach and dogs are stoic and do not let on to pain or problems until they are severe, once Max let's you know the Rimadyl has caused him trouble it could be a potentially life threatening problem and you don't need that on top of what's already going on.

You say Max is in "no great pain", does this mean he is pain free or has some minimal pain? Max deserves to be pain free so if he is not keep in phone contact with your vet and regulate the medications to achieve this goal.

Max should be in his crate at all times except when out to potty which should be on his leash and harness and you should be carrying him to and from the crate to the potty spot. You mentioned Max rolls about on his back to be tickled, is he being allowed out of his crate? His back absolutely will not heal if it is not rested for 8 full weeks.

At this point asking for another course of Rimadyl is not advised. Max needs to be 100% crate rested and kept comfortable so he can heal. If this is being done and he shows worsening of his symptoms then a second course of medication can be discussed but as long as he maintains or improves time needs to do it's magic.

As long as Max is pain free I don't know why your vet would advocate euthanasia. Even paralysed dogs have wonderful full quality lives. Dogs don't drive cars or work jobs, they don't need their legs in the same way humans do. If Max is pain free all he needs is to have a home where he is loved.

OK. Thanks for all your advise. Max seems to be feeling no pain whatsoever. I put a towel under his stomach and pull up so he can walk on his front legs when he needs the toilet. Is this OK?