Melissa 's Bitty 5/31 conservative

Melissa, welcome to Dodgerslist. We are very glad you are here as you can play an instrumental role in helping Bitty to recover. 

We can be of better support if you can fill us in on this information:

-- Can you tell us if you are doing the all important 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty this way: 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)?  More on setting up the recovery suite in the rose colored box:  www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm

-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy?

-- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason for my dog not take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory.

-- Can your dog move the legs at all or wag the tail due to being happy .... excluding leg or tail movements at potty time?

-- Can your dog sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up?  If there are leaks you will need to get a hands on top of your hands type of expressing lesson today. You will get more out of the lesson by viewing this video and reading the tips: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm

-- Eating and drinking OK?

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

In the early days of learning our dogs have IVDD, everyone needs a shoulder to lean on while getting things figured out, dealing with emotions, getting up to speed on meds, what disc disease is, etc.  Your job in the coming days is to become a reader so you become the confident leader of the health care team.... to discuss confidently various issues from medications to recognizing if suggestions of activity would be harmful to the healing disc.  All that takes being a reader. Start on our main website with "Overview: the essentials" yellow button it will give you the degree of understanding you need right away…. as time permits continue to read all the orange buttons and the blue button "Disc Disease 101 core readings" to complete your education. Here is the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

We look forward to learning more about Bitty with your answers.

-- Can you tell us if you are doing the all important 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty this way: no laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times.

Yes, we started crate restriction today. 100% except for potty time. She's taking it like a champ.

-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy?

She's not tense anymore. The tight tummy went away. She's definitely not comfortable with her dead legs though.

-- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason for my dog not take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory.

We had to go back to the vet today because Bitty has been vomiting. They said its probably stress from all the changes. I'm sure that my 12 hours of crying didn't help. That's out if my system (mostly) and I'm focusing on the positives now. Positive thinking has always been my crutch. Anyway, I told them I'd been reading on your forum and that some people use Prevacid. He agreed it was a good idea and told us to start it tomorrow when we resume her meds. She got a shot today to tone down the stress of all the changes. She's taking 5 mg of prednisolone twice a day and 1/4 of a 50 mg tablet of tramidol twice a day.

-- Can your dog move the legs at all or wag the tail due to being happy .... excluding leg or tail movements at potty time?

She hobbles on her legs a bit if I let her. Her tail wagged once today.

-- Can your dog sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? If there are leaks you will need to get a hands on top of your hands type of expressing lesson today. You will get more out of the lesson by viewing this video and reading the tips: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm

We are early on this. So far, she has gone potty on her own when I prop her back end up for her. She only urinated once today. She did the other three times. We switched her to lean meat and rice to keep her tummy settled.

-- Eating and drinking OK?
Yes. All meals and water delivered to her crate.

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

So far, so good.


Thank you so much for the support. I'm thankful that I found this website!

I'm sorry, Pepcid! Sleepy typing! We had another episode of vomiting last night but she took a small amount of food this morning. She actually wanted more but I'm thinking smaller amounts might stay down. Having double getting her to drink. I think I'll get some pedialite today. She did wake me up crying to go outside to urinate. We are staying positive today.

Thanks again!

The shot was Dexamethason/Famotidine? I thought the vet said it was pain relief plus anti-nausea. Everything seems to be in another language when I go in.

Pepcid, check! Unsalted and no fat chicken stock, check! You guys are on top of the excellent information! You've reduced my stress by at least 75%. Bitty has held down her food today and urinated twice outside. Quick question, though. How long after giving the pepcid should I give her the other meds (sterioid and pain relief)? The vet told us she would be good from the shot for 24 hours and that is approaching shortly.

I just realized that the Famotidine is the generic of Pepcid you mentioned.

Quick update: Bitty seems to be making small improvements each day, starting with half a tail wag, up to three whole wags yesterday. She's getting frustrated with her restriction a bit, but only when we go out to potty because she seems to want some independence there. No complaints from the crate.

That brings me to my question. I've been propping her up or wheelbarrowing her around when she tries to move because she will not go if she's required to stay still. The wheelbarrowing is putting a strain on my own back. Is it ok to let her move on her own just during potty time, until she goes and then back in the crate? If not, how do I deal with her stubbornness?

It's been a little over two weeks since we started the crate restriction and pain management. Bitty was dragging her legs with no tail wag and didn't have full control at potty time. As of today, I'm happy to report she has her full tail wag back and takes a few steps with her back legs at potty time! I'm so happy to see such huge improvements! Just so you know, we are still following the rules for recovery, but wanted to share the tremendous progress. I remember just two short weeks ago (feels like a lifetime) how sad and scared I was for Bitty's outcome. Thanks to Dodgerslist for the amazing show of support and life saving information!!

Wonderful news!

Hello Friends,

      I wanted to write to give you an update on Bitty. Shortly after my last post, Bitty relapsed and began dragging her legs again. I was again devastated but I wasn't in a full panic. I knew just what to do, thanks to Dodgerslist!
      I immediately put her back in the crate and contacted my vet to start a round of steroids. It took several days for her to relax and loosen the tightness in her tummy. In this relapse, Bitty never lost her tail wag but her legs dragged up until about three weeks ago. She was on strict restriction for about 8 weeks by that time.
      We were convinced it was time to buy her some wheels when she started trying to stand again. Then she went to the wobbly "drunken sailor walk." Now she is walking fairly normally. Her back stays sort of bent in the rear to one side and she crosses her back legs from time to time. Overall, she is doing fantastic!
      What we have learned from this relapse is that we have to be ready for this to happen again. We have to work to try not to get too upset because we know we have a tough little fighter dachshund. We also realized she is now aware of her situation. On this second round, she never gave us any trouble about staying in her crate. She seemed to know it was helping her heal. So weird, I know! Either way, I just hope other people consider the conservative treatment when they can't afford surgery.
      Thanks again for all the words of encouragement and the life changing/saving information. Bitty and her family really can't thank you enough!