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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 2, 2017 9:27:14 GMT -7
Yes, his carrier crate is large enough to lie down. I also have a water bottle that can be attached. I would never leave him in a stroller.
I don't think he is anywhere close to "sniff and pee" yet.
When I take him outside, he plops down and stares up at me. I am expressing small amounts if urine every 2 to 3 hours. In between, he still leaks.
I was talking about seeing his slight, voluntary leg movement during sling walking.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 2, 2017 9:54:22 GMT -7
Gayle, you will get there with expressing!! it's a practice thing like learning to play the piano. The more you practice feeling the bladder, the better you will be able to recognize the last stage. The stage when the bladder become quite flat. Where you can almost feel the fingers of the other hand there is so little urine left in the bladder.
Let us know also if you observe any other voluntary leg movement. Such as trying to scratch, attempting to use a leg to reposition himself in his crate.
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 3, 2017 9:12:49 GMT -7
Should I wake him up to express every 2 hours?
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 3, 2017 11:01:35 GMT -7
I would say yes, gently call his name and wake him to express. That will keep the bladder from overflowing. If that bladder fills while sleeping, he'll leak in his bed or he will leak on you when lifted for his expressing session. Once you have perfection in expressing, then you can more confidently wait longer between expressing times. So you will just have to count on your own observations, how good you have become with expressing to know how long to go in between expressing times.
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 4, 2017 10:54:13 GMT -7
Elmer is doing better every day. He is spunkier and wants to do normal things like eat where he usually does and drink water out of his bowl. He can stand alone for 25 seconds before he sits. I take him out every 2.5 hours. My expressing is no better, but I press where I am told to, and ask him to "pee pee" and praise him etc, and he obliges. He sits a few minutes and I prop his back legs up and he goes again. He dribbles less and less.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 5, 2017 9:31:05 GMT -7
Gayle, keep on doing the best you can with expressing. That dribbling less and less is a very good sign of either you are doing better at expressing or that Elmer may be able to control his bladder somewhat now. If he can sniff an old pee spot and then release urine...that would be your proof that his bladder control is starting to return. Keep your updates coming!
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 5, 2017 11:22:53 GMT -7
I believe the control is coming back!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 5, 2017 11:31:00 GMT -7
We look forward to your being able to observe a sniff and then a release of urine. Keep us posted on seeing proof.
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 7, 2017 20:38:47 GMT -7
That may be a while from now. I think he would need to be walking in the yard somewhat before that happens. He is not doing that yet.
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Marjorie
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 8, 2017 6:17:58 GMT -7
Has the surgeon OK'd it for you to do some sling walking with Elmer yet? If so, you can sling walk him around so he can sniff and see if he can release urine on his own. Use a figure-8 sling so there's nothing pressing on his belly. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies/Figure8.jpgHope he can pass a sniff and pee test soon!
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 8, 2017 8:29:32 GMT -7
Yes, but I would have to walk him in mulch or on a different area. He is allergic to grass. I was taking him out and trying to express his urine in the yard. He broke out in a rash on his chest, legs, belly and scrotum area that I am just now starting to get cleared up. As it is now, I walk him around the house in his sling twice per day for about ten minutes. I can see he is regaining strength in his upper hind legs. His feet tend to turn under, but even that is happening a little less. I think what he has been doing is submissive urination. I am over his body, pressing on his bladder area. He starts urinating before I start pressing. He has never been a submissive urination pet like some female dachshunds I have owed in past years. It could be the Valium, but I think he just knows what I want him to do, and he does it.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 8, 2017 9:04:39 GMT -7
Gayle, has he always been allergic to grass. If not, then the rash might be when urine remains on the skin, urine scald? He was overflowing alot in his suite prior to surgery.
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 8, 2017 17:34:59 GMT -7
Yes, when he was a puppy and went outside in the grass, it got on his ears, face, head, etc. He broke out and lost all his hair. He actually avoids the grass by walking on my stepping stones, then onto them mulch. Today I walked him outside with his sling, and then I washed him with a sudsy wash cloth on his underside and legs.
I have been watching out for urine scald. I use baby wipes.
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Post by Julie & Perry on Aug 8, 2017 19:57:02 GMT -7
Poor baby. One of my dogs is allergic to chicken and yeast. He'll itch like crazy and get hot spots. Hope Elmer feels better soon. If he's itchy ask your vet about giving benadryl.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 9, 2017 8:20:55 GMT -7
Gayle, is there then enough mulched area where you can sling walk him via the stepping stone to the mulch area. There he can sniff the mulch for one of his old pee spots. You'll be watching for after the sniff if he makes a decision to mark/release urine on it. Looking forward to learning if, indeed, bladder control is returning with that kind of proof!
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 9, 2017 11:09:03 GMT -7
Yes, I have much of my lawn in mulch islands and rock pathways.
Today, the neurologist said Elmer's urination would return to be more normal in about a month. Until then, I will continue to try expressing every two hours. The use of his legs is returning progressively. I sent a report to you via email.
History Elmer, a 4 years 6 days old MN Dachshund, presented today for re-check evaluation of post op staple removal. Since the last visit, Elmer has been improving. He is able to stand and take a few steps on his own. The owner is still trying to express him about every 2 hours.
Neurological Examination: Mentation: Bright and alert. Reacts appropriately to surroundings.
Posture: Normal Gait: Mildly paraparetic, wags tail and can propel himself using hind legs.
Proprioception: Reduced but present hopping, extensor postural thrust, CPs in rear.
Nociception: Normal bilaterally.
Paraspinal palpation: No pain upon thoracolumbar palpation.
Cervical range of motion/pain: Normal .
Cranial nerve examination: Visual OU; positive menace OU; pupils reactive and symmetric OU; normal palpebral OU; normal facial sensation; normal lip curl bilaterally; normal gag/tongue movements; no nystagmus/strabismus; normal oculocephalic reflex Spinal Reflexes (pelvic limbs): Normal withdrawals bilaterally. Normal patella and sciatic reflexes bilaterally. Normal muscle tone bilaterally.
Spinal Reflexes (thoracic limbs): Normal withdrawals bilaterally. Normal muscle tone bilaterally.
Perineal/anal tone is normal.
Other Physical Examination Findings: Urinates voluntarily when anxious but does not empty.
Assessments Standard recovery from IVDD with prolonged paralysis prior to surgery.
Plans Continue PT; functional ambulation and urinary control should be present within several days to a few weeks. Recheck as needed.
Discharge Summary Elmer is getting close to a functional recovery. In a few weeks he will be walking much better and have even better bladder control; until then a little squeeze on his bladder to help initiate urinating is still fine. His incision has healed well (all staples removed) and he does not need to return for medical reasons (unless something changes negatively in his progress). Social visits to show off their progress are always welcome, though.
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 9, 2017 11:49:21 GMT -7
Gayle, super good report by your surgeon! So the surgeon says that he does have voluntary control, just not perfect yet!! Yay! As you get better at expressing, you might try to increase the length of time between sessions. Like maybe move up to every 3 hours, see if he stays dry. Then try every 4 hours. Since you can get him to start a stream by expressing, Elmer is also likely to also be getting better at more fully voiding his bladder on his own.
Keep on expressing to start him. After he pees all he is able to do, you do a quick express check til you are confident every time he fully voids.
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 12, 2017 17:59:41 GMT -7
This dog is like a miracle! He has started walking on his own now. He is wobbly, but he can get around on all four legs. Tonight, I took him and Bones out for one final walk in the backyard. He took off , stumbling a little, but stood up and walked across the yard and pooped, then he went behind where Bones had peed, stood over the spot, and peed on it marking his territory. His tail wags all the time now. He is so happy to be walking, and I am in shock over his progress!!!! It is such a relief to see him reaching milestones in his recovery so soon. Elmer is a Wonder Dog!!! He takes no drugs, and is in no pain. Praise God!!!
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Post by Julie & Perry on Aug 12, 2017 18:42:45 GMT -7
Woohoo!! I'm doing my Snoopy happy dance for you and Elmer.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 13, 2017 4:22:16 GMT -7
I'm so glad to hear of such wonderful improvements that Elmer has made in such a short time, Gayle. Great news indeed.
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Post by Pauliana on Aug 13, 2017 21:37:44 GMT -7
Exciting news Gayle! Very happy for you and Elmer! Thanks also for keeping us updated!
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Post by Gayle & Elmer on Aug 16, 2017 18:59:46 GMT -7
I have nothing but praise for Dr. Cook at SCAN. He is obviously very skilled and experienced having done this operation thousands of times. But he took the time and care to clean around each calcified disc. Because he did that, he said this will probably never happen again.
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