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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 15, 2013 14:48:04 GMT -7
I hope I am doing this correctly.
We moved over from the other site.
We have a bit of a zoo at our house that includes four dogs and two cats. We have two miniature dachshunds, Sammie and Mattie as well as a GSP and a Yellow lab.
Sammie, our very tiny miniature, went down last Saturday, unfortunately we were out of town when she began having issues and did not return until about 7:00 in the evening.
We have not received an actual diagnosis for her. While in the ER they did an X-ray, and there did not appear to be any major disk issues, however she was paralyzed in her back legs and no longer had control of elimination of urine or feces. She eventually lost her deep pain sensation. After we picked her up from the ER on Monday we took her to our regular vet and we were told Sammie would never walk again and would spend the rest of her life paralyzed. I immediately began searching the Internet for ways to help her. Thankfully we found your website.
Sammie is currently on 24/7 crate rest. We began this on 3/12/13.
She is currently taking prednisone 5mg 1 tab two times per day and 1/2 tab Pepcid AC 30 minutes prior to the prednisone.
Initially we were having to help Sammie eliminate however yesterday she sniffed and peed and today she pooped on her own. She has not had any accidents since Tuesday. She also has regained her deep pain sensation, and has even wagged her tail a couple of times.
she still has a bit of a limited appetite, and is not loving the addition of the pumpkin to her diet, but she was getting pretty constipated.
We are extremely optimistic regarding Sammie's prognosis and can not thank you all enough for all of your help!
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 15, 2013 16:43:45 GMT -7
Melissa glad to see you and Sammie have arrived here safely. We worry about each and everyone of the pups. You have just reported something wonderful... you are witness to nerves self repairing that Sammie could pass the sniff and pee test! Wonderful news. After happy tail wagging, comes bladder control then comes movement of legs. Are you going to be ready to help your vet to see with his own eyes we can NEVER give up hope...the body can self repair. Please ask Linda Stowe to send you some of our free educational literature so your vet will be in a better position to give hope and help to the next dog. This is a disease we can live with whether the dog regains walking or needs a bit of assist with a wheelchair they do just fine! All we owners and vets have to do is give them a chance with the gift of conservative treatment (100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks). STill not wanting to eat, kinda rings the bell Pepcid alone is not enough for Sammie. It was the same as for my dog. We always had to use both Pepcid AC and sucralfate. Please read about sucralfate and tell your vet you'd like extra protection for Sammie. www.marvistavet.com/html/sucralfate.html She does not need another problem such as bleeding ulcers or worse on top of the disc problem. Oh and here is where you get in touch with Linda www.dodgerslist.com/literature/litorder.htm |
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 16, 2013 8:01:29 GMT -7
As much as we get excited about all Sammie's improvements and there continue to be some. She is eating like her old self she is even eating the pumpkin. She also is trying to stand a little. Our back slide is that she seems to be developing some incontinence again. She isn't having problems in her box, but when we get her out to take her potty she sometimes starts to pee on the way outside. It's not every time, and there doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason. Going to keep an eye on it. We have to take her to the vet on Monday or Tuesday for a recheck so we can have them check for a UTI at that time. She is still pooping on her own.  |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 16, 2013 9:01:15 GMT -7
Glad you will be getting a urinalysis to rule out a bladder infection that can cause urine leaking. Do you carry her to and from the potty place? While bladder control is returning, it may not be fully there. Carrying her can place a bit of pressure on the stomach much like expressing and urine could be forced out??? Do keep an eye on it is a good idea!
So then she is not having any eating problems and the Pepcid AC is doing a good job of protection?
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 16, 2013 18:40:37 GMT -7
We think we may have figured out the pee issue. After going back and rereading some of the info I don't think we were taking her out often enough. We have upped the number of potty trips, and we haven't been peed on since this morning. Today was a hard day for me personally. I am going to school, and Sammie would usually sit by me and snuggle when I am doing school work. I miss my study buddy. I did place her crate on the couch next to me so we could be together, but its not quite the same. Only 7 more weeks ! |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 17, 2013 10:08:41 GMT -7
Everyone's routines are changed when caring for a patient...but the rewards of doing care right is well worth what is a blink of an eye in comparison to the many more years you will have your study buddy back at your side. Glad to hear you have the pee issue under control now.
When will the taper off of prednisone 5mg 1 tab two times per day start? Once off of pred she'll likely be able to hold her bladder for 6-8 hours since she has passed the sniff and pee test. Limited back movement is the focus, but if you are at work and can't come home to carry her to and from the potty place, it might be better to make a very small area with a pee pad in her crate/ex pen that Sammie can move over to eliminate on.
Did you want your photo to be upside down. If no, I can help you right it.
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Post by northwoodsdoglover on Mar 17, 2013 13:29:22 GMT -7
Hey Melissa - I know what you mean about missing your "study buddy"! I used to complain about Max being always at my feet, but now I feel pretty lonesome for him. Hang in there, though - we know this is what is best for them! And 8 weeks of crate rest is better than the alternatives.
Hoping for quick recoveries for your pup and mine! <3
Teresa and Max
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 18, 2013 9:03:25 GMT -7
No I did not want my phot upside down. It's right side up on my page not sure what happened. If you could fix it that would be great.
We start to taper the prednisone down to one tab per day tomorrow. I don't think she has complete control of her bladder quite yet. She can hold it for the most part, but sometimes I feel like she is peeing unintentionally even though she is sniffing around the yard.
Sammie is starting to feel better, so she is whining more in her crate. She is starting to stand on her own. Is this ok? She is also starting to try and move her blankets around a bit. Not sure how much we should be trying to restrict movement. We have found placing her crate on the couch with us to be somewhat helpful.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 18, 2013 10:12:08 GMT -7
Sammy is very cute... I love it when their ears perk up! Being able to now move herself up into a standing position shows you how much her nerves are healing. I think Sammie has read the textbooks as she is following the predictable progression of nerve healing!!!!!
1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.)
2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you or getting a treat or meal.
3. Bladder and bowel control verified with the "sniff and pee" test.
4. Leg Movement, and then ability Sammy is here --> to move up into a standing position, and then wobbly walking.
5. Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly place the feet.
6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.
On the taper you will want to observe for any suggestion or hint of pain returning. That would indicate not all of the swelling had been resolved. Your vet will need yourfeedback and likely another round at the original anti-inflammatory dose will be used for bit longer and then another taper tried.
We would prefer they not move their blankies around, but about all you can do is command STOP or redirect their attention by some happy talk, showing them a small piece of lo cal carrot to take their mind off fluffy blankets.
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 19, 2013 8:37:29 GMT -7
Sammie wowed her dr. today. They were very impressed with all her progress. She has some muscle wasting in her back, but they think when she regains use of her back legs that this will correct itself.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 19, 2013 9:44:16 GMT -7
Yes, unfortunately some muscle loss will happen. Right now it is more important to protect the spinal cord with crate rest. Your vet is correct that when crate rest is finished and activity is safe to resume, muscle tone will come back very quickly.
How's the Pred taper going.... no signs of pain surfacing?
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 20, 2013 7:04:24 GMT -7
We just started the taper yesterday. So far so good and she made it from 10:00 last night until 4:00 this morning without going potty. Maybe I can catch up on all my missed sleep soon. Her progress has definitely slowed down, but we still see tiny improvements every day. She did stand up on her own twice yesterday,, and I finally got to see her wag her tail. I keep telling myself baby steps, but its hard not to get discouraged. |
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Post by Linda Stowe on Mar 20, 2013 7:22:04 GMT -7
Melissa, Sammie is doing very well so soon. Wagging her tail is a great sign and healing still is taking place. Keep up the good work and she'll soon be your study buddy again.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 20, 2013 7:22:56 GMT -7
Melissa, it just takes time for nerves to heal. With instant gratification in our society, it is hard to have patience. Nerves are the slowest part of the body to self repair. While it may seem like nothing is happening, nerves are busy growing. At the point they connect, then we observes a progress in neuro function. Sammie is doing very well and your recognition of that should be something you share with Sammie. She looks to you in your body language, tone of voice, look on your face...you know how smart she is! So be sure to give her a hug and let her know things are right on track!!!!
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 20, 2013 21:29:04 GMT -7
I was gone all day at work and then class this evening it was so nice to be welcomed home with a little tail wag. I did steel a few minutes of snuggle time before returning her to her crate. I know it's for the best, but I can't wait for the next seven weeks to be over.
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Post by natureluva on Mar 21, 2013 6:41:14 GMT -7
Hi Melissa, I know that the 8 weeks of crate rest seems to go by sooo slowly!! Just keep in mind that discs take longer to heal than even bones, and what heals the disc is time and limited movement while meds mask the symptoms. Many owners see improvement in their dogs after a couple of weeks due to the medication, but the disc is NOT healed yet! It might be tempting to allow our dogs to walk when we see improvement, but do not be fooled! That disc is still healing! :-) You're doing a great job with her. We look forward to hearing how she does throughout crate rest. Best wishes, ~Lisa
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 24, 2013 13:22:28 GMT -7
Sammie continues to improve..no huge milestones, but her legs are gaining strength and she is less wobbly when she stands to eat and drink. The taper is going well. We are down to 1 tablet of prednisone every other day. She has gotten very used to her crate and only whines when she has to go potty.
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Post by Melissa Albright on Mar 30, 2013 14:00:05 GMT -7
Sammie continues to improve. She is able to walk in her very clumsy way, but cand take five or six steps without falling over. She is also able to stand on her own even on the slippery tile. She gets a little stronger everyday. Now the hard part is keeping her occupied in the crate. She hates being in their and whines constantly. Fortunately spring break is over and we will all be back to work/school so hopefully she will get over this. Happy Easter!
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Post by natureluva on Mar 30, 2013 14:20:26 GMT -7
Happy Easter to you, too! Glad to hear Sammie is continuing to improve. I hate to sound like a nervous nelly, but allowing her to take five or six steps is too much during crate rest. Remember - that disc is still healing. Too much movement can cause it to tear again because it is not fully healed yet. To help deter muscle atrophy, you can gently massage her rear legs. Once she is off all meds, you can discuss doing these passive exercises (text in pink only) with your vet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htmConsider getting her a pet stroller. When she is off all meds, you can take her for a stroll to relieve her boredom. Pups get SO much mental stimulation from stroller rides. Only thing is, you can't leave her unattended in a stroller. Here's a link to help you: dodgerslist.com/literature/strollers.htm Here are some neat dvds to help with boredom and to calm our pups when we're gone: petsittervideos.com/ and www.petmusic.com/ So she is having no pain while you taper the steroid? That is excellent news. Sometimes, when we do the taper of a steroid, pain will return. This is a sign that the steroid is not done with its job of controlling inflammation. If pain returns upon tapering the steroid, then a longer course of steroids usually is prescribed. So the fact that Sammie is in no pain certainly is a good sign. Please keep in touch and let us know how she's doing! Best wishes, ~Lisa |
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Post by Melissa Albright on Apr 12, 2013 6:55:35 GMT -7
Sorry for the long delay in Sammie updates. I am in nursing school and things got a bit crazy! Sammie continues to improve almost on a daily basis. We started some physical therapy and stim treatments last week. We are also using a handle held massager to stimulate the nerves in her legs and feet. She can stand steadily now and she has started to regain some of the muscle in her back and her spine no longer protrudes as much. She has also regained most of her bowel and bladder function. The only real accidents are when I come home, and that happened before she went down. Nice to know she loves me so much she pees herself. Lol. We continue to use strict crate rest and are down to out last three and a half weeks. I can't wait to snuggle with her on the couch again, of course there will be no more jumping up and down! We are also trying to limit the jumping our other miniature does. We have her trained now not to jump on and off the bed, but we are still working on the couch and stairs. She is so high energy it's hard to contain her. But we are working on it. I can't thank you for all of your support and help. I'm not sure how we would have made it trough those first few scary weeks. I wish I could figure out how to post pics, so you can see her remarkable progress. The best part of it all is she has her tail wag back. There is truly nothing better then walking in the house and there she is STANDING up in her crate and WAGGING her tail. We can't wait to take her to the vet and show them how wrong they were! So glad we didn't do anything stupid like put her down!
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Post by Linda Stowe on Apr 12, 2013 10:09:28 GMT -7
Melissa, I love reading these posts. You've seen healing take place right before your eyes. Keep up the good work and keep her crated to make sure there are no setbacks. When you take her to the vet, please take some of our literature with you so he can hand out to other clients. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/litorder.htmLove those wagging tails. |
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Post by Cindy & Sophie on Apr 13, 2013 7:31:22 GMT -7
Hi Melissa, nice to know someone is so close I am in Shorewood, IL. We go to the Shorewood Animal Hospital and see Dr. Overmyer, who gives Sophie her laser treatments. I am also looking at a holistic vet who is located in McHenry. Little bit of a drive but interested in looking at his treatment regime and they do acupuncture. Do you have facebook? If so message me. Cindy Stringer my profile picture is a logo for my business Grace Steps |
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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 Apr 21, 2013 8:01:44 GMT -7
I love reading these success stories! You and Sammie have done amazingly well!
Yay Sammie!!
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Post by Melissa Albright on Apr 30, 2013 14:19:01 GMT -7
Tomorrow is graduation day for Sammie. She is doing so well. I'm a little nervous about having her out and about. I will post some pictures tomorrow!
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Post by natureluva on Apr 30, 2013 14:57:17 GMT -7
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Post by Sally & Vinnie on Apr 30, 2013 16:16:41 GMT -7
Way to go Melissa and Sammie!!!
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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 1, 2013 8:43:01 GMT -7
That is an awesome update! |
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Post by Pauliana on May 1, 2013 9:16:25 GMT -7
Happy Graduation day Sammie and Melissa!! You did it!!!  |
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Post by Melissa Albright on May 1, 2013 13:10:23 GMT -7
We made it! I never thought that we would make it to where we are. Eight weeks ago we were told Sammie would never walk again, and we contemplated putting her down due to her considerable amount of pain. I am thankful everyday we did not make that choice. Sammie no longer knuckles under, is getting better at sitting with her feet under her again, and most important got her tail wag back . Sammie went for her first walk today out to the yard to go potty. She was so excited it was hard to keep her from running and her tail wagged the whole time. She also had a big long drink with her sisters from the water dish. I am sure the next few weeks will be exciting times, especially since here in the Chicagoland area it appears as if it may finally get warm and we will be able to be outside more. Sammie loves deck time! I did post some pictures of her. I can not thank you enough for all of the information and support. |
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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 1, 2013 13:54:03 GMT -7
We are so pleased you stuck out the 8 weeks. Once accomplished the time really does not seem long at all ... you gave Sammie the best gift ever a chance..letting his disc heal! Sammie's story is also on www.facebook.com/DodgerslistLove your pictures at dodgergallery.ourdogs.net/ in the "Recovered" section. How about adding to our 2014 Calendar section?
Post photos in the gallery dodgergallery.ourdogs.net/1) Look for the tiny "login" link at the top right 2) Username: dachsie Password: dodger08 3) Choose an album, look to top right for "Admin options" button Pull down to "Add Photo"  |
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