Graham's Rocco 7/9+7/23 Surgery

Hi all,
So glad to have found this site today.  It is contained a wealth of knowledge and helped my wife and I as we start this journey with Rocco.  I'm looking forward to reading reading reading and being the best advocate for his health.

--What is your dog's name?

Rocco.  Is a pure black Dachshund - 8.5 years old

--What breed is your dog and did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD?

Dashund.  Rocco had shown some some discomfort back in October, and at that time we had identified via the vet that he had a herniated disc.  We administered Pred for a month and then weened him off.  He returned to full activity until July 3rd - when he started to show signs of discomfort (a slight yelp when we tried to pick him up one day, and then slowly climbing the stair into our home).  Our Vet recommended putting him back on Predlinisone and some Tramadol as of July 4th.  After a few days of rest Rocco seemed to be making a strong comeback, but as of July 8th he woke with very dainty steps, and I watched him go from having drunken hind legs to no back leg movement within an hour.

I was able to contact my vet immediately and within the hour had him looked at.  Rocco did display DPS in his paws - and within the hour we took him to an emergency vet clinic where it was decided that he would have an MRI the next morning with possible surgery the following day.

We decided to take him home that night to stay with us - and I have to say it was one of the hardest nights.  Rocco was in discomfort with tremors but we eventually got him to sleep.

The next day I dropped him off in the AM at the Emerg clinic.  After the MRI that afternoon, they called to say that he seemed to have lost feeling in his back section, so would do surgery immediately that evening.


-- What was the date you saw the vet and started 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7?

Rocco was seen by his Vet on July 8, the emerg clinic on July 8, had surgery on July 9, and came home to us on July 13th.

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

Rocco has generally been very lethargic, with heavier panting as he sleeps in his crate.  The odd time when we try to move him or while doing his P/T he will groan like he has had enough or doesn't want to move.  He is receptive to getting out a few times a day when we put him in a sling on his hindquarters, and let him move around in the backyard to try to get him to pee.  He is more a dribbler, and generally speaking doesn't have a concentrated pee, but while we do his P/T at this time, he will release urine.  I've asked the Vet about if we should be trying to help him express urine at this time, rather than while sitting in his crate on with a pee pad under him - but they seem to think that as long as he is urinating, that is a good sign.

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

Rocco is on 1 x Gabepentin 100 mg capsules every 12 hrs and 1 x Dexamethasone 0.5 mg tablets every 24 hrs.



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

Rocco doesn't show any signs of movement in his hind legs     nor showing any movement in his tail.  The only time we have seen his tail move is when he'd flexed his sphincter

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

Yes, he is a constand dribbler.  I just picked up some Penaten creme for his underside, and he is constanly peeing in the pee pad in his crate during the day.  We've also noticed that his penis is distended about 1-2 centimeters from it's sheath.  He has been licking at his penis while he urinates, and as of this afternoon we have noticed some small blood stains mixed in with the urine.  I am not sure if he has a UTI, or if he with his constant licking he is irritating the penis.  We've put some vaseline on it, and will get him an eCollar to minimize him being active down there as of tomorrow.  Per a potential UTI, there is no odor other than the normal urine smell, so will be keeping a close monitor of how this is progressing.

-- Eating and drinking OK?

His appetite seems to be coming back.  He will eat soft food, and we've been able to get him to eat a bit of his normal kibble while mixing it in as of tonight.  He is drinking lots of fluid.

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

He has is first movement this afternoon since we got him back on Saturday afternoon (he did poo while at the vet).  It was a dark fudge/nutella color and consistency.


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We take Rocco back in on July 22nd for a checkup with his Vet.  I think the biggest thing we are struggling with right now is managing our expectations.  I think coming out of the Vet's over the weekend - the expectation they placed on us is that if he isn't standing or walking a bit by that time - that there is a good chance that he is paralyzed.  I realize now reading resources on the Dodgerlist and the posts by others that we just need to go with the flow - and that each case is different.  While we are optimistic that Rocco will regain function - it may take a few weeks, a few months, a few years - but even if not - he can have a good quality of life and continue to enrich ours.