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Post by Madeline & Wolfie on Feb 21, 2020 15:00:37 GMT -7
Update on Wolfie! Emailed Dr Walker and we are doing a test-stop for pain on the ▲24th with the meloxicam and the gabapentin, which will conclude roughly a month spent using both medications. [Moderator's Note. Please do not edit 7.8 lbs Meloxicam as of 1/24: 0.23mL 1x/day for 5 days new DVM as of 1/29: 0.23mL 1x/day for 7 days, then 2/5 test stop for _pain/_neuro St. Louis Dr. Walker as of 2/5: 0.23mL 1x/day for ▲19 days, then 2/24 test stop for _pain/_neur Gabapentin 50mgs/1mL:50mg (1mL dose) 1x/day stopping 2/24 Pepcid AC (famotidine) 5mgs 2x/day ]Dr Walker also cleared us to hold/snuggle with Wolfie when we're watching tv or just generally being calm and still for a while. I had asked because I have definitely been missing holding my little dog. He's an emotional support animal for my anxiety disorder, and being able to hold him really calms me down. I'll likely still keep him in his crate most of the time, but I feel better knowing I have permission to just hold him for maybe ten minutes and it won't cause any harm. The plan for March is to start hydro and/or laser therapy once his crate rest is finished on March 13th. Just wanted to keep you all in the loop.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Feb 21, 2020 15:17:39 GMT -7
I know you miss holding your fur baby. I missed snuggling with Frankie during his crate rest also. Just please be super careful when doing this. Time outside of the crate can be dangerous. Dogs can do the unexpected in a heart beat and can jump off the couch or a lap in response to a noise or seeing something interesting.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,535
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 21, 2020 18:23:02 GMT -7
Madeline, so glad you have a firm date to stop the meloxicam and gabapentn. Fingers crossed there will be no existing pain. All that would be left is to allow the disc to heal. Eight weeks from when the disc episode happened would be March — mark your calendar for a Mar 20 graduation day.
If possible to have a crate you can put on the coffee table and draw it right up to the couch, would ensure that no moving body, no sloping cushion and no opportunity to even attempt movement to jump/twist, etc would re-damage that still early heaing disc. Touch and feel him though the wires while keeping his disck safe. You will be holding him mulitple times a day for each of his potty times. You guys are getting so close to the finish line! Keep us posted... you are now back home... no longer in St. Louis?
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Post by Madeline & Wolfie on Mar 1, 2020 23:12:24 GMT -7
Sorry for the wait between updates! I must have had the dates wrong, you're right his graduation day is March 20th! Meaning he has a little under three weeks to go! I'm so excited. What happens next after that? Does he stay in the crate after? What's the next stage of the recovery process? He has been off all medication as of the 24th, absolutely no issues there. He is his happy loud self. In fact, he's probably a little louder because the gabapentin is no longer making him sleepy. We also switched to wet food so he wouldn't have to crunch hard kibble, and he loves it. No pottying issues. Really the only persistent thing is the placement of his left leg. He can stand on his own and even squat down to pee (a little wobbly), but when he gives himself a good shake, he loses his balance. The leg is still weak so he can't really walk more than a couple steps to potty on the pads. Hoping with hydrotherapy/laser therapy that won't be the case any more. Yes, we are now back home. I am waiting until the 20th to get him to a neurologist. I know we were given permission to cuddle him on the sofa but I decided to just keep him in his crate 95% of the time. I do get to hold him during potty time so that's nice.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,535
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 2, 2020 8:20:54 GMT -7
Madeline, Wolfie is progressing nicely with his nerve function repair. The focus on crate rest for 8 weeks is allowing the body to heal his disc. Nerves may or may not see evidence of self repair in such short of time since they can be quite slow to heal. Where Wolfie is now in nerve repair, really bodes well for further improvement in walking.
A consult with a neuro is can be for several reasons. What is yours? -- Belief that it was not a disc episode but another disease that mimics IVDD. Since the conservative treatment is showing it is working, that kinda supports this is a disc episode he had. -- You can't find a local vet knowledgeable about IVDD to provide the right combo of meds. Since he is off all meds and all is well (no pain, no regression in nerve function) there is no need for any meds -- discuss about surgery. No surgeon would offer a surgery since Wolfie is recovering nicely, has no pain now.
As you approach nearer in time to graduation day and can tell us Wolfie's abilities at that point in time, we'll better be able to comment. In general on graduation day, you would not give Wolfie free reign of the house nor outdoors in the yard. He has become a couch potatoe for the last 8 weeks. He needs your help in doing a gradual introduction back to physical exercise over several weeks. Just to give you an idea....to start with the first week of graduation you would sling walk him in the house on a rug runner or carpet area for good traction. As we learn more from you nearing graduation day, appropriate suggestions could be presented.
Glad to hear you are giving Wolfie every chance to finish healing his disc. Do stop in as you can and update us on Wolfie.
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Post by Madeline & Wolfie on Mar 17, 2020 17:36:32 GMT -7
I was under the impression that a neurologist would be the best person to see about anything IVDD (and potentially give us some advice on his knees too), but if the physical therapy part of this is something a regular DVM can handle, even better.
Wolfie has been really rambunctious in his crate lately. I've stuffed it with more blankets to give him less room to move around, and I am going to keep him on crate rest for probably another week.
In terms of walking, I think he's reached a stagnant point. His left leg is not knuckling or dragging, but he has a hard time placing it. And the muscles seem tight, like he can't fully bend it the way it used to be.
Once his crate rest is over, I can begin Range of Motion exercises with him? Do you have any links for this? I'd love to get started as soon as crate rest is over. The coronavirus situation is causing a lot of issues, and we may not be able to start laser therapy until April.
I want to do everything I can to help him walk normally again! Any links or advice are very much appreciated.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,535
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 17, 2020 19:44:17 GMT -7
Madeline, graduation day is this Friday (March 20th)! With the disc having formed secure scar tissue, it will be safe to resume physical activity. You will be gradually increasing his activity so his muscles can begin to bulk up again but not so fast paced that he has discomfort from muscle soreness. PT is a supervised and slow thing. It is practice in using correct form. Having a leash and harness on helps you to keep Wolfie from darting off or going too fast. Wolfie will be freshest in the morning and best able to concentrate if you can schedule PT activity for mornings. If there is a rehab clinic in your area, contact them about starting some underwater treadmill therapy. Take a look at the principals explained in the video below. You can also apply those same principals at home to some extent in your bathtub or if warm where you live a child's $10 plastic pool. Water therapy at home ideas: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm The movement of the hip joints and muscles and the changes in pressure on the paws from the underwater treadmill triggers spinal cord communication with the brain. Water bouyancy makes it easier than leg movements against gravity. There is not only the potential to regrow damaged neuronal pathyways but also for neuron to muscle re-education to learn the art of walking again.Since Wolfie can move his legs in a walking motion, then he may not like you doing some of these exercises as he can do it for himself. Continue only the exercises he is ok with. Now, the massages shown are something most all dogs LOVE — getting a nice relaxing massage.
Post-op PT for the paralyzed IVDD dog OR a dog having completed all 8 weeks of crate rest during conservative treatment
How to go about increasing his activity level gradually —this page will give you a sample schedule as well as lot of other valuable ideas in living many happy years ahead with an IVDD dog: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm
At home PT ideas: --- Buy cheap cut of meat or chicken when on sale as really high value treats. Cook, cut into tiny treats and freeze to use as needed each day. --- Do all PT where there are no other distractions of kids or other dogs. --- Do PT slowly so that footsteps are deliberate- helps to re-train the nerves and muscles to work together in a more normal gait pattern. --- Surface with good traction such as carpet or use of a Yoga mat or rug runners ---reward always for walking and never ever when dragging. --- Do therapy at meal times. Feed dinner a few kibbles at a time, for stands, sits. Scatter some kibbles on a non-slippery floor or outdoors in the grass to encourage walking. --- reward for pushing up from a sit to a stand. ---Use sticks, broom, pvc pipes spaced out on good traction carpet. Dog then will learn to lift paws and flex their knees and elbows as they walk SLOWLY over each one.
--- Single leg balance for the weaker leg. While standing, lift the stronger leg off the ground for a few seconds-this will force bearing weight on the weaker leg. Lower and repeat with the opposite side leg. --- Outdoors on leash/harness and if needed a sling. Walk across a gentle slope, walk up and down the slope. Walk on different textures...low grass, higher grass, on sand.
Now is the perfect time if you haven't already to make those home modifications so that you can reduce the stress on the spine in the future. No more stairs, ramps up to furniture, or blocking furniture all together. All those ideas and more are in this link: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm
**
Madeline, stay in touch. Let us know which exercises and how Wolfie is doing with them. We LOVE updates and they help new members to see how a dog does after crate rest is over.
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Post by Madeline & Wolfie on Mar 23, 2020 0:03:03 GMT -7
Thank you for these helpful links! I will do my best to stay in touch. Wolfie still has quite a recovery road ahead of him. How soon can I give him a bath? He REALLY needs one. Anything to keep in mind while we bathe him? **
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Post by Judy & Vesper on Mar 23, 2020 1:46:41 GMT -7
Hi there Madeline, here is a few helpful hints to keep Wolfie clean. Bathing him before the eight weeks are done,is not recommended. You can clean him with baby wipes, or use Marjories cleaning tip. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htm. I am so glad he is doing well.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,535
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 23, 2020 6:55:31 GMT -7
Madeline, I see we need to congratulate you on Willie's graduation a couple of days ago on March 20!!
You did wait til all 8 weeks of rest were completed and refrained from baths. Upon graduation, now a bath is safe for the healed disc.
Take your usual precautions with a bath such as non-slip mat in tub and a secure grip on him so that he can't jump/slip from your grasp.
Did you already begin the gradual intro to supervised PT? How did Willie do...no signs of soreness? Was he happy to do some PT walking in your hallway?
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Post by Madeline & Wolfie on Mar 23, 2020 15:10:45 GMT -7
Thank you for the congratulations!
No signs of soreness, and Wolfie was very happy to do some walking! We don't have rugs down in our hallway yet, so we let him walk around the big area rug in the living room, and eat his dinner in his usual spot!
Right now he is happiest to cuddle up next to us on the sofa. I've been taking it slow with the PT, trying to do the massages. It's such good news that he's been cleared to have a bath now!
He's a longhaired dog, a very fluffy guy. The doggy odor has definitely built up, even with us wiping him daily.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,535
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 23, 2020 15:26:50 GMT -7
Madeline, glad to hear Wolfie is getting back to familiar places and his eating spot...that's gotta make him feel good! I can see you are very conscientious to ensure Wolfie's safety in this phase of getting back into shape. I look foward to your next update!
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Post by Madeline & Wolfie on May 25, 2020 16:15:20 GMT -7
May 25th Update: It's been about two months since Wolfie's finished his conservative treatment. Is it wrong to hope his back legs would be stronger by now? He seems quite happy and normal in that regard, but his hind quarters sag about an inch when not using the sling and his walk is still wobbly and uncoordinated in the rear. As of this point, he has not had any sort of additional treatment (no laser therapy, no hydrotherapy, just daily 5 minute walks). He sleeps in his crate at night and throughout the day, as that's the safest place for him. The massages help with some of the stiffness in his weak leg, but it seems to be temporary. I'd love to take him to the lakeshore to walk a bit on the sand but the pandemic is making things difficult. I'm holding out hope that laser therapy will do Wolfie a lot of good. He's still a pretty young dog (about to have his sixth birthday this June!) so I definitely expected him to have healed a little more at this point. But I'm going to stay positive! How do I correct his sitting and laying-down posture? When he does either of those things, his weak leg flails around and sticks out like it just can't get into the right position. Thanks, Madeline & Wolfie
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Marjorie
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Post by Marjorie on May 26, 2020 4:45:03 GMT -7
Hi, Madeline. Nerves are very, very slow to heal. It can take many months for the nerves to heal, even a year or more. Have you seen any improvement at all during the past two months? Is Wolfie in the crate during the day because you're out of the house at work? If you're home with him during the day, then there would be no reason for him to remain in his crate all day. If he's able to jump up on couches, chairs, then those would have to be blocked off with pillows or ramps used. Here are tips on how to make your home back friendly: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htmBy two months with gradual reintroduction to movement again, Wolfie should be up to taking his usual walks. 5 minutes is a very short walk. Walking can be one of the best forms of PT so walk him when you can. If possible, walk him on uneven ground, up and down a small hill or incline, through tall grass, and yes, if possible on sand or gravel. Exercise is good for Wolfie. Not only will it help the nerves to heal, but it will build up his muscle strength and stamina and will strengthen his spine. Hydrotherapy can be done right in your bathtub or get a small child's pool. Here are tips on that: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htmHere are other exercises that you can do for Wolfie at home: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htmHis legs sticking out when sitting or lying down is due to the nerve damage and will only improve if and when the nerves heal. Please continue to keep us updated. We love hearing how Wolfie is doing! Stay strong, stay positive and never give up hope! And enjoy every minute with your boy.
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