Welcome to Dodgerslist, Matt. So glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve gleaned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you!
What date was the surgery? For how many weeks has crate rest been prescribed for?
Is the surgeon a general DVM or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?
I'm concerned about the use of Paracetamol (Tylenol) and suggest that you speak to the vet about using another type of pain med such as Tramadol if they feel a pain med is still necessary.
Plumb's 7th ed: Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Dogs are more susceptible to red blood cell toxicity than are humans, so dose carefully. Because acetaminophen is not routinely used in veterinary medicine, experience on its adverse effect profile is limited. At suggested dosages in dogs, there is some potential for renal, hepatic, GI, and hematologic effects occurring. Plumb, Donald. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook (Kindle Locations 1180-1181). PharmaVet inc. Kindle Edition.
American Veterinary Medical Association
www.avma.org "Animal poisoning by drugs is by far the most common type of small animal poison exposure, accounting for 75% of 1990 toxin exposures as reported by the AAPCC and 82 of 425 fatalities.""
Due to the significant toxicity to pets in relatively minimal dosages, the recommendation is clear — Tylenol should not be given to dogs or cats. "
If Richmond has bladder control, then he must have deep pain sensation. However, leaking is an indication of loss of bladder control. You mentioned that he was able to urinate outside where your other dogs have urinated. A true test for bladder control would be to take him outside where another dog or he has peed before, support his hind legs by the thighs or hips but not under the belly and not with the use of a sling, let him sniff and see if he can release urine. If you're using a sling that goes under his belly, that pressure on his bladder may be expressing the urine so try a sniff and pee test without a sling.
Richmond may have only partial bladder control and you did mention that he cannot completely empty his bladder.
If he is unable to completely empty his bladder, you need to manually express his bladder after he has gone on his own. Urine that lies for too long in the bladder can lease to a urinary tract infection so it's important that his bladder completely empty. Here's our page on how to express the bladder and also the proper way to express for poop:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmI don't think it's a good idea to pinch his shins if it's causing his whole back end to buck/kick unless you've been given the OK by the surgeon to do that at this point in his healing process.
To determine whether a movement is due to nerve healing or due to reflex, you need to determine a brain/nerve connection. An example would be that Richmond can wag his tail when given a treat or when someone he knows walks into the room. Have you see a happy tail wag yet? Or if you see Richmond move his legs in a walking motion while in a sling or move his legs in an effort to stand up or scratch his head. Usually leg movement during PT is due to reflex. You want to see a movement when his brain says to a body part, move and it does.
There is no timetable anyone can give you when to expect nerve repair to happen. In fact, there is no time limit for nerves to heal...it can take weeks, months or even a year or longer. However, it is known that neurological function usually returns in the reverse order of the damage. The first big sign you want to look for is that wonderful tail wag!
1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.)
2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you, getting a treat or due to your happy talk.
3. Bladder and bowel control proved by passing the "sniff and pee" test.
Take your dog out to an old pee spot in the grass. Let him sniff and then observe for release of urine.
4. Leg movement, and then ability to move up into a standing position, and then wobbly walking.
5. Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly placed paws.
6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.
Neuropathic pain is not common but is something you should be aware of. This kind of pain is abnormal, phantom pain sensations with severe spinal cord damage. Signs are obsessive licking of paw, leg, genitals, tail. Escalates to biting, life-threatening chewing off parts. Immediately put on an e-collar (or lengthwise folded towel around neck and duct taped closed) to prevent access to lower body. Contact vet immediately for Gabapentin or stronger Lyrica (pregabalin) for neuropathic pain. More info:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/neuropathy.pdfWhen there is severe neuro diminishment and if available, acupuncture or laser light therapy can be be started right away as an adjunct to pain meds and to kick start nerve cell energy production. Options: Acupuncture vet who does home visits to avoid back moving during transports. For transport to necessary visits, pad out the recovery suite extra space with a rolled up towel/blanket to prevent body shifts during braking or cornering.
CAUTIONS: ~~ Laser light therapy is contra-indicated with tumors which are detected via x-ray.
~~ Why Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/chiropractic.htmHere's our page on post-op exercises that you might want to take a look at to see if there is anything else you could do at home. Please do check with the surgeon about any of these before starting.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htmKnowledge is the power to fight the IVDD enemy and win!!The very best thing you can do for YOU, the caregiver, and for your dog is to get up to speed on IVDD as soon as possible. Begin absorbing the must-have overall sense of meds, care and how the treatment works. Your dog will be depending on your ability to learn:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/theater.htm --- PRINT OUT this link and tape to your fridge:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm --- use the printout as your roadmap to avoid dangerous detours in your dog's care --- make notes/highlight to keep yourself on track
--- follow all the links in the next days to become the IVDD savvy pet parent your dog needs.
Use the “search box” to easily locate topics over at our Main
www.dodgerslist.com website:
www.dodgerslist.com/index/searchBOX.jpgPlease let us know more about Richmond's bladder control and whether he can pass a sniff and pee test when held by thighs/hips and not under belly and please continue to keep us updated. Healing prayers for Richmond.