Mike thank you for the information! So glad to hear that Vader is not suffering with any pain, the pain meds are doing a good job.
Let us know if Vader can do a happy tail wag when you specifically do some happy talk to him or he sees a treat coming. Tail and leg movement during potty times is often due to reflexes.
Bladder control? ▪️Are you expressing Vader's bladder because he has lost bladder control?
Loss based on 1) he will leak on you when lifted? 2) You are finding urine leaks in bedding?
▪️Or do you take him out side where he can sniff an old pee spot in the grass and then his brain makes the decision to allow the bladder to release urine? That is bladder control. Please let us know what you observe with the sniff and pee test.
Leg functionLet us know where on this list you observe Vader to be:
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions. When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order.
1.
√ Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. √ Wobbly walking, legs cross
3. √ Nails/toes scuffing floor
4. √ Paws knuckle under
5.
_?_Weak/little leg movement,
_?_can't move up into a stand
6. _
?_Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down)
7. _
?_Bladder control is lost. Leaks on you when lifted. Can no longer sniff and then pee on that old urine spot outdoors.
8. __Tail wagging with joy is lost
9. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment. If surgery is not an option (for whatever reason) then the best option is conservative therapy.
Prednisone use for a disc episode
This anti inflammatory is going to have a test taper for pain on Sun 5/24. You vet will not be open and ER vets are expensive if you do not have a plan worked out ahead of time with your vet.
With the way vet visits are with Corona, you likely did not get much information about why the taper, what your role is, etc. Please take advantage of this article to be up to speed.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm ▪️ Let us know what the Plan B is you have worked out with your vet
▪️ Let us know which your vet prefers on the begin of the pred taper:
--- to full stop all pain meds so you can quickly and accurately get a good read if any pain would surface. Pain meaning another course of Pred 5mgs 2x/day and a retest taper
--- OR does your vet prefer to back off the two pain meds either by less mgs dose or by less frequency?
Stomach protection for the duration of prednisoneVader is under stresses from several fronts which subjects him to potential of bleeding ulcers: change in routine, prednisone which causes acids and spinal cord damage which can inhibit the autonomic function that normally protects the stomach lining. Proactive vets don’t wait til there is lip licking of nausea, not eating, vomit, diarrhea leading to serious bleeding ulcers, red or black blood in stool due to the extra stomach acids anti-inflammatory drugs cause. Pepcid AC (famotidine) blocks the production of acid. The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) with a disc episode is 0.44mg mg per pound every 12 hours. Pepcid AC has a very limited potential for side effects.
Ask if your dog has any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn’t need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a “no health” issues answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
You are encouraged to read up on each med you dog takes or will take at the Mar Vista Veterinary website HEALTH ISSUES: “Mar Vista Vet reports: Pepcid AC has a very limited potential for side effects, the reason of release to over-the-counter status. The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease as these diseases tend to prolong drug activities. There have been some reports of exacerbating heart rhythm problems in patients who already have heart rhythm problems so it may be prudent to choose another means of stomach acid control in heart patients.” marvistavet.com/famotidine.pml Crate rest
Let us know you are on board with the single most important care of 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out of the recovery suite for a very, very few footsteps at potty time or expressing. STRICT means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging at potty times.
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm PLUS further guidance on conservative treatment on our "All Things IVDD page:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm and
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
