Lex' Louie 6/29 surgery4-6wks

Hi Lex


Welcome to Dodgerslist! 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!

It will really help our moderators if you can give us the following information on Louie, to help us to help you  

As soon as you can: 
Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and times per day given.
If he is on a steroid….what was the start date & dose?
If on a NSAID, for how many days has it been prescribed for?

Tummy protection

 PEPCID AC:
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).

Is the surgeon a general DVM or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?

Here are some questions to ask the surgeon before you take Louie home

Surgery Discharge Questions
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/dischargequestions.htm


STRICT for a post-op dog means:
◼︎no laps
◼︎no couches
◼︎no baths
◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎"no chiro therapy whys":http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/chiropractic.htm
◼︎no dragging or meandering at potty times.

Recovery suite set up. 
Post-op crate rest is to allow the surgical sites to heal. 
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm

Acupuncture, laser and water therapy are excellent post-op therapies, if within your budget. Check with surgeon prior to starting.

Knowledge 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 soonest 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.

Expressing bladder 
Loss of bladder control means the need today to go for a hands-on-top-of-your-hands type of expressing the bladder lesson. First read and view the video at this page to get more out of the lesson: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm

Dog who do not have bladder control, leak on you when lifted because that lifting pressure to the tummy is sorta like the pressure to the tummy area for expressing. Loss of bladder control means the brain no longer connects/sends messages to the bladder to wait until in an appropriate place. Instead reflexes will kick in when the bladder is filled to the stretch point. This allows the dog to overflow. Overflowing will not remove all urine. What remains can quickly develop into a urinary tract infection (UTI). Let us know if Daisy can pass the sniff and pee test.

The only way for humans to know if there is bladder control is with the “sniff and pee test.” Carry outdoors, set them on an old pee spot to sniff. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. See if they will release urine on the old urine area. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control still remains. You should continue to do a quick express check to verify there is full voiding until you are certain it is consistently happening. Let us know what you observe.

I think I have given you a lot of info there to carry on with, don't be so nervous about taking him home, it's the best place for him and will speed up his healing, you'll do a great job!  I am speaking from experience, it's very daunting, but trust me, it will be all ok and we are here to help you and advise you. 

Mary 

hi Lex

Yes by all means go ahead and prepare the recovery suite for Louie. 

Size of the recovery suite should only be big enough to stand up, turn around and when lying down to fully stretch out legs. Pad out extra room with a rolled up blanket or towel 

You'll see some pics of examples of recovery suites in this link
  OLD www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm
  New link: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/


Also give some thought about Louie's journey home,  it would be best to take the crate with you for him if you can, with rolled up towels or small pillows to cushion him on the journey and make it more comfy for him.  Avoid breaking suddenly if you can and taking corners too quickly when he is onboard. 

It will go well and you'll be fine. 

Do come back and fill us in with the info when you get it.  

Use the time you have now to read up on the links and get ready for Louie's return home. 

Mary

Louie came home Thursday afternoon. He is able to urinate and defecate on his own with sling assistance. He is eating and drinking well.

[11lbs]
The medications are:
Gabapentin 1 ML every 8 hours until the end of this week then twice daily Sunday/Monday if he is doing well.
Carprofen 25 mg 1/2 tab twice daily for a week
Prazosin 1mg/ML suspension- giving .5 ML every 12 hours
Omeprazole 10 mg - 1/2 tablet once daily (we give it at night)
And trazadone as needed

Louie seems very comfortable with the medication regimen. He is on crate rest for 4-6 weeks pending how he does. He gets stitches out July 13. They will give me an update on crate rest then.

Louie weighs 11 lbs. they have us do massages and leg exercises 2-3 times a day. We have acupuncture scheduled on July 23

As of midday today Louie has been vomiting on and off small bits of food he’s eaten. He seems comfortable (not in pain) also willing to eat. Go pee and poop outside. He’s drinking water. I think the carprofen is to harsh on his belly? I can’t withhold food from him for long due to his other meds needing to be taken with food

So the vet stopped his anti inflammatory and we gave him an anti nausea med and he seems to be doing much better! No vomiting in 24 hours. Normal vowel movements. Keeping all food and water down!

[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit 
11lbs
Gabapentin 1 ML 3x/day;  2x/day Sunday/Monday if he is doing well.
Prazosin 1mg/ML suspension-  .5 ML 2x/day
Omeprazole 5mg 1x/day
And trazadone as needed]

Lex, what a wonderful update on Louie!  With time, his gait deficit may be almost imperceptible as the muscles get stronger and perfecting the art of walking with muscle to nerve communication.

   You may be interested in some at home water therapy based on the same principals of underwater treadmill:  dodgerslist.com/2020/05/28/surgery-dog-water-therapy/

Other 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 steps 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
--- Do therapy at meal times. Feed dinner a few kibbles at a time, for stands, sits. 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 balance to lift paws 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 walk across a gentle slope, walk up and down the slope. Walk on different textures...low grass, higher grass, on sand.
---At home water therapy: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/28/surgery-dog-water-therapy/

Has the surgeon indicated when post-op crate rest is over at 4wks or 6wks and he can be slowly introduced back to family life and activities?