Welcome to Dodgerslist, Stephen. 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. Know more about us and how we team up with veterinarians:
dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/Disc disease is not a death sentence! Struggling with quality of life questions? Re-think things:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/hope-quality-life/Gracie definitely has deep pain sensation, proven by the happy tail wag and leg movement. That is a very good indication of more healing ahead. Please know that nerves are very, very slow to heal so think more in terms of months, even a year or more.
It will help us work together with you and avoid offering ideas that could cause harm or lead the discussion in the wrong direction delaying help for your dog — please share a bit more detail with us:
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Is there still currently pain? ☐shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved ☐reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move ☐tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position ☐Arched back ☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight ☐head held high or nose to the ground ☐Not their normal perky selves? Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose. If not in control your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds.
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:
dodgerslist.com/2020/06/10/neuropathy/?highlight=neuropathic❖2
MEDS …A Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and times per day given. …B If on a steroid….what was the start date & dose? Date of steroid taper? If on a NSAID, for how many days has it been prescribed for? …C If on an anti-inflammatory, 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).
Doxie weight dogs: 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) every 12 hours. NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound, 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours for as long as your dog is on the anti-inflammatory.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html i.ibb.co/DCN9611/91x-Aj-s00z-L-SY355.jpg❖3
GI tract problems? --No nausea/not eating, no vomit? --Poops OK? Normal firmness & color -no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers?
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Please reconsider confining Gracie. As she feels better, she may drag herself when you're not looking and cause damage to the surgical site. Possibly an ex-pen would be a better option than a crate or at least secure gates.
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! —>
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/STRICT for a post-op dog means: ◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you ◼︎no chiro therapy whys:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/chiropractic.htm◼︎no dragging or meandering at potty times.
Post-op dogs will follow surgeon's directives for PT during post-op rest as the offending disc material was surgically removed.
1. How many weeks did your surgeon direct for post-op rest?
2. What did your surgeon direct for at home PT?
If there is great pain or severe neuro diminishment, 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:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/?highlight=chiropracticAlso water therapy can be performed after the stitches/sutures are removed. Some of these exercises can be done right in the bathtub. Many members have found underwater treadmills to be very helpful in regaining their dogs' use of their legs. Please check with the surgeon before starting any of these.
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/28/surgery-dog-water-therapy/?highlight=water%20therapy❖5
Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control - OR- do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control?
Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs. Review video then get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmPlease don't be intimidated about bladder control if Gracie has indeed lost control. It can take some practice but it IS doable. Expressing has become completely routine for my Jeremy and me.
❖6 Is the surgeon a general DVM or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?
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.
﹆1 Remove yourself from the dark scary unknown. Be in command of the 4 phases of healing, what to expect with pain, with swelling, disc and nerve healing. Get up to speed:
dodgerslist.com/healing-the-disc/**
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Fridge-Flyer-promo.jpg﹆2 Two FRIDGE FLYERs to print out
a) Help all of your family recognize emergency signs and action to take.
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/emergency-fridge-flyer2.pdf b) Avoid dangerous detours with the Conservative Roadmap for your fridge:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf﹆3 Excellent IVDD video playlist:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGTcmjenJIkUNy9ke7IvPlFIMKFfjBSen ﹆4 At the MAIN WEBSITE, use the orange SEARCH bar feature to easily access the treasure trove of more IVDD information. You will feel so very empowered to help your dog!
dodgerslist.com/Healing prayers for Gracie. Please continue to keep us updated.
