I well remember those difficult days following my Jeremy's surgery and his inability to walk or urinate. But please do know that it will get better. I was alone with Jeremy, too, so I do understand. We're here for you and Quincy and will help you through this.
Please let us know the names of all meds that Quincy was sent home on and the dosages in mgs and frequency given.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=neuropathicHow many weeks did your surgeon direct for post-op rest? What did your surgeon direct for at home PT?Please know that often times neuro function will worsen following surgery due to swelling from the surgery. It can take a couple of weeks for that swelling to resolve. Once that swelling goes down, you'll have a better idea of his neuro function.
Once the catheter is removed, you will need a demonstration from a vet on how to manually express Quincy's bladder. Overflowing bladders must be expressed in order to keep the bladder healthy. Urine lying for too long can lead to urinary tract infections.
One reason why the bladder may be especially hard to express is that Quincy may have some bladder control. It's very difficult to express a dog with bladder control. Once the catheter is removed, you should carry Quincy out to a spot where he or another dog has peed before, support his hind end but not under the belly, let him sniff and see if he can release urine on his own. If he can, then he has bladder control. If he cannot, then you'll need to manually express his bladder until if and when bladder control returns.
Nerves are very slow to heal. 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.
Please let us know if you see a happy tail wag when Quincy is spoken to in a happy voice or if someone he knows walks into the room. Did the surgeon say whether or not Quincy has deep pain sensation?
Try to take it one day at a time. It took my Jeremy six months to walk again following his surgery but walk he did. So stay strong, stay positive and never give up hope! Healing prayers for Quincy.