Mary, we are glad you registered and have joined us all on this public Forum! We have lots of tips to share with you in caring for an IVDD dog which can make the rest period go smoother. The right thing to do with a neck disc, is provide treatment. You have chosen medications, time and rest to help the disc heal! The more we know the better we can give specific comments about Gus and offer help in caring for him.
QUESTIONS★1 How much does your dog weigh?
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?
C. Date of steroid taper?
D. If on a non-steroid (NSAID):
start date? AND mg dose?
how often? AND For how many days?
Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC when taking any anti-inflammatory med (steroid or NSAID). We follow vets who are proactive against not eating, vomit, diarrhea, bleeding ulcers by giving doxie weight dogs 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory.
★3 Did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD, aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc?
-- Is the vet a general DVM or a specialist surgeon (ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho)?
★4 What was the date you saw the vet for conservative treatment ?
The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the crate rest part. With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. That 6 weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form.
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/STRICT means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
POTTY TIMES
Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps. Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on!
★5 Is there still currently pain -
◉shivering, trembling ◉yelping when picked up or moved ◉Arched back
◉reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move
◉head held high or nose to the ground
◉tight tense tummy ◉can’t find a comfortable position
◉Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
◉Not their normal interested in things going on 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.
There are the extra things you can do at home to help with a neck disc:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/cervical-care-tips/★6 Eating and drinking OK? Poops OK - normal firmness & color -no dark or bright red blood?
★7 Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
★8 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 control?
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