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Post by Jackie & Riley on Nov 1, 2020 16:41:05 GMT -7
[Please do not edit this post. Moderator is currently reading and marking post to organize the chain of events and the date each happened on. Please add missing data in a new post. Thanks! ]
SOS - I think Riley is headed for another IVDD episode. He is showing some of the same behaviors as the first time (although back then I was not able to identify them as such). He was fine on Friday, and on Saturday when we woke up we found he had [10/28] dragged himself across the house during the night and was laying shivering in the corner of the dining room. He never barked. He was very quiet and although he ate, drank, peed and pooped, he was not really interested in anything, just going through the motions. We took him [10/31] to the vet who could find nothing else wrong with him so gave us pain meds and anti-inflammatories.
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
14lbs
back legs paralyzed 10/28 night
Rimadyl as of 10/31: 12.5mg 2x/day for 7 days, 11/7 test taper: _pain / _neuro
gabapentin 50mgs 2x/day
needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board w/ anti-inflammatory ! ]
He used to do his signature "shake" like when a dog gets wet and they are shaking water off - he would do this every time he got up, but now when he starts to, he stops as if it hurts to[shake ]do that.
We have not let him move around the house and have not put him in his wheels. We only let him up to go outside to do business, then back in to his recovery pen. But I need to know if there is anything else I should be doing, or what I might expect to happen next. I can't imagine going though another surgery so it's going to have to be crate rest but still, we are so anxious about the future. Thoughts?
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 1, 2020 17:12:00 GMT -7
Let us know you are on the same page about the very STRICTNESS of rest for the conservative dog. The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT rest part (no PT, little movement). With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. Those 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, the mattress and more! dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/ Knowledge is key! Owner understanding ensures proper conservaitve treatment principals: ▶︎ 4 phases of healing, what it takes to heal each phase: dodgerslist.com/healing-the-disc/▶︎ Roadmap for your fridge. Stay the course, avoid dangerous detours for the healing disc during conservative treatment: dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf STRICT rest means: ◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you ◼︎no chiro therapy WHYs: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/ ◼︎no dragging or meandering at potty times. ◼︎no PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc ◼︎At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best. Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. All vet visits must be weighed risk of too much movement vs. benefit/gain for the dog. Things like med adjustments can more safely be handled over the phone.CONSERVATIVE POTTY TIME strictness Carry your dog to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very, 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!  Conservative vs. Surgical crate rest **  |
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Post by Jackie & Riley on Nov 2, 2020 6:09:24 GMT -7
Riley is about 14 pounds
He was prescribed:
Rimadyl 1/2 of a 25 mg tablet twice a day. Started Saturday 10/31. Was given 7 days worth
Gabapentin 50 mg tablet twice a day. Started Saturday 10/31. Was given 7 days worth
Pepcid was not mentioned by the vet but I will look into it.
Since he is already hind leg paralyzed, we take him out to potty in a Walk a Bout harness to support his hind end while peeing/pooping. But now I'm worried that the process of putting the harness on him might move him too much. The plain old sling always seems to get in the way of his peeing. (I tried taking him out without anything and holding up his back legs but he finds it difficult to pee in that situation.)
Thanks for your help!
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 2, 2020 6:29:25 GMT -7
Thanks for verifying the meds, Jackie.
Since Riley has no signs of neuro deficits, he's a very good candidate for conservative care but it must be kept very strict, much more strict than post-op crate rest, so do heed all of the advice given by Paula. Most surgeons would not recommend surgery for a dog that can still walk. It's excellent that you caught the disc episode early.
Do check with the vet that Riley has no health issues, such as heart or liver, that would prevent the giving of Pepcid AC and do get it on board today. Rimadyl is well known to cause GI distress and it can worsen quickly so this is important. And please let us know when Pepcid AC is on board. If Riley has any type of health issue that would prevent the taking of Pepcid AC, the vet can prescribe another type of stomach protector.
Healing prayers for Riley. Please keep us updated.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 2, 2020 8:15:08 GMT -7
I see that you've added a paragraph to your last post reminding us that Riley is rear end paralyzed from the first incident. My apologies for the previous post about him still being able to walk. I responded before your addition of that information. Many male dogs prefer a Figure 8 sling. •Here's one you can make from an old sweatshirt www.lyonpuffpetsit.com/htmlslp/sling.html • And one can made out of two leashes.  |
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