Welcome to Dodgerslist, Anne. We are glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve learned 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:
It is important to know that surgery is not the only treatment for IVDD. If surgery is not an option for you, many dogs have been treated with the Conservative treatment. The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT crate 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.
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
The most important thing you can do for Jake now is to immediately start Strict crate rest if you haven't already. Jake should be out of the crate only for pottying and needed vet visits.
Along with Strict crate rest, IVDD is treated with anti-inflammatories and pain meds. The anti-inflammatory is to treat the swelling in the spinal cord that causes the pain and neuro deficits like trouble walking. The anti-inflammatory does not work immediately. While the anti-inflammatory is doing its job reducing the swelling, pain meds will work right away on the pain.
What meds is Jake currently on? Please give the dosage and frequency.
If a steroid has been prescribed, what was the start date and when does the taper(lowering the dose) start?
If a NSAID type of anti-inflammatory has been prescribed, how many days is the prescription for.
How much does your dog weigh?
If Jake has just been diagnosed with IVDD, a wheelchair, if needed, can be considered after the 8 weeks of crate rest are finished. A wheelchair would result in much too much movement during this critical period while the disc is forming secure scar tissue. It is sometimes possible to get a wheelchair donated.
If your current Vet is supportive of you and your dog during this disc episode and has experience treating IVDD there should be no need to see a neurologist.
Please share some of Jake's story with us.
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 between doses. If not in control your vet needs to know right away to adjust meds.
At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best. Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment.
Is your dog having any GI Tract problems? —Eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit? —Poops OK? Normal firmness & color -no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers? No diarrhea?
What was the date you saw the vet for CONSERVATIVE treatment of meds and started crate rest?
Currently, can Jake move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
Can he 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. We have information about expressing here:
What breed is Jake?
The very best thing you can do for you, and for your dog is to get up to speed on IVDD as soon as possible. Begin absorbing the must-have overall sense of meds, care and how the treatment works.
➤ Home Care TiPS:
➤ Medications used during a disc episode:
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