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Post by Kelly & Lupine on Dec 5, 2020 15:53:06 GMT -7
[Original Subject Lupine's IVDD journey... just got home post surgery.]
★1 22 lbs
Prednisone 5 mg once per day for 3 days then 1 tablet every 48 hours for 2 doses then of
Gabapentin 100 mg 3x/day for 5 days, then 2x/day for 5 days
Famotidine 5 mg 2x/day
Trazadone – only as needed for sedation
★2 Lupine (Loo-pin; like the flower) is a French Bulldog. My name is Kelly
★3 Yes, specific diagnosis of IVDD – disc herniation at L4/L5 ACVIM neurology
★4 Surgery 12/3/20
★5 No pain
★6 - Just got home – hasn’t eaten or pottied
★7 - Wobbly walk, doesn’t have a tail : )
★8 Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine?- I don’t know yet we just got home
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Dec 5, 2020 16:22:20 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist, Kelly. 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!
Learn more about us and how we team up with veterinarians: dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/
Lupine will be on post-op crate rest for a while. This crate rest allows the surgical site to heal. Some vets want four weeks of crate rest, some six and occasionally eight. How many weeks of crate rest does your surgeon want? Below we have information about crate rest and setting up a comfy recovery suite. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
All anti-inflammatories cause excess stomach acid which can lead to stomach damage. To help prevent this damage a stomach protector like Pepcid AC is needed. Ask your vet if Lupine 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)
The usual dose of 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
Lupine can walk, although wobbly, so she is likely to have bladder control. Pred causes dogs to drink more and therefore need to pee more. You will find you need to take Lupine out more often, maybe every two or three hours to avoid accidents.
Did the surgeon recommend any PT? We have some info on PT at the link below. Check first with the surgeon. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/27/surgery-dog-ptIt is important to learn as much as you can about the disease Lupine was born with. At the MAIN WEBSITE, use the orange SEARCH bar feature to easily access more IVDD information. dodgerslist.com/ |
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Post by Kelly & Lupine on Dec 6, 2020 8:04:44 GMT -7
Hi there!! Thank you so much for the advice!! And wow... this is a lot. I am so thankful that I was able to get her to the vet so quickly and that I was able to find this resource so early on in her treatment. 1. Famotidine: I will increase her dose of ▲ famotidine. She's about 22 lbs so it seems like should be getting a full 10 mg every 12 hours.
[Moderator's note: please do not edit
22 lbs
Prednisone as of 12/3: 5 mg 1x/day for 3 days; then test for pain/neuro
Gabapentin 100 mg 3x/day for 5 days, then 2x/day for 5 days
Famotidine ▲10 mg 2x/day
Trazadone – only as needed for sedation]2. She is definitely drinking and peeing WAY more on the prednisone! I will increase the amount we're taking her out. She definitely has control over her bladder but I also think is having accidents from drinking so much. For example, this morning she woke up and by the time I also got up and was ready to get her out of the pen she had a little accident. I'm not sure if this is loss of control vs waking up on loopy meds and having to go RIGHT NOW. I don't want her to be thirsty but should I be taking her water away at night? Any recommendations on products to keep her bottom clean (I know urine scalds and don't want her to have skin breakdown!). 3. Helping her potty - I'd love some tips on the hind sling. It is very hard to manage both her chest (with the harness) and her hind sling at the same time. I feel a bit like a puppetteer and she's so unstable on her feet (though when she's determined she definitely gets where she wants to). Has anyone used one of the devices that connects both the front harness and the hind sling like the "Help em up harness"? Or any homemade remedies/tips and tricks to help with this. We've only been home about 15 hours and she hasn't yet pooped - but i'm nervous as to how to support her while she's doing this. 4. Crate rest right now is for "4-6 weeks". She has a re-check with the neurologist in 4 weeks. 5. The surgeon sort of mentioned PT, she said something along the lines of "it's nice if you can, but not necessary and some you can do at home". She gave some instructions on passive range of motion exercises to help prevent her from losing muscles mass but I'm not sure when I should start those. I already put in a consultation request at a local Boston rehab center here... with covid etc I'm worried about our ability to get there, but I will wait for the phone intake next week and then see what we can do at home (I'll check out the link below). I will ask her specifically when to start these. 6. The recovery suite (photo included)- I have a little ex-pen that's maybe 2x3 feet with an orthopedic bed in it, some soft blankeys and a water dish attached to the side. Is this a good recovery suite? She, for the most part, has required someone to sit right there with her to keep her calm. Anytime I try to walk away she has to know where I'm going.. She's always been a velcro dog. I know she's on "crate rest", but what small things is she allowed to do? The vet said okay for 5 minute "walks" 3-4 times/day.... mainly the time she's sniffing and pottying. I carry her to the potty spot and carry her back, but do let her sniff and go while she's there and she takes steps definitely to do that. But is it okay for her to like... stretch? Or get up and paw around at her blankets to "nest" like she normally does? sometimes when she's laying down her spine looks curved and i get nervous, but they didn't tell me only to let her lay a certain way.. Thank you again 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 Dec 6, 2020 8:25:01 GMT -7
Hi, Kelly. Yes, Pepcid AC should be 10 mg 30 mins. before the Prednisone and then every 12 hours thereafter for as long as Lupine is on any dosage of Prednisone. I see that Prednisone was given for only 3 days, then a taper is to start. You'll need to be alert for any sign of pain returning during the Prednisone taper. Should you see any sign of pain, immediately alert the hospital so they can return Lupine to the original dosages of all meds. Pain means there is still swelling and still a need for the original anti-inflammatory dosage for a bit longer. Yes, you should take Lupine's water away about two hours before bedtime and be sure to take her out to potty right before bedtime. Hopefully that will help with night time accidents. To clean up Lupine, brew up a pot of decaf green tea. Green tea neutralizes the acidity of urine and leaves a nice, clean scent. Brew up a pot, let it cool, dampen a sponge or cloth with the tea and then gently wipe Lupine's belly and legs. The remaining tea can then be stored in the refrigerator and warmed before use. Many of our members have found the Help 'Em Up harness to be of great help. It can take a bit of practice to hold the harness leash and the sling. I used to keep my Jeremy on my right side, hold the sling with my right hand and reach over and hold the leash with my left hand. Constipation following surgery is common. Pumpkin can help with that. Give one teaspoon of pumpkin for every 10 pounds of body weight per day. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. Note alternatives for constipation: really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potato. From what I can see in the photo, it looks OK. Lupine should only have enough room to stand up, turn around and extend her legs comfortably. Any extra room needs to be filled in with rolled up towels/blankets. She can stretch, paw blankets and lie in any position that is comfortable for her. She should only be out of the recovery suite to potty and to do PT, then back in the crate to rest and heal. Here is our page on setting up a recovery suite with many tips: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/Healing prayers for Lupine. |
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Post by Kelly & Lupine on Dec 13, 2020 11:14:42 GMT -7
Hi Paula (and community!),
Thank you so much for all your advice. The last 7 days have been challenging to say the least, but Lupine is starting to make some progress.
We had a small complication in that Lupine got a corneal abrasion 3 days ago. We've been doing eye drops but kept her on the gabapentin every 8 hours (instead of transitioning to every 12 hours) to keep her comfortable. Today the eye is looking better, but I'm still hesitant to decrease her pain meds until tomorrow.
For keeping her calm in her pen - I got "licky mats" that I can spread yogurt, pumpkin, peanut butter, etc on and that keeps her busy for a bit. Any other recommendations for toys to occupy her while trying to keep her calm? The vet gave me two weeks worth of trazodone if she becomes too rambunctious but I'd like to avoid that if possible for now since she's still on the gabapentin.
Physical therapy: what are the recommended exercises for PT? My neurologist has been... a bit less than helpful I would say. She said Lupine is okay for "assisted stands" and 5-10 minutes of walking about 3-4 times per day. Beyond that she hasn't given me any tips or tricks. Is there a way I can post a video to the site to show you all how she's walking? I have heard that infrared laser therapy is helpful and see I can purchase that online. Has anyone tried that? I have a consultation at the local pet rehab center, but with covid their hours and capabilities are limited. I don't love the idea of dropping her off with strangers and picking her up at the end.
Harness post-surgery: is there a harness that the community has found particularly helpful post-surgery? I have heard the "ruffwear" harness is good, but there are so many variations. Any help here would be appreciated!
Thanks!
Kelly
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,535
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 13, 2020 13:53:22 GMT -7
Kelly, sorry to hear of the hiccup corneal abrasion. We surely WOULD like to see how Lupine is currently walking, then we'd better be able suggest something to you. Watch out for the high calorie peanut butter. Remember high fiber pumpkin can help to loose or to firm up stools- maybe you don't want either at this point in time if her poops were to be perfect now? Small pieces of local carrot/apple can be hidden in the mat. -- Since your dog does not have a neck disc and if he will calmly use a kong it can provide a job during post-op rest.... to eat dinner via a kibble meal frozen into a Kong. Licking and eating will now take more time & effort and it is stimulating. Be sure to subtract what's in the kong from his daily kibble allottment so as not to gain weight. what/how to stuff and training tips:  Learn more about harness fitting for the IVDD dog here: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/19/harness-with-leash/Not sure why you seek laser therapy since she is not in pain and is walking. Many times when a dog can walk, then the PT is walking as it is a matter of re-learning the art of walking, retraining the connection of muscles to nerves. Hard to comment much more, so very much looking forward to seeing a YouTube video in your next post |
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