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Post by Jenny & Mia on Feb 4, 2021 20:37:14 GMT -7
I want to give you all an update! Mia’s graduation is in a few days!! She has been pain free since we stopped her meds. Her behavior is back to normal, really wants to get out of the crate, barking, wagging her tail, etc.
Her walk... is definitely slowing getting better. Compared to the day she was diagnosed, from wobbly/flopping over to now walking with only a slight weakness in her back legs. I say about 95% back to normal walking.
Now that her graduation is almost here, I want to prep before she gets out. I will be starting small walks with Mia, will build up from 5 mins per day to 10 mins. But my question is, how about when we are home? Do I continue crating her? Or can I let her walk around my house, with supervision. I have been reading to start them slow with 5 mins per day but is that for whole day activity? I hope this make sense.
Also, is running allowed in the future? I’m talking about in a couple of months. Will running hurt her back? Or she can no longer run?
What do you guys suggest for car rides? I’m talking about from 30 mins to 2 hours ride? Mia would usually just sit on my lap (passenger seat), or stand on my lap to look out the window. We aren’t going anywhere anytime soon but maybe in a few months. Is being in my lap safe? (For her back/spine) or should I invest in a car seat for her? Would that protect her spine?
If there is anything that I need to know, please let me know! Thank you!
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 5, 2021 8:57:59 GMT -7
Such a wonderful update on Mia, Jenny! She has made a lot of progress in a short time. Many times there is no improvement seen during the 8 weeks of conservative care so she has done so well. On graduation day (2/9), you can start to very slowly reintroduce her to movement again. Please don't start those walks until 2/9. Mia needs to very gradually build up her stamina and strength. You will start her with only a minute up and down a hall and then back in the crate to rest. That will gradually increase but during the times she isn't gradually increasing her walking, she needs to be back in the crate, even when your home. Even after she has completely returned to full walking, you should crate her when you're not home. Here's our page with a suggested schedule on how to gradually re-introduce movement which I've found very helpful when my Jeremy has graduated crate rest in the past (click on arrow next to CLICK for sample schedule). There are also tips on never-again activities and back-friendly activities. dodgerslist.com/2020/06/15/back-friendly/There is also a link on the above page that will show you how to make your home back friendly. As you will see on the above link, you should discourage any zigzag running or stopping abruptly but other than that, she can run. I think you'll see even more of an improvement in Mia's hind leg function once she's able to start to gradually walk again. If she's wobbly to the point where her hips fall to the side when you start off, do use a sling to stabilize her hind end. Kudos to you both for going the full 8 weeks! Please keep in touch.
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Post by Jenny & Mia on Feb 13, 2021 12:33:28 GMT -7
Thank you, the link you sent is very helpful. One of the rules is to keep all 4 paws on the ground. Is it the “standing on back legs/begging” position that hurts the back/spine or is it the pressure of the front legs landing to the ground? Mia likes looking out the window, can she continue do this with my supervision as long I help her land softly on her front legs?
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,541
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 13, 2021 13:18:22 GMT -7
Jenny, good question. Visualize a dog's anatomy. you would see the discs are situated between vertebral bones in the spine. Anytime the dog moves the vertebrae naturally must move. Having all four paws on the floor means there is little compression to the discs between the vertebrae. Impactful compression to the discs happens when there are not four paws on the ground supporting the spine horizontal to the ground. Jumping up or down, being lifted like a baby under the arms can compress discs. The problem is with an IVDD dog, the discs prematurely age. What once were jelly like discs that could absorb compression, with an IVDD dog the discs age abnormally fast and harden. They no longer can act as a squishy cushiony disc. Instead vertebrae cause compression to the mineralized hardened discs where tiny little cracks form on the exterior of the disc and can eventual tear open Safest for our IVDD discs
Easy – Peasy to remember “Back horizontal to the ground“ LEARN MORE: 1) dodgerslist.com/2020/05/20/back-support/2) dodgerslist.com/2020/06/26/what-is-disc-disease/Would it be feasible to train her to look out a window she need not jump up or down for? All dogs can do the unexpected in a blink of eye. The trick is being one step of head of them in considering ways to protect them. Looking out the sliding glass door for example, would keep her from hurting herself if you can re-train her.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 13, 2021 17:26:40 GMT -7
Just a thought, Jenny. If Mia likes looking out of a particular window, possibly you could place her in her crate and put the crate securely on a table in front of the window. Then when she's had enough of looking out, you can take her out of the crate. You can even do that now before graduation but only if she won't get too excited and move around in her crate too much.
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