Sarah's Molly RIP 8/19 surgery

Hi, Sarah. Welcome to Dodgerslist. I'm so sorry to hear about Molly. First off, since she's still in pain, please contact your vet immediately to advise him of Molly's pain so he can adjust the medication. Molly's pain must be brought under control so healing can begin. There should be no sign of pain from one dose of medication to the next. Signs of pain are holding the head in an unusual position...head held high or nose to the ground, shivering/trembling, not wanting to move much or moving gingerly, yelping, tight/tense stomach muscles, holding leg up flamingo style...not wanting to bear weight on the leg, just not their usual perky-interested-in-life self.

As for crate rest, you said that you started crate rest on 8/1. Was the incident of her falling off the bed after that? If so, you need to start the 8-week count from the day after her falling off the bed incident as that made her worse. It must be strict crate rest. As you have learned, unforeseen accidents can happen and the safest most healing place for Molly is in her crate.

100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks is the SINGLE most important thing you can do to help your dog-- it is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. Carried in and out to potty. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc. 

The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm 

The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal.

You said that her hind legs are having problems. Can she wag her tail? Did the doctor say she had deep pain sensation? Has he discussed surgery with you?

You need a hands on your hands lesson from your vet so you can express Molly at home. It takes practice but you can learn how to do it.  She'll need to be expressed more often than you can run her to a vet. Here is some more information on that:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm 

Pepcid AC is given to protect your dog from the excess acid produced by the anti-inflammatory. If the stomach is left unprotected, internal bleeding can occur. Please get your vet's permission to give 5 mg of Pepcid AC (generic is famotidine) 30 minutes before each dose of the anti-inflammatory. Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "Is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in protecting the stomach by giving Pepcid AC.

Dogs can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy. These therapies can be be started right away to help relieve pain and to also to kick start energy production in nerve cells to sprout. So if this therapy is in your budget, seek out a holistic vet.
ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html

Dodgerslist website contains so much information that you need to read up on. Please go through the website and read, read, read so you can become knowledgeable about IVDD. Here are some links to get you started. Please click on all of them to get a good background of understanding.
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm

Don't despair. IVDD is not a death sentence. Many dogs regain use of their legs and even if they don't, their lives can be happy ones.
www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

Please let us know what your vet says about the pain medication after you speak to him/her. And please know that we are here for you and will do all we can to help you and Molly get through this frightening time.

Hi Sarah, my name is Maureen. How are you and Molly coping today? Please keep us posted, we are all in this together and are here to help each other
Keeping you in thought and prayer

A doggie cart is for later.. if she needs one.. If she goes on conservative treatment as many Dodgerslist dogs do, it takes 8 weeks of crate rest to heal the disc herniation and carts shouldn't be used until after crate rest graduation.. They are put on Steroids and pain meds and  strict crate rest.. You can learn to express her urine and poop. Ask them to teach you..  Don't give up hope no matter which way you go.. Surgery or Conservative care.. She can successfully recover from this and go on to a careful and happy new normal. 

My Tyler had surgery and recovered quickly.. He was on 6 weeks of post op crate rest.. here are some success stories of Dodgerslist dogs that went through conservative treatment and also surgery.. www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory.htm

And yes your dog can have a great quality of life: 
www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

Conservative or Surgery considerations..
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htm

Feel for you and sending HUGS!

Hi everyone,

What an amazing group. Thank you so much. I went the surgery route. The doctor called to say she is out of surgery. The herniated disk was "huge" and "quite remarkable." She said the spinal cord looked bruised and chances of her regaining feeling are "slim." But Molly is my everything, my angel, my best friend! There is no way I could have out her down, despite one vet tech's suggestion (what a jerk!!!) She is in recovery right now. I am dedicated to giving her a good life (she is only six!) I will keep you all posted. Thank you again!

Please don't take the "slim" chance the doctors gave Molly of regaining feeling to heart. My Jeremy had no deep pain sensation and was completely paralyzed, very bruised spinal cord, had surgery, given a 50/50 chance of walking again with the vet shaking her head saying it was doubtful if he'd ever get up and walk again. It took months but walk again he did!  Of course, each dog's recovery is different but don't give up hope.  Keep telling Molly she's getting better every day.

Here's Dodgerslist page about what to expect discharge day and some questions to ask. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm#discharge
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/dischargequestions.htm

Acupuncture and water therapy are very helpful. You can do some of the water therapy right in your tub or a small pool, but not until after the stitches/staples are removed. And there are physical therapy exercises that you can do at home, too.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm

As to the vet tech's suggestion to put Molly down, you named her/him right - "Jerk!" Good for you for not listening. Molly can live a happy and wonderful life, no matter how much function she regains. She has your love, after all!

Hi Sabrina, I'm June. My Cookie is about 4 days post surgery, and although she has not yet regained any deep pain sensation, she is already fully engaged in life, and the big challenge is trying to keep her still, she is already trying to scoot away to explore when put on the floor. I dont know if she will regain any function (Her doctor puts her chance as slightly better than 50-50), but I can see with my own eyes that she is not letting a little leg paralysis stop her from enjoying life. I already am glad I am giving her every change she deserves, and I think you will be glad you are doing the same for Molly.

Hi June,

Aren't you supposed to keep your dog on strict crate rest after surgery? I read the dog can re-damage their spine if they move around too soon after surgery...

Ooohh. When was the surgery? Molly's was last night so she is mainly under sedation right now. I'm curious how long it will be before I can visit or take her home.

Unfortunately, Sarah, there is a window of time after losing deep pain sensation where the chances of surgery being successful are less.  The more hours after 24 hours, the less chance of a complete recovery.  When I told you about my Jeremy being given a 50/50 chance, that was with surgery being done within 12 hours of losing DPS.  But Jeremy's doctor, even giving him a 50/50 chance, said she didn't feel he'd ever get up and walk again and certainly not normally.  But a year after the surgery, he was very close to walking normally before he went down with a second disc problem.

I'm sorry if I confused you.  But you mustn't lose hope.  My experience has shown me that pets (and people) can often surprise doctors and make unexpected recoveries.  I've had far too many doctors tell me, well, I didn't expect him/her to do this well or live this long.  And Molly's doctor didn't say she had no chance of recovery at all.  Try not to worry too much about what the future holds for Molly as far as walking is concerned.  Take it one day at a time, enjoy her every minute of those days and whether she walks or not, she can lead a very happy life.

The spinal cord death your doctor was speaking about is Myelomalacia.  It's rare so try not to worry about that either, though I know that's easier said than done.  Here's more info on that:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Myelomalacia.pdf

Hang in there.  It will all get easier as each day goes by.

OMG Sarah, I do the same thing!  I arrange my whole life around those vet updates.

)))Hugs!(((

I'm not very knowledgeable about the surgical side of IVDD treatment yet. Did you see what Dr. Isaacs wrote about owner visits?: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm

"Are owner visits recommended, beneficial? The goal of performing the surgery is to allow the spinal cord to heal. If a dog gets too active immediately after surgery there is the potential for the spinal cord to get re-injured. Therefore, even though is it difficult for an owner not to visit, due to the chance of undoing all the benefit gained from surgery I will typically not recommend visits for at least the first couple days. I never prohibit an owner from visiting, I just advise of the potential risk if the dog gets too excited and let the owner decide. In some situations I will ask an owner to visit if the dog is not interested in eating after weaning off of the narcotics."

I'm glad you will be speaking to the head doctor.

Anyone who acts like the cost of surgery is "nothing" doesn't have a good grasp on the reality of most people's finances! Please, I know it's so hard, but don't feel guilty. Whenever anything happens to our beloved dogs it's so easy to think we should have done something differently. But you are doing your very best for Molly, so don't let guilt waste any of your energy! IVDD is exhausting enough!

As for the Myelomalacia - was the doctor concerned about this? Or was the doctor just concerned about Molly's prognosis for walking? Did the doctor tell you if Molly's pain is under control?

I know folks with more knowledge of surgery will be by - I mostly just wanted to send you )))Hugs!(((

Sarah, it is surgeons who get concerned when a dog is not walking in 2-4 weeks. Their training is surgery and they want to see success. We here at Dodgerslist know that true success is being out of pain so that when post op recovery time has been completed, a dog can get right back to enjoying family activities while waiting on nerve healing to happen. Nerves are the slowest part of the body to heal. So that we humans are not depressed when we don't see instant results…think in terms of months for nerve healing. It might come during the 6 weeks of crate rest, but do not be upset if it does not. Dogs do not view walking with the same importance humans place on it.

Molly is going to be looking to you, her leader, to give her a sense that everything is going to be ok… because it will be!! You know how smart Molly is…she will pick up messages from your emotions, the way you hold your body, an unhappy look on your face. Just like visiting a friend in the hospital…put on your happy face and do some cheerful talking. It will comfort Molly and it will even help get your mind trained to stay away from the dark side. Worrying about something that may never happen will really drain your energies. We all have had to learn from our dogs…to live in the moment..see what is positive and recognize the good things all around you.

You might use the length width of her doggie bed/mattress as kind of an estimation for the recovery suite size. The suite should allow her to fully stretch out her legs when lying down. Enough room to turn around in the suite. If the suite is a bit too big you can pad out the extra room with a rolled up blanket.

An ex-pen can be another option with its 8 two foot panels, you can easily reconfigure to a needed size. If her doggie bed is the right size you can just wrap an ex-pen around it as shown in the top photo.

These directions show you how to convert to a top opening crate: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies/cratetopconvert.pdf

I used a "critter cage"for a crate. It was 35 in long. I got it at petsmart on clearance. The whole top came off in one piece. Works perfect, and also had wheels on it.