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Post by Crystal & Kylowren on Jan 16, 2021 19:57:21 GMT -7
[Original subject line:Kylowren-Hospitalizaton/crate rest/conservativ ]
Hello, My name is Crystal, and my dog Kylowren is a female mix of a Sharpei with BullTerrier. Last Thursday, I came home from work to find her [1/14] dragging herself, and not able to walk at all. I took her to the ER vet closest to me, and she has been there ever since. Imaging has not been done because their machine is broken, and I know she is currently on Gabapentin, Nsaids, and Diazepam because she is an anxious one.
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit 32lbs Name of NSAID as of 1/7: ?mg ?x/day for ? days, then test stop: _pain/_neur0 gabapentin ?mg ?x/day diazepam ?mg ?x/day for anxiety needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board w/NSAID!
She has been going through HBOT or Hybeprbaric Oxygen Therapy since Friday of last week, and I believe she has been getting two sessions a day, except Saturdays, because she also had some bruising on her legs, and they wanted to reduce the swelling. So far, I have been told that she does have deep tissue sensation in her left leg, and pain sensation. Her right leg I was told is still not being ruled out because they think that she may regain it. Kylowren is 32 lbs, is eating/ drinking fine, from what I'm told, but she has been tensing her belly when they try to express her bladder, and she trembles during our visitations.
I've been visiting her everyday since, and today she was brought in with a cone on her head! The tech explained that she developed rashes from her urine and poop, I guess from laying in it, and the cone was to prevent her from getting at those areas because they applied ointment. Is this normal? She was fine yesterday when I saw her, and her bruising had also gone down by the 3rd day of HBOT. She is supposed to be released Monday, and now I'm worried. I've been told that he bladder has not regained function, and I would have to express her. I've researched a bit on it, but I'm honestly so afraid that I am going to hurt her. Please if anyone could help, even with just some reassurance, I would GREATLY appreciated.
Signed, Nervous Momma
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 16, 2021 21:06:15 GMT -7
Crystal, welcome! The single most important care outside of having full pain control, round the clock, is Kylo being under very STRICT rest inside of a recovery suite. A suite is padded with a mattress so that there would be no leg bruising of laying on a hard surface. Can you explain what the bruising is from on her back legs? Proper conservative nursing care when there is loss of bladder control would be the timely expressing of the bladder BEFORE the bladder overflows in bedding. Lying in urine would be totally unacceptable! Specifically verify if really rash on back legs OR if the need for the cone was due to the pain of neuropathy. Learn about neuropathic phantom pain: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/10/neuropathy/ If she is having neuropathic pain, then make sure the gabapentin is being Rx'd and promptly given every 8 hrs. Please do provide a med list when you know it so we are able to follow along better. MED LIST Exact name of? NSAID as of 1/7: ?mg ?x/day Rx'd for ? days, then a test stop: _pain/_neur0 gabapentin ?mg ?x/day diazepam ?mg ?x/day for anxietyneeds GI tract protector, Pepcid AC (famotidine), on board w/NSAID! ]PEPCID AC (Famotidine) Dogs don't speak up at first signs of trouble like a person would. By the time we notice black or red blood in the stools, things can quickly go from bleeding ulcers to a life threatening perforated stomach. Ask if your dog 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 during a disc episode is Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours. Give the anti-inflammatory with a meal as added protection. www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html GETTING READY for DISCHARGE DAY --- All the details, supplies etc, you will need to set up a home recovery suite: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/--- D/L and print "the" ROADMAP for your for reference on conservative treatment to avoid dangerous detours.: dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf--- Understand Kylo's disease -- a very excellent overview: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/26/time-and-ivdd/--- I bet your mind is flooded right now with concerns, questions. Now is the time to jot those things down. Here's a starter list of questions to which you can add some of your concerns to ask your surgeon: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/03/discharge-day-list/--- Review and read about expressing. This way the hands-on-top-of-your hands type of lesson will be more beneficial. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/Take only the word of a neuro (DVM, ACVIM) or ortho (DVM, ACVS) specialist about the most difficult to correctly identify neuro function called deep pain sensation. However a happy tail wag is something that no one can mistake. When you see her do some happy talk and see if there is any attempt to move the tail in a happy way. Nerves will self heal on their own to the degree possible and on the body's time schedule. The focus of conservative treatment is the very STRICT rest to allow the disc to self heal in 8 weeks. The body's ability to self heal nerves may or may not happen in such a short time. It is better to think more in terms of months rather than days/weeks for this very slow healing part of the body. Please do keep us updated with your next visit with Kylowren.
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Post by Crystal & Kylowren on Jan 17, 2021 11:53:17 GMT -7
So I called them last night at about 10:30 pm because I was just very upset at the fact that she may have been laying in poop and urine. I was told the info I was given was incorrect, and that the rashes are definitely not from urine or poop, but from her moving around in her kennel and causing herself rug burns, then licking at the area. That made more sense to me because I know her and I know how anxious she is. They told me that her moving around is a good sign, but that she is still not having bladder function. I’m worried about expressing because I don’t want to hurt her! ☹️ I’m also trying to figure out how she’s pooping because everytime I ask they tell me she’s pooping fine, but don’t specify HOW.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 17, 2021 12:10:00 GMT -7
Crystal, expressing does not hurt the dog. You should be getting (asking) for the kind of expressing lesson where they put their hands on top of your hands. This way you can feel the amount of pressure to apply. You can begin to learn what the bladder feels like, where to find the bladder when it is very full and where it hides when it begins to get rather empty. Please review the video so you can get more out of the lesson: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/URINE Bladder must be expressed to prevent UTIs (urinary tract infection) AND to prevent constant over stretching of the bladder. Overstretching can ruin the bladder's muscle tone where the bladder won't function properly when the brain can self heal nerves again enough to connect with the bladder. POOP Poop comes out all on it's own for a paralyzed dog. Reflexes take care of that. The reason to express poop is so that Kylo will not be anxious in finding poop where she sleeps. About 30-60 minutes before mother nature via reflexes will just plop out poop, YOU can express Kylo. The above link on expressing also has a video to show you how easy it is to do. Also a way to deterimine when Kylo's usual poop time be to allow you to get there 30-60 mins ahead of time. EMAIL ALERTS Please enable receiving email alerts when someone has posted. Timely interaction/communications is needed when helping your dog. How to set up: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/7353/register-bookmark-dogs-post-thread
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Post by Crystal & Kylowren on Jan 17, 2021 19:53:32 GMT -7
Thank you so much! I’m picking her up tomorrow from discharge day! I am currently not working, due to what happened to her, and wanted to stay home to be her full time caregiver. However, I do want to go back to work in the future, is that possible? She and her brother will now be in separate kennels, but this won’t be until after her recovery and I feel confident enough to return without worry.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Jan 18, 2021 6:43:23 GMT -7
I'm so glad to hear that Kylowren is coming home today! Once you get her settled, please answer the questions below. We have many members who work full time and care for their IVDD dogs. There should be no problem with your return to work when you're ready. We do recommend that Kylowren be crated any time you're not home to supervise. She will no longer be allowed to jump or go up or down any steps or stairs. ❖1 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 dose to dose. If not in control your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds. Neuropathic pain is not common but you should be aware of it. This kind of pain is abnormal, phantom pain sensations with severe spinal cord damage. Signs are obsessive licking of paw, leg, genitals, tail. Escalates to biting, life-threatening chewing off parts. Immediately put on an e-collar (or lengthwise folded towel around neck and duct taped closed) to prevent access to lower body. Contact vet immediately for Gabapentin or stronger Lyrica (pregabalin) for neuropathic pain. More info: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/10/neuropathy/?highlight=neuropathic❖2 MEDSHow much does your dog weigh? …A Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and times per day given. …B If on a steroid….what was the start date & dose? Date of steroid taper? If on a NSAID, for how many days has it been prescribed for? ❖3 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? ❖4 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. Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/STRICT 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. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment. If there is great pain or severe neuro diminishment, acupuncture or laser light therapy can be be started right away as an adjunct to pain meds and to kick start nerve cell energy production. Options: Acupuncture vet who does home visits to avoid back moving during transports. For transport to necessary visits, pad out the recovery suite extra space with a rolled up towel/blanket to prevent body shifts during braking or cornering. CAUTIONS: ~~ Laser light therapy is contra-indicated with tumors which are detected via x-ray. ~~ Why Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/?highlight=chiropractic❖5 Let us know how you make out expressing Kylowren. It can take some practice so don't get discouraged. Healing prayers for Kylowren.
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Post by Crystal & Kylowren on Jan 19, 2021 0:00:09 GMT -7
I’ve tried to express but I can’t. I took her to the vet so that they could show me and they did, but they told me to express again at midnight. I tried but she hadn’t drank any water since they expressed her. How many times a day do I need to express her?
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Jan 19, 2021 6:58:45 GMT -7
It's difficult to answer your question as to how often you should express since we don't know what meds she's on. If she's on a steroid such as Prednisone, which causes increased thirst and hunger, you should express every 2-3 hours. Otherwise, every 3-4 hours should be sufficient or as often as is needed until you become good at it and learn how to completely empty her bladder. The goal is to express often enough so she remains dry in between expressing. Expressing is a matter of physics. That means the pressure applied to the bladder has to be greater than the strength of the urinary sphincter. Sometimes you have to hold that pressure many seconds longer than you think before the sphincter is overcome. Sometimes laying a warm towel on her belly prior to expressing with help her to relax. When the bladder is full, it will fill the whole abdomen and it should be easier to express. As it gets smaller, it will shrink and sometimes it will slip away from your fingers. Sometimes it will move back toward the pelvic area. Find and press on the bladder until it feels flat, almost like your fingers are touching. It really does take some practice so don't be discouraged. Be sure to check out our page on expressing with many tips and advice. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/Sometimes when they have some bladder control, it can make it really hard to express them. Occasionally carry her out for a sniff and pee test to see if her bladder control is returning. Carry her to a spot where she peed before, support her hind end but not under the belly, allow her to sniff and see if she can release urine. If she can, then she has some bladder control. You may need to express her after she's gone on her own until you're sure she can completely empty her bladder on her own. We'd like to offer you all of the support that we can but we do need more information from you. Please take a look at my list of questions in the post above. Originally, I incorrectly asked questions for a post-op dog since I saw that she was in the hospital - my apologies. I've edited the questions so please take a look at them and provide answers. Thanks.
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Post by Crystal & Kylowren on Jan 19, 2021 7:15:10 GMT -7
She is currently on diazepam 10 mg 1/2 tab tid, gabapentin 100 mg 1 cap tid, and bethanechol chlride 1/2 tid.
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit 32lbs NSAID? as of 1/7: ?mg ?x/day for ? days, then test stop: _pain/_neur0 gabapentin 100mg 3x/day diazepam 10mg tab: 5mg 2x/day for anxiety bethanechol chlride ?mg 3x/day
As far as pain this little one moved around ALOT. She has shivered a bit but I think it was more from me being frustrated and crying from the fact that I couldn’t express her. Otherwise she’s pretty much been in her kennel asleep since I brought her home. I have another dog, her brother, but she doesn’t try to play with him not yet. She is eating and drinking, however drinking I’ve noticed she’s been picky of when she wants to, but she eats very well.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 19, 2021 9:26:44 GMT -7
Crystal, Ideas for carrying a 32 lbs dog to and from an outdoor potty place for the sniff and pee test is too difficult to do safely. --- when you know Kylo should have a full bladder and need to release urine, give the sniff & pee test --- Put your other dog away in another room for the sniff and pee test. In fact any time Kylo needs to be out of her suite (expressing or sniff and pee tests), make sure your other dog is not present by being restricted in another room or a kennel. --- put a pee pad down adjacent to the crate. Place a bit of your other dog's urine on the pee pad as incentive for Kylo. --- To make sure you are in control of Kylo for only a few footsteps and not darting off, put Kylo in a harness and back end sling. Sling is used as back up catch a wobbly dog's butt and prevent twisting the back. -- Rear sling ideas: 1) long winter scarf 2) www.lyonpuffpetsit.com/htmlslp/sling.html3) NSAID. Double check. Was a NSAID not sent home with Kylo?PAIN The stop of a NSAID that was given in the hospital is essentially a test to find out if all painful spinal cord swelling is now gone. Gabapentin is a pain med for nerve pain. It is often used for nerve pain caused by a disc episode. Gabapentin is also used when there is neuropathic pain that causes a dog to obsess on chewing/biting, licking at phantom/abnormal pain in back limbs, paws, genitals. The pain can be mild of pins and needs to a very painful on fire feeling. A dog would wear a cone to protect them from chewing off a limb, etc from the phantom pain of neuropathy. THE MYSTERY Would you help us to understand Kylo's treatment? At the stop of a NSAID all pain meds such as gabapentin would also be stopped. This gives you the owner a clear view if pain would surface. Pain surfacing would need another course of the NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug). Often vets will prescribe a course for 7 or 14 days, then try another stop test to assess for pain. What is the purpose of gabapentin being on board at this point in time? Please ask and get clarification. Owners are owed the information of why a med is being used. IF not volunteered, owners should ask questions. 1) Is the gabapentin for disc caused painful spinal cord swelling still suspected? If that is the answers then why is a NSAID not also on board? 2) Is the gabapentin for neuropathic pain? Then why were you not made aware of this situation to do your best job in monitoring, knowing when you are not supervising Kylo a cone should be used. We are very confused by the treatment Kylo was sent home on. We look forward to learning more after you speak with the vet. Let us know the results of the Sniff and Pee Test today.Is her water bowl inside the suite and attached to the side at head height?
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Post by Crystal & Kylowren on Feb 17, 2021 23:16:52 GMT -7
Hi there! Kylowren has been improving since I last posted, and is even on laser therapy now. She’s been moving her legs while in her wheelchair, and even stands on her own! She did end up with a uti, but has since been treated. I don’t have to express her anymore because since she’s active in her wheelchair I take her out with her brother and she does her necessities while out. My question is, is walking her in her wheelchair so that she can poop and pee a good thing? Or can it cause another uti?
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 18, 2021 7:38:41 GMT -7
Great news on the return of bladder control and movement of Kylowren's legs, Crystal. Excellent signs of nerve healing.
I'm very concerned, though, that Kylowren is using a wheelchair while on strict crate rest. The less movement of the spine, the better. Too much movement and the not-yet-healed disc can tear more or rupture, causing the return of pain and even more nerve damage, possibly permanent nerve damage. I'm able to carry my 30-lb. Cocker spaniel and I'm very small framed - are you able to carry Kylowren in and out to potty? If so, then please carry her to her potty spot, use a sling to support her hind end and a 6' harness and leash to limit her steps, allow her to sniff and pee with only a very few steps and then carry her back to the crate. This is very, very important, Crystal. It would be a shame for Kylowren to have a relapse and worsen due to too much movement.
If you cannot lift and carry her, try to train her to use a pee pad that you can place right next to her crate. Put a bit of dirt with her urine or another dog's urine on the pad and praise her when she goes. Or put caster wheels on a wire crate and wheel her down a ramp to her potty spot. We can try to come up with more ideas if these don't work for you so please let us know. 24/7 strict crate rest with only very limited movement at potty time is vitally important in order for the damaged disc to heal properly.
As for bladder health, the main thing you need to determine is whether Kylowren can completely empty her bladder on her own. If she can completely empty her bladder when taken outside, then you no longer need to express her bladder. Are you still finding wet bedding or does she leak on you when picked up? If she stays dry between potty times, then full bladder control has returned and expressing is no longer needed. If not, then you should express her bladder after she has gone on her own to be sure it's completely empty since it's urine that lies in the bladder for too long that can lead to a UTI.
What type of laser treatment is being given? Are you using an at-home laser yourself or does someone come to your home to administer laser treatment or do you take Kylowren to a vet for the treatment? Transport involves a risk of too much movement of the spine so at home treatment would be best.
Is Kylowren still on any meds at this time?
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Post by Crystal & Kylowren on Feb 18, 2021 16:13:08 GMT -7
So she only uses her wheelchair when taken outside as instructed by both the hospital and her vet. She does NOT stay still even in her kennel and I feel like she became more depressed so I put her in her ortho bed and she stays there. She is still on gabapentin, diazepam, and bethanechol. Her vet believes that since she is starting to stand on her own and attempt to walk that soon she can be weened off of them. They also instructed I move her legs to simulate walking so that she can regain her mobility. She is also staying dry, I haven’t seen her leak or anything like that only when she’s nervous or anxious. But she pees about 4-5 times outside.
She’s also been crated and rested
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 19, 2021 8:04:50 GMT -7
Crystal, you have been given very dangerous directions by the hospital and vet. If in fact Kylowren is being allowed to walk in her crate from her bed to an area outside in the wheelchair, that is way too much movement being allowed during conservative care. Do you carry her outside and then put her in the wheelchair? Even so, carrying her to a potty spot and using a sling to support her hind end while she takes a very, very few steps to do her business and then carry back is a much better option. Moving her legs to simulate walking is way too much movement during conservative care. The less movement of the spine, the better. At this point, the focus of conservative care is to heal the disc. Movement can cause the disc to tear more or rupture. Please take a look at this video to understand how the disc heals: Dogs so often do the unexpected. Someone rings a doorbell or they see something out a window and they're moving. Not being able to walk does not prevent Kylowren from dragging herself which she should most definitely not be allowed to do while on conservative care. Think of the crate as a cast for the spine. If she will not stay calm in the crate, she may need a mild sedative to help her relax. I'll give some tips on calming during crate rest in the next post. Why is she still on gabapentin, diazepam, and bethanechol? Does the vet believe she still has pain and needs Gabapentin? If she still has pain, then she still has swelling pressing on the nerves of the spine and she should never have stopped the NSAID. The diazepam should help calm her in the crate but if that wasn't sufficient, something else should have been prescribed. If Kylowren is now staying dry and only urinates when she's taken outside, she has bladder control and no longer needs the Bethanechol. None of those medications have anything to do with improving mobility so waiting until she has more mobility until taking her off of them makes no sense at all. No one wants their dog on meds for any longer than absolutely necessary. Please understand that not all vets understand how to treat IVDD, especially with conservative care. Many vets are trained that only surgery is a treatment for IVDD and have no understanding about the necessity of strict crate rest. Often times, vets do not see enough cases of IVDD to have a good understanding of IVDD. I myself was given bad advice about strict crate rest when my Jeremy first was diagnosed with IVDD and he went from being able to walk with just pain as a symptom to being completely paralyzed with no bladder/bowel control necessitating emergency surgery. It took him a year to walk again and he has never fully regained bladder/bowel control. Please learn all that you can yourself about IVDD at www.dodgerslist.com so you know when you've been given inappropriate advise, even by a medical professional. Please reconsider the advice that you've been given and give Kylowren the best chance to heal that disc with appropriate strict crate rest. Healing prayers for Kylowren.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 19, 2021 8:05:59 GMT -7
Try to keep a happy voice and face around your dog. Dogs are very sensitive and pick up on our feelings very easily. Tell her everything's OK and that she's getting better every day. And you believe it, too! Here are some tips to help calm your dog in the crate. If these do not help, it may be necessary to have the vet prescribe a mild sedative. To calm your dog in the crate, it would be a good idea to cover the top with a towel. That should mellow him/her. It also creates a den like feeling that dogs love. Using any oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives such as Acepromazine, Trazodone, etc. Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog. Other product brands may be available in your area or on-line… just shop by the active ingredient(s) on the label and the quantity for best price. Place a DAP pheromone diffuser at floor level where the recovery suite is. Dogs: Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml www.adaptil.com/us/Products/ADAPTIL-Calm-Home-Diffuser with dog pheromones Use a diffuser with one oral calmer from below: 1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed 2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine. 3) Bach's Rescue Remedy is a liquid 5-herb combo to help with relaxation (Star of Bethlehem – Orithogalum umbellatum, Rock Rose – Helianthemum, Cherry Plum – Prunus cerasifera, Impatiens – Impatiens gladulifera, Clematis – Clematis vitalba) Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the crate, petting. So anytime you see unwanted behavior ignore it, turn your back, leave the room if you have to. Preferable is to start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior. Anytime your dog is sitting or lying down quietly, give a reward. Soon your dog will see they get rewards for four feet on the floor, quietly sitting, etc. Consider some of these ideas: -- Many members have found a pet stroller to solve the whining problem because the stroller can be wheeled from room to room as you go about your activities. Pet strollers, however, should only be used when you are directly supervising and only inside during conservative care. More details on strollers: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/strollers.htm--Caster wheels can be added to a wire crate so the crate can be wheeled from one room to the next so your dog can stay with you. -- Put a garment you have been wearing and have not washed in the crate. -- Nan Arthur, CDBC, CPDT, KPACTP writes: "According to the book, Stress in Dogs, by Martina Scholz & Clarissa von Reinhardt, the most well-behaved dogs get 17 or more hours of rest and sleep per day. Teaching self-calming exercises can also help your dog to relax more. You can make something as simple as eye contact a very rewarding behavior that also acts as a way for your dog to “ask permission” when he wants something. When dogs have a focus and an understanding about how to behave to get what they want, they are much calmer overall. To do this, each time your dog looks at you, say, something like, “Yes!” or use a clicker to mark the second he looks at you, and then give your dog a high-value food reward. Wait for your dog to look up at you again, say, “Yes,” and reward again. Do this exercise 10 or so times and then say, “All done,” and put the treats away. Come back later and do it again until you can see that your dog is really starting to make automatic eye contact in hopes you will say, “Yes,” again and give him his reward. " [NOTE: treats should be subtracted from the normal daily kibble ration so as not to gain weight during crate rest.] -- If your dog won’t get too excited seeing what’s happening outside, during the day try putting the crate on the coffee table or the dining room table so there will be a view out a window and a better perspective on what is going on in the house from on high. -- Play classical music or one of the wildlife TV shows. -- Fill a Kong with soft dog food and freeze. Put part of the dog's total daily dinner kibble in the Kong to lengthen time to consume dinner. Good low cal snacks are carrots, apples, or frozen green beans, licking a frozen low sodium broth ice cube. Good thick low salt/no fat chicken broth is full of cartilage-building proteins and amino acids. Freeze it up into cubes for easy access as you need it. Fun and keeps the body hydrated: place cubes in a bowl for licking. If a dog is jumping up at the sides of the crate, you can lower the ceiling of the crate. Cut a piece of cardboard the size of the top of the crate, punch holes in the corners and tie the cardboard down into the crate to the level of the top of the dog's head when standing. Or cover the top of the crate with a blanket or towel, bringing the blanket/towel down to the level of the dog's eyes so when he/she jumps up, he won't be able to see anything. That may discourage him/her from jumping up. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/dodgerslist.com/2020/02/24/tips-to-help-with-recovery-suite/
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