Angie, welcome to the Forum. ASAP it is YOU who can help get things right for Finn. Stay strong, stay positive, Finn can enjoy a good life after 100% very STRICT rest for 8 weeks. OK...now on to what to do asap today:
-- Call your vet and very strongly but politely advocate for prednisone to be started today.
Prednisone goes by weight.
What is Finn's weight? Prednisone is best prescribed two times a day by Finn's weight.-- Advocate double stomach protectors which vets who know IVDD use: Not only just the normal Pepcid AC to be on board, but an Rx for sucralfate so that Prednisone can get started asap today! Read why you are advocating for sucralfate and how you will time it with Pepcid AC (famotidine) -- No reason for pain when meds are properly Rx'd to cover each of the 3 sources of pain! Advocate all sources to be covered promptly every 8 hours
1) Methocarbamol works on the pain of muscle spasms.
2) Tramadol is the general pain reliever.
3) Gabapentin works on nerve pain. looks to be properly Rx'd
Please be specific in describing what you observe to the vet and to us about pain.
SIGNS OF PAIN:
◻︎ shivering-trembling ◻︎ yelping when picked up or moved
◻︎ slow to move ◻︎ tight tense tummy
◻︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◻︎ head held high or nose to the ground.
◻︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
◻︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
◻︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◻︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◻︎ holds front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
◻︎ not their normal perky selves
Excellent reading about use of anti-inflammtories during a disc epidode.--- Learn why Prednisone nor Meloxidyl is not a pain reliever, how long it could take to rid the body of all painfully inflamed and swollen tissue around the spinal cord.
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/ BLADDER CONTROLThe only way for humans to know if there is bladder control is with the “sniff and pee test.” Carry outdoors, set them on an old pee spot to sniff. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. See if they will release urine on the old urine area. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control exists. Let us know what you observe.
Lack of bladder control of leaking urine on you when lifted or finding urine in bedding is a sign you need to get a lesson today because this is a very serious health issue of UTIs can lead to dangerous kidney infection.. You will get more out of a hands-on-top-of-your-hands type of expressing lesson. Reading and viewing the video at this page will best help you get more out of the lesson:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/ STRICT REST is key to healing.
Please confirm that we're on the same page as to conservative care.
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/
Knowledge is key!
Owner understanding ensures proper conservaitve treatment principals:
▶︎ 4 phases of healing, what it takes to heal each phase:
dodgerslist.com/healing-the-disc/Very STRICT rest means:
◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths
◼︎ no playing with kids or other dogs
◼︎no use of wheelchair during 8 weeks it takes disc to heal
◼︎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 if you want this therapy
◼︎ avoid dangerous detours. Follow the "Roadmap." Tape it to your fridge. D/L and print out: dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf 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.
POTTY TIME strictness if there is bladder control
Lift your dog by supporting both ends so the back stays horizontal to the ground.
Carry your dog to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very, very few limited footsteps.
Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on!
