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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 8, 2021 6:40:35 GMT -7
[Original subject line:Introduction of Philippe (Fifi) the Galgo ] Hello everyone, I found this board and website while in the waiting room of the vet hospital, and it has been so helpful! thank you to the amazing people who share their knowledge online! Here is the intro Q&A: 1) My dog weights 27 kilos / almost 60 lbs. He is still at the hospital after surgery so I don't know what kind of medication he will be on 3) Fifi is an 8 year-old Spanish Galgo living in Switzerland (he is the one on the right in the picture). My name is Sarah.
4) He was diagnosed with IVDD at a university hospital for animals by a specialist surgeon.
5) He was diagnosed yesterday (April 7, 2021). He was fine two days before, then deteriorated very quickly until he was fully paralyzed (all 4 legs) with only some deep pain sensibility remaining. The [MRI] IRM was done yesterday and the surgery was done immediately (so also April 7).
I can't answer the rest of the question as he is still in the hospital and will be for at least a few days. So far he has recovered from the surgery, there is no difference in his mobility but we hope that he will regain at least a bit of feeling in his legs soon.
My main concern will be how to handle the recovery period for such a big dog. He is too heavy for me to carry him easily, so that will be a challenge. But mostly I just hope that he will recover, at this point I do not yet feel that we can know if the surgery will help or not.
Thank you! Sarah
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 8, 2021 8:32:09 GMT -7
Sarah, welcome to the Forum. Wonderful to hear you are invested in learning more about the disease Fifi was born with... keep up the good work, keep learning! You've come to the right place for tips on home nursing care. The good news is the surgeon observed there was still some deep pain sensation prior to surgery. That bodes well for nerve healing to take place! With our little Dachshunds, there is understanding it usually take 2 weeks for the surgery caused neuro setback and painful swelling to resolve. Sighthounds take longer to recover from the effects of anesthetics and pain medications. It has to do with their body fat and metabolisms. These breeds can easily get stressed, chilled and their livers are slower to process meds from the body. Discuss with your surgeon, how that may relate to Fifi's recovering post-op so your mind learns what to reasonably expect. Pain can be covered with pain meds so that Fifi can heal in comfort and you can care for him without causing pain. No doubt caring for a large breed quad dog is a challenge. Here are some ideas and things to discuss with the surgeon. He and his vet techs can be a good resource to also learn tips with large dog care. --DISCHARGE DAY 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/ ** This page is good reading by Dr. Isaacs, ACVIM (neurology) as he explains many post-op questions for our IVDD community: meds, crate rest, PT and discharge day. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/12/dr-isaacs-surgery-answers/See if there are any other things you can do to make post-op crate rest go smoother with these very useful tips and ideas: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/ -- EXPRESSING First read and view the videos and tips for expressing the bladder because this is a health issue to prevent urinary tract infection (UTI). Expressing for poop is more to relieve Fifi's anxiety in finding body waste where he sleeps. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/This Facebook video shows Bently lying down being expressed on an Ultra absorbent Poise pad. You could augment this concept of expressing while Fifi is lying down. Use something larger such as a diaper plus a pee pad underneath to catch a 27kg/60 lb dog's bladder contents. www.facebook.com/1535976553/videos/pcb.300641501128704/10216007423928519--- MATTRESS SET UP Memory Foam to provide good cushion. Aids in prevention of pressure sores. Check your big box stores, etc for a memory foam mattress for a baby crib, a twin bed memory foam topper. Egg crate foam is an alternate. Enclose Foam in protective plastic, maybe a very large leaf trash bag. Seal shut with duct tape. Place a large pee pad on top of plastic protector. Tuck in securely all around the foam mattress a 100% synthetic fleece sheet. Synthetic wicks away liquids from Fifi, washes and dries quickly. Have a couple of these sheets on hand. Synthetic fleece also makes a light in weight but warm blanket/cover for Fifi. -- HARNESS is to assist you when moving Fifi. Help 'em up harness: rear end and front helpemup.com/features/helpemup.comWalkabout rear harness compare: www.walkaboutharnesses.com/pages/product-comparison?type=harnessesDo you live with another person to help in Fifi's care, or a nearby friend? When you are updated, we'd love to hear from you how Fifi is doing at the hospital.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Apr 8, 2021 13:49:24 GMT -7
It is harder to help a larger dog during recovery for just those reasons you discussed. Larger dogs can not be carried, they are much harder to move. But with a little logistical planning larger dogs can be cared for in much the same way as smaller dogs.
My dog Frankie was a bit over 60 lbs when he had IVDD surgery. I used the "Help Em UP Harness' that Paula mentioned, to lift him up and move him. It has a kind of handle that can be used to make moving much easier.
Frankie had to be expressed for a while and I struggled with different positions. As he healed the best position for expressing changed. For a while, I used several pee pads and expressed with Frankie on his side, one arm underneath him. Since Fifi is paralyzed in all four legs this position may work out best for you in the beginning. Although the breeds more likely to have IVDD are mostly smaller, like Dachshunds and Shih Tzus, the disease can be found in dogs of any breed and size. It is very early in Fifi's recovery and a lot of healing will still take place.
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 10, 2021 2:15:19 GMT -7
The vet called me every morning to update me on how my dog is doing. So far, he has recovered well from surgery, he is medicated and pain free (I don't know the medication) and is eating. They told me that they do some light physiotherapy on him every day. He has not shown any progress neurologicaly, which I was not expecting yet after reading through the forum.
I will drive to see him tomorrow. Not sure if it is a good idea, he might be more stressed to see me and then being left there again... but he has been there since Wednesday and it is a long time, I don't want him to believe he has been abandonned again (he was in a shelter before I adopted him).
I asked the vet what kind of progress they wanted to see before letting him go home, and she said: that he has control of his bladder at a minimum. I am a bit worried that it might take weeks (especially since he is a greyhound, and as you said Paula it might take even longer than another breed). I don't think that it would be good for his spirit to be left at the hospital for that long. Even the best animal hospital in the country.
So my plan is to discuss it with the vet at the beginning of next week, tell her that I am aware of the need to express bladder/poop and I would like to try if they can show me how to do it. And also of course see if there is another reason why they would like to keep him longer.
I do live with my boyfriend and he is a strong guy, so he could help me lift Fifi if needed. I was initially worried about asking him for help several times a day (he is not really a dog person) but he said not to worry. We only moved in together three weeks ago, the dogs were mine, but he said that he has grown very attached to them and we should do anything / pay any amount if it helps Fifi. I cried (happy tears) of course! So keeping my fingers crossed that the next few weeks bring us good news.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Apr 10, 2021 6:21:27 GMT -7
I'm very glad to hear that Fifi is doing well, Sarah. I do hope that he will be able to come home soon. Dogs do so much better in their own environment surrounded by their loved ones. We usually see a 3-4 day stay after surgery so do check with the surgeon about bringing Fifi home. Once a dog can be taken off IV meds and given oral meds at home, the dog can usually be discharged. It may take weeks, even months, for bladder control to return or it may not return at all. Usually bladder control returns prior to leg movement but that doesn't always happen. My Jeremy was paralyzed with no deep pain sensation 9 years ago, had surgery and it took six months for him to walk again. To this date, 9 years later, he has very little bladder control. Expressing his bladder soon became a normal part of our day. Each dog heals differently. Hopefully, bladder control will return soon for Fifi. However, incontinence is not a reason for hospitalization. Have they reported a happy tail wag yet from Fifi? it is known that neurological function usually (and as you see, my Jeremy was a different case) returns in the reverse order of the damage. The first big sign you want to look for is that wonderful tail wag! 1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.) 2. Tail wagging with joy at seeing you, getting a treat or due to your happy talk. 3. Bladder and bowel control proved by passing the "sniff and pee" test. Take your dog out to an old pee spot in the grass. Let him sniff and then observe for release of urine. 4. Leg movement, and then ability to move up into a standing position, and then wobbly walking. 5. Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly placed paws. 6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run. 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=neuropathicJeremy was also a rescue dog that had been abandoned and he didn't do well in the hospital. In fact they discharged him early due to that. I do hope that your visit with Fifi goes well today. Healing prayers for Fifi. Please continue to keep us updated.
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 11, 2021 11:18:02 GMT -7
It is 8 pm here in Switzerland, this afternoon we went to visit Fifi at the clinic. I am so happy that we went, because he seemed to really enjoy it!
He was brought outside on a stretcher where there was some sun. He was shaking all over with stress but once he saw my boyfriend and me he seemed really happy. We spent an hour petting him and he relaxed quickly.
Since last night, he has apparently been trying to raise himself up so he could lay on his belly and not flat on his side (the vet assistants told me this, and they said that it is fine if he tries to do it). Today he managed to do it several time and stayed like that for a few minutes. He seemed to have more control over the front part of his body (shoulders, head) than the back. It was great to see so much progress (before surgery, all he could do was slightly raise his head to look at us).
Even better, there was a bit of movement in the front legs, and he even moved one hind leg twice! He did not appear to feel much and did not move his paws at all if I tickled him for example, but it was very encouraging to see. No tail wagging, but this is not a very "expressive" breed and he is not a dog that wags his tail much usually.
Tomorrow I should get a phone call from "our" vet (she was not working this week-end) to discuss his progress and what the following days will look like. I really hope that we can bring him home soon!
Thank you again for all your kind comments and advice, it means so much to me.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 11, 2021 13:12:49 GMT -7
Sarah, what a positive experience with your visit 4/11 Sunday afternoon! I bet Fifi found you both a sight for sore eyes and a wonderful spirit lifter!
Being able to move to a belly position and seeing some movement in both front and back legs is very good.
Often the bladder will return before there are signs of leg movement. What did they hospital folks say about observing return of bladder control signs (sniff and then release urine?) Or is he still on a catheter and they can't yet know?
Thank you for sharing such an encouraging update!!!
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 12, 2021 3:25:04 GMT -7
Thank you for your kind words! I just had the best phone call from the vet: we can bring Fifi home! He has recovered some bladder control and since he is improving so much, they feel that he should be happier with his family.
We will go tomorrow [4/13] (Tuesday) so that my boyfriend can come with me. It is a five-hour round trip and I would rather not go alone if Fifi starts to panic in the car (he hates being in the car). The vet said that they will introduce him to water therapy today, and this is the type of therapy we will be doing from now on (we got a referral closer to home).
Now we are getting everything ready for him and for his recovery. Thanks to this forum and website, I feel that I have a long list of things to do / not do (ie no more sleeping on the couch, etc) and I will also of course listen to everything my vet tells me tomorrow.
I am very happy, this was such a roller-coaster. A few days ago, I was almost certain that he would never make it. And now he is doing so well! This is incredible and I am very grateful.
Sarah
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Apr 12, 2021 6:36:36 GMT -7
Sarah, such wonderful news that Fifi has some bladder control now and is coming home! I'm very happy to hear it. When a dog doesn't have complete bladder control, often they can go a little on their own but cannot completely empty their bladder. If that's the case with Fifi, you should try to express after he's gone on his own. That would be just until he can completely empty the bladder on his own. So when yo pick up Fifi, be sure to get a demonstration (preferably a hands-on-your-hands demo) on how to express his bladder in case you need to. Here's our page on how to express the bladder for your review before the demonstration at the hospital. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/Many of our members have found water therapy to be very helpful in getting those legs moving again so it's wonderful that you have that available to you. Acupuncture and laser light therapy are helpful treatments that can be very beneficial to assist with re-establishment of nerve connections in the body if within your budget. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/acupuncture-laser-therapies/?highlight=acupunctureHere's our page on post-op exercises that Dodgerslist recommends. Get the surgeon's approval before starting any of these. They can be done at home and I found them to be very helpful for my Jeremy. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/27/surgery-dog-pt/Once you get Fifi settled, please let us know what meds he was sent home with (names, dosage in mgs and frequency given) and how many weeks of crate rest have been prescribed. Wishing you a safe trip to pick up Fifi.
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 14, 2021 1:45:57 GMT -7
Hi everyone,
We brought Fifi home yesterday, and we are really happy with his progress! He does move his legs, tries to stand up (the hind end does not follow yet so we don't let him do that unsupported of course), and seems pain free and calm.
His meds are: Gabapentine 400mg every 8 hours
Becetamol (Paracetamol) 250mg every 8 hours
They told us that he should not be in pain, and to call if there is any sign of pain or discomfort and they will adjust the meds.
He pooped yesterday when we brought him out on the grass. Unfortunately peeing is more difficult: he does not pee when taken out and is anxious, even with our other dog close by. I have not been able to express his bladder even with all the videos and the demo from the vet. It is possible that he was dehydrated yesterday from panting during the 3-hour drive, and it is possible that he peed a bit in the bedding as well. Still, if there is still no pee very soon, I will bring him back to my local vet so they can help express his bladder.
[Update two hours later: he ended up peeing by himself, so all good!
Physio and hydrotherapy start tomorrow. I am doing massages and moving his legs like we were told to. So for now, a bit of stress but a lot of hope!
Sarah
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,722
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Post by Marjorie on Apr 14, 2021 6:39:25 GMT -7
Sarah, just wonderful signs of nerve healing you're seeing and so soon after surgery! It's such early days in Fifi's healing and this bodes very well for more signs of improvement ahead.
When you say that he peed "by himself", did you see him sniff a spot in the grass and make a conscious brain/nerve connection decision to release urine? Or did you find wet bedding or did he leak when lifted or moved?
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 19, 2021 8:02:54 GMT -7
Hello,
Sorry for not updating sooner, things have been a bit hectic around here. Trying to keep a heavy dog from injuring himself again when he keeps trying to get up was more of a challenge than I anticipated (and yes, he has a padded pen, but still he would get up, fall down face first and yelp in pain, or fall down against the side of the pen...)
Due to how difficult it was for us to carry him outside several times a day (he was becoming defensive and my boyfriend had back pain from all the lifting), and the fact that he would pee and poop inside (not from lack of control, just too stressed to do it outside), the vet advised us to send him to the rehab clinic for a few days [stayed 4/15 to 4/19]. The clinic is owned by a vet who is a neurologist, and they frequently rehab IVDD dogs after surgery.
We left him there from Thursday night to today (Monday) afternoon. The good news: he can stand up on his own, and he can walk if we assist him with the hind end. That is absolutely wonderful and I am delighted by his progress!
The not so good news: the vet told me that he will still refuse to pee/poop outside most of the time, and they had several accidents. Expressing the bladder is difficult because he will fight against it (tense his belly). So not sure how we will handle that part. But at least I can bring him outside by myself, walking him, and he no longer needs to be carried which is a HUGE help.
We will go back twice a week for water therapy and physiotherapy. I have to keep giving him massages and doing legs movements. He is still on the same medication as given above.
Thank you again for all the help!
Sarah
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Post by Jessica on Apr 19, 2021 9:49:59 GMT -7
Thank you for the update, Sarah. It's great to hear Fifi continues to make progress! Have you (or the vet) noted that he sniffs a spot and pees? Please let us know what you observe. Or does he need to be expressed each time? Was the vet able to give you a hands on demo for expressing? Here's one helpful hint to relieve the tense belly from our experts: Sometimes your dog will tense up his stomach muscles when you try to express. Wait until he relaxes so you can feel for the bladder. A warm towel from the dryer on the stomach can help relax the dog when you are first learning. Tapping gently on the tummy to jiggle the muscles will also help relax a tight tummy. More information can be found here: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-careThe recovery process can be stressful. It must be particularly challenging with a large dog, but you are doing a great job! There are many ideas here for helping with anxiety that may be worth trying. Some owners report good results with a DAP Plug in diffuser: DAP = Dog Appeasing Pheromone. There are also some natural calmers like: Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother’s milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine. www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.phpANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed us.virbac.com/anxitaneCheck with your vet before adding any supplements. Playing some classical music can be helpful too. Dogs sometimes tense up in preparation for events like going outside if it's not what they want to do. Try to keep a calm voice and reward good behavior whenever possible. More information and ideas for calming can be found here: dodgerslist.com/2020/02/24/tips-to-help-with-recovery-suite/%E2%80%8B?highlight=anxietyI hope the water therapy and physiotherapy help him on his recovery journey!
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 20, 2021 9:48:58 GMT -7
Hello again,
Thank you Jessica for your time! Our problem has solved itself a lot more quickly than I feared: since he came back home yesterday afternoon (so about 24 hours ago in my time zone), he had not had a single accident inside.
He is much less anxious outside than he was only a few days ago. He does not exactly sniff at the ground yet, but at last he is no longer shaking all over while refusing to pee. He will still hold on until the last minute, but if we take him outside regularly and wait for a while, he ends up doing it. So things are looking good!
Fifi is currently asleep in the sun on the balcony (I sit next to him to work and to make sure that he does not get up without help.) He seems happy. Two weeks ago, I was sure that IVDD was a death sentence, and this board has given me hope and so much help in this difficult time. So thank you again everyone!
Sarah
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 20, 2021 10:38:09 GMT -7
Sarah, really love hearing the good progress Fifi is making at home. And with your patience about potty time, Fifi can pee on his own and less anxious when outdoors.
It is normal when a dog doesn't feel well or in a weakened state, they want to hide to be less anxious that some critter might hurt them.
This does not always happen, but you should be aware and keep it in the back of your mind to protect Fifi.
For dogs the inborn instinct about weakness is for survival protection of the pack as a whole. There are two things that can happen in pack dynamics when a dog has been or is sick. 1. The healthy one may try to eliminate the weaker in the pack. 2. For the sick one, now the weaker in the pack, to become more protective and aggressive because they know they are weaker now and may be subject to being attacked.
Make sure that Fifi feels protected from his best bud when home alone... the recovery suite will be that source of protection. Whenever you leave the house and they are not supervised, it is a good idea to crate them for their own safety. We have had some instances where a deadly attack among best buds could have been avoided by crating. One I recall is of two sisters who had grown up together and never showed any signs of aggression to one another. The two dogs were put in the kitchen while their owners went out to dinner. They came home to find the IVDD dog almost dead from the vicious attacks of the other.
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 21, 2021 1:58:32 GMT -7
Thank you Paula, that is a very good point and I had not considered it.
For now the dogs are never home alone (we work from home and take turn to keep an eye on Fifi if we have to go somewhere else), but once we start leaving them, I will definitely crate them both.
Thanks again!
Sarah
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on Apr 27, 2021 5:00:08 GMT -7
Hello,
Fifi is doing very well. He can now walk fine on non-slippery surfaces, with me holding on to the harness of course, but he does not need to be helped much and rarely loses balance anymore. He has a bit of a weird gait, but that does not seem to be a problem for him. He wants to go on longer walk, and is frustrated that we won't let him walk more than a few minutes, but I can see that his body gets tired very quickly if we do too much.
We have done physiotherapy / hydrotherapy and laser twice a week. That seems to help.
He is now only on Gabapentin. I tried to ask the vet for how long he will be on it, but did not get a clear answer. Is this something that can be stopped after a few weeks, or will it be long term?
The biggest challenge for us is to enforce crate rest. He sleeps in his little enclosure at night, with me next to him on the couch (otherwise he will try to climb out, no matter how tall the enclosure). During the day, he sleep on a mattress next to me while I work. Due to his size, there is no way we could keep him in a crate, so I need to constantly be next to him or ask my boyfriend to stay with him if I need to do something else. Thankfully, we both work from home for now, otherwise I have no idea what we would do!
Sarah
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Apr 27, 2021 6:23:18 GMT -7
I am happy to hear how well Fifi is doing. The weird gait should not be a problem for him. After my dog Frankie's surgery he also had a funny gait. He walked with a little hop in his step. Once someone on the street asked me why he was dancing!
Perhaps Fifi would be happier in an ex-pen. The ex-pen does not seem as confining but does a good job in limiting movement. This might make it easier for him to be alone for short periods so you can do other things.
Most dogs do not need to stay on gabapentin long term. Fifi may be able to stop the gabapentin now since it has been two weeks since the surgery and any post surgery pain is likely resolved. You can speak to your vet about stopping the gabapentin and monitoring Fifi for signs of pain. If you do not see any signs of pain when the gabapentin is stopped he no longer needs the medicine.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 27, 2021 9:43:05 GMT -7
Sarah, what progress Fifi is making!!!! Wonderful report.
How many weeks did the surgeon want for rest plus the PT he directed. Just wanting to know when Fifi can begin to be introduced to family life, a bit of gradual freedom. Let us know we have lots of information when we know Fifi has been graduated from post op rest.
Do let us know when the surgeon says gabapentin can be stopped.
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on May 3, 2021 5:21:08 GMT -7
Hello,
Fifi decided that it was time to graduate: he managed to climb out of his pen during the night, in spite of all our precautions (high enough pen, with a blanket on top, and me sleeping right next to it.) Thankfully he did not injure himself, as everything around the pen was padded for his safety. **
I discussed with the vet and she said that as long as we manage his environment to make him safe, he does not need to be on strict crate rest any longer.
I also had a talk with the vet about the meds and she said that we could lower the ▼gabapentin this week and monitor his reaction, to see if he is fine with it or shows any pain.
It has been almost one month since his surgery, and I am very thankful for all the progress he has made! Every few days there is something new that he can do again (like peeing without half falling down), and it makes me so happy!
Sarah
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on May 3, 2021 7:35:06 GMT -7
You and Fifi did it! Congratulations on graduation. Does he do any knuckling under of paws anymore now? Does he still go to water therapy?GRADUATION, A SLOW RE-INTRODUCTION Determine how you are going to ease back into more normal activity at graduation. The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled conditions. Not free riegn of the house and yard immediately! LOL Take a look at our information and then come up with a plan to gradually increase activity over about a month's time following the end of post-op rest. Here is a sample schedule to slowly introduce your dog back to family life and physical activity: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/15/back-friendly/?highlight=sample%20scheduleLots more ideas and tips: dodgerslist.com/living-with-ivdd-tipsMay we turn the tables and ask YOU for help? There are only less than a handful of us who regularly volunteer every day helping dogs and their owners. We could really use a helping hand from other Forum members in educating. Education about disc disease is our number one mission! We wish we did not have to hear of another dog that was put to sleep because of disc disease nor one denied the correct principles of STRICT rest to help them heal. We would like all of our members to pay forward for the help they have received with their dog by helping us educate! -- Introduce us to your family vet with this printable letter (in English) dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/vet-Intro.pdf -- TRANSLATED IVDD material: French: Maladie du Disque Intervertébral, MDI dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/General-bro-french.pdf Italian: Malattia Degenerativa Del Disco Intervertebrale & terapie (Conservativa e post-operazione) dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/General-Bro-Ialian.pdf When in conversation at the grocery store line or wherever you meet breeds most prone to IVDD (Dachshunds, Beagles, Poodles, Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, Chihuahuas and common in Greyhounds) to give out our little cards which are in English. Ask Linda to send you our free packet: dodgerslist.com/free-literature-2-- Volunteer to translate to standard German, update other language materials. If that is your skill set, please contact me . -- Help a member trying to make quick decisions about surgery… We have a directory where you can share surgical costs. Here is where to enter information in the directory: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-postingCountry: Hospital: Address: Cost: Date of surgery: What was included in cost (MRI?, days stay, ER? PT? meds for home, sling, etc.) Comments:
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Post by Sarah & Fifi on May 10, 2021 7:18:06 GMT -7
Hello everyone,
Fifi is doing great. He walks well, no knuckling at all. Sometimes his hind legs seem a bit unstable but he is never in danger of falling anymore. We go on longer walks (5-10 minutes) once or twice a day. His gait is still a bit weird but otherwise you can't really tell that he was fully paralysed a month ago!
He is on a very low dose of Gabapentin (and we will totally stop tomorrow [5/11 stop Gabapentin]) and shows not signs of pain. On the contrary, I noticed that he is a lot less anxious now (no more crying/barking as soon as I leave home for a minute, leaving him with the other dog and my boyfriend at home). So I don't know if the Gabapentin made him anxious, or if he is less anxious now because he feels more like himself again.
We dog-proofed the house to make sure that he can't injure himself by getting on furniture. We are very careful with him. He would like to be allowed some off-leash time I think, but it seems too dangerous to me. It has only been a month, I want to give him more time. I will discuss it with the vet next time we go for water therapy (not sure how long we will keep doing that, as it is super expensive and now that he walks well, it does not seem as necessary?)
Paula, unfortunately I can't help with the German translation since I do not speak German very well. I would be happy to help with French, if that's needed.
Best,
Sarah
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Post by Jessica on May 10, 2021 9:41:37 GMT -7
I'm so glad to hear how well Fifi is doing, Sarah! It sounds like he is feeling more comfortable each day. Let us know how he does with the complete stop of the gabapentin. Nice work dog proofing your home for his gradual reintroduction to normal life. Each step forward you take can be reassessed as you go. It can be a little scary to return to regular activities after a difficult experience like Fifi had, but keeping a close eye, building your knowledge, and working with your vet can help the transition. I can tell you are learning so much and you are all doing great! Some at home PT exercises may be difficult due to Fifi's size, but you may wish to look at some of the massage ideas in the video here: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/27/surgery-dog-pt. Check with your vet to see what may be appropriate. This page has many tips, including harness fitting and other back friendly activities you can do with Fifi: dodgerslist.com/living-with-ivdd-tips
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on May 10, 2021 11:22:02 GMT -7
Sarah, thank for offering, we do have a French version. Not sure what weird gait means specifically. Can you upload a youtube? Do see if your current rehab person can suggest some exercise to help weird gait which you could do at home. Do you have a fenced in area where you live, that Fifi can safely go unleashed while you supervise for longer periods every couple of days? At home PT ideas: --- Buy cheap cut of meat or chicken when on sale as really high value treats. Cook, cut into tiny treats and freeze to use as needed each day. --- Do all PT where there are no other distractions of kids or other dogs. --- Do PT slowly so that steps are deliberate- helps to re-train the nerves and muscles to work together in a more normal gait pattern. --- Surface with good traction such as carpet or use of a Yoga mat or rug runners, on grass outdoors ---reward always for walking. --- Do therapy at meal times. Feed dinner a few kibbles at a time, for stands, sits. Scatter some kibbles on a non-slippery floor or outdoors in the grass. --- reward for pushing up from a sit to a stand. ---Use sticks, broom, pvc pipes spaced out on good traction carpet. Dog then will learn to lift paws as they walk SLOWLY over each one. --- Single leg balance for the weaker leg. While standing, lift the stronger leg off the ground for a few seconds-this will force bearing weight on the weaker leg. Lower and repeat with the opposite side leg. --- Outdoors on leash/harness and if needed a sling. Walk across a gentle slope, walk up and down the slope. Walk on different textures...low grass, higher grass, on sand. ---At home water therapy. The water level can be low to his ankles or knees-- this might be similar to what they are now doing at rehab (is "water therapy" underwater treadmill?) The idea is walking in low water gives resistance and strengthens muscles. As Jessica notes above, not sure if doable with a child's inflatable pool for long legged Fifi! dodgerslist.com/2020/05/28/surgery-dog-water-therapy/
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