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Post by Judith & Charlie on Apr 13, 2021 12:23:51 GMT -7
Charlie is a Standard Dachshund who had surgery on 4/3/21 to rescue because his owner didn’t feel capable of caring for him. I’m currently fostering him for the rescue.
His weight is not listed on the surgical discharge paperwork, which is all the surrendering owner gave me when she dropped him off...I can tell you that he’s obviously overweight though.
He had his surgery at Ohio State University
Surgery date: 4/3/21 Yes, STRICT crate rest
Surgeon recommends massage and ROM
4 weeks of crate rest
I do not see any signs of him being in pain
Meds:
Gabapentin 100mg every 8-12 hours (4/3/21)
Carprofen 0.7 mL every 12 hours (4/3/21)
Trazadone 25-50mg every 8-12 hours (4/3/21)
Prazosin 2mg every 12 hours (4/3/21)
Pepcid AC 10 mg every 12 hours (4/11/21)
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
guessing 30lbs, overweight standard doxie
carprofen as of 4/3: 0.7mL 2x/day for 12 days, stops 4/15
gabapentin 100mgs 2x/day
trazodone 25mgs 3x/day
Prazosin 2mgs 2x/day
Pepcid AC 10 mgs 2x/day as of 4/11]
I don’t see any signs of movement
No leaking, he’s perfect for bladder expression
Eating and drinking ok. Poops look “normal”
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Apr 13, 2021 13:36:13 GMT -7
You are doing a truly good thing by caring for Charlie when his owner cannot.
I know that you are not seeing any leg movement. Can Charlie currently give a happy tail wag in response to a treat or some happy talk? A happy tail wag is the first sign of returning neuro function that can easily be identified by pet parents.
Excellent that you are able to express him so as to keep him dry between sessions. You can also express for poop. Poop is not a health problem the way stale urine can be, but it often upsets the dog to find poop unexpectedly in their bedding, and it makes clean up harder. Information about bowel expressing is here:
For how long has the Carprofen been prescribed?
You can review the information about crate rest here:
We have some home care tips for Charlie at the link below:
You can review the 4 phases of healing, what to expect with pain, with swelling, disc and nerve healing. Information to help you get back up to speed at the link below:
At the MAIN WEBSITE, use the orange SEARCH bar feature to easily access more IVDD information. dodgerslist.com/
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 13, 2021 21:45:03 GMT -7
Judith, glad Charlie has found good care while he is healing post op.
Along with the question Romy asked about the carprofen, how many days is he to take it. Is there also a lbs mark on the dropper/syringe in addition to mL marks? That may help to determine how much he weighs.
10 mgs of Pepcid AC 2x/day is usually for a dog weighing over 20 lbs.
Could you fill us in on what you are actually giving for:
---gabapentin 100 mgs every 8 or 12 hrs?
--- trazodone how many mgs & how many times per day?
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Post by Judith & Charlie on Apr 14, 2021 10:36:34 GMT -7
Today is the last day for his carprofen, his last dose will be tonight. No lbs mark on the syringe. He definitely weighs over 20 lbs though. He’s a large standard dachshund and definitely overweight-if I had to guess, I’d say he’s probably close to 30lbs
weight approximately 30 lbs
carprofen as of 4/3: 0.7mL 2x/day for 12 days
trazodone 25mgs 3x/day
I’m currently giving him the gabapentin 100 mg every 12 hours (2xday) Trazadone 25 mg every 8 hours
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 14, 2021 15:58:00 GMT -7
Judith, thank you for the details. When posting with a mobile device, recommend: --- Viewing via the "desk top view" of your browser app (Safari, Chrome, Foxfire)when on a mobile phone. As shown in picture below, you would scroll down to the bottom of the screen to click on "Desktop".  ** Reply to a post by scrolling down to the "Quick reply" typing area. Avoid using the "Reply" or the "Quote" buttons. Quick reply allows you to scroll up and down to a previous post and then back down to the "Quick Reply" typing area to continue your own post. |
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Post by Judith & Charlie on Apr 15, 2021 18:06:29 GMT -7
Thank you!
Do I continue the Pepcid AC still even though he’s done with the carprofen?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 15, 2021 19:12:19 GMT -7
Judith, Pepcid AC (famotidine) suppresses stomach acids which carprofen causes. So you can stop the Pepcid AC. Let us know if you have seen a happy tail wag when you have specifically done some happy talk to Charlie. Or show him a yummy treatNerves heal typically in the reverse order of the damage to the spinal cord: 1. Deep Pain Sensation: the first neuro function to return. DPS is the critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment. Trust only the word of a neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) surgeon about this very tricky to correctly idenfiy neuro function.
2. ? Tail wagging with joy at seeing you or getting a treat or meal.
3.____ Bladder and bowel control verified with the "sniff and pee" test.
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 place the feet.
6. Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.
More info: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm
Are you doing at home PT similar to what is shown in below video for the back limbs? Post-op PT for the paralyzed IVDD dog:
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Post by Stephanie on Apr 16, 2021 6:53:03 GMT -7
Sending good vibes to Charlie, Judith. I had a doxie do very well after surgery, but it took several weeks of PT and water therapy. Once he healed, he was right as rain!
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Post by Judith & Charlie on Apr 16, 2021 15:00:55 GMT -7
Thank you, I will discontinue the Pepcid AC
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
guessing 30lbs, overweight standard doxie
carprofen as of 4/3: 0.7mL 2x/day for 12 days, stops 4/15
gabapentin 100mgs 2x/day STOPPED?
trazodone 25mgs 3x/day
Prazosin 2mgs 2x/day]No signs of movement Should I be doing the PT now? I thought he needed at least 4 weeks of strict crate rest post surgery. My own dachshund, Dexter, went down several years ago and we opted for conservative treatment vs surgery. I never could have made it through emotionally without this forum...it took almost the full 8 weeks before Dexter started showing signs of movement (tail moving a little and he kicked his back foot) and I know we never would have gotten where we are today (he walks, runs, and hops albeit with a bit of a wobble) without all the help and support we got here but it’s so different with Charlie and his surgery... |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Apr 16, 2021 15:09:31 GMT -7
Crate rest for post surgery dogs is not as strict as crate rest for dog's during conservative treatment. The PT in the video Paula posted is usually okay for post surgery dogs but check with the vet to be sure.
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Post by Judith & Charlie on Apr 26, 2021 7:44:03 GMT -7
Charlie is doing great attitude-wise. He’s really the sweetest and is so patient and tolerant of potty and PT but he’s developed sore pressure sores on his back ankles (he’s very overweight). The vet can’t get him in until the 13th...what can/should I be doing at home until then?
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Post by Stephanie on Apr 26, 2021 8:00:00 GMT -7
Hi Judith, So wonderful Charlie is doing well and his spirits are up! In the interim until you can get to the vet and discuss protection methods for the sores on his ankles, some people use self adhering Vetwrap® tape that can hold to his fur with some padding of gauze underneath the tape to act as a barrier. Your vet may have other ideas. There is brand X of the Vetwrap® on grocery store shelves. Vet wrap  3M Vetwrap® or brand X at grocery store. Be sure to not stretch and wrap too tightly that it will cut off circulation. Self sticking stretchy material to hold the gauze pad in place. Neosporin Antibiotic cream on grocery store shelves should pink skin become broken and open to infection.  Is Charlie's bed made of memory foam which is very good for preventing pressure point sores? Find memory foam at fabric shops, where baby bedding is sold for small size pieces. Can be cut with scissors into two or more mattresses. You could also find a dog bed made with memory foam as the insert. Also, shifting the weight occasionally off of the sore areas can help, keeping in mind that you're moving him infrequently! |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 26, 2021 12:05:46 GMT -7
Good pointers from Stephanie in above reply for caring for sores and memory foam.
Are the sores open and raw, or no broken skin but redness?
The benefit of surgery is that often a vet will also prescribe some at home PT for the legs during the "Rest Period".
Did you call the surgeon back to find out what PT you can do at home, if it is like the PT video in an above post?
For how many weeks is the surgeon asking for REST plus what ever PT he directs?
Also consider part of the PT would be turning or repositioning
his body every several hours to change the pressure to another part of the body.
MEDS- updates?
Are you still giving gabapentin? if yes, why?
Still trazodone & Prazosin?
How is expressing going? Staying dry between expressing sessions?
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