Craig's Bo 4/9 surgery- Neck- Fr. Mastiff- UK

Welcome to Dodgerslist. We are glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve learned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! Learn more about us and how we team up with veterinarians:
dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/

Disc disease is not a death sentence!
Struggling with quality of life questions? Re-think things:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/hope-quality-life/

One thing to keep in mind is that nerves are very slow to heal. We need to think in terms of many months and not days for enough nerve repair to take place before functions would return. Six days post surgery is very, very early in the healing process. Please do not be discouraged if you have not seen any progress yet.
When your girl is discharged, she may not yet have bladder control. Dogs that do not have bladder control must be expressed. This is because stale urine in the bladder can lead to UTIs. Prior to discharge, please ask the vet for a hands-on lesson in expressing. For a larger dog, expressing while the dog is lying on the side on multiple pee pads may be easiest in the beginning. When I first brought my dog Frankie home after surgery, I expressed this way with one arm under the body and one on top. As Frankie healed I tried other positions for expressing. Use whatever method works for you. We have information on expressing here:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/

When she first comes home, she will need strictly limited movement to allow time for the surgical areas to heal. We have information about the strict rest recovery process and tips for setting up the recovery suite here:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process

We have some home care tips at the link below:
dodgerslist.com/nursing-care-during-the-disc-episode/
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/12/dr-isaacs-surgery-answers
At the MAIN WEBSITE, use the orange SEARCH bar feature to easily access more IVDD information:
dodgerslist.com/

Hi, Kraig. So good to hear that there has been improvement so soon after surgery. Keep in mind that there is still surgical swelling for about two weeks following surgery and sometimes not much improvement is seen until that swelling resolves. Nerves are so very, very slow to heal so it's great hearing there has already been improvement.

It sounds as though Bo is still in the hospital. Any discharge date given yet? Usually we see dogs confined to the hospital following surgery for 3-4 days. They can be given oral meds at home. As for the catheter, you can be taught to clean and change it but best for the health of the bladder is to learn how to manually express Bo's bladder. Take a look at the link Romy gave you above about expressing so you have an understanding of what's involved. It's really not difficult. Just get a demonstration by the hospital before her discharge. Is there any specific reason why Bo is still in the hospital?

Occasionally we hear of a surgeon who wants to keep a dog in the hospital until there is more nerve healing seen (bladder control, standing, etc.). As Romy mentioned above, nerves can take a very long time to heal, months rather than days or weeks. It took my Jeremy six months following surgery to walk again and he's never fully regained bladder control 9 years after surgery. So unless there is another specific reason why Bo is still confined to the hospital, do speak to the surgeon about allowing Bo to come home and be with her loving family. Dogs heal much better in a familiar environment and with their loved ones.

We're here for you and Bo so do reach out to us with any concerns that you may have. Healing prayers for Bo.

Craig, caring for a front and back leg paralyzed 100 lbs or so dog does come with a challenge.  You know your strength ability best and if you have someone at home who could help you.  It is good that you live close enough to make every other day visits a possibility.

What country are you in, if it is not USA?

Do you have a back end and front end harness that is very helpful with large breed dogs as Romy mentioned?  Folks at the hospital have training in safely moving a large dog. Ask for a demo on using those techniques to see how you might use at home, if/when you would feel capable.

HELP 'EM UP: A complete shoulder and hip harness system: 
helpemup.com/features/
sizes for 10 to 225 pounds dogs.

No one will be able to give you a date for nerve functions to return. However, it is known what the typical order for return of nerve function happens in.
Nerves heal typically in the reverse order of the damage to the spinal cord:

1. YES! 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. 
2. YES! 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. YES 4/14! Front leg movement & attempts a move up to a stand
            ?      back leg movement
     then        ability for back legs to move up into a standing position
     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

Let us know if you have seen a happy tail wag when she sees you coming.