Dave's Scooter 8/19 Conservative Neck/ back

Welcome to Dodgerslist Dave! I am so sorry to hear of Scooter's IVDD.  You can be instrumental in helping your dog recover. It takes being a reader as not all vets know this disease…but you certainly can know just one disease. So that you can have an informed discussion with the vet, please read up on these pertinent pages: www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htm

With a disc problem, it takes 8 weeks of strict crate rest to let the disc heal. Otherwise the weak scar tissue forming can easily be re-torn and the pain, more vet bills, the cycle of healing has to start all over again. Since your crate rest started on August 19th, Scooter will need to be on 100% strict crate rest for a full 8 weeks from that date. You can't count the first week when his movements were being limited, only the time he's on strict crate rest. Strict crate rest means only to be carried in and out to potty with very few steps being taken during potty time. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM).

Pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with a teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. To firm up the stool add 1 teaspoon pumpkin to kibble and no extra water 1x a day. Note alternatives: really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel off; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potoato.

The page with expressing for urine and for poop is here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm

Can you give us a bit more in essential information about your dog:

--I don't see any mention of an anti inflammatory being prescribed for Scooter. IVDD involves swelling and inflammation with the disc pressing or rupturing into the spinal cord. A Steriod or NSAID (Never both together) needs to be prescribed for Scooter. It's the swelling and inflammation that causes the pain.. Please  read this:  www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

-- Please include the must have stomach protector such as Pepcid AC … 5mg 30 mins prior to the anti inflammatory, to protect Scooter's tummy. Please ask your vet if there are any health reasons why Scooter shouldn't take Pepcid AC. Tell him you want to be proactive about protecting him from the side effects of the anti inflammatory once it's been prescribed.

The anti-inflammatory will help to bring the swelling of the disc down. It's the disc pressing into the spine that is causing nerve damage, which you see as Scooters loss of control in his hind legs. The crate acts as a cast for his back. Too much movement will tear the disc more, resulting in more nerve damage. Please read this webpage carefully so you'll understand all the ins and outs of crate rest and how to set up a recovery suite for Scooter.
dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm

Try to stay positive. Tell Scooter that he's getting better every day. And believe that he will, because with the proper care, he can improve. Nerves take a long time to heal so you may not see any improvement in weeks or months. We know that the disc heals in 8 weeks but there's no way of knowing if or when the nerves will heal. Time will tell. Hang in there. You've done the right thing getting him into that crate. And laser therapy and acupuncture can be very helpful in managing pain and in giving the nerves a jump start in healing.


Please keep us updated.

DAve you are looking for a high fiber food to help with constipation. Select a very ripe fresh pear, microwave and mash up a sweet potatoe. Even a microwaved mashed white potatoe will work.

Good to hear pain is under control and he is only on one med…. a pain reliever Tramadol. That is unusual in that typically an anti-inflammatory is needed to do the work of reducing swelling in the spinal cord. How often are you actually giving 25mgs Tramadol?

As soon as you can work a transition back to his kibble the better his nutrition will be to take care of all the repair jobs his body is working on. Chicken and rice are ok for a couple of days.

Is he staying dry in between expressing times?

You are doing a good job of being aware and meeting Scooter's needs!

Dave, you will get the expressing schedule down pat… the leaking when lifted is telling you to check on him a little sooner. Until you have the schedule perfected, do what I did. I had a stack of washcloths by the recovery suite. Grab one to cover Scooter and keep you dry. They are fast to wash up and hang to dry, if the washing machine doesn't have a full load to do.

Thanks, Caring! We'll see how today goes. So far, he's more alert today and tried to escape his temporary suite. That's not happening again. Attempted to express for a BM and he moved his tail up and down a bit, but I can't feel it yet. I think todays going to be the day.

He ate a little chicken and some of his kibble for breakfast. I added some chicken broth to the kibble and he liked that. He has soft treats that he loves (not much chewing) and he ate one of those after I broke it up a little. Big, big pee and then drank a good amount of water.

I can tell he's bored, confused, and itching to play, but I know we have to keep him rested.