Welcome! Hi, my name is Paula, what's yours?
Abby, it can be very confusing to be given a timeline, but not specified which one of the four phases of healing the 7-10 days applies to. Actually there is no 7-10 days for any of the 4 phases of healing! More on that below. Right now
☆critical/ essential facts would help us help you and Abby best and quickest.
QUESTIONS ☆ Are you on the same page about how STRICT rest must be?
Please confirm that we're on the same page as to conservative care.
STRICT means limited movement of the spine:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no dragging or meandering at potty times.
- no PT
- no chiro therapy:
"If practicing chiropractic were totally benign at its worst, then this would not be an issue. But things can and do go wrong at an alarming frequency: stokes, paralysis, even death can result from chiropractic manipulation. And this happens in humans for who professionals are trained and licensed to practice on… never have a “ disk" case treated by chiropractic manipulations, as the procedures will probably worsen the problem." ~ Petty, DVM, Michael. Dr. Petty's pain relief for dogs: the complete medical and integrative guide to treatment pain. The Countryman Press, 2016. pp 168+ Kindle Ed. Read why Chiropractic is not recommended for an IVDD dog:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic☆ --
Can Abby specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control - OR-
-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control?
DOGs with BLADDER Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a 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!
Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs. Review video then go get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson on Abby at the vet ASAP today.
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/Any time out of the crate is a dangerous time for a dog going through an IVDD disc episode. Transport to a vet is risky as there is a chance of too much movement. Most vets who understand how strict the crate rest must be will understand that it's too much of a risk to bring the dog in to the office for a follow-up exam or other things that can be handled over the phone. You can call the vet to give her status updates on pain and neuro function, get medication adjustments.
With urgent vet visits, secure the crate in your vehicle. Transport carefully using a crate padded out with rolled up towels on either side of the dog to prevent movement or jarring the spine when braking or turning corners.
☆
Is there still currently pain? The vet did not Rx any pain meds, just an anti-inflammatory prednisone that may take 7-30 days to finally rid the body of painful swelling!
☐ reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow, ginger movements
☐ shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved
☐ tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position, appears restless
☐ Arched back ☐head held high or nose to the ground
☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
☐Not their normal perky selves?
Full pain relief is expected in1 hour and stays that way dose to dose.
If not in control your vet needs to know via a phone call ASAP to adjust meds.
Advocate for the three pain meds to cover each of the three different sources of pain:traMADol (general analgesic),
gabapentin (nerve pain) and
methocarbamol (muscle spasm pain).
PLUS a stomach protector such as
Pepcid AC (Famotidine) to suppress acid production prednisone causes.
Sucralfate does not suppress acid production.
Sucralfate works in a different way to bandaid any damaged areas of the stomach lining from stomach acids.
(NOTE: If vet says Abby has no health issues of liver, heart or kidneys, then buy at the grocery store.
Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html )
ABBY's MED LIST (fill in the missing details, correct what is wrong)
Abby's weight?
Prednisone started on 7/27?
What is the dose in mgs and how often do you give?
For how many days is that dose to be given?
Name of antibiotic?
Sucralfate ? many mgs dose? How many times a day?
NEURO STATUS
Can she move the legs at all, such as to attempt to reposition herself in the recovery suite? Can she give a happy tail wag when you specifically do some happy talk or show her a yummy treat?
MONITOR and report NEURO FUNCTION diminishment
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions. When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order.
1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. Wobbly walking, legs cross
3. Nails/toes scuffing floor
4. Paws knuckle
5. Weak/little leg movement, can't move up into a stand
6. Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down)
7. Bladder control is lost
8. Tail wagging with joy is lost
9. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment.
-------------EDUCATION IS KEY
PHASES OF HEALING
Each phase of healing with a disc episode takes different things, different times. This road map to Conservative Treatment is your guide for each phase. D/L it, print it out for handy reference taped to the refrigerator:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf1)
Paralyzed legs is nerve damage. That can take longer for the body to self heal than the short 8 weeks of limited movement the disc requires to self heal. Think in terms of months rather than days/weeks for this slowest part of the body to self heal.
2)
Pain will be in control in ONE HOUR when the correct combo of pain meds are on board. With proper Rxing of pain meds that pain stays in control dose to dose and round the clock.
3)
Inflamed and painful spinal cord tissue can resolve with the aid of an anti-inflammatory such as prednisone. It may take in the range of 7-30 days of prednisone at the anti-inflammatory level dose. Any tapering days would not be working on inflammation so those days of taper do not count.
4)
The disc will self heal and form scar tissue with STRICT rest inside of a recovery suite in 8 weeks time.
Get up to speed on the disease Abby has, so you can be in the best position to ask pertinent questions, bring to the table ideas and concerns.
How to do STRICT REST with lots of tips and ideas to make the 8 weeks go smoother:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/Get up to speed and informed on both surgery and conservative treatment:
dodgerslist.com/2020/02/10/surgery-vs-conservative/ IF surgery for whatever reason is not a consideration, Conservative Treatment is the best choice
Look forward to all your answers so we know best how to support you and Abby.
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