Kim's Rusty 8/18 Conservative RIP

Hi Kim,

It should be ok to take him outside with you in the shade as long as he is carefully moved in his portable crate.  I would watch him carefully and if it seems to be too much for him take him back inside.. He will likely enjoy the change of scenery as long as he doesn't get too hot.  We took Tyler with us outside in his carrier..and he loved it. I had it padded with soft towels on the sides to protect him..

Have you tried playing soft music for him?  Have you tried any of the other calmers?

Farnum's Comfort Zone with D.A.P. www.petcomfortzone.com/dogs.html [pheromone diffuser] with one oral calmer from below:

Oral calmers: 1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/anxitane-l-theanine-chewable-tablets/behavioral-health 2) 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.php [Composure] 3) Rescue Remedy for Pets is a liquid herb combo to help with relaxation www.bachrescueremedypet.com

I use Rescue Remedy (for people) for me, to help keep me calm when no one else is.  LOL      

We are a group who LOVE the detail…so

How many days of washout between the switch?  What is the thinking behind your vet wanting to move from two NSAIDs Prevacox to Deramaxx and now on to a steroid, Dex? What is he thinking Dex will do?

Since there is a stopping of the NSAID Deramaxx and Robaxin, how about assessing for pain fully by also backing a bit off of tramadol.   Anti-inflammatories (steroids & NSAIDS) do not heal nerves, their job is to reduce swelling in the spinal cord and when that is done pain will be gone.  What heals nerves is simply time for the body to regenerate nerves.  Rusty has already shown you that his body is working on nerve healing when bladder control returned.  No one can tell you when nerves will be healed enough to bring back functions just the usual order they return in:
Nerves heal typically in the reverse order of the damage to the spinal cord:

1. Deep Pain Sensation (Only correctly identified by a specialist.)
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.

Have I missed something..has there been a setback in pain, a set back in neuro function diminishment?

 Laser light therapy, acupuncture and electroacupuncture which sends a microcurrent of electricity to and from acupuncture points (which are really big nerve bundles), can be very beneficial at helping to re-establish the nerve connections in the body. Any one of these therapies can be started right away if in your budget... they not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration. Find a holistic vet here:
ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html
www.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] Chiropractic is never recommended for IVDD dogs.
What is the dose in mg and how often are you to now give Pepcid AC?

ACE may not work the same for all dogs. Some dogs are calmed by it and others are excited. So observe how it works for Rusty.

Paula... We will begin the Dex next Wednesday (5 days).  Upon hands on exam, our doc found that there is still swelling at the site of the injury.  Not as much as there had been (that first week you could easily see the swelling visually), but swelling all the same.  That's the progress he was hoping to see at this visit.  Therefore, he is surmising the steroid will either finish off the swelling or at the very least, bring it down a significant level - which the Deramax apparently didn't accomplish.  He did conference with the local neuro doc while in the room with us and the two of them together decided upon this route.  The neuro actually asked why we didn't start with the steroid - which I couldn't answer but our doc did relay the emergency vet info.

I suppose dogs are much like their owners in that Rusty is much like me.  His nerve healing is all over the place.  He does have some leg movement, not much tail movement yet, bladder is mostly a hit - but he has his moments of inability.

Currently the tramadol is ordered only as needed - if I see pain.  He did very well today.  We took the 1/2 of the ace this morning and nothing for pain.  I checked in on him during lunch (when I would normally give the tramadol) and he showed no sign of pain at all.  Appetite is great and we just had our potty time on pad outside the crate (he initiated and finished on his own).  The ace seems to be working well at the 1/2 pill dose rate.  He was calm as a clam and still is - no whining when I left after lunch.

Our pepcid dosing right now is 1/2 pill twice daily (20 minutes prior to food).  The day before he starts his Dex, he bumps up to 1/2 pill 30 minutes prior to the times I've set for the Dex (5 am, 1 pm and 9 pm).  The additional therapies are totally out of my budget at this point.  With everything I've put out so far, has eaten up my entire savings.  Our doc is so great about this, as he has only been charging me for the meds - not for visits. 

All in all, so far things are going as well as can be expected.  Sorry there are times I don't add in all the information.  Long days and single mom-ness lends to forgetfulness at times. 

Wasn't it me, a few days ago, proclaiming what a difference 24 hours can make?  ::sighs::  As a logical mom I know from reading that this will take time.  Can take lots and lots of time.  But sheesh! Rusty did wonderful with his ace yesterday.  Got home from work, proceeded with crate change and spent time half in the smaller crate scratching all those itchy spots he simply can't take care of.. I do believe I saw his eyes rolls back in pure love a couple of times.    We had dinner, talking time, nose touch time and just some general down time.  Our local high school football team had its first home game and I haven't missed one in.. well.. years and years, so I went.  Got home, Rusty was happy to see me but a bit antsy.  I brought him out in the main area crate for a while and then it was off to bed with us.  Long about 2 a.m. the whining started.  When I turned on the light to see what the issue was, he was showing some shaking.  Went ahead and tried to calm him by touch first and when that didn't work (after about an hour), I gave him the 1/2 pill tramadol.  About another hour later, he was no longer shaking and ready for some sleep.

This morning I got him up at 530 for his ace dose and noticed his potty pad in crate was soaked.  Changed him to the crate out here, fed breakfast, got in some lovey time and wiped him down with his wipes. We didn't make it outside this morning. We didn't just get rain, we got full on storms. By the time they stopped, it was just too dang hot to take him out there.   Waited a bit and thought I should check his bladder.  Full to the brim.  Expressed til empty and he settled down for a nice rest.  A few hours later, I decided to check on this bladder function and brought him out of crate to the potty pad that had a tiny bit of his urine on it.  Nothing.  Gave him some more water and waited a bit and tried again.  Nothing.  While putting him back in crate, there went the leakage.  So, it seems we're back to having more misses than hits on the bladder control.  Called doc and asked about it.  He said don't worry too much.  We are in the washout process and using the ace, so things may slide back a bit on the progress.  He did ask about general demeanor.  Rusty is happily rooting in his blanket, spending more time on his back in his normal position when resting and doing a full body shake(as best he can) when his ears dip into his water bowl.  Doc assures me I shouldn't worry.  But worry I do!

I do have one question.  I thought I'd read it somewhere here, but now I can't find anything.  Doc said it was okay for me to use Desitin on the rash on his little ball sack.  Is this okay?  I've got some, but haven't used it yet.

As always... thankful for the encouragement and support.

Good afternoon everyone.  Here I sit with more rain/storms, so no outside time today either.  Poor Rusty, boredom is not his friend.  Small good notes this morning.  First thing when doing crate change, we did a big poopy and pee on his own on his pad before I put him into the smaller crate.  Had his breakfast and then became whiny/antsy.  Talked him down from that until it was time for his ace dose.  I've not given him a tramadol dose yet today, as I want to see if this whine/antsy is pain related or just him being his usual self and doing that to get himself out of the crate.  He's been okay since the ace dose, so I'm still watching.  We had our green tea bath this morning (his little ball sack is looking much better on its own without using anything).  He liked the taste.. kept insisting on licking the cloth before allowing me to wash him.  Goofy kid.  While doing his back end, he took that as a sign of maybe mom is letting me out of here finally and all but mountain climbed my arms and head trying to escape.  Then it was time for the rear legs.  With one hand I gently held his left leg while wiping with the other hand and he totally pulled that leg away from me in a normal fashion (without using his back) so he could check out what mom had done.  Wow, that's the first time he's done that.  It was then on to the other leg, no reaction really.

So now I'm sitting here watching him move about a bit in the smaller crate and I see him push himself really well with his left leg (normal motion they use to scootch into a comfy position) and a wee bit of push with the right.  Still no real tail movement (but really, he never was much of a tail wagger - only when really really really excited and even then, just a little), but it does seem to be in a more relaxed position rather than held to him or floppy.

I'd say over all we've had a good morning and at least a little bit of progress.  Yay...

I have to chuckle at your question, Stevieluv.  Rusty is so far removed from quiet and lay still that it is beyond limits.  lol  I did try the kong like toy I'd previously purchased.  No dice.  That day when I came home, he'd actually shoved it out of the crate.  Over time, I've found that his favorite toys are boxes he can get in and out of while tearing them apart and shirts/pants that have been discarded.  He stuffs himself in and out of them, turns them inside out and then runs through the house with them.  His other favorite activities are out in the yard with his tunnels and sand box.

Last night he found his speaking voice.  Really, he was doing the whine thing so I thought it a good time to work on speak on command.  Worked for about 5 minutes and he grew bored.  We just finished up a second session.

This afternoon after work, at crate change time, when I opened the door, he bum rushed the crate door and then stood his back end up.  Very wobbly and only for a couple seconds, but he did push himself up on his own.  More progress.  The only bad point we've hit is, he's starting to fight the sedative (ace).  Two days without tramadol and I can clearly tell he isn't hurting.  So all this whine/antsyness is just pure boredom and frustration on his part.  He's now doing what he thinks will get me to let him out of his crate.  ::sighs::  This is only earning him the "shhht" and snap.  Hopefully he'll catch on and just chill out.

Here's to hoping (though I hate hoping for rain to go away since we never get any) that it's not raining tomorrow afternoon and I can take him outside for a short bit.

YAY for liftoff!!!!!

Hello everyone.  At last report, Rusty was set to begin the dex this past Wednesday.  With the great strides in no pain, I put it off and phoned the vet during lunch.  He advised us to hold off [dex] and see how things went.  Rusty was doing great.  Still a bit of issue on the peeing, but overall, good.  Even barking more often.   Then came this morning.  The early morning went well.  Pee time, crate change, breakfast and ace.  A couple hours later I noticed him moving around a bit more stiffly than before (when he was adjusting position).  Opened up the crate and did some loving and to check if there were physical signs of pain.  No flinching when I palpated his spine, nothing with belly.  So I put a shirt in with him and while making himself comfy and changing position, I noticed his little left leg/foot kind of tremor.  Nothing else that I noticed.  He slept for about 20 minutes and changed positions several times.  I thought maybe it was pee time, so brought him out on pee pad - he didn't go, so I expressed and there was plenty in there.  While out on the pee pad, once again I noticed that left foot/leg tremor.  Back in the crate with plenty of love and some nervousness on my part.  After a bit I turned from him hoping he would lay down and rest.  A while later I turn to check on him and he's staring at me panting.  Now, it is warm in this part of the house, so it could be that - but I'm not sure.  There are no other signs of pain.  I brought him out of the crate again, onto the pee pad to check on poop status and while there, he became interested in a floating fuzzy (good sign) and tried to move after it.  No yelps, no body shaking, just the panting.   Being concerned about the panting, leg/foot tremor and stiffness in moving, I broke down and gave him 1/4 tramadol pill.  If this eases his stiffness and panting, then I guess we do have pain.

Right now I have him in the a/c room with his night-night blanket, where it is cooler.  I'm hoping that the panting was/is just from the warmness out here.  Though today is much cooler than our usual 90+ degrees.  That stiffness in his rear legs and that left foot/leg tremor concerns me though.  It just involves the portion below his little knee when it's like he's putting pressure (in normal circumstances) downward to stand up.  If that makes any sense.  Is this normal?  Unusual?  Sign of something going wrong?  Ack... I'm a mess right now.     The only time it tremors is when he's getting ready to move, just moved or does a head shake that would be a full body shake if he had use of that back end.

Thanks, Paula for responding.  I have to chuckle at my own word choice there (palpating).  Eons ago I was trained medically, so some words automatically come out when I'm not thinking clearly.  By palpating I meant slight touching to see for response.

I just checked on him in the a/c room and there he sat with ears perked - also apparently had pulled a shirt in with him.  I only made a quick check (I want him to rest) and he wasn't noticeably panting.  His panting had started prior to my giving him that 1/4 pill tramadol.  I'm beginning to think I'm just being an overly nervous mom and his pant is more related to the heat (though, like I said, it is noticeably cooler here today).

I'll call the doc during lunch tomorrow and let him know what I've seen.  We may need to move our appointment up from Thursday.

I've got to start laundry in a bit so I will have a bit more time in there with him and can thorougly check the pant.  I'll post a report a bit later.

Thanks again.

Almost to the end of week five (5).  Five week checkup tomorrow afternoon.  Small improvements over the last four days.  Bladder control is still up and down, but we're dealing with that.  The whining/panting we had the last time I checked in has stopped.  I guess it was really just the heat (go figure, we cooled off that day and he panted like it was over 100.. lol).  We're off all meds (we ran out of the ace and he's not had any for two days now - seems to be coping pretty well without it, so far).

The small improvements, the leg/foot tremble stopped.  He's started actually 'sitting' more and more - with his legs more or less in correct position under his hind end.  He's also using that left leg to push himself into position more.  He lays more on his right side, so I've not seen him do that with the right leg.  The newest improvements are that I'm seeing a bit of tail movement upon his seeing me in the afternoons, while laying on his back he'll actually stretch both legs out a bit (like an actual body stretch) and then relax them and lastly... yesterday upon my opening the crate in the a/c room - he literally launched himself trying to get out the door.

Downsides... he's become the adamant two year old tantrum thrower.  Tired of being crated, tired of not being able to go outside (between all the rains and the mosquitos, outside is totally off limits right now) and just all around b-o-r-e-d mom!     I can deal with these downsides as long as he continues with the improvements.

Well, we've made it through week 5.  One would think it was week 5 million with the way little man Rusty has been complaining.  More improvements to report, though I had to push back his appointment from Friday until tomorrow.  He is now beginning to use the right leg to push himself around a bit.  Laying on his back much more often and yesterday while napping, he did a little leg stretch complete with toe fanning.  lol  My excitement over these little things is just too funny to me.  He continues to get himself into a proper sitting position, but seems to know that I'm not going to approve his attempts to stand just yet.

This morning while we were dressing for work/school, I laid something on top of the crate.  Next thing I know, I'm hearing a clink, clink.  I look over at him and there he is with his paws up on the door of the crate and doing his dangest to reach what I put up there.  I gave him a stern talking to and told him if he repeats that, I'll put the spare smaller crate in there.  The look on his face was priceless!

I think we're making small headway on the bladder issue.  When I've got him out on a pad, it takes just the slightest pressure on his belly and he lets loose a good stream.  I try expressing afterward, and nothing.  Every now and again, I get him into a semi standing position and before I move my hand to his belly, he begins on his own.  I have this on note to discuss with doc tomorrow - along with a wee bit more sedative.  He does great until he sees a dust mote or his imaginary friend the fly.  His personality is definitely back 100% because he goes into hunter/attacker mode and moves around a bit too much in the crate for my liking.  

Here's the bucket boy in a moment of, "Really mom?  What now?"

Here we are at day four of week six.  I'm thinking more and more I need to install a jail in the house for when the time comes that little Rusty man is 100%!  Progress is coming steadily now.   Last night he welcomed me in the a/c room with a stand of a whopping 10 count complete with a slow moving tail wag.  Then we had our normal 30 minute chat time.  Can this boy talk!  This morning and again this afternoon, there were a few more 'stands' each varying in time amounts.

The only snag we've hit is... attitude/behavior.  Today he moved around just enough in the crate to finagle it closer to the clothes basket.  The clean clothes he could reach are now in the crate.  Ugh!  lol  He's getting more and more anxious to be let out of the crate.  I wish it would cool off enough to run the mosquitoes off so I could take him in the crate outside for a while.  But, for now I'll work his brain in attempt to wear him out.  Last night while carrying him to the a/c room, he let out one of his hunting wail/screetch/howl type barks.  Nearly scared my daughter to death!  Ah.... the return of personality is a sight to behold.

Hi Kim,

I am a new member. I just want to say Rusty is so darned cute...kinda looks like my Mimi Reading your story and seeing your progress gives me a ton of hope for Mimi. We are only on day 5 of crate rest and she is already wanting out. She has weakness in her rear left leg so seeing your dog doing so well, really makes me think in  7 weeks she will be ok. Thanks for posting on so much progress

Jean

Week 8 here we come!  Absolutely no meds for, is it two weeks?  No pain, all attitude and small progress.  Doc has said it is normal to hit the plateau.  Rusty still attempts his stands for a few seconds at a time, but still no real progress in that area.  He is, however moving around much more freely in the bit larger crate, trying for all it's worth to get those feet fully under himself.  He does have movement of the legs when laying down or doing his ever present laying on back.  I'll take any progress I can get.

We have had a couple of afternoons with the smaller crate, out in the front yard.  Though they don't last long (he just knows that those moving blades of grass are going to attack his mommy and he needs to get them first!), they do seem to be doing wonders for his psyche.

Our personal doc has said we will give it a week or so beyond the end of crate rest and then re-evaluate both physical therapy and the possibility of some wheels.  Wuuuu huuu!  Even when he was a wee pup his chest wasn't this small.  Little man needs to get his muscles back into shape.  Doc and I agree that we will start slow with a small amount of leg work/hands on pt for the first week after graduation.

For anyone else reading through Rusty's thread here... keep your spirits up!  Crate method does work wonders as long as you follow through and stay on top of things.  Like I said... week 8, here we come!