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Post by pngchic on Aug 20, 2013 8:08:23 GMT -7
My boy Frankie has a suspected slipped disc. He's been having treatment for a week, but we brought him home yesterday to recuperate and rest.
yesterday he was exhausted and we had an easy time of getting him to stay in his crate, but today he wants out and to be walking....I'm not sure if I should let him or if I need to remain strict and keep him in bed? And suggestions?
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Sabrina
Helpful Member 
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471 
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Post by Sabrina on Aug 20, 2013 8:20:38 GMT -7
Hi! My name's Sabrina - what's yours? If you could give us some more info on Frankie, that will help folks be better able to advise you. Here's a list to help you: --What breed is your dog and did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD? -- What was the date you saw the vet and started 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7? -- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy? -- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? -- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk? -- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? -- Eating and drinking OK? -- Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood? Also, what treatment did Frankie receive at the vet? With disc episodes, it takes limited movement (strict crate rest) to allow enough scar tissue to develop to protect the disc from further damage. see - Overview: Healing during a disc episode - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htmand - Crate Rest Recovery Process - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmDo post back with more info on Frankie so that the folks here are better able to advise you! ))Hugs!(( - Sabrina |
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Post by pngchic on Aug 20, 2013 8:27:06 GMT -7
Frankie is a jack Russell cross- very long body and short legs.
The paralysis first kicked in last Tuesday (13th August) and he was admitted to the specialist vet unit on the Wednesday lunch time. He's been on strict crate rest and receiving fluids through IV and having morphine type injections since the Wednesday.
Now home he's happy to wobbly walk, there's a little bit of shivering in his hind legs, and he has a tendency to knuckle on his back left paw. We heard a cat this morning and happily would have run off down the garden if he hadn't been on a lead - he also hid under the coffee table this afternoon when I tried to get him back in his crate after being to the toilet!
going to the toilet ok on his own, not particularly hungry or thirsty but eating and drinking little bits at a time when encouraged.
Currently whimpering/crying at me because he wants out of his crate, I'm fairly sure he's not in pain
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Sabrina
Helpful Member
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471
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Post by Sabrina on Aug 20, 2013 8:50:20 GMT -7
What a cutie! Is Frankie on any medication now? Do you know if he received any anti-inflammatory medication at the vet? Even though Frankie improved during his time at the vets (which is great!), he still needs a full 8wks of 100% strict crate rest: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/conservative.htm . Frankie should be carried out to go potty and only allowed a few steps. Here's a secure way to carry him: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/liftcarry.jpgIf you have some push-in-the-ground garden fencing, making a 6ft "potty spot" is really helpful. Frankie should be carried back to his crate, too. Here are a few more links to get you started with learning all you can about disc disease: Shortcut through IVDD - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/IVDDcourse/index.html(This is a slide show so keep clicking "next" to see each page) Index to Overview: Phases of healing - www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm))Hugs!(( - Sabrina |
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Post by pngchic on Aug 20, 2013 8:59:22 GMT -7
He's on tramadol hydrochloride at the monment, the vet hopes to withdraw it by the weekend.
It's just so hard, yesterday he slept all day- but today he's really bright eyed and bushy tailed!
Thank you for your support and information!
Rebecca and Frankie
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Sabrina
Helpful Member
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471
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Post by Sabrina on Aug 20, 2013 9:08:07 GMT -7
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Aug 20, 2013 9:09:07 GMT -7
Hi Rebecca, my name is Maureen. Welcome to Dodgers List. I am sorry that your Frankie is having an IVDD episode. Sabrina has given you some excellent information and links to valuable reading resources. The best thing that we can do as pet parents is become knowledgeable about this wretched disease, so that we can best advocate for our dogs and help to educate our Vets. Like Sabrina said 100% crate rest for 8 weeks is the key to conservative treatment, the crate acts as a cast of sorts to allow the disc to heal and form scar tissue. One of the hardest parts of Conservative treatment is convincing the dogs that they have to stay in the crate, no matter how good they feel, it is for their own good and necessary for proper healing.
Be very alert for the signs of pain that she mentioned as well. Pain = swelling = more time needed on an anti-inflammatory medication. Tramadol isn't an anti-inflammatory, it is a pain medication.
There is so much to learn and it can all seem a bit overwhelming. We are all here for you, we are all going through this, or have gone through this too. Keep us posted.
Keeping you in thought and prayer.
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