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Post by mommymac on Aug 27, 2013 9:49:23 GMT -7
So glad I've been reading this forum; I was baffled as to how to get my 4 day post-op pup Radar out of the crate for potty time. I need to remove the top!
Have any of you been prescribed the pain patch? It's easier not having to add another oral medication in to the day!
Sending good thoughts to all of you . . .
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 27, 2013 10:06:25 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist. My name is Paula what is yours?
Can you give us some detail about Radar?
-- 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?
-- What directives did the surgeon give for crate rest and for PT?
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 27, 2013 12:29:37 GMT -7
My cat Dickon had a pain patch prescribed when he had his leg amputated due to osteosarcoma. But he also had oral meds along with that. If I remember correctly, the pain patch stayed on for 5 days. The combination worked beautifully and he never seemed to have any pain whatsoever during his recuperation. I couldn't remove the top of Jeremy's crate. After his surgery, I used to leave a blanket under him and drag him out of the crate on the blanket. And he's quite a heavy Cocker! But it worked.  Looking forward to learning more about Radar. |
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Post by mommymac on Aug 27, 2013 15:15:07 GMT -7
Hi - Sorry I posted in the wrong forum; sounds like Molly's mom had a difficult decision to make.
Radar is a four year old who simply lost balance and control of his back legs five days ago - Thursday - and was whisked to animal emergency. Friday was the day he was recommended for surgery and without much notice, we had to decide if he would have his lumbar disc removed. My husband had done some quick research and we learned a doxie is prone to this disease and you don't have much time to think.
He is home and seems comfortable; all initial signs of discomfort are gone. I think it's that pain patch! He is also on Prednisone,Simplicef, and Pepcid AC.
He is able to move his legs when out in his sling, but the leg that collapsed last week is the weaker of the two. He doesn't leak; in fact, he was lazy before this and was often wet in the morning but now can relieve himself easily when I take him outside. Dry as a bone.
No poops yet but appetite is returning. Very thirsty. He will be on four weeks crate rest and then we'll discuss therapy. I have ordered some coasters for his crate so we can wheel him around the house. I bet the mailman is happy he no longer has a jumping dog at the back door. Note to self: move Radar to another part of house until mail comes once he is better.
My husband told me today that our 25th wedding anniversary is postponed due to Radar needing us.I wonder if he had a trip in mind . . .
Oh, and those pictures of dogs in wheelchairs: my husband is softening and starting to consider the fact that pets can limp through life like the rest of us and be happy!
Carolyn
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Marjorie
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 27, 2013 16:54:23 GMT -7
Yes, they certainly can be happy in wheelchairs, Carolyn. But it's way too soon for you to be thinking of that. It takes a couple of weeks for the swelling around the spinal cord to go down. So the nerves still have pressure on them and Radar's legs aren't getting the proper signals yet. It will take time for him to heal from the surgery and any nerve damage that he has suffered can also take time, weeks, months, even a year or more to heal. It sounds like he's doing very well just four days post-op. The Prednisone can make him thirsty so be sure he has plenty of water available. You mentioned that therapy wouldn't be discussed until four weeks. Did your vet specifically say there should be no therapy until then? Here are some exercises that Dodgerslist has on their site that can be done at home, if you'd like to check with your vet about them. I know I started my Jeremy on the passive ones and massage right after his surgery. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm Also acupuncture is very helpful to get nerves stimulated, if that's in your budget. And hydrotherapy can be beneficial, too, once the stitches or staples are out. Some of this can be done right in your bathtub. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm Of course, check with your vet before starting any of these. Wheeling Radar around in his crate so he can be with you will be very helpful. And yes, good idea about moving him to another part of the house when the mailman comes once he's better! That's one of the hardest things we all find it to do - keeping our dogs calm when they feel better and they don't understand they can't do certain things anymore. Hope you get a chance to celebrate your 25th soon - congratulations! |
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StevieLuv
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Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Aug 29, 2013 11:40:51 GMT -7
Hi, my name is Maureen. Good to hear that Radar is soing so well after his surgery. After surgery, 6 weeks of crate rest is recommended, to allow for optimum healing. Here are some notes that I copied from one of Paula's previous posts: Many clients are confused as to why exercise restriction is often necessary after spinal cord injury in veterinary patients. Vertebral column injury and surgery can disrupt the normal stabilizing structures of the spine such as muscles, bone, joint capsules, and the intervertebral disk. Excessive, unrestricted activity after surgery or certain injuries can lead to vertebral column destabilization and prolonged healing of the injury site. The intervetebral disk, in particular, is very slow to heal and healing may be incomplete; excessive vertebral column motion after disk surgery may therefore lead to recurrence of disk herniation. Additionally, animals that are weak or incoordinated may accidentally traumatize themselves, leading to orthopedic and soft tissue injuries. So post op crate rest for 6 weeks means, you do all the PT the surgeon wants. PT is always supervised, slow and deliberate and with your full attention on the dog. When you are not doing PT then back in the crate until graduation. After crate rest has been completed, do a slow gradual reintroduction back into physical activity. Schedule idea: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmWSU vet teaching hospital gave Paula these directions after surgeries with both of her dogs: Returning to exercise should be perforeformed slowly after crate rest. Return to exercise should begin with short (5-10 min/day) scooting or wheelchair or leash walking for the first 1-2 weeks. Observe how this amount of exercise is tolerated. The distance or time can slowly be increased weekly over the next 2 months. If there is pain, difficulty walking stop the exersise right away and consult your vet. After return to exercise maintain a reduction of high impact activty for 6 months (no running, jumping, fetching, etc.) Low impact activity such as leash walking and swiming are good low impact exercise. Hope this helps |
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