Welcome to Dodgerslist, Nicole. I'm so sorry to hear about Milo. Many dogs do recover with conservative care. It takes a long time for nerves to heal, weeks, months, even years. The empathy that you have because of your disability will bond the two of you even closer. And it sounds like he has a strong determination and that will help, too. Milo will be a happy dog whether he recovers enough to walk again or not. The vet that you saw has given you the right type of medication - Prednisone to get the swelling in the disc down, Tramadol for pain and Pepcid AC to protect his GI tract. Good job in getting him in the crate.
100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks is the SINGLE most important thing you can do to help your dog-- it is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. Carried in and out to potty. 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). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc.
The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal.
Can you give us a bit more in essential information about Milo:
-- Is there still currently pain? Signs of pain are holding the head in an unusual position, head held high or nose to the ground, shivering/trembling, not wanting to move much or moving gingerly, yelping, tight/tense stomach muscles, arched back, holding leg up flamingo style, not wanting to bear weight on the leg, just not their usual perky-interested-in-life self. There should be no signs of pain between doses of medication. If you see pain starting close to the next dose, then the dose needs to be adjusted by the vet.
-- What are the exact dose in mg's and frequency of all meds?
-- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk? Once your dog is off all medication and has no pain, the very, very lightest least aggressive range of motion and leg massage is necessary for paralyzed or weak legs during conservative treatment. The information highlighted in PINK pertains to a dog who can't walk. Check with your vet before starting.
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm-- Can your dog sniff and squat and then release urine or do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up?
-- Eating and drinking OK?
-- Poops OK - normal color, firmness, no dark or bright red blood?
Dodgerslist website contains so much information that you need to read up on. Please go through the website and read, read, read so you can become knowledgeable about IVDD. Here are some links to get you started. Please click on all of them to get a good background of understanding.
www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmwww.dodgerslist.com/literature.htmDodgerslist has an excellent DVD available for only $3 including shipping. It's great to have on hand to show to family/friends/petsitters so they will know what they can and cannot do with your dog and how they can help:
www.dodgerslist.com/store/DVDorder.htm We're here to support you through this, Nicole. All the best to you both.
