Matheis, welcome to the Care and Support Forum! We are glad you are here. Your girl's thread has been moved to this Conservative Treatment board so we can best help and keep track of her progress.
-- Conservative treatment is not rocket science, it is affordable.
-- Conservative treatment is the best option when surgery isn't... such as... dog is still able to walk, health reasons, not affordable.
Until we know all the details about your dog, hope this information will ensure your girl is on the right track for healing with conservative treatment.
Familiarize yourself with "the" amazingly most positive method to... heal a disc and prevent nerve damage. Start today giving your dog every chance possible to heal.
-- Learn how to set up a “recovery suite” with room service for your dog! ➤ 🏠At home nursing care tips:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process-- Commit to STRICT use of recovery suite. That makes today another day of disc healing going on!
-- Weigh the risks vs. benefit. Anytime outside of the recovery suite... would be a day for risk of potential pain, nerve damage, more vet bills, a costly surgery.
Benefit examples... Potty time and the most urgent of vet visits outweighs potential risks.
The things that make conservative treatment work for many disc episodes is owner knowledge.
➤ 💊Medications used during a disc episode:
dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode/➤ 💡What to expect for each phase of healing:
dodgerslist.com/in-the-right-placePlease tell us about your dog. Answer the questions below.
With your details of event dates, etc., we'd know best how to help. We'd feel awfully bad to mistakenly assume anything ... delaying help for your dog.
QUESTIONS:★1 Is there still currently pain, let us know which you observe?
There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. Tell your vet about any of these observations asap to get meds adjusted.
⚙︎ shivering-trembling ⚙︎ yelping when picked up or moved
⚙︎ tight tense tummy ⚙︎ arched back, ears pinned back
⚙︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
⚙︎ slow or reluctant to move in suite such as shift positions
⚙︎ not their normal perky interested in life selves
➕if a neck disc:
◻︎ head held high/ nose to the ground
◻︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◻︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◻︎ holds front or back leg up flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
★2 __How much does your dog weigh? Age?
What is the list of meds your dog is taking?
-- Exact names for each med, their doses in mg’s and times per day given?
-- PLUS: IF on a non-steroid (NSAID) for how many days?
-- PLUS: If on a steroid....what was the start date & dose? Date of steroid 1st taper
-- Please include the "all important" stomach protector. Use Pepcid AC with any anti-inflammatory med (steroid or NSAID). Follow vets who are proactive. Avoid red flag signs: Not eating, vomit, loose stool, bleeding ulcers, red or black blood in diarrhea.
The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html--Give 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory.
--Dose thereafter every 12 hours for the duration of the anti-inflammatory.
thumb.ibb.co/mEGRuy/91x_Aj_s00z_L_SY355.jpg **
★3 What breed? What is your dog’s name? Your name, too?
★4 Did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD, aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc?
-- Is the vet a general DVM? or
-- a specialist surgeon (ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho)?
★5 -- What was the date you saw the vet for conservative treatment?
If your dog moves around too much, the disc cannot heal. With pain medications to mask pain, dogs will not be in pain and want to be more active. So it is up to you to restrict your dog’s activity for them. i.postimg.cc/3rLH7g7X/320still-healing-disc.jpg **
STRICT means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
POTTY TIMES
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!
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Potty-leash-harness400-19kb.jpg **
★6 List any red flag signs of stomach damage you are currently observing:
Not eating, vomit, loose stool, bleeding ulcers, red or black blood in diarrhea?
★7 Currently, can your dog....
-- wobbly walk?
-- Move the legs at all?
-- Wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
Calm your mind about nerve healing, know the facts:
dodgerslist.com/2021/02/06/nerve-healing-after-disc-episode/★8 Peeing or overflowing. Can your dog:
-- Specifically sniff and squat and then release urine (bladder control)?
-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted? Indicator signs of an overflowing bladder (loss of control). Manual bladder expressing is necessary for health reasons. How to:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/On a Mobile device?
The Forum is best viewed on a mobile phone via the "desk top view" As shown in picture below, you would scroll down to the bottom of the screen to click on "Desktop".
i.postimg.cc/rpcSRrsp/Desktop-mode320.jpg **
Best to reply to a post by scrolling to bottom of page to "Quick reply" typing area. Avoid clicking on the "Reply" link.
Quick reply allows you to scroll up read a previous post and then scroll down to the "Quick Reply" typing area to continue your own post.