Welcome Ellee! What is your dog's name?
Too much movement during conservative treatment is not good for the healing disc. At the end of this post see the questions we so we can be assured things are as they should be for your doxie.
See if these ideas help to allow your doxie to be able to relax in her recovery suite (playpen):
CALMERS
Using any
oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives (ACE, alprazolam or traZODone). Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog.
Place a DAP
pheromone diffusor at floor level where the recovery suite is:
--DOG Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml
www.adaptil.com/Use diffusor with
one oral calmer from below:
1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed
www.virbac2) 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 UNWANTED BEHAVIOR
Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the crate, petting.
So anytime you see unwanted behavior try speaking in your dog's language so he understands to calm down. Turn your body sideways, avoid eye contact until he calms and settles down.
Preferable is to start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior. Anytime your dog is sitting or lying down quietly, give a reward of a calm loving "good sit/lie." Soon your dog will see they get rewards by quietly sitting, etc.
Owner IVDD knowledge is the key to fighting the IVDD enemy!
You can master the basics. The things that make conservative treatment work for many disc episodes.
➤ 🏠At home nursing care tips:
-- Tried and true tested ideas:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/➤ 💊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 is your dog’s name?
★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.
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 Tell us the detail about your dogs neuro functions:
-- hind legs wobbly walk?
-- Hind legs move at all?
-- Can she give a happy wag when you specifically do some happy talk?
★8 Peeing or overflowing? Can your dog:
-- Specifically sniff and squat and then release urine (has bladder control)?
-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted? Indicator signs of an overflowing bladder (has lost bladder control). Manual bladder expressing is necessary for health reasons. How to:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/On a Mobile device?
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Anxious to learn all about your girl with the answers to the questions.
