Welcome to the Forum! My name is Paula, what's yours? Very impressed that you took quick action to get Riley help. Hours matter in preventing more nerve damage by getting to the vet for a diagnosis and getting meds on board. 100% STRICT REST in a crate to limit movement of the back is the single most important care during conservative treatment.
If a neuro consult is warranted this morning because not clear if this is IVDD or that the meds are not yet correctly Rx'd to provide round the clock pain control (dose to right up to the next dose of meds), you will find having some info under your belt helpful in discussions with the neuro:
►Excellent info to help with conservative vs. surgery decisions:
dodgerslist.com/2020/02/10/surgery-vs-conservative/ ►Dr. Isaacs, neurosurgeon, answered a lot of questions we've had about surgery: "Surgery needs to be a decision an owner enters into recognizing the risk, but also recognizes the benefit. This way if something unforeseen occurs an owner can be comforted and at peace with the fact that surgery was the right decision and they did all they could for their dog." You will find it worthwhile to read the rest of his answers about surgery:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/12/dr-isaacs-surgery-answers/You can master the basics of conservative treatment. The things that make conservative treatment work for many disc episodes.
➤ 🏠At home nursing care tips:
-- Tried and true tested ideas for setting up the recovery suite and tips for making the STRICT rest period go smoothly:
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-place Know in your heart, the body does have an impressive ability to self-heal a disc and to self-heal nerve damage.
[Today, 🔎 view Shortcut Thru IVDD and become the IVDD savvy pet parent your dog needs.
Please 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
★2 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's your name?
★4 Did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD, aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc? Most diagnosis are made by the breeds prone to IVDD such as doxies, the dog's history and the hands on exam. X-rays can't prove a disc episode because they do not show soft tissue of spinal cord nor the disc. Usually X-rays are used to rule out a suspicion of another disease such as fractured vertebrae, bone infection, etc.
-- Is the vet a general DVM? or
-- a specialist surgeon (ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho)?
★5 If your dog moves around too much, the disc cannot heal. With correctly Rx'd 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 hind 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 Brain controlled "peeing" or reflex "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 ahead to get more out of a hands on your hands type of lesson:
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".
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