Mark's Tyson 4/12 Conservative Bichon Grad now 6/12

Mark, agree with you. Tyson's neuro function and coordination are continuing to improve. That is very, very good. Can't wait til there is proof when pain meds stop.

You are doing an excellent job of attending to Tyson's disc care with limited movement.

Mark can you tell us what you currently observe about proprioception in his front paws?  How much ability do the front paws have to sense movement and position of each paw?
--- Do his paws knuckle under all of the time?
---     "                   "        "        but he can very slowly right them?
---     "                   "       "        but he can right them quickly?

i.postimg.cc/V6X4H88V/paw-knuckls-under-nerve-damage.jpg **

Mark, knuckling is nerve damage. It can take time to heal. Nerve repair may or may not come back in the short 8 weeks it takes to heal a disc.

At the times you might see him standing with a knuckled paw you can right the paw for him to help train the nerves/muscle what is correct. He CAN move his legs so that is the light movement of limbs for now. Upon graduation, when it is safe for the then healed disc, you can pursue an active physical exercise program at home or at a clinic. We'll have much to share with you on graduation when we learn exactly where he is on that day and make comments for the current— and not what may turn out to be old news from today.

Happy to report NO signs of pain today. Happy, frisky, alert, playful and engaged. Looks like we are ready for our final prednisone taper!

Just checking in to report that we are now about a week into the final prednisone taper and all is well -- no signs of pain or inflammation, and diminishment of side effects (panting, restlessness).

About 4 days ago (5/22) Ty began walking in earnest on the yoga matted areas in his suite. I have continued to restrict his movement outside the suite, but he is definitely able to walk around independently now, and his proprioception is greatly improved (foot placements are almost always correct). Our appointment with the physiotherapist 6/13 seems like it should be well timed. I am personally feeling a sense of incredible relief and profound gratitude, especially for you, Paula! I don't think I could have done this on my own, and I will be forever grateful for your knowledge and kindness, but most importantly your generous willingness to share your time, advice, and experience. Thank you again, from the bottom of my heart, and I look forward to discovering more as we continue on this recuperative journey toward wellness!

Not much walking space, Paula -- but I let him take a few steps when I give him breakfast and lunch, or else he jumps up and down, which I try to discourage. I am keeping him down to as few steps as possible, but his balance and proprioception are vastly improving and he now seems to want to roam outside his suite, so his confidence is also returning. Yesterday I saw him sleeping stretched out on his back, which I haven't seen since the episode. Not only is the pain apparently gone, but he's also stretching those areas, which seems to me a very good sign. Thanks again!

Until recently, yes, but I have trouble when I am preparing his food with him standing up against the doors of the crate or the suite gate, jumping, barking, etc., so now I carry him while I am preparing his food, which forces him to be more settled. I set him down once the food is ready in the dish just outside his crate, and he stands to eat it. Meals have always caused him excitement, but the prednisone made it 10x greater. Hopefully that will settle down again once the prednisone is done.

Well, no. He is literally uncontrollable once food is in the picture, so trying to get him into the crate at that point would be higher risk than setting him right outside the crate opening with his face in the dish since he has no incentive to move at that point. I have literally tried every other way I can think of to make meals as low-activity as possible, and this is the best solution I've been able to manage. The general hyperactivity is calming as he tapers off the prednisone, but at meal times he is uncontrollably RAVENOUS beyond belief.

Mark try some things that are lo cal throughout the day and may help alleviate the prednisone side effects of increased appetite:
    -- frozen no-salt, no fat broth ice cubes in a bowl to lick on in his suite. Easy DIY bowl attached to side of suite.
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/bowl-holder-DIY-320x240.jpg

    --Frozen green beans, small pieces of apple or carrot.

This morning, Ty threw up his dose of Pepcid-AC, which I administered in a chunk of cheese as always. I am wondering, is there a limit to how long they can take fatomidine without side effects? We have only five more doses of prednisone to go -- should I risk cutting out the Pepcid, or what do you advise? Perhaps the nausea was from something else? How to be sure? I administered a new dose of Pepcid before the prednisone and he seems to be fine. Perhaps I shouldn't be giving him the Pepcid first thing in the morning on an empty stomach?

Thanks for that fulsome disambiguation. I think Ty regurgitated the cheese containing the Pepcid after drinking some water. There were no stomach contents -- just the dose inside the chunk of cheese and some water. He was fine for the rest of the day, by the way. I am going to proceed as if it was just an anomalous episode. If it happens again, I will need to rethink that, though. Otherwise, everything is proceeding well with no problems or concerns.

p.s., I notice you have Ty's new graduation day down as 6/13, but I think it is actually 6/12 [graduation day], since his final prednisone dose is on 6/11. As you can tell, we are counting the days -- literally!

Sunday is graduation day. Wonderful!

Tyson should be able to get back to most of his usual activities, minus only a few. We can discuss more details when graduation day arrives.

Congratulations on Tyson's graduation tomorrow!

Now is the time to determine how you are going to ease Tyson back into more normal activity. The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled conditions. Not free reign of the house and yard immediately!

Take a look at our information and then come up with a plan to gradually increase activity over about a month's time following the end of crate rest.

Here is a sample schedule to slowly introduce your dog back to family life and physical activity: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/15/back-friendly/?highlight=sample%20schedule

Make your home back friendly with ramps instead of stairs, blocking off furniture and training to keep all four paws on the ground:https://dodgerslist.com/2020/07/09/home-protect-ivdd-backs

Lots more ideas and tips in living with an IVDD dog:
dodgerslist.com/living-with-ivdd-tips

We invite you to hop on to our educational bandwagon team in any way that makes you happy. Education about disc disease is our number one mission! We wish we did not have to hear of another dog that was put to sleep because of disc disease nor one denied the correct principles of crate rest to help them heal.

--- You've been there, and are doing it....if you see another member on the Forum needing support or information share what you know to be true or point them to one of our many IVDD articles. The "search box" on each page makes quick work to find the right helpful link:
www.dodgerslist.com/

-- "Share" our FB posts to widen the reach of IVDD knowledge:
www.facebook.com/Dodgerslist

-- Hand carry our literature. When in conversation at the grocery store line or wherever you meet breeds most prone to IVDD (Dachshunds, Beagles, Poodles, Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, and Chihuahuas) to give out our little cards.
Literature can be ordered here:
dodgerslist.com/free-literature-2

Please keep us updated from time to time on how Tyson is doing. We love these updates.

Dear Paula,
Thanks so much -- what a journey, indeed! There were days I honestly felt like I could not continue, but this board and you in particular gave me the strength and above all the knowledge to push ahead! Ty is now incredibly walking two blocks at potty times, frolicking and playing like his old self, and most recently able to walk on hardwood and laminate flooring without any evident difficulty. He has improved significantly in just a single week post-crate rest. I am literally having to hold him back from running at this point! The wading pool was a great idea, Paula, and it has really given him a fun, different, and cool (literally) challenge. He used to be slightly fearful of water, but he's quickly gotten past that fear now that food is involved! We've already had some great bonding moments splashing around and drying off, and I really feel it has helped him to quickly regain some muscular strength. The visit to physio earlier this week was enlightening and ought to yield a helpful daily exercise routine. All in all, Ty is still showing amazing progress, and I am absolutely thrilled with his recovery so far. The rest is truly icing on an already fabulous cake!