Anne's Scooby 7/21? conservative

Welcome Anne! How wonderful Scooby has you to help him over this bump in the road with his disc episode!!!

 There are some things that are not clear to us.  Maybe because you are not aware of his past medical treatment?  See what you are able to fill in so we better understand his current treatment and know better how to comment.

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY  
Carprofen is only used until all pain is full gone in about 7-30 days.  Normally there would be a 5-7 day course then a STOP to see if all pain is gone. If not then another course of carprofen, etc.
    Carprofen does not heal the damaged nerves. The body self heals nerves.
  --- Did Scooby have a setback in pain surfacing or legs worsening to cause to cause carprofen to be on board now for 27 days (6/30 to 7/26?)
  --- What date is carprofen to be stopped as per rescue's vet to find out if all painful swelling is gone?

PAIN MEDs
Is the one pain med (gabapentin for nerve pain 100mgs 2x/day) providing  round the clock comfort f rom any pain surfacing?
--- On the date carprofen will be stopped, pain meds are also stopped to allow you to accurately assess if any hint of pain would surface.  Which does your Rescue vet want on carprofen stop date?:  
    1)  full stop of gabapentin with the stop of carprofen? OR
    2) to back down on gabapentin by mgs and frequency?
The full details on how carprofen, an anti-inflammatory works with a disc episode. Good reading to be able to ask the right questions and discuss treatment:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/

STOMACH PROTECTION
All anti-inflammatory drugs cause extra stomach acids to be produced. The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound, 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours for as long as your dog is on the anti-inflammatory.  FIRST verify with vet Scooby has no health issues.
--The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease.
-- It may be prudent with heart patients to choose another class of acid reducer.
-- IF NO HEALTH ISSUES, go to grocery store to purchase Pepcid AC.   14 lbs Scooby: Pepcid AC 5mgs 2x/day.  Know why stomach protection is so important during a disc episode :   dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protection/
  -- Carry him out to an old pee spot in the grass.  Can he sniff and then make the decision to release urine?  That is bladder control.
  -- When you lift him, does he leak on you?  That is an overflowing bladder that releases urine due to reflexes and requires manually expressing every 2-3 hrs when first learning. 
  -- A dog who has lost bladder control needs to be manually expressed. Did you get a lesson expressing if Scooby has lost bladder control? review video and tips:  dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/
  -- Why is Scooby wearing a diaper?  This is a last resort item.  The health of the bladder is kept by expressing a dog who has lost bladder control.
 --- What is the last date Scooby has had a urinalysis to proof if there is a bladder infection?
     Not all bladder infections have these observable signs: Leaking/dribbling urine, odor, change in color.

2) Back leg function
   -- Can he move the back legs such as to reposition himself in the suite?
   -- Can he make an attempt to get into a stand?

Let us know you are on board with strict rest. Only out of the suite for potty time if bladder control or expressing if lost bladder control.
  -- lots of calming ideas for crate rest:  Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
  -- STRICT rest means:
◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎no chiro therapy whys: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/
◼︎no dragging at potty time outdoors if he has bladder control 

◼︎no PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc
◼︎At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best. Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment. 

support both ends when lifting and carrying