Welcome Chris. The single most important care is that of limited movement to the back. Here are tips for heavy dogs you can use at potty time and other times of caring for Bubba:
dodgerslist.com/2022/02/10/large-dog-care-tips-ivdd/EMERGENCY INFO: credit care, surgeons, how to monitor neuro functions, etc. to be sure to know about:
dodgerslist.com/2020/02/24/emergency-treatment-options/Until we know more about Bubba, these pages can get you up to speed in IVDD and home care.
BE WELL ARMED!
1) LEARN that our dogs were born with a progressive disease. At some point the disc's ability to rejuvenate flexibility looses the battle to disc disease. Disc disease causes prematurely aged discs to harden and loose needed flexibility to cushion the vertebrae movements.
2) LIVE each day in the moment lets you appreciate what you have and what you can do. It will be useful to maintain positive spirits in your roll as a care giver. A dog can recover and heal with time if given the gift of 100% strict crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks.
3) BROWSE through the tried and true ways to provide Effective Strict Rest Recovery for your dog:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/?highlight=roadmap 4) AVOID dangerous detours, follow the "Roadmap"
View, d/l and print a copy for your fridge from here:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf 5) ANTICIPATE what to expect for healing during the 8 weeks of conservative treatment:
dodgerslist.com/in-the-right-place QUESTIONSIt is difficult to comment not knowing the specifics pertaining to your dog. It helps us work together with you and avoid offering ideas that could cause harm or lead the discussion in the wrong direction delaying help for your dog — please share a bit more detail with us:
❖1 Is there still currently pain? List only the ones you observe today.
◻︎ shivering-trembling ◻︎ slow to move ◻︎ tight tense tummy
◻︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◻︎ head held high or nose to the ground
◻︎ yelping when picked up or moved ◻︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
◻︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
◻︎ not their normal perky interested in life selves
+ pain from neck disc:
◻︎ 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 flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose.
If the pain meds are not yet right, as the eyes and ears for your vet, please call your vet ASAP to report your observations so meds can be adjusted. Advocate for any of the pain meds be given 3x/day (every 8 hours) for round the clock coverage, dose to dose coverage.
— Methocarbamol works on the pain of muscle spasms.
— traMADol is the general pain reliever.
— Gabapentin works on nerve pain.
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.
Understanding the roll each kind of pain med plays in providing full comfort, will aid you best in advocating for what your dog needs. Good overview here:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/30/pain-medications❖2 MED LIST
… A Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and times per day given.
… B What was the start date of anti-inflammatory: dose in mgs? dose frequency?
1. If on a NSAID, for how many days has it been prescribed for?
2. if on a STEROID what date does the taper start on?
… C PEPCID AC: Ask if your dog has any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn’t need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a “no health issues” answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
NOTE: 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.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html❖3 GI Tract problems?
—Eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit?
—Poops OK? Normal firmness & color
-no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers?
-No diarrhea?
❖4
Please let us know that you're on the same page about strict crate rest. With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. Those weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc.
The body does have the ability to self heal a disc. The very STRICT rest part of conservative treatment is key to avoiding a disc relapse and potential for severe nerve damage. It is far easier to meet your dog's care needs if you understand things. Learn and scoop up all the good
The very STRICT rest part of conservative treatment is key to avoiding a disc relapse and potential for severe nerve damage and to avoid a serious surgery. It is far easier to meet your dog's care needs if you understand things. Learn and scoop up all the good tips and ideas for doing conservative treatment here: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/healing-discs
STRICT rest means:
◼︎No laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎No dragging at potty times.
◼︎No PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc
◼︎At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best.
◼︎No chiro therapy:
❖5 Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control –
OR -- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control?
-- Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs. Review the video then get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson.
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/LIFT and CARRY if you are able (support both ends, back horizontal to the ground)
i2.wp.com/dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/lift-carry-horizontal.pngDOGs with BLADDER CONTROL: 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 a 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!
LARGE DOGS: If your dog is too big too carry it is still important that the amount of movement to the potty place be minimized. Try a pee pad right outside the crate. Add caster wheels to a wire crate and wheel down ramp over steps to outside.
If there is great pain or severe neuro diminishment, acupuncture or laser light therapy can be be started right away as an adjunct to pain meds and to kick start nerve cell energy production. Options: Acupuncture vet who does home visits to avoid back moving during transports. For transport to necessary visits, pad out the recovery suite extra space with a rolled up towel/blanket to prevent body shifts during braking or cornering.
~~ During conservative treatment especially for a heavy dog hard to transport, anytime out of the recovery suite is a dangerous time for the healing disc. Movement of the back can increase a disc tear and escape of disc material into the spinal cord. Seek a mobile vet who can come to your home.
❖6 Currently Bubba move the legs at all to reposition in the crate? or 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 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?
Very much looking forward to your answers so we know best how to help.
