Welcome! Is your name Bekah? I'm Paula. We are a small group and just go by first names.
Below in the questions we have for you, it explains reflexes are why poop is not an issue to be concerned about. The surgery meds may have slowed down the body's processing time and he may have not yet eaten enough to produce poop.
With your details of event dates, meds, neuro status, etc., we'd be able to give comments specifically for Rolo.n We'd feel awfully bad to mistakenly assume anything ... delaying help for your dog. Our goal is to point out if there would be any areas of healing concern while you are getting up to speed on the disease your dog was born with (IVDD). Look forward to your answers to the questions below.
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QUESTIONS:★1 Is there still currently pain? Indicate ONLY the signs 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. Phone your vet and report any of 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 around them
★2 __How much does your dog weigh?
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?
-- 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.
★3 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?
★4 What country are you in?
★6 -- number of weeks surgeons wants for post-op rest? Often it will be 4 weeks. However some cases may need more weeks.
-- What did the surgeon direct for at-home PT? Which of these exercises in the video below?
Post-op PT for the paralyzed IVDD dog:
At home post-op rest allows all the surgical areas to heal
STRICT rest means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
POTTY TIMES for dogs who can still sniff and pee
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!
** ★7 Confirm if your dog has bladder control.
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:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/ NOTE: Poop is not the health concern that knowing if Rolo has bladder control. All poop will exit the body due to reflexes if that neuro function has not yet come back. HOWEVER, the body can't cause all urine to be expelled. Bladder expressing is important for a dog who does not have bladder control. In a matter of days, a dog who has no bladder control, can develop a urinary tract infection (UTI).
★8 Describe what you observe currently about neuro functions. Can your dog....
-- wobbly walk?
-- Move the legs at all?
____ Attempt to use back legs to reposition in the suite
_____ Attempt to move up into a stand on their own.
____ Wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk? 
