Debbie's Pundy 11/16 Conservative - Staffie, GRAD 1/11/23

Welcome to Dodgerslist. We are glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve learned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! Learn more about us and how we team up with veterinarians:
I don't know if you have had a chance yet to read the information on the page below. It contains some good information on setting up the recovery suite, supplies etc.
A playpen can make an excellent recovery suite. The recovery suite should be large enough for the dog to stand up, turn around and fully stretch out when lying down. If the play pen is larger than that, pad out the crate with rolled up towels or blanket. This would also apply to the wire crate when you are using it.
Was the Previcox only prescribed for 5 days, the 16th to the 20th? So now Aspen is only on the gabapentin. Usually when the anti-inflammatory, in this case Previcox, is stopped the pain meds are also stopped. The reason for this is that pain is one way we know that there is still inflammation in the spinal cord. Pain meds will mask pain therefore making it more difficult to determine if the inflammation is gone or if more time on the anti-inflammatory is needed. Information on meds commonly used can be found here:
www.dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode/

The fact that Aspen can wag her tail and has bladder and bowel control bodes well for further healing. Some information on what to expect for each phase of healing can be found on the page below:
It is very scary when our dogs have IVDD. It becomes less so when we learn all we can about the disease. We have lots of information on our main web page:
www.dodgerslist.com
You can use the search bar at the top of the screen ro search for particular topics.

Debbie, 

Your Pundy is quite a beauty.  Does she weigh more than you are comfortably or even safely able to carry her to and from the potty place?   There lots of  tips for large breed dog care to make things safe for Aspen  and easier for you. You will want to read about these ideas:    dodgerslist.com/2022/02/10/large-dog-care-tips-ivdd/


PREVICOX is the med that works on riding the body of all painful swelling/inflammtion.   When it is stopped, also the pain meds (gabapentin for nerve pain) are usually stopped so you have the best chance to very quickly and correctly ID any pain surfacing.  If pain surfaces, then the vet likely would issue another short 4-7 day course. Do another test STOP. No one wants a dog on these big gun meds if that have already competed their mission to rid the spinal cord area of inflammation.

Would you clarify a few things:
--- Does Aspen hold her left back leg up not wanting to bear weight?  That is a sign of pain to report to the vet.   She is not showing any other signs of pain such as shivering, reluctant to move or moves gingerly?
-- Discuss with vet, if there is indeed pain, getting back on another short course of Previcox, additional pain meds on an every 8 hrs schedule.  These are the typical kinds of pain to discuss. Pain meds are needed until it can be proved all swelling is actually gone.  Pain meds are effective for 8 hrs.
        gabapentin for nerve pain  3x/day
        traMADol as the over all analgesic  3x/day
        methocarbamol for muscle spasm pain   3x/day
-- Previcox is the anti-inflammatory drug that resolves pain over the course of 7-30 days of use.  Previcox is processed by the liver.   Does Aspen also have elevated liver values in addition to the kidney you reports?
--  Is the play pen, of a height that Aspen would not be able to jump out of? Dogs do the most unexpected things. We gotta be one step ahead of them in keeping their healing environment a safe one.
--  Let me chime in on the STRICT rest Romy explained.
    Each vet visit should be carefully weighed by the vet and by the owner as to what is of utmost urgency and what can be handled over the phone (updates/feedback, change in meds).   Nerve damage can self heal on its own.  Also acupuncture can kick start that healing process.  Look for a mobile vet who will come to your house for either laser or the acupuncture. Transporting a large dog is real worry that too much movement of the back could damage the early healing disc and having to start back at square one.
        You ARE doing the single most important part of conservative care at home - the 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 to let the disc heal.  
         When there is an urgent need to be examined, etc. Use rolled up blanket/towels snug around Aspen's body. This way during braking and taking corners her back and neck will not shift to cause extra movement to damage the early healing disc.

You are doing the best thing for her by limiting her movement as much as possible. if she gets anxious in the crate, there are some natural calmers that might help. Try using an oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives such as Acepromazine, Trazodone, etc. with. Of course, ALWAYS keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog. Other product brands may be available in your area or on-line… just shop by the active ingredient(s) on the label and the quantity for best price.
--Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser
www.adaptil.com/us/Adaptil/Adaptil-Diffuser
1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed
us.virbac.com/product/behavior/anxitane-chewable-tablets
2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine.
www.vetriscience.com/composure-153.html
dodgerslist.com/2020/02/24/tips-to-help-with-recovery-suite/%E2%80%8B?highlight=calm

Debbie, get vet help with an anxiety med for the now (ACE, alprazolam or traZODone or what your vet suggests). At some point the calmer mentioned below may work to keep her calm.
     Beside to do a test with the vet's Rx anxiety med by pretending to leave the house and spying on her with a camera or peaking thru a window to see how she reacts?)

An unused cell phone can serve as the video recorder to an on-line website and your current cell phone to see Pundy when away from home. It is a free solution. There are a number of these website that do the web cam thing for PCs or Macs and have a free version: This will get you started www.screencapture.com/blog/use-your-phone-as-webcam.html

Using any oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best.  It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives (ACE, alprazolam or traZODone). Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog. These anxiety prescription may need an adjustment.

Ordinarily the suggestion for most dogs can later be tried when you know you have a good grip on the vet's Rx anxiety med.

Place a DAP pheromone diffusor at floor level where the recovery suite is:
--DOG Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml www.adaptil.com/

Use diffusor with one oral calmer from below:
1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed www.virbac
2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine.
www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.php


Other calming ideas
-- Put a garment you have been wearing and have not washed in the crate to provide your comforting smell.
-- Thundershirt® to calm anxieties similar concept as swaddling an infant to calm. thundershirt.com/products/thundershirt-for-dogs

The diffuser and chews are natural methods of calming, but if they do not work for Pundy consider talking to the vet again. Perhaps a lower dose of trazadone would work, or you could try Acepromazine. Different dogs react differently to these meds, so you may need to try different thing until you find what works for Purdy.

Debbie, would you describe more about "stood up."  There are two types of standing up.

Did she stand up in the air only on her back legs (not a good idea) for a healing disc?  More on that later how to change that behavior.

OR did she push up into a stand with four legs by herself with aid of the back legs?  Using her right rear leg more than the left?  That would be a new sign of nerve repair that a brain message CAN, indeed, travel all the way down the spinal cord to the rear limbs. Thus an improvement now 12/13 for the right leg that was reported dragging 11/23. And left rear reported as would only bear minimal weight on that limb.

It is ok for a dog to move up to stand on all four legs during crate rest.

It is not ok for a dog to rise up only on two back legs. Is is too much movement of the back.
  1)  Try Tamara’s tip for a homemade lowering of a wire recovery suite’s roof to prevent standing on hind legs: Cut a cardboard box to the length and width of the suite. Punch holes around the cardboard edges. Use string or plastic ties to attach the cardboard inside the crate at a height that only allows standing up, but not room to jump up or stand on hind legs.

2) Another option to keep dog from jumping. Drape blanket to head height of standing dog, so he can’t see if he jumps or stands on hind legs. Many dogs are calmed with a more den-like environment. Draping the blanket simulates that coziness.