Welcome Renay. I'm sorry your Dobby is having a disc episode and how overwhelming this sounds like for you and your family.
You have the right sense of things. It is in the cards for Dobby to get back to enjoing life after he has had 8 weeks of STRICT rest to heal the disc. It may take longer to see to what degree his body can self heal his neuro functions.
Generally dogs on conservative treatment are not kept in the hospital for weeks. Many dogs do much better at home in familiar surroundings than in a hospital.
1) MEDS: Vets combine 3 types of oral medications during a disc episode to:
-- Pepcid AC: protect stomach lining from bleeding ulcers
-- Pain MEDS: give quick comfort from pain within the hour, thereafter round the clock
-- anti-inflammatory to rid the body of inflamed & painful spinal cord swelling in 7 to 30 days
It is a mind calmer to understand what each med is for. Helps you to best communicate and ask good questions. LEARN the meds prescribed for use at home:
dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode 2) HEALING ENVIRONMENT Pet Owners provide the necessary limited movement of the back at home. Very expensive to do it at the hospital. STRICT rest allows the disc to self heal in 8 weeks. The damaged neuro function may or may not come back in that short of time. Think in terms of months rather thab days/weeks for nerves to self heal.
Please confirm that you are on the same page about conservative care. The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT crate rest part (no PT, little movement). 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. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form.
Owner Knowledge is key! Owner understanding ensures proper conservative treatment principals:
▶︎ Super tried and true tips for
setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more!
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process ▶︎ 4 phases of healing,
what it takes to heal each phase:
dodgerslist.com/healing-the-disc/ ▶︎ Roadmap for your fridge. Stay the course,
avoid dangerous detours for the healing disc:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf STRICT rest means:
◼︎no wheelchair until until Apr 20 graduation day. Then assess where $$ are better spent: PT or wheelchair
◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎no chiro therapy WHYs:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/ ◼︎no dragging or meandering 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.
Keep in mind transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement for th early healing disc. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment. Vets who know IVDD, understand and take phone updates, adjust meds.
Personal fundraising is an issue on the forum for several reasons and not allowed.
So many here have not been able to provide surgery due to the dog's health, personal finances or just the desire to try the least invasive treatment first.
Because so many members are heavily burdened with unexpected vet bills themselves, it is not likely you will find people in a position to help you financially.
What this Forum has to offer is priceless and that is support, creditable IVDD information to help you care for your dog and to work closely with vets.
We'd like to know more about your dog and just what the neuro status is. So we can give comments specifically for your dog, would you take a moment to fill us in on these important details.
The Forum takes the approach to provide comments that match each dog's very specific needs. IVDD vet visits can be stressful. The mind can find it hard to absorb all the vet communicates and translate correctly into at-home care. Small things missed could easily change the healing potential for the dog.
QUESTIONS:
★1 Is there still currently pain when he is discharged and back home?
⚙︎ 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 selves
➕if a neck disc:
◻︎ head held high/ nose to the ground
◻︎ 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 up flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
★2 How much does your dog weigh? Age?
What is the name of the anti-inflammatory given in the hospital
What is the list of meds your dog is taking for at home?
-- Exact names for each med, their doses in mg’s and times per day given?
-- PLUS: IF on a non-steroid (NSAID) for how many days?
-- PLUS: If on a steroid....what was the start date & dose? Date of steroid 1st taper
-- 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.
The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html --Give 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory.
--Dose thereafter every 12 hours for the duration of the anti-inflammatory.
thumb.ibb.co/mEGRuy/91x_Aj_s00z_L_SY355.jpg **
★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?
★5 -- Is the vet at the hospital your general DVM? or
-- a specialist surgeon (ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho)?
★6 What was the date you saw the vet for conservative treatment?
If your dog moves around too much, the disc cannot heal. With pain medications to mask pain, dogs will not be in pain and want to be more active. So it is up to you to restrict your dog’s activity for them.
i.postimg.cc/3rLH7g7X/320still-healing-disc.jpg **
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!
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Potty-leash-harness400-19kb.jpg **
★7 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/★8 Describe what you observe currently about neuro functions. Can your dog....
-- wobbly walk?
-- Move the legs at all?
-- 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/
