Welcome to Dodgerslist, KC. 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:
dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/Disc disease is not a death sentence!
Struggling with quality of life questions? Re-think things:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/hope-quality-life/
Dodgerslist work's with vets:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/20/education-team-ivdd
The most important thing you can do for your dog is to continue Strict crate rest. Strict crate rest is important because it is the immobility enforced by crate rest that allows the disc to heal. We often use the example of a broken arm. A broken arm is placed in a cast, keeping it from moving so the bone can heal. We can't put a cast on a dog's back, so we use the crate to limit movement. Surgery is not the only treatment for IVDD. Many dogs have been healed conservatively.
STRICT means:
- no laps
- no couches
- no baths
- no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy
- no dragging or meandering at potty times.
Carry her 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.
Is she confined when you take her outside? Even a paralyzed dog could move unexpectedly and further damage a healing disc.
You can master the basics of taking care of an IVDD dog
➤ At home nursing care tips:
Tried and true tested ideas for strict rest:
www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-proc ➤ Medications used during a disc episode:
www.dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode/ ➤ What to expect for each phase of healing:
How much does your dog weigh? What is her name? What is her breed?
Can she wag her tail or move her legs to reposition herself?
Is there still currently pain? These are the signs of pain we look for: ☐shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved ☐reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move ☐tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position ☐Arched back ☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight ☐head held high or nose to the ground ☐Not their normal perky selves?
Full pain relief is expected 1 hour from the time the meds are taken and stays that way between doses. If not in control your vet needs to know right away to adjust meds.
When did you start the pred? For how many days was the pred prescribed? When does the taper start?
Can you list all the meds she is taking with dosage and frequency?
All anti-inflammatories, like pred cause excess stomach acid which can cause stomach problems. To minimize the chances of damage, a stomach protector like Pepcid AC is used. Ask the vet 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).
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.
Asprin is an NSAID. Moving from an NSAID to a steroid type med like pred can be dangerous without a 4-7 day washout with neither type of med in the body. This is because having both meds in the body at the same time. increases the chances of severe gastrointestinal complications. Did your son tell the vet about the asprin? Did you only give the asprin one time?
If it was only one time, watch carefully for signs of stomach problems These signs would be: Problems eating and drinking, Nausea or vomiting —Dark black or bright red blood in stool indicating bleeding ulcers - Diarrhea.
If you see any of these signs, call your vet right away. Your dog should have her stomach doubly protected by adding another medication Sucralfate. Sucralfate works to gel coat any damaged area of the stomach. With both Pepcid AC and Sucralfate on board your dog will be doubly protected against the risk of stomach damage that could be caused by the lack of a washout.
If you are planning to treat your dog conservatively, with strict crate rest, anti-inflammatories and pain meds, there may be no need for a CAT scan. This is because conservative treatment will treat all the discs, so it is not necessary to really know which one is the problem. A CAT scan shows the location of the discs and are used to plan a surgical procedure or if conservative treatment is not working, to diagnose another cause of spinal cord pain.
Is she doing her peeing and pooping outside with you supporting her back legs or are you finding wet bedding or peeing when lifted? If you are finding wet bedding, she may not have bladder control. The way we know if a dog has bladder control is by the "sniff and pee" test. Carry her to an old potty spot. If she sniffs and pees she has bladder control. If she cannot do this, and you have wet bedding, she needs to be expressed.
Expressing is a matter of physics. We apply pressure to the bladder greater than the strength of the urinary sphincter and push the urine out.
We have info on expressing here:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/Your husband's recent surgery and your dog's IVDD is a lot to handle at once. It is not surprising that you are scared. It becomes much less scary when we learn all we can about the disease. There is a lot of information at our main website:
www.Dodgerslist.com
