Heather's Maddy 9/13 conservative lhasa Apso

Hi Heather, I’m Sabrina. I am so sorry your Maddy is having a disc episode. My Charley was just diagnosed in July and I know how overwhelming this must seem! Have you found the Dodger's List main site? If not, here are some good places to start reading so that you can learn all you can to help Maddy through this:
Overview: Healing during a disc episode - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm
Index to Overview: Phases of healing - www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
YES, Your Dog CAN Have a Great Quality of Life! - www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm

Is Maddy on 100% Strict Crate Rest? I didn’t know how vital this is until I began reading the info on Dodger’s List. For dogs who are treated "conservatively" (no surgery), a full 8wks of 100% Strict Crate Rest is need. The crate acts like a "cast" of sorts - it provides a solid, always level surface, and it also keeps our intrepid little dogs from dashing off in the blink of an eye! The reason for the full 8wks is so that enough scar tissue can develop to protect the disc from further damage: "Only potty time and vet appointments are a necessity to be out of the crate. Be diligent about crate rest, cheating on crate rest promotes damage to the disc: no chiropractic therapy, no couches, no sleeping with you, no baths, or water therapy during the 8 weeks of crate rest."
Conservative treatment for disc disease (IVDD) - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/conservative.htm
Crate Rest Recovery Process - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm
Clark's helpful supplies for crate rest - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htm

Could you fill us in on a few more details about Maddy’s condition?

-- What was the date you saw the vet and started 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7?

-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy?

-- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies?

-- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk?

-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up?

-- Eating and drinking OK?

-- Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood?

Is Maddy on any pain medication? Disc episodes are painful, and some dogs are masters at hiding pain. Often times several pain medications are needed to keep dogs pain free from dose to dose. Maddy should not be in any pain – pain hinders healing:
Pain Control - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm

Since Maddy is on prednisone, is she on a stomach protector like Pepcid AC? If not, call your vet today and ask if there is any medical reason Maddy may not take Pepcid AC. Many vets are slow to protect the stomach, but as dogs don't speak up at the first sign of trouble, by the time you notice symptoms you can be dealing with a dangerous GI problem:
Medications used - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/IVDDcourse/medications_used.html
Inflammation, swelling in the spinal cord - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

I know there is so much to read, re-read, and read again in order to get up to speed on IVDD! But the more you read and learn the better you will be able to provide and advocate for the care Maddy needs to get her to a pain-free, happy life!

Do let us know more about Maddy so that folks can help you with personalized advice. We are here to support you! Hang in there!

))Hugs!((
-Sabrina

See Heather, we are all here!! Posting at the same time

Hi Heather!

So glad you have joined us here on Dodgerslist. You would be very wise to seek another Veterinarian who knows the proper treatment of IVDD.  Here is a link that will help you to search for a Vet in your area. 
  www.dodgerslist.com/literature/VetchkList.htm

The reason why Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs:  www.dodgerslist.com/literature/chiro.htm

As both Sabrina and Maureen told you,it is vitally important that Maddy be in crate rest for 8 weeks to prevent further damage to her spinal cord.  The reason she is walking on her knees is because of nerve damage from the disc pressing on her spinal cord. The more she moves, the worse it gets until she becomes paralyzed.  Her nerves can heal with time but lack of movement is what heals the disc.. Prednisone works on the swelling..Do everything possible to preserve the spinal cord with good crate rest principals! The true success with IVDD is measured by the most important goal of returning your dog to a pain free, happy and full-of-love quality of life after crate rest. Should paralysis occur, please know that dogs do not view the lack of ability to walk as a minus as humans do. Dogs adjust to what is and then get on with the business of fully enjoying all that life has to offer until nerves repair.

I am concerned that Maddy is still in pain, which means her pain medications are not yet right..

Brief summary of what happened

The swollen, herniated disc puts pressure on the spinal cord and other nerve fibers in the area. This is painful and the pressure on the spinal cord prevents nerve impulses from passing between the brain and the rear part of the body. The animal may be unable to walk or control its colon or bladder. Severe damage to the spinal cord can lead to total paralysis. Quoted from Drs. Foster & Smith Pet Education

What to expect during pain healing

1. PAIN control happens in approximately an hour when a prescription is customized to your dog for the dose, the frequency and combination of pain meds. There is no one-size-fits-all pain relief.

Make sure the medications are fully controlling pain from dose to dose with no break through in pain. Continued feedback to your vet is vitally important until the pain medications have been properly adjusted for your dog.

Signs of pain are holding the head in an unusual position...head held high or nose to the ground, shivering/trembling, not wanting to move much or moving gingerly, yelping, tight/tense stomach muscles, holding leg up flamingo style...not wanting to bear weight on the leg, just not their usual perky-interested-in-life self.

These are some of the more typical pain medications used to treat IVDD:

Tramadol as the general pain reliever. It has a short half life of 1.7 hours and may need to be prescribed at a minimum of every 8 hours.
Methocarbamol treats muscle spasms stemming from aggravated muscles due to nerve trauma related to the spinal cord inflammation.
Gabapentin may be added to the mix for hard to control pain. Veterinarians are finding this medication works very well in combination with Tramadol.

Don't forget to ask your new Vet about adding in Pepcid AC to protect Maddy's stomach from the Prednisone. Ask in this way: Is there any medical reason why Maddy can't take Pepcid AC? If all is well then go ahead and buy it over the counter at the grocery store or drug store and give her half of a 10mg tablet. Buy the original strength version.    It is far better to be proactive and prevent Ulcers or a stomach perforation.. Maddy already has enough to deal with.

Thinking of you and Maddy. Having been through Tyler's disc herniation and surgery in January and  a milder episode in July that we treated conservatively, I do know what you are going through..