Kim's Frack 7/9 conserv -Bichon Frise- Vancourver GRAD 9/3

[Original subject line: Frack my Bichon Frise conservative approach   Vancouver Island, BC Canada]  
☆ 1 Not obvious pain on movement palpation or physio. 
She does move in the crate, but is in a small one where a lot of moving isn't possible.
"Started June 19th," To this point she hasn't been on extreme rest. 
No shivering or trembling
No yelping when picked up, moved or anything else.
I am going to say no, as I can easily palpate her bladder, and for feces.
can’t find a comfortable position Sometimes, she is having problems. 
Yes she has an arched back
Head is normally in a normal position, though a few times her head is lowered to the ground. 
She can not stand on her back legs, has an arched back, crossed back legs and her back legs are out to the front past her front legs.
 
Other than not running with my other Bichon, she is her normal bosses me around Frack.  She is literally the only dog that has done this in over 40 years of having Bichons. Frack sets the house schedule. 

Other than her arched back and leg position, she is showing no pain, this was also noted by the physio-vet and her physio-tech

2 She is currently 4.5 kg / 9.92 lbs. 13 years, will be 14 in Sept
Gabapentin 50 mg 2-3 times daily (I am sadly inconsistant as I am with my own meds on the same schedule)
Meloxicam  0.45 mg once daily with food
    She has been on and off both of these for the 2 years or so based on how I assessed how she was doing. Again she wasn't showing pain, just difficulties on stairs or the ramp. 
Still on a NSAID, but will talk to my vet and physio vet whether we should put her on a steriod.

[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit  
9.92lbs / 4.5kg  13 y.o. 
date of paralyzed rear legs?
Meloxicam as of 6/19  0.45mg    ?x/day  for ? days, then a TEST STOP for _pain/__Neuro
gabapentin ?mg    ?x/day
Frack needs  GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board for duration of Meloxicam!  ] 

PEPCID AC: She hasn't been on it yet, but will pick some up today.  

☆  3 She has a good appetite, no vomitting, normal formed stools but does not seem to be able to have controlled BM's so I have been stimulating her. 

Bichon Frise,Frack.               Kim

☆ 5 diagnosis Disc problem, arthritic spine
    General vet and vet who is also Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist

-- or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?
Started June 19th, have seen her several times since then. I also volunteer at my vet clinic, and she came to work with me, so was giving a quick exam.  Surgery is not an option due to finiances (I am on disability) so I have elected to do conservative treatment and allowing her to enjoy life as much as possible.

Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
        STRICT means:
        - no laps - no couches
        - no baths - no sleeping with you
        - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
        - no PT - no chiro therapy
        Why Chiropractic is not recommended for pain for an IVDD dog: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/

☆ 7 She can sniff, lift her legs that aren't moved otherwise, and pee.  She doesn't leak urine.  She does pee if she gets really stressed for example I leave her alone at home when going out. Only when she has stressed out over me being gone.
I palpate her bladder when we go back in the house. 

DOGs with BLADDER 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!

☆ 8 She can only walk on her front end, she hasn't had strict restrictions, just limited time outdoors, but does walk around to go pee. I have been using either a scarf or a Help Em UP harness She has control of her tail but isn't wagging it, but truly she wasn't much of a tail wagger previous. Her tail is straight behind her rather than up over her back. 
Frack by nature isn't a glom on dog, is happy to be close by but doesn't usually want to be touching you.  So independent to a point.  She is also the keeper of the days activities (when I get up, when to feed dogs, now when to carry her out, when to go to bed).