Dena-Peyton's Charlie 8/11 surgery6?wks; GRAD 9/22?

Dena, welcome to the Forum! I'm Paula, hope I got your name correct.

Your daughter will welcome all the most excellent information on setting up his recovery suite and other tips to make the next weeks of post-op rest go smoother. Here's that link: www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/

Also calm your mind about neuro self repair...our most asked question...WHEN?
This page explains many things you both will want to know about:  www.dodgerslist.com/most-asked-disc-disease-ivdd-questions

If you would, please have your daughter and you as well register and log in. That way we are able to best track your dog's progress AND it give you a handy feature to get an email alert when you have a reply waiting for you to read.

We help best when we can team up with you, to learn ALL the details about your doxie.

QUESTIONS:

★1 Is there still currently pain if dog is at home? List ONLY the signs you observe.
    There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. Phone your vet and report any of observations asap to get meds adjusted.
⚙︎ 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 list of meds your dog is taking?
         -- Exact names for each med, their doses in mg’s and times per day given?
         -- Please include the "all important" stomach protector when any anti-inflammatory drug is in use. 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?

★4 What is your dog’s name? Yours and your daughter's name, too?
★5 Is the surgeon:
   -- a specialist surgeon (ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho)?

★6 -- number of weeks surgeon wants for post-op rest?
      -- what is the at home surgeon directed  PT?
      -- POTTY TIMES for dogs who can still sniff and pee (have bladder control)
      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!
      www.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: ==> www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/

★8 Describe what you observe currently about neuro functions. Can your dog....
       -- wobbly walk?
       -- Move the front and/or back legs at all? Such as attempting to reposition in recovery suite  
       -- Wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?

We'll be watching for your updated post to learn where we can best help your dog.
What is your name, the sugery dog's name. And your daughter's name?

my granddog charlie, a daschund, is 2 weeks post op.

My daughter and son in law took him for his 2 week post op appt and he has no deep pain sensation as of yet. He starts PT this week along with cold laser therapy and some water therapy. They are freaking out and are at the point of thinking they can't keep a disabled dog.

I am so sad and disappointed in them at this point. They have asked my husband and I to take him if he does not improve with PT. Of course we will, I could never let him go to a rescue if we can take him.

I am now freaking out on how to care for a disabled dog. We already have a daschund of our own, so we have ramps for her. But I am not sure how to even look for someone who can care for him when we go on vacations or out of town. I tried googling in my area, but not finding much. I am not sure where to start. I am just praying that his therapy helps to a point where they don't feel the need to give him to us. I know they worry about finding a boarder where they live also, since they are young and travel a lot also. Thoughts?

you are correct, my mind is going every which way right now! i copied link to send to my son in law, he seems to be the one doing most of the caretaking right now and i will get answers soon to post on here. Thank you for quick response.

NOTE: Answers below were written by Salem:
#1 pain? Difficult to say. No yelping or shivering. Shifts every hour or so, maybe a little restless. Definitely not perky. The neurologist who examined him at his two-week appointment [on 8/28?]  mentioned he did not appear to have pain near the operated disc. Not a neck disc, so items below the "+" sign don't apply.

#2 - 15-16 lbs (he is a tweenie, so neither full-size nor miniature); He's four years old. Meds (remaining):

  - Gabapentin 50mg every 12 hours (twice per day)
  - Prednisone 5mg once every other day at 8pm; he was twice per day for week 1 post-op, then once per day for week 2, now once every other day
  - Amantadine 50mg one per day at 8pm
  - Trazodone 50mg every 12 hours (twice per day)
  - Proviable 1 per day (probiotic)

[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
15-16 lbs  4y.o.
as of 8/25 neuro appt no DPS
prednisone: currently on EOD taper
gabapentibn 50mbs 2x/day
amantadine 50 mgs 1x/xay
traZODone 50mgs 2x/day] 

He finished the Prazosin over a week ago, as well as the Buprenorphine. The Amantadine, Prednisone, and Trazodone are nearing their end as well. Gabapentin will last for a while. The Proviable ends today.

#3 - Had severe diarrhea until eight days ago at which point, I called the neurosurgeon and got the Proviable. We will see if that returns after today. Suspected it was the Prednisone causing this. Eats fine. On occasion refuses to drink.

#6 Six to eight weeks of STRICT crate rest. Only out to the bathroom, and to PT. Nothing else. This has been adhered to with extreme conviction. At home PT from initial discharge was passive range of motion (PROM) and standing assistance.

Now that he has cleared two weeks, the PT instructed the following:
- 5 minutes of sling- and harness-supported walking. Because he cannot use his back legs we cover them with socks as they drag.
- Sensorimotor Techniques
- Rear Toes PROM
- Continue Bicycle PROM
- Rear Limb Weight Shifting
- Toe Pinch Withdrawal Reflex (approved by neuro... not intended to test DPS, just to test reflex)
- Standing and Knuckling with Correction

We have adhered to the discharge notes and updated exercises from PT (approved by neurologist) without missing a single item. It is worth noting that he is not able to do any of these on his own.

#7 - Every 2-3 hours I [Salem] do his [bladder?] expression. No progress on him being able to go on his own.

Defacation twice per day at somewhat random times. Feeding times have not varied. We clean Charlie thoroughly with unscented baby/dog wipes after every bathroom trip. He uses a belly band, though he does not have accidents often. In terms of defecation, we use a female dog diaper overnight to prevent messes.

#8 -His DPS was tested by his neurosurgeon at his two-week follow-up [8/25] (last Friday). It was negative. It will be tested again at his six-week follow-up with the neurosurgeon.

Hopefully this covers everything on here.

Charlie stays with Peyton and myself (Salem). We live over 1,000 miles away from nearest family.

In terms of defecation we have been expressing Charlie for a number of days.

Charlie was Stage 5 prior to surgery, no deep pain sensation.

Hey Paula,

I am expressing Charlie's bladder. The response earlier Dena posted was from my point-of-view as I responded via email. Apologies on the confusion there.

No particular questions from me at this time, will update if that changes, however.

In terms of DPS. On August 10th (Thursday) in the morning around 11, I brought Charlie to his vet, who is a neuro, because he had lost the ability to use his back legs. They tested for DPS and he was positive.
    We were instructed to put Charlie on strict crate rest with some medication for the weekend as emergency neuro surgery options were limited.

On August 11th (Friday), around noon, I made the determination to try and get Charlie a second examination with another neuro over an hour away and they confirmed it had progressed to Stage 5 and he had lost DPS at some point within the past 24 hours. They got Charlie into surgery within four hours. So, at most it was 28 hours, but it could have been as little as 12.

salem and peyton and charlie are in austin area, along with their other daschund, tony.

Me, Grandma Dena, am in cedar rapids, Iowa

charlie is now I think 7 weeks post surgery. Still no DPS. He will be coming to live with my husband and I as we have more family support around to help us since my daughter and her husband live in texas with no family around. I am nervous, but hope to give him the best life possible, but still try to live our lives as we have been, since we are pretty new empty nesters.

My biggest issue is just worrying about if we want to go away for just a short weekend, who we have to help us take care of him since his bladder and bowels need to be expressed. I need to try and find some resources in our area for this.

I did call my regular vet, who said they would have no issue taking on his regular vet care. My son in law I think will be getting him fitted for a wheelchair for when he comes to live with us also.

thank you so much for the kind and encouraging post. I believe Charlie has a drag bag he is using around the house. He has been cleared from crate rest but slowing being introduced to freedom, as he has a daschund brother who wants to play with him. Good idea on asking about vet tech to help with charlie when we are gone!