Lillian's Scout 3/27 conserv- Shih Tzu; GRAD 5/22

Lillian, welcome to the Forum! We depend on the diagnosis the vet gives, vet suspected IVDD?  Shih Tzus are one of the breeds prone to being born with IVDD. And what you describe can be associated with a disc episode.

Please clarify
1)  Are you reporting Scout was dragging his back right leg and wobbly walking several days earlier than 3/27?  And now since being on the anti-inflammatory Meloxicam his neuro function has improved to be able to run (but should not be allowed to, of course) and is no longer wobbly?

OR 

2) Are you reporting his neuro function is getting worse? In that he can no longer stand during his short potty break and sits or lays down?

What date did you start the STRICT crate rest?
    Please confirm that we're on the same page as to conservative care.
    STRICT rest means:
◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches  ◼︎eats/drinks in recovery suite
◼︎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.
◼︎ avoid dangerous detours. Follow the "Roadmap." Tape it to your fridge. D/L and print out: dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf
    Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment. Vets who know IVDD, will take phone updates, adjust meds over the phone too.

POTTY TIME strictness
    Carry your dog to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very, very few limited footsteps.
    Use a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) to save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over.
  
▶︎ Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process

▶︎Understand what your job at home is when Meloxicam stops on Tues 4/5.  How an anti-inflammatory is used during a disc episode:    ==> dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/
    QUESTIONs
       1. Will the gabapentin be full stopped on 4/5 with the Meloxicam or backed down (dose? frequency)
       2.  What is your plan B worked out ahead of time with your vet should pain surface during the TEST SToP of Meloxicam when the vet is closed?
Pain= another course of Meloxicam + all pain meds, GI protectors back on board.

No Pain= finish out the 8 weeks of crate rest for the disc to heal.

Lillian, do you know the reason Scout is on Doxycycline? How many times a day does he take it?

How many times a day does he actually take gabapentin?

Lillian, most wonderful news that neuro function improved to no longer wobbly nor dragging rear leg.

Until you have a diagnosis that says this is not a disc episode, you must act like it is!  What a shame if Scout's disc would have a disc relapse (retear) and he is back at square one with crate rest. Or worse the potential for new neuro function loss that might be a permanent!


I'll share that we have seen more dogs heal on this Forum without a relapse to the disc scar tissue forming when there has been 8 weeks of crate rest for the conservatively treated dog.

This is your choice to make. No vet can make it for you and neither can we. But I can tell you from my 20+ years here at Dodgers and watching over 30,000+ dogs that nothing good ever comes from ignoring crate rest. Scout is relying on YOUR ability to provide care to his early healing disc!

Dogs do the unexpected!
Critical to the disc's ability to heal is limited movement of the spine the recovery suite provides. Failure to provide a safe place to heal in is just not an option if you intend to give Scout every possible chance to heal that disc under strict limited movement of the back.

Lillian, we see posts that go something like this...TV doorbell rings or something floats past the window. I was warned but  didn't think my dog would (fill in the blank). She was in pain again!        
    The recovery suite is the ONLY safe place for the healing disc. The dog can't escape, jump down or run to the front door. Other people/dogs can't hurt Scout's disc.  The recovery suite is always supportive of the back. It never slopes.

Please let us know you have reconsidered Scout's disc safety by having him use the recovery suite all the time. Only out of the  suite for supervised, leash/harness potty time.

On the Meloxicam stop date 4/5, you will monitor for pain.
Pain would mean you call the vet immedately for another course of Meloxicam, pian med and Pepcid AC (famotidine)  The 9-day course ending on 4/5 may or may not be long enough to get all the inflammation.  It is usual that 7 to 30 days made up of 1 or more courses will resolve painful swelling. No one knows the exact number of days.  This is why vet tries one course and then owners lets vet know if pain surfaces after stopping Meloxicam.