Sidney, welcome we are glad you have joined us.
Your vet diagnosed for IVDD and the meds he prescribed are typical to IVDD. So until you get different diagnosis, it is prudent to act like this is a disc episode. By that I mean do the STRICT REST!
1. Surgeons at Downs Veterinary Practice explain conservative treatment to veterinarians : "It should be emphasised
in every case that strict compliance can mean the difference between a successful outcome and progression to irreversible neurological injury. Cases with suspected IVDD should be confined to an area just large enough to accommodate a bed (at floor level) and feed bowls."
3 Keys to successful disc healing with strict rest
Conservative Treatment is: 1.
Recovery suite over regretful free reign of house / outdoors
2.
Potty limited number of footsteps over perilous meandering, going on walks
3.
Stay the course of 8 weeks of disc healing over shortcutting weeks of disc healing
You have a few questions I know. You are curious trying to imagine how that would work in daily care.
Here are your answers with details with lots of tips and ideas to make the next weeks of disc healing rest go smoother:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
STRICT REST MEANS:◼︎ 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 ◼︎No laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎No chiro therapy whys:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/◼︎Carry to and from the potty place. No dragging or meandering at potty times.
◼︎No PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc
◼︎Seek at-home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage .
◼︎ 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.
With your details of event dates, mgs, etc., we'd know best how to help. We'd feel awfully bad to mistakenly assume anything ... going off track to the real issues.
QUESTIONS:
★1 Verify that you are not seeing any of these signs of pain. List only the ones 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 Please complete/correct the med list with these things
☻ the start date ☻ their doses in mgs ☻ how often you give.
prednisone as of 4/18: ?mgs 2x/day for 3 days then 4/21 taper test for _pain? __neuro?
gabapentin ?mgs 3x/day
NOTE: Luna as of 4/21 is in prednisone taper. That is the time for you to be observing for pain. With pain med gabapentin still on board (?), it is not likely you can correctly observe if painfully swollen tissue is gone or not. Typically a vet will call for the stop of all pain meds on the date pred goes to tapering doses.
Is Luna still on gabapentin? -- Please include the "all important" stomach protector for the duration of prednisone. 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?
★6 If your dog moves around too much, the disc cannot heal. With pain medications to mask pain, dogs will not be in pain and want to be more active. So
it is up to you to restrict your dog’s activity for them. i.postimg.cc/3rLH7g7X/320still-healing-disc.jpg **
STRICT rest means:
- no laps - no couches - no going on walks or using stairs
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
POTTY TIMES for dogs who can still sniff and pee 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 Describe what you observe currently about neuro functions. Does your dog....
-- wobbly walk?
-- knuckle under the paws? even if does knuckle and can correct them evenutally
-- legs cross?
