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Post by eecochran on Sept 23, 2013 13:58:05 GMT -7
Hi --I have a five year old female Welsh Corgi named Hermione. She was diagnosed with IVDD on Saturday (9/21/13) after going completely down on both hind legs. We originally saw the vet two or so weeks ago when she seemed to be in pain and was curling her back. We were encouraged to rest her, but I did not understand that I needed to immobilize her in a crate. She made some recovery, and seemed fine but then took a nosedive over the past few days.
Surgery was recommended on Saturday evening, and at that point she still had deep pain in her hind limbs. Financially surgery was not an option, and we decided to bring her home rather than put her down, and see how she did over the next few days. She has been on crate rest since then. She no longer has the deep pain present in her back legs.She does shake at times when she is due for her next medication. No yelping, thankfully. Her tummy is tight and trembly at times as well.
I took her back to the vet today because I had not been able to get her to urinate since Saturday. She is able to move her bowels... and I think I can get her on a schedule with this. But after talking with the vet, I am concerned about being able to express her bladder successfully, and being able to find time to do this four times a day as recommended. I had trouble palpating the bladder, and the poor thing was so full! The vet said that there are possible problems with her bladder not emptying regularly...such as urinary tract infections, etc.
She is currently on
50 mg of Tramadol every 8-12 hours,
500mg of Methocarbamol every 8-12 hrs
12.5mg of Deramaxx once a day.
She is eating beautifully (she loves to eat) and her poop is normal.
I would appreciate some help...it has been an overwhelming and emotional few days, and I am just not sure what to expect. We love our dog so much, but are unsure that we can handle her care if she is incontinent.
Thank you!
Erin
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,935
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 23, 2013 14:17:19 GMT -7
Welcome Erin! Her pain is not properly controlled YET. So this means you need to give feedback on when the pain arises like nearing next dose of meds. Your vet has plenty of options to get pain control right with your feedback. Make sure you are promptly and consistently giving pain meds at the aggressive range of every 8 hours. Your vet still has another pain med that vets are finding good success with getting pain undercontrol…. it is called gabapentin. So read up on the meds and get on the phone asap. Pain is one thing you should not have any patience with. Expressing is a new skill for you. Most all of us had gone back to the clinic to express right there and then have the vet tech check our work. These videos and the tips may help you hone your skill for both bladder and bowel expressing: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmOnce you have called the vet and have a change in pain meds Rx, do give us an update as to the meds, the actual current dose you give and how many mgs. One med that is not on your list above is the stomach protector. The FDA and manufacturer pkg insert indicate gastrointestinal problems are side effects of using NSAIDs. The natural defenses of the stomach to shield against stomach acid is hindered when taking NSAIDs. Serious gastrointestinal toxicity such as bleeding, ulceration, and perforation, can occur at any time, with or without warning symptoms. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason my dog may not take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the NSAID. This directory is in alpha order and where members should become aware of each of their dog's meds: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.htmHope is not lost…nerves can repair themselves over time. The focus right now is letting the disc repair to avoid serious damage to the spinal cord…that is why 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to express and for a full 8 weeks. This page will help you understand all the phases of healing: www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmThis page on the far right pink box will help you get your recovery suite set up: www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm Can she move her legs at at all? Can she wag her tail due to some happy talk or see a treat coming? Who said no deep pain sensation.. the general DVM vet or a neuro specialist? |
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Post by eecochran on Sept 24, 2013 19:39:49 GMT -7
Thank you for your help, Paula! I am feeling so much more hopeful today--especially after successfully expressing Hermione's bladder twice finally  thank you for your kind words and encouragement. The videos are definitely very helpful. Hermione doesn't seem to be in pain at all today, and I am being vigilant with her medication schedule. I will talk to my vet about Pepcid--she was actually on this this summer when she was diagnosed with gastritis (in hindsight I wonder if this was her first actual bout of back pain, but perhaps was missed due to it happening right when we changed her diet)... It was the regular vet who had told me that her deep pain response had gone, but today I noticed some movement in her hind limbs! I realize that this could just be reflexes due to having her bowel expressed, but I find it encouraging just the same. She doesn't have a true tail, so I haven't been able to see if her little nub is moving when she is talked to, etc... Thanks again. I am very grateful for all of the help! |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,935
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 24, 2013 20:01:15 GMT -7
all good on the expressing and not in pain! :-) If you have Pepcid AC (famotidine) in the house give it and keep the vet in the loop in the morning. 5mg pepcid AC 30 mins before Deramaxx and thereaftr every 12 hours for approx 20 lbs dogs. You will know alot about neuro functions and what to watch for if you include this page in your readings "Nerve Regeneration" at www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm |
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Post by eecochran on Sept 27, 2013 6:50:13 GMT -7
We are back to an impasse with the whole bladder expressing thing. Hermione has started to really fight me every time I try. I went back to the vet for another tutorial, and he told me that even with his 30+ years of experience, her bladder is especially hard to palpate and express.
Just as I start to get it, she will start to push against me and want to get up. She is 31 pounds, so I cannot hold her up or manage her easily.
I spent a lot of time yesterday trying to calmly get her used to the routine, and reward her for lying still, but this morning we were back to square one with her wiggling and no positive results from our efforts. I have only been able to get urine out 1 or two times/day, despite trying every few hours.
I do not feel she is in pain. There isn't trembling or whining when we go through this. Just a stubborn and anxious Corgi....!
I would appreciate any suggestions anyone would have. Am very open to new ideas!!
Thank you!
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Sept 27, 2013 7:11:48 GMT -7
Hi, Erin
Have you tried her with a sniff and pee test? Take her back to a spot where she's gone before, let her sniff and see if she can release urine herself. Sometimes when a dog's bladder control is coming back, they'll resist being expressed.
If that doesn't work and she's still incontinent, try expressing her inside the house on a pee pad or on a rubber mat in the bathtub. I know my Jeremy gets very excited going outside and he's easier to express in the house. Also you can try a warm towel on her belly to relax her. Or tap your fingers on her belly to relax the muscles.
If nothing else works, you can ask your vet about Phenoxybenzamine, a drug that helps relax the urinary sphincter and makes expressing easier.
I had a very difficult time at first with Jeremy and despaired of ever getting it right. It took some time but with practice, I became very proficient at expressing and now he has very few accidents. It's just become part of our daily routine and we don't even think about it. You'll get there, too!
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thank you for your kind words and encouragement. The videos are definitely very helpful. 
