Jordan, welcome. We are glad you are here. So sorry to hear that Felix had two disc episodes just months apart. Thank you for sharing so much excellent detail to help us understand Felix' situation with this disc episode.
Prednisone is used to reduce painful swelling around the spinal cord. The 4-day course of pred started its taper on Monday, Sep 23. The taper is the time without any pain meds on board to be able to quickly and accurately
assess if all pain is gone and that there is no new or increased neuro diminishment.Is Felix fully pain free night and day currently? SIGNS OF PAIN:
⚙︎ shivering-trembling ⚙︎ yelping when picked up or moved
⚙︎ tight tense tummy ⚙︎ arched back, ears pinned bac
⚙︎ 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 Have you observed any regression of neuro function with the back legs.
-- What is the date you realized he had lost nerve function of bladder control and the need for expressing the bladder?
The neuro exam revealed that all four of his limbs did have intact deep pain sensation.
This bodes well for nerve healing to take place. With time, the rear leg paralysis and loss of bladder control could return. Think in terms of months rather than days/weeks for this slowest part of the body to heal.
The goal of Conservative medical treatment is to get the disc to heal. Nerves may or may not come back in the short time of 8 weeks the disc takes to form good secure scar tissue.
Most of the dogs doing conservative treatment have not had an expensive MRI because a disc episode is most often able to be diagnosed by the dog's history, the breed and they way they present at the neuro exam. So no MRI, means in effect the vet works on assumptions as they can't see the status of the disc damage or the spinal cord.
We are not vets. What we offer is observations that work and don't work after having observed over 100 thousand dogs and what their vet's prescribed since 2002. With things you are interested in always, check with your vet to confirm there would be no harm in trying for Felix.
STRICT REST
The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT crate rest part (no PT, little movement). With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. The 4-6 weeks of a cast for broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form.
STRICT rest means:
◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎no chiro therapy WHYs:
dodgerslist.com/chiropractic/◼︎PT for paralyzed legs not until off all meds and no pain-- only light ROM/massage
◼︎Attach water/food bowls inside recovery suite.
◼︎ Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs.
-- Vets who know IVDD often take phone updates & adjust meds via a phone call.
-- If you want laser or acupuncture, seek out a vet who makes home visits.
PREDNISONE TAPER
What is the date for the final dose of tapered prednisone? At the end of the final prednisone taper dose, if you observe no pain surfacing and that there is no new or increased nerve diminishment, then it would be time to begin some very, very light massage and range of motion at home. You can read about it here and discuss with your vet:
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dodgerslist.com/range-of-motion-massage/RANGE OF MOTION for PARALYZED LEGS during CONSERVATIVE treatment
This is a very good article by a veterinary professional and a video to help you care for paralyzed legs to keep the joints from freezing up and maintain muscle circulation while still keeping to the principles of limited movement to the spine during conservative treatment for the balance of the 8 weeks of rest to heal the disc:
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dodgerslist.com/range-of-motion-massage/BLADDER EXPRESSING
Are you making his last drink of the night an hour or two before bedtime. Then at bedtime, expressing him. He should be able to stay dry til in the morning. If not then you may need to express him mid way during the night.
An alternative as a last resort is trying a diaper. Baby diapers can be used by cutting a hole for the tail. Same issues for dogs as babies.... diaper rash if they stay in a wet diaper too long. Don't need a rash to turn into open skin that invites staff infection.
Have you reached peak efficiency expressing skills. That is during the day, he stays dry while expressing every 3-4 hrs while on pred. When off of pred he ought to be able to stay dry expressing every 6 hours and be able to sleep dry through the night.
Tips and video to perfect expressing skills for urine and for poop: 🚩
dodgerslist.com/bladder-bowel-care/Browse through the tried and true ways to provide Effective STRICT Rest Recovery for your dog. This includes how to set up the mattress system especially since Felix is leaking urine during the night.
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dodgerslist.com/strict-rest-recovery-process/Avoid dangerous detours, follow the "Conservative Treatment Roadmap" VIEW, DOWNLOAD and print a copy for your fridge from here:
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dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdfWe look forward to your answers and updates and following along Felix as he heals his body over time.
