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Post by RustysMom on Oct 6, 2013 17:57:21 GMT -7
It sounds like she is coming along; do you think she needs the pain meds to be comfortable? Rusty ran out at about the 2 week mark. I was anxious about how he would do without it, but the vets office really encouraged me to try it and see how he would do without them. And, he is doing fine! He shows no signs of pain, and is acting much more alert and like himself, and I think progressing much better off of them. And, the figure 8 sling did take awhile for him to accept. He was the same way at first, didn't like that feeling of me being in control of his back end. But, once I got better at it, and he realized it was a pretty nifty way to get around, he is totally accepting of it now. In fact, he is really good about standing there and waiting for me to put it on him, and then he is off on his way to go on potty rounds.
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Post by Crystal & Abby on Oct 7, 2013 19:38:14 GMT -7
Right now Abby doesn't seem to be in pain but she still is on Carprofen and Tramadol every 12 hours per my vet recommendation. She's still not a fan of the sling but I keep trying. I saw her use her left back leg to scratch her ear tonight! One thing I'm wondering about is that when her back legs first started moving again it was the right one that started first and the left one came later and now it seems that the left one works better than the right. Should I be concerned about that?
I have considered dropping the Tramadol all together since pain doesn't seem to be an issue. She does have another acupuncture treatment on Wednesday. Today is the two week post op mark. Somedays it's just hard to not get frustrated and think about how I just want my girl to walk again...but we keep plugging along.
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Post by RustysMom on Oct 7, 2013 21:44:08 GMT -7
yay! The ear scratching was one of Rusty's big moments for me too! He was kinda sloppy at it, but he got is foot up there and tried his best. And I totally understand how you feel about wanting them to get better faster...it's still hard for me to see my boy not running around the yard like his usual feisty self. But with each day I see some new progress, and I tell myself to remember the big picture, and to remember how far we have come.
Maybe talk to your vet about the tramadol? My vet seemed to want him to be off of the meds if he could tolerate it okay after 2 weeks. But I'm sure they all have their different reasons. But it wouldn't hurt to ask. I am happy that Rus doesn't need them anymore. He acts more like himself now, and I have always tried to be really careful about not putting any more drugs or chemicals in to him than absolutely necessary. But, we don't want them to be in pain either, so it's a two way street...
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Post by Crystal & Abby on Oct 8, 2013 11:11:26 GMT -7
I decided to not give her the Tramadol this morning and see what happens. She seems more active and awake but doesn't seem to be in pain. We shall see how it goes. Her left leg is doing well, I just wish the right one was doing just as well, it seems to be lagging a bit behind. We have acupuncture tomorrow so I hope to ask the vet about it. I think she's starting to get bored in the playpen confinement but it's not too bad during the day as she is used to being in a crate anyway while we are at work. It is at night when we are home that the whining starts because she wants out. But we leave her in there and go over and give her a pet or a treat and the kids go sit by her pen and talk to her.
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Oct 8, 2013 17:57:23 GMT -7
It can take awhile for the swelling from the surgery to go down, Crystal, and until that swelling goes down, the nerves aren't connecting properly. So that may be why you saw one leg doing better than the other and now the reverse. That's wonderful that she could scratch her ear so soon! Prayers for continued improvement for Abby.
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Post by RustysMom on Oct 9, 2013 15:03:03 GMT -7
It's tough, and gets harder as they feel better. Rus is the same way, he hates not being able to follow me all over the house like he normally does. I have a wheeled platform I put his cage crate on so I can bring him near me as much as possible. But when I go to the bathroom, or anywhere out of his sight, he hates it that he can't come along too.
It really sounds like Abby is progressing very near the same rate as Rus has been. Hang in there, it gets better in little steps at a time. Rus gets stronger and more steady every day; I especially notice big improvements the day after a laser treament. He had his last of the series of 6 last night, I may ask if it would be good for him to go thru another round, or if 6 is enough. He also has his second swim therapy session tonight too...this doggie mom has no social life anymore, what with all of Rusty's appointments!
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Post by Crystal & Abby on Oct 24, 2013 11:08:46 GMT -7
Abby is at 4.5 weeks post op. She has finished her acupuncture for now. She is walking pretty well. Last night I was scratching her neck in that special spot and HER RIGHT LEG STARTED KICKING just like old times. I know she is going to be ok. She still has to be confined and she hates it. She whines and cries because she knows she's getting better but she doesn't realize she's not better completely yet. I'm so afraid she will hurt herself again.
She had her surgery at Kansas State University College of Veranery Medicine in Manhattan, KS on September 24th 2013. Total cost for emergency visit, surgery, ICU care, CT scan, meds and everything was about $2200. Her surgery was performed by Dr Sherwood, an orthopedic surgery senior resident.
Post op care has been a bit pricey, I've had to pay for 4 acupuncture treatments at $126 each, two refills on her anti inflammatory at $20 each and a consult with the acupuncture vet at $50. But at least it has helped her get better.
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Post by Pauliana on Oct 24, 2013 21:34:36 GMT -7
Hi Crystal, Walmart, Target, Kroger's and more have $4 prescriptions for the drugs used for IVDD treatment, please check them out if you need more refills in the future. Prednisone 2.5mg, 5 mg (steroid) Famotidine 20 mg (stomach protector) (but use 5mg for small dogs under 15 pounds twice a day) Tramadol 50 mg (pain reliever) Meloxicam (Metacam) 7.5mg (NSAID) Understand well those fears of it happening again.. My Tyler relapsed once 6 months after surgery at Purdue University Veterinary Teaching Hospital, but thankfully it was a mild episode that he recovered from quickly. He was raring to go way before his 8 weeks of crate rest was over but we made him stick with it. He is doing great now though. I have learned to manage the fear with taking precautions..Our home is back friendly and he is not allowed to use stairs ever or jump on furniture. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm. He has learned to obey the rules and he really tries to humor his worry wart Mom. LOL |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 25, 2013 12:46:33 GMT -7
Crystal, can you post the surgical cost information in our Directory. It will be very helpful to new members trying to make a decisions. dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-posting State: Hospital: Address: Cost: Date of surgery: What was included in cost (MRI?, days stay, ER? PT? meds for home, sling, etc.) Comments: |
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Post by Crystal & Abby on Oct 30, 2013 10:59:58 GMT -7
Ok so all the stuff I've seen and read about surgery says post op crate confinement lasts for 6 weeks. But I was told at discharge 8 weeks. So why the discrepancy? I really haven't had much contact with the doctor since bringing Abby home as it was a teaching hospital and no one really has been able to give me an answer why I was told 8 weeks. Four years ago when Toby (my now 10 year old dachshund) went through this with his neck surgery we were told 6 weeks, had a follow up appointment at five weeks and since he was doing so well then was release from confinement at five weeks. We weren't even given a follow up appointment for Abby, they said as long as she does well, we don't need to see her back. Which I thought was strange. Both of my dogs' surgeries were done at the same place. What a difference a few years makes I guess. I mean, they still did a good job, I just think the customer service was better four years ago. Maybe it is just a difference in the doctors that saw us this time vs last, I'm not sure. Anyway, back to the original question, why 8 vs 6? Abby will be 6 weeks post op on Monday and it would be really great if she could 'graduate' but if not I guess we can wait two more weeks.
Thanks,
Crystal Hill
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Post by RustysMom on Oct 30, 2013 13:09:29 GMT -7
It really is strange how different places say different things. I'm sure some of the more seasoned experts on here can give you a better answer. But with Rusty, they said 4 to 6 weeks. I wasn't comfortable with the 4 weeks, so I pretty much went with 6. He is at 6 1/2 now, and is doing quite well. So you have a good question, I wonder why the differences also.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Oct 30, 2013 14:50:40 GMT -7
Dodgerslist recommends 6 weeks of crate rest after surgery, Crystal. Abby is doing very well and there doesn't appear to be any reason to keep her in the crate the extra two weeks. I, too, think it's odd that they didn't do a follow-up visit. My Jeremy's surgeon followed up with him for three months after the surgery. Here are Dr. Isaac's thoughts on crate rest after surgery. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm#restPTDo be aware, though, that graduation from the crate is a gradual process. Abby's muscles and stamina need to be built up again and it needs to be done slowly. Here's a suggested schedule for easing back into activity. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmGreat to hear that Abby's doing so well.  |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 30, 2013 20:29:43 GMT -7
Crystal, so often it is just 6 weeks for post-op crate rest. We do try and ask each what the surgeon's directives were for crate rest and for PT just in case there is something different, sorry I missed asking that. There are a few occasions when the surgeon feels 8 weeks is what is needed as he knows what was involved in that particular surgery. One of my dogs did 8 weeks of post-op rest, too. I lived over 7 hours away from the surgeon, so post op care was done by my local vet.
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Post by Crystal & Abby on Nov 11, 2013 7:02:24 GMT -7
Well, we are getting closer to being ready for Abby to be out of her pack n play confinement for good. I have taken her out a bit more lately so she can begin getting strength back in her legs. I clipped her nails yesterday, yikes!, with everything else going on those suckers got long! As she has long hair on her paws and they don't stick out like they would my on my smooth guy.
Anyway, she seems to be doing well. She isn't taking the anti inflamatories regularly now because I'm almost out of them again, I thought I'd see how she does without them. Although I am wondering what the dose of Meloxicam would be right for her, she is 13 pounds, as that med seems cheaper that the Carprofen they keep selling me at the vet.
I got my order from puppy stairs on Friday, a very cool three piece ramp for the bed. My other dachshund was like what the heck is this? He had no clue how to use it, he wanted to keep using the doggie stairs, so I guess there will be a learning curve there. He eventually used it once I took away the doggie stairs. At night he still gets confused but it has only been three nights so far. Hopefully Abby will understand how to use it not only to get on the bed, but also to get off.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 11, 2013 10:39:00 GMT -7
Crystal, do wait until all 8 weeks of crate rest have been completed before nail clipping, safer to the healing body parts that way. Some dogs are way to active, resistant, etc, durng nail clipping. There is a danger in using two different brand names of NSAIDs without a washout of 4-7 days. At this point in time she should have no post op pain. If she is still having pain, the surgeon needs to know. Discuss the stop of Carprofen. NSAIDs are not benign meds, they carry serious side effects that can happen out of the blue. Their use in invaluable when needed, but once there is no need (no pain) then all there is exposure to negative side effects. Let us know what decision is about stopping Carprofen. Snap a picture of your new ramp. We LOVE to see how others are using ramps in their homes. Upload your photo here dodgergallery.ourdogs.net/albums.php and then paste the link address in your next post. Password and directions here: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/260/upload-photo-dog How do you find the ramp quality, etc to be? These tips on training for ramp use may help your crew get used to the new furniture in the room: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/ramptraining.pdf |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,549
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 11, 2013 11:42:06 GMT -7
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