Welcome, Bethany! We are glad you are here.
The Emergency Crate Training page has a wealth of ideas to help your dog be able to relax in his recovery suite to heal after a surgery or with conservative treatment (medicines and STRICT rest)
🚩 dodgerslist.com/adjusting-to-recovery-suite/ Your answers to the questions below will help us work together with you in getting specific help for your dog the fastest. We want to avoid offering ideas that could cause harm or lead the discussion in the wrong direction delaying help for your dog. Please fill us in:☆ 1 Is there still currently pain?
☐ reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow, ginger movements
☐ shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved
☐ tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position, appears restless
☐ Arched back ☐head held high or nose to the ground
☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
☐Not their normal perky selves?
Full pain relief is expected in1 hour and stays that way dose to dose.
If not in control your vet needs to know asap by phone to get the pain meds adjusted.
★2 How much does your dog weigh? Age?
A.. Please list the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mg’s and times per day given.
B.. 🔘 If on a steroid….what was the start date & dose?
Date of steroid taper?
🔘 OR.... date of a NSAID stop?
C.. PEPCID AC on board?
Phrase a simple question that you expect a simple "yes "or "no" to it. Does my dog have any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn't need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a "no health" issues answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
(NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours. www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html ) ------
☆ 3 -- Does you dog show red flag signs of stomach damage? Avoid confusion... list only those sigs you actually observe:
Not eating?
vomit?
loose stool?
bleeding ulcers?
red or black blood in diarrhea?
☆ 4 What breed? Your dog’s name?
☆ 5 🔘 Was the diagnosis IVDD (aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc)?
🔘 -- What is the vet's title:
• Is the vet a general DVM?
• a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?
☆ 6 🔘 What was the date you saw the vet for CONSERVATIVE treatment?
🔘 or date of SURGERY?
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! 🚩 dodgerslist.com/strict-rest-recovery-process/
STRICT crate rest during a disc episode means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no dragging or meandering at potty times.
- no PT - no chiro therapy
Why Chiropractic is not recommended for pain for an IVDD dog: dodgerslist.com/chiropractic/ )--SURGICAL dogs will follow surgeon's directives for rest & PT during post-op rest as the offending disc material was removed.
-- How many weeks did your surgeon direct for post-op rest?
-- What did your surgeon direct for clinic or at home PT?
☆ 7 🔘 Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control?
🔘 - OR- do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control?
Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs.
Review video. Then get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson at the vet. dodgerslist.com/bladder-bowel-care/
DOGs with BLADDER 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 Currently can your dog wobbly walk?
move the legs at all?
wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
Very much looking forward to your answers so we know best how to help.
