First, I just wanted to thank you all for the wonderfully supportive comments, each one made me smile. I told Mr. Famous he has many new human and doxie friends cheering him on.
The first week has been both heartening and difficult. After the first night we started to settle into a pattern of medications, towels changes and feeding. He came him from the hospital with a pain patch, one actually used in humans for chronic and post-surgical pain, but in a much smaller dose. We were to remove that two days later and switch him over to pain pills by mouth.
He became much more alert once the patch was removed. He is also taking a steroid to reduce cord swelling and inflammation and a form of pepcid (antacid) because the steroids can cause stomach bleeding. The pain pills are every twelve hours, pepcid once a day, and the steroids are given twice a day, slowing tapering in dosage amount.
I totally embraced my inner nerd and made an excel spreadsheet with all the medications, dates and dosages and have it on the fridge. I cross off each time.
The steroids also make him extremely thirsty (normal) so he is drinking a ton of water. We carry him out a few times a day to go to the bathroom and walk around a tiny bit on a leash. He was still stumbling on his right side up to a few days ago, but now is walking well, just a bit wobbly, I'd say around 80%. I try to let him walk up our hallway each night, about 10 feet to make sure he is not regressing severely. Other than that, he is in his crate about 23 1/2 hours a day.
He spends the day in the 2x3 ex-pen, and sleeps in his regular crate. In the last few day he has started getting too active, trying to jump around his crate and barking to be let out. No amount of assurance and petting seems to help, I think he is just restless and frustrated. I have a call into the vet for a sedative, which I was hesitant to do, but it has only been 10 days post-op and they are worried about him re-injuring himself. He will probably end up being on the sedative until we go back in 2 1/2 weeks for our re-check and staple removal.
Thanks again for all the kind comments!
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17 comments:
Yaaaayyy! He sounds like he's doing great. I'm so happy he's healing well.
Hamish is nearly a week post op. He could walk after surgery which was great. He's getting antsy too, so I understand what you mean. He's got plenty of toys and chew sticks in his crate, but he's getting bored. He gets PT this Friday and his sutures removed.
Hang in there! You and Mr. Famous are in my thoughts.
so glad to hear he is doing well! poor little thing. this is every doxie's worst nightmre, please keep us posted.
Awwwww, poor little guy! I'll keep him in my thoughts and prayers!
lesleyap - so glad Hamish is doing well, I've been thinking about him.
We've been extra careful with our boys lately since reading your first post. So glad to hear that he's at home and doing well.
Awe. The poor baby. I hope he gets better!
The poor little thing! I just read the original surgery post and almost started crying! I'm glad to hear he's doing well and is anxious to get out of the crate. I sure as hell would be! Sending big hugs your way!
Oh, I can feel all your worries, as I know this all too well. Don't feel you are a "nerd" for creating a spreadsheet. I had to do the same thing for Frankie to be sure I did the meds correctly too. I think you are smart for having done that.
That is quite the "zipper" on Mr. Famous' back. Stay positive and before you know it, this too shall pass, and Mr. Famous will be running around just like before, with only a faint scar of all he went through.
We are holding you in our prayers!!!
Barbara & Frankie, the Walk 'N Roll Dog
Many people keep their dogs in their crates (rather than a pen) 24x7 to prevent the jumping up that Mr. Famous is doing. Some have actually put the crate on a flatbed with casters so they can wheel the crate from room to room so the dog can be with you at all times possible and be part of the pack. When Jasmine was recovering from IVDD, she was with me most of the time since we were in the midst of moving and only had items in one room anyway...so her crate remained stationary.
The spreadsheet is an excellent idea--it's SO easy to forget something. Jasmine was horrible at taking pills, so the vet suggested Pill Pockets--worked like a charm!
I'm glad that Mr. Famous is doing better. It sounds like he is on the road to recovery. Jasmine and I are rootin' for him!!!!
Margaret and Jasmine
Thanks Margaret and Jasmine, I was acually going to put him in the crate, not pen, starting today, I just don't want to risk any accidents now that he is healing.
so glad to hear that mr. famous is doing better - and glad to hear that you're doing better as well. :)
such good news before turning in for the night. looking forward to hearing as he continues to get better!!
~amanda
I'm glad he's doing so well!! :)
There IS life after spinal surgery! My mini, Maxwell, blew a disc when he was 12. Fortunately, I was at home, so I was able to rush him to the vet, and then to the vet-surgeon, all in just a few hours.
We did PT with him in the bathtub in a few inches of water (to help support his weight and ease the pressure on his spine). He didn't like this much until we started using hotdog slices as incentives. He quickly re-learned how to walk from one end of the tub to the other to get his hotdog, and lived another three years.
He had to be carried up the stairs for the rest of his life, but he could walk and run and acted as though he'd never had a problem.
Hang in there! It's worth it!
just found your blog. insanity! i TOO have a dachshund named Mr. Famous, and he too recently injured his back. he just finished his 8 weeks of crate rest and we've just recently been letting him out. so from one Mr. Famous to another- good luck!!
Thank you for sharing the story of Mr. Famous. My own doxie, Milo, just had the same surgery for a ruptured disc on July 30th. Unfortunately, Milo isn't showing any signs of using his hind legs yet, but we're working on rehab and praying a lot! I hope Mr. Famous makes a full & speedy recovery!
my baby bruiser is recovering from surgery on a slipped disc and spinal laceration. us dachsie lovers gotta stick together. good luck with your little guy. all of our post op babies will turn out ok. they are well loved and strong fighters. =)
So glad to hear Mr. Famous is doing so well! My doxie came home today from surgery for a ruptured disc at L5. I am thrilled to have him home but terrified of hurting him!! I'm a bit freaked out when I have to change his bedding... I'm sure it will get easier as the week progresses.
Thanks for your story.
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