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by hexe on 27 May 2011 - 20:05
dAWgESOME, usually these dogs are able to urinate and defecate without any trouble, so more than likely you won't need to do anything but clean up after him for a while. :) If he's a particularly picky dog, he may try to hold his bladder and/or bowels because of his housetraining; you may find that you have to use a suppository to get him to defecate if he holds it more than 24 hours (a plain ol' paper matchstick, run the sulpher head under water to neutralize it, and voila! you've got a suppository on hand!). If you can get him to poop, then he'll probably urinate on his own from that point...if you don't have to catheterize him, it's best not to, because as soon as you introduce the catheter you're also risking introducing bacteria in the urethra and bladder, and the last thing he needs is an infection on top of this. Your vet should be able to show you how to manually express Cael's bladder, if it gets to that degree.
The steps will definitely present a challenge, but if his front end is still strong and functioning normally, you should be able to do the work of the rear for him. There's only 3 steps to get in and out of the house, but there's a full flight to get to the bedrooms, and my dogs insist on sleeping in the bedroom even if I sleep downstairs-with Hexe, her front end was unaffected, so coming downstairs, I used the Walkabout sling to handle the backend, and had the leash on her collar to manage speed and balance; going up was easier because all I had to do was support the hindquarters and let her front end do the job. Until Cael's harness arrives, you can probably do something similar for supporting the back end by taking a soft leash or longline, clipping the snap end to the handle end to make a loop, and then making a figure-8 with it. Slip a hind leg through each of loops of the '8' and then grasp the middle of the figure 8 and lift it above the dog's back; use this as handles to lift the dog, or if necessary you can add length by threading another leash through the middle of the figure 8.
Jealous that you've got an indoor dog pool and underwater treadmill nearby, AND an acupuncturist...I was ecstatic when there was finally a chiropractor up here who got certified to do veterinary patients as well as humans--without her, my old girl wouldn't still be with me, because she definitely wouldn't have been able to walk for this past year.
The steps will definitely present a challenge, but if his front end is still strong and functioning normally, you should be able to do the work of the rear for him. There's only 3 steps to get in and out of the house, but there's a full flight to get to the bedrooms, and my dogs insist on sleeping in the bedroom even if I sleep downstairs-with Hexe, her front end was unaffected, so coming downstairs, I used the Walkabout sling to handle the backend, and had the leash on her collar to manage speed and balance; going up was easier because all I had to do was support the hindquarters and let her front end do the job. Until Cael's harness arrives, you can probably do something similar for supporting the back end by taking a soft leash or longline, clipping the snap end to the handle end to make a loop, and then making a figure-8 with it. Slip a hind leg through each of loops of the '8' and then grasp the middle of the figure 8 and lift it above the dog's back; use this as handles to lift the dog, or if necessary you can add length by threading another leash through the middle of the figure 8.
Jealous that you've got an indoor dog pool and underwater treadmill nearby, AND an acupuncturist...I was ecstatic when there was finally a chiropractor up here who got certified to do veterinary patients as well as humans--without her, my old girl wouldn't still be with me, because she definitely wouldn't have been able to walk for this past year.
by Abby Normal on 28 May 2011 - 08:05
dAWgESOME
So sorry to hear that. Hopefully T's story will give you the hope and encouragement you must need right now.
Could you knock up a wooden ramp to cover the steps to make it easier, or is the gradient too steep?
Shelley - T looks great in his cart!
So sorry to hear that. Hopefully T's story will give you the hope and encouragement you must need right now.
Could you knock up a wooden ramp to cover the steps to make it easier, or is the gradient too steep?
Shelley - T looks great in his cart!
by dAWgESOME on 28 May 2011 - 16:05
His front legs are full strength, it just takes a team effort to get the rear up and down with him - until we get our harness I'm just using a looped leash, sling thing so I don't have to squish him too much. I actually spoke with Shelly yesterday & I'm really glad I did. I think we are all going to be alright - its not fast or easy but we'll get thru this.
by Abby Normal on 28 May 2011 - 21:05
Great, it's good to talk to someone who has/is experiencing the same problem.
Good luck to you both. Would like to hear how it's going along.
Good luck to you both. Would like to hear how it's going along.
by ShelleyR on 29 May 2011 - 00:05
Thanks Hexe. My boy did actually "walk" today, about an hour ago. and I was nearly in tears of joy, cheering him on every step. He kinda looked like and American shepherd, walking just off his hocks, but he was WALKING! Dr. Black was very pleased with him when we went back to the hospital for a visit last weekend.
We will be seeing a new physical therapy vet this coming week, and starting the hydro-treadmill, accupuncture, electro-stimulation, which should really accelerate his recovery. Before I know it he'll be waiting for me on the bed when I get out of the shower again. He's still on 10 mg. of pred every other day. He is also on K9 Power Young at Heart, and Joint Strong.
Dawgsome--- Hijack my subject? No worry. LOL
I'm glad you called me and you got your boy the steroid shock-shot within 24 hrs. That's HUGE, I'm told. It sounds like you have some great facilities in your community, too. T had a catheter for the first 2-3 days, and some diahrea from the high dose of steroids, but he had full control of all his functions by the end of the second week. Meanwhile, I bought hospital-size, disposable inconinence sheets (like puppy pee pee pads) which were just fine. I changed them every time they got damp of soiled. Had T not regained his continence, I would have certainly bought the raised bed. He did start to get some raw-ish patches on his elbows, just from laying on the carpet, so I bought some nylon kids' sleeping bags at the thrift shop for about $3.50 each for him to lay on, applied some bag balm, (which seemed to make them worse ) then changed to neosporin, and now the patches are healing without forming callouses. He does spend some of the night on my Temperpedic bed too, but he gets hot up there so I have a nice "nest" for him on the floor.
con't
We will be seeing a new physical therapy vet this coming week, and starting the hydro-treadmill, accupuncture, electro-stimulation, which should really accelerate his recovery. Before I know it he'll be waiting for me on the bed when I get out of the shower again. He's still on 10 mg. of pred every other day. He is also on K9 Power Young at Heart, and Joint Strong.
Dawgsome--- Hijack my subject? No worry. LOL
I'm glad you called me and you got your boy the steroid shock-shot within 24 hrs. That's HUGE, I'm told. It sounds like you have some great facilities in your community, too. T had a catheter for the first 2-3 days, and some diahrea from the high dose of steroids, but he had full control of all his functions by the end of the second week. Meanwhile, I bought hospital-size, disposable inconinence sheets (like puppy pee pee pads) which were just fine. I changed them every time they got damp of soiled. Had T not regained his continence, I would have certainly bought the raised bed. He did start to get some raw-ish patches on his elbows, just from laying on the carpet, so I bought some nylon kids' sleeping bags at the thrift shop for about $3.50 each for him to lay on, applied some bag balm, (which seemed to make them worse ) then changed to neosporin, and now the patches are healing without forming callouses. He does spend some of the night on my Temperpedic bed too, but he gets hot up there so I have a nice "nest" for him on the floor.
con't
by ShelleyR on 29 May 2011 - 01:05
You're going to love the vest-harness thingie. As T improves and gets stronger I don't have to hold his whole weight to move him now, mostly just "help" him in the rear. The placement of the two handles, fore and aft, and the bib front, make for good weight distribution for the person schlepping the dog. Just amke sure you measure accurately. They are not returnable... ;-) The handles come with a nice "wrap" so you can combine fore and aft straps into one, hand-bag sort of affair. I can move T with one hand now. (Thank God!) This last week or so T has been able to go in and out of the porch on his own when he needs to relieve himself, which will be an even bigger blessing as the time draws near when I can't stay home with him full time again.
My best advice is much like Hexe's: Be patient. Don't give up. It seems painfully slow, the progress, but it isn't really painful for the dog (except the frustration). Keep his mind active and stimulated, keep his legs massaged, make sure he isn't on one side too long, keep him and his bed clean, and do range of motion excerises several times a day until he's well enough to do more.
T did try to "hold it", like Hexe said, which is probably partially while his stools were soft at the vet. He didn't want to mess up his tiny recovery run, so he held it till he couldn't anymore. I spent many hours with him there, even reading to him, so evey couple hours I would get him up and help him express his bladder (over incontinence pads) by pressing just in front of his weenie. I noticed his metabolism slowed down too. He sometimes only produces one (big) stool a day, instead of the usual two-times a day, even though he still eats twice daily. Thankfully the TOTW lamb recipe produces stools suitable for framing, LOL. I'm thinking abut giving something to buffer the pred ever other day, but I don't know what to give him.
Chin up, good luck, and feel free to call me whenever you want. Meanwhile, check this website out: http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/pet-caretaker-support.html It has some good first-hand experience support, lots of good info. There's also a classified section which is how I found T's cart. Its a big help, but I'm thinking he isn't going to need it for too long. When he's done with it, I will pass it on to another needy dog of similar size. The thing lists for about $1200. now, is nearly new, and should prove valuable to a LOT of dogs for years to come. When I pass it on, however, I WILL ship it fully assembled! :-O Just in case the next dog's owner was also a liberal arts major with very limited engineering skills.
Yours in the sport and the breed,
Shell
My best advice is much like Hexe's: Be patient. Don't give up. It seems painfully slow, the progress, but it isn't really painful for the dog (except the frustration). Keep his mind active and stimulated, keep his legs massaged, make sure he isn't on one side too long, keep him and his bed clean, and do range of motion excerises several times a day until he's well enough to do more.
T did try to "hold it", like Hexe said, which is probably partially while his stools were soft at the vet. He didn't want to mess up his tiny recovery run, so he held it till he couldn't anymore. I spent many hours with him there, even reading to him, so evey couple hours I would get him up and help him express his bladder (over incontinence pads) by pressing just in front of his weenie. I noticed his metabolism slowed down too. He sometimes only produces one (big) stool a day, instead of the usual two-times a day, even though he still eats twice daily. Thankfully the TOTW lamb recipe produces stools suitable for framing, LOL. I'm thinking abut giving something to buffer the pred ever other day, but I don't know what to give him.
Chin up, good luck, and feel free to call me whenever you want. Meanwhile, check this website out: http://handicappedpets.com/www/index.php/pet-caretaker-support.html It has some good first-hand experience support, lots of good info. There's also a classified section which is how I found T's cart. Its a big help, but I'm thinking he isn't going to need it for too long. When he's done with it, I will pass it on to another needy dog of similar size. The thing lists for about $1200. now, is nearly new, and should prove valuable to a LOT of dogs for years to come. When I pass it on, however, I WILL ship it fully assembled! :-O Just in case the next dog's owner was also a liberal arts major with very limited engineering skills.
Yours in the sport and the breed,
Shell
by WiscTiger on 29 May 2011 - 02:05
Dawgsome & Shelley, don't give up hope. I gave Shelley some information that I got from a gal on a different board that has a dog that had CFE, confirmed by 3 different Vets. She is now doing Flyball with her dog.
The most important things are getting them up and moving ASAP and not letting the muscle lose mass. It is a spinal stroke so the rehab is to make new nerve pathways work instead of the old one that is damaged.
This is a long haul and not a sprint. But knowing what you are dealing with helps you know what path to take.
by hexe on 29 May 2011 - 03:05
*YAY* for T walking today!!! Wonderful news! I'm also jealous of the fantastic rehab options you've got in your locale, Shelley, but I console myself that one can always count on the more advanced coast areas to have the amenities like that.
dAWgESOME, Cael's progression may well be a bit quicker than T's, since T initially had forelimb weakness as well as hindquarters...it will definitely be easier to get him moving around with his front legs being able to do some of the work (and you probably didn't just come off of abdominal surgery like Shelley did, so that helps as well).
How is Cael's waste elimination (trying to put it politely) situation faring? Have you had to go the catheter route, or is he handling things himself with help from his clean-up staff? Hopefully it's the latter. (BTW, that link I posted re the cheap incontinence pads, I forgot to note that these aren't disposable pads--these are machine washable and dryable, and clean up like a dream, which is why $2 per pad is such a freakin' bargain IMO. I can't imagine having an elderly dog without having a supply of these, now that I've gotten used to having them around. SOOOO very handy!0
I'm looking forward to reading the post from Shelley that announces T took his first run in his yard, and that Cael is back on his feet and moving under his own steam (with help) from dAWgESOME...and both followed in short order with posts that each of them is virtually, if not completely, back to 100% and able to chase their toys again. :)
dAWgESOME, Cael's progression may well be a bit quicker than T's, since T initially had forelimb weakness as well as hindquarters...it will definitely be easier to get him moving around with his front legs being able to do some of the work (and you probably didn't just come off of abdominal surgery like Shelley did, so that helps as well).
How is Cael's waste elimination (trying to put it politely) situation faring? Have you had to go the catheter route, or is he handling things himself with help from his clean-up staff? Hopefully it's the latter. (BTW, that link I posted re the cheap incontinence pads, I forgot to note that these aren't disposable pads--these are machine washable and dryable, and clean up like a dream, which is why $2 per pad is such a freakin' bargain IMO. I can't imagine having an elderly dog without having a supply of these, now that I've gotten used to having them around. SOOOO very handy!0
I'm looking forward to reading the post from Shelley that announces T took his first run in his yard, and that Cael is back on his feet and moving under his own steam (with help) from dAWgESOME...and both followed in short order with posts that each of them is virtually, if not completely, back to 100% and able to chase their toys again. :)
by ShelleyR on 29 May 2011 - 23:05
I am doing most of T's rehab myself. Thanks to my tax refund, however, I can afford more professional help. Seems I made a rather large arithmetic error, and they sent me money back. I was sure I owed them! LOL You could have knocked me over with a feather when that envelope contained a check instead of a bill.
by Abby Normal on 30 May 2011 - 08:05
Seems like somebody up there is looking out for you and T just when you need it most, something unexpected comes through!
Go T
Go T
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