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09-17-2016, 06:21 PM | #1 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nj
Posts: 497
| Maggie had disc surgery today....(IVDD) I previously posted about Maggie having a potential disc herniation. Maggie got worse as yesterday went on and into the evening. At dinnertime she was trying to eat with her right leg/foot pointed out to the side on an angle and her left leg almost crossed behind. If she tried to move she would lose her balance. Even on only Rimadly and a muscle relaxer I didn't think she should get worse. Her bowel control was "off" but not completely. We could see no point in waiting to go to U of Penn. She seemed to get worse as we were there...it was a long wait with lots of patients arriving when we did who needed faster treatment. Finally we were able to meet with the Dr. Maggie was pretty much at stage 3 of the IVDD stages. She had serious loss of proprioception, that is not knowing where in space her feet were. What I considered walking the vet said wasn't really walking, she sort of was dragging her right leg, but trying to move it. Knowing that her symptoms were progressing they wanted to keep her overnight to do testing (MRI most likely--which is what they did). The vet said they would monitor her overnight and if she got worse they would call a team in, otherwise it would be in the morning. They said it could get worse within hours, or it could be days or weeks. She's seen it get really bad in 12 hours. She had her MRI and there was one disc ruptured and pressing on the cord. They did surgery and she came through it well, her cord was flat (like it should be) when they were done. We didn't go see her today because it would make her anxious if she was aware of us. We will see her tomorrow. She should come home Monday. We really miss her! I think it was the right choice because it killed us to watch her falling down, and I was afraid she would injure something worse. Her chance of a full recovery is better with surgery. If we had waited and it progressed her chances would be lower even with surgery. I hated leaving her, but felt better for doing so, knowing she was in good hands. With the surgery she will be allowed to sleep with us, and be out and trying to walk. Of course no jumping and she will be crated when she is not closely supervised. Without it I believe she would have had to be crated constantly. I read this "diary" on dogster and Scooter's case sounds eerily like Maggie's, I hope her recovery goes as well (though I only got to read part of it so far) [page 9] Scooter's Diary - A dog diary by Scooter, PAWS I don't know what kind of therapy she will need, but the vet said she had strong abs and good leg muscles and that should be in her favor for recovery. She's never been really sick. She recovered from her spay like a trooper, without even a cone. I'm not sure what to expect. I hope she does well and I hope her personality etc are unchanged. She is a sweetheart with an awesome temperament. |
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09-18-2016, 05:08 AM | #2 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fishkill, ny, USA
Posts: 487
| Wow!! Sounds like you and your sweetie have been through a big ordeal! It sounds like you have given her the best chance of recovering with the surgery. It must have been awful to see her deteriorate like that! I'm sure once she's home she will be back to her old self personality wise! Lots of prayers for a full and speedy recovery! |
09-18-2016, 05:59 AM | #3 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| You have had quite an evening and morning! I am very happy to hear that surgery went well, and I wish Maggie a speedy and full recovery. Being young and in overall good physical condition should help with healing. I can imagine how much you miss her and look forward to having her back home. Please keep us updated on her progress. Best wishes for your sweet girl and you.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
09-18-2016, 06:01 AM | #4 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: South Florida
Posts: 8,008
| I am very glad to hear the surgery went well. I hope for a full recovery..
__________________ Shinja mom to Remy lil Sis to Bailey and Sammy |
09-18-2016, 03:45 PM | #5 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nj
Posts: 497
| day one Thanks for the kind words. She did well. She is urinating and awake. We went to see her and she wagged her tail and we got to hold her but she was pretty sleepy. They are treatig her nice. THe upside of a vet school hospital is that there are a lot of people to watch over the patients and hold them etc. She was getting new bedding (a few folded up blankets) so she's not a on a hard cold cage floor. She can stand, but not walk yet. Today or in the morning they will try oral pain meds and if she doe well she can come home! She doesn't have staples and the stitches will dissolve. Not sure if she has glue or just stitches, and why some dogs get staples....Maybe that's larger breeds or longer incisions? Luckily they didn't have to cut through muscle. She was due for a bath when this started, so she's not her prettiest....and her grooming is due in 2 weeks which I guess will have to be pushed back.... I'd like to hear more from pets who went through this. It seems as though recovery will be easier than medication alone because she can be out and try to walk, not stuck all the time in a crate. I bought one of those 6 piece baby play-yards that can make an "L" to block the front of the sofa and loveseat while also confining her to the family room. She will be able to sit and look out the back patio door! |
09-18-2016, 04:43 PM | #6 |
Donating YT 500 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: USA
Posts: 4,285
| Good to hear! Will look forward to how she does tomorrow!
__________________ . Cali , and Cali's keeper and staff, Jay No, not a "mini" Yorkie - She loves to motor in her Mini Cooper car |
09-18-2016, 05:02 PM | #7 |
Action Jackson ♥ Donating Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Maryland
Posts: 17,814
| Oh, wow! I'm sorry to hear you're going through this. What an ordeal. I'm so glad she came through OK and you got to see her. That must be so hard not to have her. Hopefully she is in your arms soon, poor thing.
__________________ ~ Brit & Lights! Camera! Jackson! CGC ETD TKP ~ Follow Jackson on Instagram: https://instagram.com/jacksontheterrier |
09-21-2016, 06:56 AM | #8 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| How is Maggie doing? Is she home? Sending best wishes for her recovery.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
09-23-2016, 07:49 AM | #9 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nj
Posts: 497
| She has been improving. I was worried at first. The first day she did well and pretty much laid around. We let her sleep in our bed because the vet said it would be ok and she gave me a hard time about her crate. She never goes off the bed at night. MISTAKE. Her dad accidentally touched her in the wrong spot and she yelped and moved down the bed. I held her on my chest for an hour, then had to put her back on the mattress. As I placed a pillow nearby to prevent another touch or bump I BRUSHED against her back end and she yelped again and took off! She was down her steps (which are not pet steps and are a bit higher) and made it to bedroom door. After that I took her downstairs and slept...Earlier that day she tried to twist away when her dad brought an ice pack in a towel over to me. The next day she leaped off the sofa when I was sitting beside her, because I reached toward her with an ice pack. I talked to the vet and she said she should be fine, just watch her. She believed she was reacting in more of an anticipatory way than actual pain. The next night I gave her TRAZADONE. Love that stuff! I gave it to her at 11:00 and put her in crate at 11:30. She whined on and off for about 15 minutes but went to sleep and slept well all night! She was improved in the morning so I think the rest helped her. It is a pretty small dose but it helps. I hadn't realized it is used for crate training. The vet said it was for anxiety, but she had had seemed pretty normal. She is getting better each day. Now we are to the point where she is thinking about jumping on or off the sofa. She wants to be up there with us so we have to sit on the floor with her, or make a barrier so she can't jump down. I bought one of those 6 sided baby gates so I can block both sofas. I'm crating her if I go out for short times during the day. She didn't poop until Thurs evening and her surgery had been Saturday. I fed her canned pumpkin, a little on Wed and some more on Thurs for lunch. Her right leg is still dragging, but she is becoming more aware of it. The vet said her awareness of what the leg is doing (proprioception) would be one of the later things to come back. She is licking it and trying to scratch her face with it. When I let her out of her crate yesterday she tried to run and jump with excitement! I cant imagine how she would have recovered without surgery. The one problem I still have is that she will NOT lie on her side and let me do range of motion exercises. She will stand and walk some, and can squat to pee. I took her in the car hoping that wold make a poop come (it usually does--because we take her for rides to the park and she goes right away when we get there) he tried so hard to stand and look out in her snoozer seat. She did pretty well with that, so I think the little bit of exercise in the carseat is helpful. |
09-23-2016, 05:32 PM | #10 |
YT Addict Join Date: May 2014 Location: Fishkill, ny, USA
Posts: 487
| Thanks for the update! It must be really hard to watch her so closely and try and limit her jumping. But also so great that she can move so well! |
09-23-2016, 05:42 PM | #11 |
YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: Hibbing Minnesota
Posts: 1,106
| So glad to read that Maggie is getting better. She has a wonderful daddy and mommy . I have tears in my eyes reading what all you three been through and have lots of recovery to do. Bless you and I pray Maggie continues do better each day. Susan |
09-24-2016, 07:16 AM | #12 |
♥ Maximo and Teddy Donating Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 25,041
| I'm happy to hear she is making progress. For the range of motion exercises, try sneaking it in when she is resting by starting with a chest/belly rub. Maggie sounds like my boys not wanting to go on their side or backs if I try to force them into it. I have to catch them in their beds.
__________________ Kristin, Max and Teddy |
09-24-2016, 06:54 PM | #13 |
YT Addict Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: nj
Posts: 497
| thanks for you kind words and wishes She does a little better each day and now she is starting to think she can do things she can't and shouldn't. That right leg will still give out and she stumbles. We have the baby gate across the sofa and loveseat. Its going to be hard to restrict her when she gets even better... Maximo...she in on to all my tricks! I posted on the general board asking for ideas how to get her to use her right leg more to scratch her face or lick her paw...Thinking if I put something on her paw she will have to bring it to her mouth to clean it...When is was at it's worst she would sit with her left leg bent in normal position and her right leg was sort of sticking out straight in front of her. I think she needs to work on bending it more, but it is improving so I'm hopeful. She does her best walking when she comes out of her crate and is so excited to see us and "runs" back and forth between us! But, the right leg is clearly weak and she loses balance some times. |
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