Oh this is such good news this morning! Will be looking for an update.

Checking back on Ellie Mae, so glad to hear there is some improvement. Sending continued prayers for this sweet baby.

I would say that's positive news! Never losing that terrier spirit! I hope you continue getting better Ellie.

I am just seeing this thread. Healing prayers going out for you and Ellie.

Just seeing this... Prayers for Ellie may and you. Hoping they can figure this out quickly. I am so sorry to be reading this. Hiugs to you.

I am so happy to read this! Thank you Cathy. I pray Ellie will spring back quickly and fully.

Thanks for letting us know, Cathy (and Crystal!). Hoping she and Ellie are getting some rest today.

Great news!! Continued prayers for improvement.

So glad that Ellie is doing better this morning. I will keep you both in my prayers.

So glad to hear Ellie is doing better today that is encouraging news

Thank you all very much for the concern.

Ellie is doing well. She is walking, eating, drinking, peeing (in the house, but we'll take it ;) , growling if her brother gets close to her, and trying to climb. So she is now banished to the playpen (which is a good thing). It was impossible to try and assess anything about her neuro state last night because she was just so drugged from her buprenorphine. It looked very much like she wasn't going to come out of it and/or she was going to continue to be too painful to manage at home. So I was just going to have her admitted somewhere today. But she woke up doing much better.

A neurologist will be involved to some extent this week. There were options laid out and that really isn't important to get into. To clear up any confusion though, the major thinking behind me saying that a neuro would be almost useless (poorly worded) is that THIS WEEKEND it would be an emergency consult and Ellie's vet feels that an emergency consult is not warranted UNLESS we were going to go to surgery should IVDD be diagnosed. They would think about doing surgery for this right away whereas most everything else is just supportive care until a neuro can fit the pup in. At this time there is risk (that we understand and are wiilling to accept), but for what we as a family have in mind, it is not wrong to wait as long as she is confined.

We have discussed pain control (and discussed it again today because we want to make sure that we are doing what is right for her). In this case and at this time, Ellie's vet does NOT want her to be hospitalized just to control pain when we have a reasonable handle on it at home. She does not think it would be in her best interest. Taking the whole picture into consideration, including an exam, medical history, and behavioral issues, plus the fact that she is just much more comfortable with her people around, she feels Ellie should stay home. She said this is where Ellie is happy and it is not unfair to her to continue with the current plan.

As for injectable vs oral pain meds, I agree that it is easier to avoid the mouth. However, that isn't always possible, nor is it always the right thing to do. The drugs that Ellie has historically done well on for spinal pain are oral drugs. There are four or five other health issues to consider here also, which while maybe taking a back seat, they are still an extremely important consideration. Pain meds are already a a risk for her, so we do need to be very careful. If we could go daily and have something injected, have her admitted with an IV of something, etc., ok, but right now that doesn't seem to be in her best interest. We have been able to get her pills in without incident.

Anyway, thank you all very much. I'm very optimistic that she will come out of this right now.

That's good news to hear. Sending more prayers for Ellie to continue to improve.:)

:) Very, very happy to read this. Big change from last night. I know you still have a big road ahead, and Ellie will be in my prayers.

OhmyGod, Crystal! I know you know I was out of town, but I sure wish I'd checked my computer while gone :(:(:(. Just got back a little bit ago and got your email, and I'm so said to hear of this, I can't believe something is wrong w/ Ellie. I'm hopeful that you've already seen improvement, but I seriously cannot imagine what you went through...and are still going through, with not knowing how this all happened.

Ellie has an incredible, loving vet -- and the best Mama, so I know she is in the best hands and will receive the very care we'd all look for in our own vets. You will get her through this. I only hope we can help get you through this too....bc you're definitely not alone in this! Love and Hugs to you, Ellie, Ry, and your Mom. :love:

Crystal-
I'm so slow on the optake and kicking myself for not seeing this post sooner. Poor little Ellie. I'm glad that she woke up feeling better. I'm also happy that your vet is advising you not to hospitalize her when you're able to manage the pain from home. I think that would be less stress on her and you.
Please keep us updated on the little girl. Poor little thing.

Prayers, hugs, and licks from Gizmo.:animal-pa

I may not know anyone here (I've only been here two days), but I don't think you have to know someone to have sincere love and uplifting prayers for their little furbabies. Ellie, you, and your family are in the prayers of myself, my husband and our entire prayer chain at church.

Dropping off lots of love and good thoughts. I've been thinking of you both all day :love:.

Wow! Really great news! I hope she continues to improve... :D

Closing this thread for now as Crystal is focusing on Ellie and can't update the thread at this time. She wanted you all to know she has received all of your wonderful PMs and messages of support; she has read them all, but just can't focus enough to reply to all of them - other than to say how grateful she is for the support and positive thoughts. Ellie is continuing to improve, is comfy, sassy, wanting to play - so Crystal is very hopeful, but she is trying to keep Ellie calm as they continue to consult her Vet team. All of our hopes are with you both :love:!

Here is an update from Crystal about Ellie :):

Thank you all for your support of Ellie and me; the positive thoughts helped both of us get through the worst of it.

Ellie is doing much better. She started to improve as soon as we got the right medication combo, and I think the improvement will continue as we tweak her meds.

Her vet took xrays last Tuesday and our suspicion was confirmed. Narrowing is very evident at C6/C7. The neurologist agrees and is also seeing the beginnings of narrowing at T13/L1, L1/L2, L2/L3, L3/L4, and L4/L5. This is in addition to her original issue at L7/S1.

MRI is optional at this time, but not really optimal bc of the significant risk anesthesia poses for Ellie (her other medical issues). Her vets don't believe she is a good surgical candidate.

When asked about what therapy could help her (i.e. hydrotherapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, etc.), the neurologist declined to comment until/unless better xrays are taken under anesthesia because those therapies can make the neck worse in some cases. As mentioned previously, the risk of anesthesia for Ellie is significant; so again, Ellie's best care plan is proving to be the medication management pathway.

So we will keep doing what we're doing for now; she's doing excellent and we don't want to change that and/or risk exacerbating her current issues. I'm so grateful she is doing well, and wanted to say thank you.

Hey Everyone :)

Ellie is doing very well. She continues to recover. Her two weeks of crate rest was over on Sunday, but we'll continue for a few weeks just to make sure all is ok. She will be leading a very lazy life after this to try and avoid further aggravation of her spine (haven't quite figured out how to keep a bouncy dog down though!). We just finished this round of pred. She will stay on tramadol and gabapentin for now and possibly for life (that gaba does make her grumpy).

A very special thanks to the vets that are involved in this who have gone above and beyond. And thank you all for the concern over Miss Ellie. She sends kisses.

Wonderful news, Crystal! Been thinking about you and Little Miss Ellie for awhile now! So, thanks for the update. Continued prayers that she makes a full recovery, what a strong little fighter. *hugs*

I'm so glad Ellie continues to do well. :)

Crystal, this is very good news. Will continue prayers for sweet Ellie.

So glad Ellie is doing better

So happy to hear that she is feeling better...will keep praying for her continued recovery. Thanks for the update.

Hi Crystal, I am just seeing this! I am so glad Ellie is starting to feel better. I think it's a great idea to keep on crate rest for a few more weeks. You can never be too careful with these episodes. Thank goodness you caught it early enough that she didn't hurt herself even more!

Crystal,

Happy to hear that Ellie is doing better, sending prayers for her continued recovery.

Hey Lindsey. Congrats on the new pups!

Yeah, her back is just so messed up. Not much to do for her except try to prevent it from happening again. For the most part, she is okay to nap with her grumpy drugs, so that's good. Now to try and stop her from jumping..for life. lol

So glad to hear! Jackson sends his kisses to Ellie.