Need insight: Sprite dx with hydrocephalus

[megansmomma]

Thanks for the update on Sprite. I'm glad that she is doing well and continuing to improve.

[CaliMomma]

Originally Posted by kmarla

Overall Sprite is doing very well. She has been a bit lethargic this afternoon and evening and we are watching her closely. She is taking many meds including pain meds so that may be all it is. She is eating and drinking and doing her business so all systems are functioning! It 's actually pretty amazing that she looks so good so soon after a major procedure like this. She's walking around the house with no problems but she isn't wanting to tackle any stairs yet so we're carrying her up and down. I wonder if it's because she feels strange, or if the back flow valve from the shunt (which is actually located near the top of her head) is making her feel off balance. She's due for her last round of meds for the night so I better go take care of that. Thank you all again for your wonderful support!

I can only speak using the comparrison of a human child, but my son would have good days and bad after surgery. When i say bad i am referencing his lethargic days. The first few he was tired and sleepy as the drugs made him groggy and sleepy but he'd still eat and pee/poop of course. But actual sitting up and wanting to play came later. I think it wasnt until the first week before he actually was back to normal again. As for the stairs, its not a valve per say flow issue on the stairs as it is she's uneasy on her feet/balance. As one ventrical starts to get smaller and smaller it takes them a little to adjust balance wise. Also Keppra in a high dose for my son made his balance be altered so we had to lower it and gradually increase it over time because he couldnt stop himself from falling over. Just my experience with my human son again and not my pup. Keep up the awesome work you are doing with her.

[kmarla]

Calimomma thank you so much for sharing your experience. It really helps me understand what she might be feeling/sensing. Sprite had another good day and actually brought me one of her toys wanting to play. I don't think she's quite ready for fetch but it's a sign that she's feeling better. We're noticing that she's peeing a lot. I limit her access to water and we take her out at least once an hour but she's still had three accidents inside the house today, all on my area rug! Hopefully it's a temporary issue. She used the stairs on our deck earlier today (just going up not down) but right now she's resting in her crate and doesn't seem to want to move. I guess her energy is just coming in little bursts. She's a little sweetie!

[kjc]

I'm glad she's doing well. I wouldn't limit her access to water, surgery can dehydrate them a bit and it's important for her to remain hydrated. Her accidents more than likely are a result of the anesthesia, as it can take a few days to get out of their systems. It's a very common occurrence especially after spay surgery.

[kmarla]

Sprite is continuing to heal and gain strength. No accidents today and she's drinking normally now so I can leave the water down. She had been drinking so much that she was throwing up and the hospital told us to limit how much she drank at a time to limit the nausea. I'm really amazed at how well she seems to be recovering. She's still spending a lot of time sleeping but that's to be expected between the surgery and all the meds. For such a tiny little thing she amazes me with her strength through all of this

[ladyjane]

So happy to hear that Sprite is recovering well!!

[kjc]

Great news! I misunderstood your first post about her water limiting... sorry. Glad she's doing so well!

[107barney]

Great news!

[lynzy420]

Hoping Sprite is still doing wonderfully!

[kmarla]

Sprite had her first follow-up appt with the neurologist today. He said everything is healing very well. The shunt has migrated a bit but she should be fine. She still has the neurological deficits on her right side that were there before surgery. She had blood work done to monitor her liver function since she's on phenobarbital, and will have another follow-up next week. The neurologist is stopping her pain meds as she's doing so well and we'll see if it makes a difference in her energy levels....she's still pretty lethargic. Also if all is well with the blood work we'll start to wean her off the keppra. All in all pretty good news!

[megansmomma]

Great update! I'm so happy for you and Sprite <3

[107barney]

Glad to hear things are going well for Sprite!

[CaliMomma]

Glad for the good dr visit.

[kmarla]

Sprite is like a different dog since she stopped the pain meds. She's full of energy, running around, going up and down stairs....in other words looking a lot like her old self. She was out in the back yard this morning with my husband and her furry sibs enjoying the gorgeous day. All of a sudden there was a splash. Guess who decided to go for an unexpected swim in the pool She got out of the pool herself before my husband could get to her, but she took about 10 years off his life. It's a salt water pool and she should be okay (she's still on antibiotics), but I called the hospital for advice. She's napping right now after all the excitement, but we'll have to watch her like a hawk, especially around the pool. My husband had just turned his back for a second to pull out a weed and didn't see how she fell in. This was her first time in the pool so I hope she's not scarred by the experience.

[kjc]

OMG! Funny and scary! Glad she's doing so well... Maybe a fence around the pool would help, especially if she decides she likes it she'll be in there all the time!