My 5 year old shih tzu post IVDD surgery.

by **CarolC** » Sat Aug 25, 2012 8:52 am

No, it isn't one of the things you need to be super worried about, though it is normal for families to worry, but dogs will go eventually. By the time it happens you've waited so long you feel like a major celebration. He hasn't had his usual activity to help get things moving, he's been tense, he doesn't want to go in the house, and I suspect it is part his survival instinct not to go because if he was out in the wild it might attract predators(?) or at least insects. I'm sure he'd be more comfortable if he could go. You might call the vet and ask for a stool softener to give him (they say don't buy over the counter because some human products are toxic for dogs). You tried stimulating and got his tail to move, so it might just take more stimulation. Also, there is a reflex (gastrocolonic reflex) that occurs after eating, which makes the dog more likely to eliminate a half hour or so after a meal, so you might try taking him out a half hour after he eats. If you can press around the soft tissue around his anus, you maybe be able to feel if he has any solid waste there near the exit. If it's that close, you may be able to get some results by spreading open his bottom a little, or putting on a glove and dipping your finger in vaseline and doing a little gentle internal stimulation (a little more than the q-tip). If he objects to that (I don't know how much feeling he has right now) I would just ask for a stool softener. (Or try the pumpkin puree, no spices, Christine mentioned.) This problem is one of the problems that is entirely normal after surgery and I expect it will take care of itself in due time.

by **k05n** » Mon Aug 27, 2012 1:46 am

Today I decided to see if my dog can finally have something to poop out .. because his stomach was feeling a little hard ..

I used a qtip and some water soluble gel .. and stuck it in and twirled it around .. and there comes wet stool .. i thought it would be hard .. but i was just happy to see that it was coming out .. he also let out a few smelly gas contents ..

And as I was doing physical therapy with his legs today .. i decided to pinch the web of his feet .. and i noticed that his legs jerked a little .. and his tail moved .. is this a good sign? or am i expecting too much right now?

I gave up on manually expressing his bladder .. he always seems in pain when I do that .. I cath him twice a day ... and he just lays there and lets me drain his bladder. I dont want to do this forever .. but i am thinking positive that he will gain some sort of sensation back ..

by **CarolC** » Tue Aug 28, 2012 10:00 am

k05n wrote:Today I decided to see if my dog can finally have something to poop out .. because his stomach was feeling a little hard ..

I used a qtip and some water soluble gel .. and stuck it in and twirled it around .. and there comes wet stool .. i thought it would be hard .. but i was just happy to see that it was coming out .. he also let out a few smelly gas contents ..

Glad that is out of the way. No fun having to wait and wait. It's a good feeling knowing you have a reliable way to handle this now.

And as I was doing physical therapy with his legs today .. i decided to pinch the web of his feet .. and i noticed that his legs jerked a little .. and his tail moved .. is this a good sign? or am i expecting too much right now?

Hard to answer. Pinching the web of the foot would probably elicit the withdrawal response which is a reflex. However, moving his tail may be something more. I really don't know. I think you will have a better idea as time goes on. I'm glad you are doing PT. My dog did not have deep pain sensation before or after surgery but she got it back later. During crate rest I was massaging her feet, bicycling her legs through the full range of motion, digging my fingers between the pads, we even did "This little piggy" and she thought it was funny! Later after crate rest I helped her practice standing and we kept doing PT twice a day every day because it was good for her, not because I thought she would walk again. By the time she became able to take a few steps, I had long ago given up any hope she would walk, then she surprised me! Here is a really good link about recovery of deep pain sensation.
http://www.veterinarypracticenews.com/v ... -exam.aspx

I gave up on manually expressing his bladder .. he always seems in pain when I do that .. I cath him twice a day ... and he just lays there and lets me drain his bladder. I dont want to do this forever .. but i am thinking positive that he will gain some sort of sensation back ..

I wouldn't really want to have to do it forever, either. I suspect he will be less painful after the surgery heals more and you will be able to express, which will simplify life. You squeeze, he pees, done.

by **k05n** » Mon Sep 03, 2012 1:40 am

Dudes'ter went in for his 2 week recheck today .. and got his staples finally removed. His personality is definitely coming back.

On the doctors note .. this is what the neurologist had to say about the recovery so far...

"Dudes'ter has improved neurologically - this critical change makes it likely that he will eventually walk again. The location of his injury (including lower motor neuron cell bodies innervating the femoral nerve) can make recovery disproportionately difficult, as muscle atrophy and contractures are a risk. We will screen for UTI's at the next visit. Given improvements shown today (starting to regain nociception in right pelvic limb and tail), likely to eventually walk again. Will require continued red rubber catheteriazation to empty bladder until then."

the doc sounded reassuring when he said he will be able to walk .. and the recovery so far after 2 weeks of surgery. I saw some blood around the tip of the catheter .. but I think its from the irritation from cath'ing him twice a day. do you guys know ideally how much urine a shih tzu is suppose to produce? I've been averaging about 140-175 a day .. Im worried because there were days when I got over 200 out.

Doctor wants Dudes'ter to eat his regular dog kibbles again .. since we have been feeding him some chicken and beef that we make .. he has not touched any kibbles at all. Should I leave the bowl in his crate hoping that he will eat it?

by **CarolC** » Tue Sep 04, 2012 6:13 pm

k05n wrote:Dudes'ter went in for his 2 week recheck today .. and got his staples finally removed. His personality is definitely coming back.

On the doctors note .. this is what the neurologist had to say about the recovery so far...

"Dudes'ter has improved neurologically - this critical change makes it likely that he will eventually walk again. The location of his injury (including lower motor neuron cell bodies innervating the femoral nerve) can make recovery disproportionately difficult, as muscle atrophy and contractures are a risk. We will screen for UTI's at the next visit. Given improvements shown today (starting to regain nociception in right pelvic limb and tail), likely to eventually walk again. Will require continued red rubber catheteriazation to empty bladder until then."

Well, that's sure the best news! Woohoo! Muscle atrophy is normal, but muscle comes back as the nerves begin to improve, especially if you do PT. Do they offer PT at the hospital where you are taking him? You might look into that if you can afford it. Sometimes they will offer a PT package of a certain number of sessions at a set rate. If you don't want the whole package, you might be able to get in for at least an evaluation and they might be able to show you some home therapy to do to try to prevent contracture. I think you would have noticed by now if he seemed to be getting a contracture, since you are doing passive range of motion daily, right?

the doc sounded reassuring when he said he will be able to walk .. and the recovery so far after 2 weeks of surgery. I saw some blood around the tip of the catheter .. but I think its from the irritation from cath'ing him twice a day. do you guys know ideally how much urine a shih tzu is suppose to produce? I've been averaging about 140-175 a day .. Im worried because there were days when I got over 200 out.

No idea how much, I'm sorry. I'm a little concerned about the blood. You might want to mention that to the vet...?

Doctor wants Dudes'ter to eat his regular dog kibbles again .. since we have been feeding him some chicken and beef that we make .. he has not touched any kibbles at all. Should I leave the bowl in his crate hoping that he will eat it?

Probably. Either that or give him a bowl with with half and half, (kibble in the bottom and chicken/beef on top) and gradually wean him off the chicken/beef during the coming week?