Back Problem

[tori's mommy]

As I write this post my baby, Tori is in the hospital, her doc says if no improvement by later today she will have to go for surgery evaluation, she just started with this problem on thursday nite, woke us up by her restlessness, took her in on friday morning and she had a cortisone shot and some anti inflamatories, she was doing better but when i got home from work on monday afternoon she was so uncomfortable, back to the doc, who says she is not paralysed?sp, but she did fail the foot test, she is giving her iv cortisone and muscle relaxers, . can anyone who has been thru the surgery please contact me. I feel so devasted. I dont care what the cost is but I am worried about that also. I love my girl so much and feel so lost right now. thanks tori's mommy

[Mark]

Hi TM,

We have been through it twice ourselves and countless times with other DBB members. Our two and most others here had great outcomes.

Surgery evaluation? Did they do a Mylogram (sp?)? What have the xrays and mylogram revealed? Are they saying the tests are inconclusive and their doing surgery as an exploratory procedure? Is it the back legs affected? Is the hospital/neurosurgeon you're with experienced with Dachsie back problems?

In any case there is reason for positive thoughts and hope, so take heart. We're right here with you!

We've mustered all the Dachsie Healing RAYZ we can and are sending them to Tori. :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

Please keep us posted.

[Meemoo]

but hope is not lost. Be sure you have the pupper confined to crate rest as that is VERY important. There is also a wealth of knowledge at this site...www.dodgerslist.com There is also a yahoo group that you can join through this site that have members who have gone through similar situations as yourself and have great ideas on what you can do. Feel free to check out the website and join our group. The members are great, even if it's just for support.

Rayz from the big apple!

[dutchman]

Many many dogs have the suregery and make a full recovery. Catching a back problem before too much pressure builds up (causing nerve mdamage) helps put the odds in their favor should surgery be required. I can't remember now when my Aggie went in for emergency back surgery (she went from walking to full hind end paralysis and had minimal deep pain response the VTH told me how many dachsunds backs they do each week. I can't remember now but it seems to me it was an average of about one a day.m Keep positive thoughts. Is your vet referring the case to a neurologist?

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[tori's mommy]

Hi everyone, and thanks so much for your replys and good thoughts. Tori is now in the hands of a very competant neurologist., she has weakness in the hind legs and am told no peralysis, GOOD SIGN, she failed the foot test and is losing pain sensation, that is why she needs the surgery. she is scheduled for a MRI and surgery in the morning. They are very qualified in doxi backs and do at least one surgery per day. iI feel confident that she is were she needs to be right now and that she will recover. But her mom needs help, I have never felt so distraugt. Well you guys know how that goes. thanks margie any messages welcome and needed.

[TessieMom]

We are sending prayers and gigatons of jumbo, Texas-sized special dachsie healing rays to your baby for a speedy recovery and to her huMom too! Rena and the Waco pack

[Mark]

Hi Margie,

Thanks for getting back to us with an update and explanations of what's going with sweet little Tori.

Take heart . . . a lot of us here at DBB have been through this and some more than once. That doesn't make it any easier . . . but we do understand your fear and anxiety, first hand.

Please do keep us posted and be sure to ask about anything you are unsure about . . . chances are that someone here has run in to the same thing. :)

More Dachsie Healing RAYZ for Tori . . . :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[dutchman]

Thank you for the update. Tori and you will be in our thoughts. Please keep us posted as time allows. We will also be sending mega rays for a good outcome. It sounds like she is in good hands.

Best wishes and rays,

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[willsana]

Your little one will be in all of our thoughts tomorrow.

Looking forward to good news.

:o)-willsana

[tori's mommy]

Hi everyone,
Great news Tori did great for her surgery, she had a large disk removed and a lot of disk type material. doc says she has a 98% chance of walking fine. she was so happy to see her daddy that the doc had to put her down so he could pick her up. so needless to say tori's daddy is very happy. I will be going to see her tomorrow. I am very impressed with the vetrinary facility. If anyone in nj need one this is the place. I just want to thank everyone for the prayers and rays. My heart just loves you all. will post a picture of the torster when i get a chance. actually she looks just like the little wimpy i the memorial here. thanks again.
lots of love from tori's mommy and daddy and husister.

[willsana]

I am so glad to hear the good news! I can't wait to see her. (And to hear MORE good news and Tori stories!)

:o)-willsana

[dutchman]

I'm glad the initial news is soo good. Did the amount of ehr back that shaved and the length of the incision shock you? I don't know if Tori was a coat or sweater weare before but she might need one when you help her outside for part of the NJ winter.

Best wishes and more rays,

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[tori's mommy]

Just got back from visiting our girl, she was sooo happy to see her family. She is trying hard to walk and doing very well and can pee pee on her own too. She just keeps on taking steps then falls over, Doc says this is normal and will be able to walk without problems.I know she is fighting hard to come home. Yes, actually it was shocking to see the shaved area and incision line, but it is healing nice and straight, and what a nice job the surgeon did. She does wear a sweater during the winter months. She has on a 25mcg duragesic patch for pain, I would have thought that would make her groggy, but not our tori. Dr Murry says she will be coming home tomorrow or saturday. will update soon. love and thanks to you all and to your babies too.
margie vinnie and natalie

[joeysmom]

Fabulous news! I bet little Tori will make fast progress since she was still able to walk prior to surgery. It's great that she's already peeing and trying walk just two days after her operation.
Give Tori (and her surgeon) a warm hug for me and Joey (another doxie who is recovering from back surgery).
Warm regards (and healing rays)

[juliette]

It is so wonderful to here Tori has recovered so well. I'm sure she will be thilled to be home with you and just the none stop love all weekend will speed her path to recovery. Give yourself a lot of credit - recognizing the early signs as you did and getting her the correct treatment was probably a major reason that she is doing so well.

Barks and Rayz from the Canadian puppers...

[dutchman]

The news sounds great. I know the VTH here tries to sent them home soon after they regain bladder control and are down to a low level of pain meds.

Tom and the boys (Frank, Tanner and Dexter)

[TessieMom]

That is Fantastic!!! Rena and the Waco pack:bounce:

[minicooper]

I'm sending rays :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: that Tori continues to improve.
I'm sure she'll be 100% in no time!

[tori's mommy]

Hi everyone, Thank you all so much for the support. Tori continues to improve and can walk very well, we saw Dr. Murry today and she was thrilled with Tori's progress. Just one thing she is having trouble tinkeling. she had to be manually expressed 4 times, this is killing me cause i have to take her all the way back to the doc so one of them can do it. They have shown me several times and I just can't get the knack. I started her on meds today to help loosen the urinary spincter, so I hope this helps. Other wise she is feeling so much better. trying to take off to chase squirrels when we go out, I guess she thinks she is all better. Don't think she likes the idea of strict crate rest for 25 more days. I am so glad that I found this site, it really helped get me thru this. Did anyone here have trouble with their baby urinating after back surgery, if so please let me know what you did. talk to you all soon.
hugs margie,tori, vinnie and natalie

[Mark]

Hi Margie,

I think alot of us who had a pupper through back surgery had the same problem. Our female had the problem, but when Wimpy had it done he had no problem . . . so I guess it goes both ways.

Hang in there and keep trying . . . it shouldn't be long though before Tori is going on her own. :)

More Dachsie Healing RAYZ :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz: :rayz:

[joeysmom]

Hi Margie,
Joey had irregular pee patterns after surgery on Dec 11th and he was on sphincter relaxant medicine to aid in urinating. I was told that it takes around 48 hours for the medicine to take full effect. When Joey got out of the hospital, he could pee on his own, but the intervals between his pees were really long--about eight to nine hours and I always seemed to be right on the edge of taking Joey to the vet to be manually expressed (becuase I couldn't express Joey myself). This caused me much distress and my sleep patterns were all screwed up because I would often get up at 3:00 am to try to get Joey to potty.

As for suggestions... I started having better luck with Joey's pee habits when I carried him to spots where other dogs had left a mark. Smelling the other dogs seemed to trigger Joey to pee too. I should note though, that I didn't start taking Joey to destination pee spots untill 2.5 weeks after surgery, so his pee improvements may have happened regardless because of the time that had passed and he was ready to heal.

Hang in there Margie. Tori sounds like she is making terrific progress.

Take care,

[Mark]

Margie,

Sharon's right . . . I think it *was* close to the same time period for us . . . about two weeks before she began going on her own. :)

Any better luck today?

[tori's mommy]

Hi everyone, And thanks for your responses to my problems, Tori is doing great and can pee on her own. I got home from work the other day and she peed in her crate. (poor baby she was very upset), but I on the other hand was dancing and singing. My girlfriend was stopping by just as we were going out side and she went again. She was amazed to she Tori walking already. Tori was trying to go down the street. She thinks she can chase squirrels. She is on the meds and the doc said to keep her on for 2 more weeks. I really am glad that i don't have to go down the shore every day for her to pee. I was so tired. today we just hung out in jammies all day. love to all, margie vinnie, natalie and tori.

[joeysmom]

Yeah for Tori and yeah for you too Margie.

[Mark]

Yaaaaay, Tori! You go . . . (potty, that is) :D :circle: :circle: :circle: :circle:

[mamaw]

Sounds like Tori is coming right along. Give huggs and kisses from us.