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Ted diagnosed with SM today

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I was reading your posts on your Ted, would it be possible for you to get him into UCD veterinary hospital as soon as possible? From what you have posted, it sounds like that he needs specialist care and more pain meds and that he should be in hospital. You must be out of your mind with worry. I hope he can be assesed then by a specialist neurologist, there are 2 very good neurologists in there. Its friday night now, and the vet college has an emergency reg vet on call, if you call the number, you can ask to speak to the vet on call. Could you get him in?
 
Hi

Ok you have me a bit scared now people, can you give me your no please Karlin so I can speak with you? My internet connection has been down all day so only getting a chance to log on now. Ted was alone for 5 hrs today, I had no way of organising cover so I had to go to work that's why I had to get my neighbour to help me out (believe me if I had of been able to get out of work I would but I am lucky to have a job at present so calling in sick was just not an option)

Ted has really perked up quite a lot today, I have taken him out to the toilet twice, he has 2 small portions of food, he is drinking a good bit of water and I am getting his meds into him by syringe. I have had to stop him from jumping up onto the sofa about 4 times today, I have a bed set up for him in the kitchen and one in the living room and I have the heat on constant. He does seem quite mobile but I am doing my best to keep him relaxed and resting.

I went to my local vet today and I told him I was not prepared for what last night was like, please tell me I am doing the best for him??? I just listened to what I was told by the veterinary hospital where he was treated??
 
Please don't give him a chance to jump. I thought dogs who had the decompression surgery were crated for 4 months?

I'm still really worried here. :confused:
 
Fiona let me step in here since you and I have been communicating etc. for about a week and a half. I don't think you realize how serious this surgery is. Its brain surgery. He could hemorrage and alot of other issues. Getting excited raises his blood pressure. I'm not a pro on this by any means but I do realize the importance of keeping them quiet. He should not be anywhere near where he can jump etc? I don't want to scare you but this is truly very very important. I can't believe your doctor hasn't told you this. I know I told you by e-mail and at that point they hadn't told you anything--hadn't even told you about leash to go bathroom etc. Was this a neurologist????? Do you have a business card? You should I would think.
 
Riley's post-op instructions were three short (5 minute) walks on the leash a day, just to potty, no running, jumping, playing. Her neurologist did not want her running or jumping for the full 12 weeks of recovery. Could you barricade Ted in the kitchen so there is no opportunity for him to jump or run while you're not there? Riley's crate became her sanctuary during recovery. She loved it - and she hadn't been in a crate since she was about 2 years old except at the dog sitters. It was her place to be safe. Granted, I have 3 other dogs so it was crazy around here, but she was either in the crate or in my arms during her recovery. It was just too hard to keep her from jumping. The leash kept her from running around with the other dogs. As Linda said, jumping and running raises the blood pressure - not a good thing during recovery. Riley now is able to run and jump and basically be a normal dog, but this is almost 9 months later. You will get through this. Good luck.
 
Hi Fiona,
It's good that he's alert and eating and drinking and seems perkier.This is all very positive and encouraging.
You must have had a horrible few days.
Has he actually had decompression surgery or a shunt?Sorry for all the questions, but you know we care!
You need to find out exactly what procedure was carried out
how extensive the surgery was and what follow ups are needed.
Was the vet helpful today when you called?
Sins
 
Fiona: You need to ring your neurologist, assuming you had a consult with one and not just a vet -- and I'd ring UCD and ask for an appt with their neurologist and ask if this dog should be under care and why in the world a dog having decompression or a shunt (I assume it was decompression) was sent home the same day. I discussed this today with an extremely experienced neurologist in this area and they were appalled.

This whole thing just sounds bizarre. I would call the emergency number at the vet school.

There is a lot of information already on my SM site and if you do a search here, on this site regarding other peoples experiences with surgery. I have never in 5 years heard of a dog sent home the same day with so few instructions. I'd be filing a formal complaint with VICAS the irish vet association or whatever the oversight professional body is.

You really need professional advice, which I cannot give you. That is why I would urge you to contact UCD if this is not where the person who did the surgery is based. If it is, they urgently need to better understand best practice for this surgery. I don;t knoe the route to take; you will need to make some calls and do some research to figure this out. All I can say is -- this is a very serious surgery, a dog should basically be in intensive care for several days after, usually they are sedated initially, and on release really need round the clock supervision for at least a few weeks.
 
Hi

I have checked the surgery sheet and he had decompression surgery & craniectomy. I went to my local vet today and he was very helpful. I will ring the veterinary hospital tomorrow morning for some more information. I am just going to have to lock him in the kitchen from now on, my only problem with this is that when I do that he will come up on his hind legs to see inside the sitting room, if both rooms are open then he normally just chooses one to sit in.

I think I have underestimated this but I really was relying on what the hospital told me.

Fi
 
I was told the same thing about crating - we haven't had surgery yet - and when I told them she's never been crated and that was not an option they recommended that get rid of or completely block all the furniture, put cushions on the floor for us both and make sure there was no where she could jump. Also if Ted sleeps with you put the bed away and the mattress on the floor. If you can move the sofas and chairs temporarily you could keep him in the living room.

Jen and Ilsa
 
Oh my god. I cannot believe they sent him home as if he had a *^&%$! neuter!! Please PM me who did this surgery and where the referral came from. I am utterly shocked at this approach as is one of the leading neurologists familiar with this condition who does many of these surgeries annually and always keeps the dogs in intensive care for at least a week afterwards!

This is such a serious surgery and there should be strict guidelines for keeping the dog calm and quiet -- either confined down to a small area or (the advice of most neurologists is crated for at LEAST 3-4 weeks post-op), only tiny walks. The whole surgery can fail if the dog is out running around. The inital 3 month recovery period is crucial.

I'd recommend reading this:

http://cavalierhealth.ca/PDF/Understanding_Canine_Chiari_Malformation_and_Syringomyelia.pdf

This is from Dr Clare Rusbridge's document on post-op care. I know she often keeps dogs for 10 -14 days post op in hospital:

What post surgery drug treatment would you advise?
Dogs are hospitalised until comfortable enough for morphine-like-drugs to be discontinued and then discharged on a combination of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (e.g. Rimadyl) and gabapentin (Neurontin). This is withdrawn when the dog is comfortable (about 2 weeks in most cases).

From Rod Russell's Cavalierhealth.org:

Surgery to allow the cerebrospinal fluid to flow normally may be necessary to reduce the pain and deterioration. However, such surgeries are technically difficult and should be performed only by specialists.


Also see: http://www.cavalierhealth.org/syringomyelia.htm#--_surgery
 
Hi all

I rang UCD, I told them where the surgery was done, they told me that they had faith in the surgeons ability and said that if he felt that I was not competent to deal with the aftermath then he would not have left the dog in my care. I told them what he was like when he got him back from the the operation and what he has been like now.

They felt that a dog did better post recovery in the owners hands as they knew them best and they were in an enviroment that was safe to them. They said though if I have any doubts though to call the surgery asap but from all the information disclosed the vet on duty felt that I was coping well with the situation and that Ted's meds were working and that everything was ok but to keep monitoring the situation.

Fi xxxxx
 
I don't have a crate for Ted never had, I was never told to get one either.

Hi , I'm so sorry I missed this thread . I live accross the road from the Marie Louise Veterinary clinic. You could have come to me on the day - sorry.

I have a crate that you can borrow for Ted , if you wish. We will drive over to your place with it. I have senior gold vet bedding in it so it will be quite comfy and you can use it for as long as you need. I'm so sorry you are going through all this -it scares the hell out of me!
 
I'm just catching up with this thread, having been through first hand experience of decompression surgery with my rescue cavalier Charlie, and I'm in shock that the surgeon would release Ted the same day of decompression surgery. There is no board certified veterinary neurosurgeon who would take such a risk - I wasn't even allowed to visit Charlie for 2 days, but had to rely on one scheduled phone call per day for a status report. During that time, Charlie was being monitored in the hospital 24/7 and was on very strong pain medication that could not be administered outside of a hospital setting.

Fiona, I am not blaming you. But I do question the surgeon's qualifications for performing decompression surgery on any animal and the total lack of proper hospital aftercare and proper home care instructions is unconscionable. Ted's vets should have referred you and Ted to a board certified neurosurgeon at a hospital setting for this surgery.
 
Thanks Cathy, I am going to be seeking a second opinion on this as my case does seem to be very very different than other peoples.

Fi xx
 
I am praying that Ted will be ok and that his pain is controlled. Has he been taken to the veterinary college (UCD?) yet? Is there a board certified neurosurgeon there?
 
Hi

No has not not been taken yet, I will be calling them first thing tomorrow morning, Karlin seems to think that I was given incorrect information on Friday evening when I called so I think I will have to wait until normal working hours are back in operation to get some real answers.

Ted is quiet as in not yelping, not barking, he is just moving from bed to bed every 1hr and a half, he does not seem to be to be in pain? I was told that if I felt that it was needed I could give him a 1/4 of parecetmol, I did give 1/4 on Friday morning @2am, Friday afternoon 3pm, Saturday morning 2.30 am and then Sat afternoon 3pm again. If I am honest he did not look like he needed on the last occasion so I have not given any since.

Do you think I should be giving it to him regardless? I know it's early days but he really does look better every hour considering what has been done thank God.

Fi xxx
 
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