Waffle Update 2: Recovery and IVDD?
Decided to post this as a blog than a reply to my discussion. Hope that's okay!
So, if you've missed it, Waffle has been sick.
It started Monday where he was just not himself. Tuesday, I posted a discussion wondering about what was wrong. Wednesday, he went to the vet under "emergency" circumstances with a fever of 104.0 F, lethargy, and diarrhea. They examined him and found a painful part of his spine. They held him for observation from 10-4, and in that time they did two X-rays, a full neurology exam, full bloodwork, full body chemistry, and who knows what else. The X-rays were to test for discospondylitis, which he does not have. They came to the conclusion that he may have IVDD, or intervertebral disc disease. They also found that he may have hip dysplasia in his left hip. They concluded he had some sort of infection (most likely in his GI track) and prescribed an antibiotic, an antacid, and an anti-vomiting agent.
They still haven't talked to me about the IVDD or hip dysplasia other than indicating that he probably has them, which prompted me to freak out and post the second discussion. He was lethargic up until yesterday afternoon after another observation at the vet. They gave my a pain killer for his back. I decided not to give it to him unless his lethargy didn't go away, which it did. He's on bed rest for the next 2-3 weeks, so every time he goes outside I get to carry him! Whoo. He's already fed up with that new rule; he looks at me like, "Geeze, I can do this myself. Stoppit." Every time he jumps on the couch to look out the window, everyone in the house sighs.
I've tried rubbing his spine myself like the vets did to find his sore spot and I haven't been able to find it. I did notice that he gets really itchy when I'm scratching around the same area where his back was sore. My breeder talked to me about IVDD and hip dysplasia and really calmed me down. Some of her dogs have had it, and as someone said, it's by no means a debilitating condition with how he has it now. They also offered to get his hips tested. If he does have mild IVDD, the bed rest should take care of it. I just have to be more conscious of how he plays and jumps and stuff.
He's mostly back to normal. He has one more day of the antacid and anti-vomiting stuff, and 6 more days of antibiotic. He's off the bland diet of boiled eggs, chicken, and cottage cheese that he had been on and is back to ignoring his regular food. He ruined the board game we were playing by laying down in the middle of it and gets really excited when we say "Where's the kitty?" He's doing all of his tricks except "up", where he stands on his hind legs. I love my doggy. Thank you so much, everyone, for your prayers and good thoughts for us. I think they really helped us. Waffle went from lethargic and sad Friday morning to normal Friday night. You can't explain that! My whole family called me and asked how he was doing, even. That's pretty good for a family that doesn't like dogs.
I feel so relieved. I just love my dog so much.
Comment
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Comment by Edison on February 14, 2011 at 10:00am
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I'm so glad that Waffle is better! Lots of hope and hugs to you both that he stays that way. It's wonderful how much you love him and take care of him- he's one lucky dog! :)
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Comment by Joanna, Rainy and Calvin on February 13, 2011 at 11:01pm
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Aww, Waffle. I haven't been around too much in the past few days to wish you well. I am glad to hear that you are feeling better. Take it easy and let that little, squatty body heal!
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Comment by Melissa and Franklin! on February 13, 2011 at 4:49pm
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Yaaay! So happy to hear he is doing well!
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Comment by David on February 13, 2011 at 11:09am
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Glad to hear that! He will be fine befor eyou know it!
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Comment by Lynne Cerny on February 13, 2011 at 9:30am
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So glad Waffle is doing better. Keep us updated, you started my Sunday with a smile! :)
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Comment by Bev Levy on February 13, 2011 at 8:16am
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I am so glad he is doing better for both of you!
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Comment by Stephanie on February 13, 2011 at 8:04am
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This made my heart happy.
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Comment by Elizabeth on February 13, 2011 at 7:43am
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So glad Waffle feels better; I sure hope he gets all the way over whatever it is the made him sick quickly. What a scare.
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Comment by Rebecca Marie O'Bryan on February 13, 2011 at 7:15am
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so glad that waffle is doing better! i was so worried when u posted that your handsome boy was sick. i look forward to mre good news on his recovery, just keep praying and he will be ok:)
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Comment by John Wolff on February 13, 2011 at 1:28am
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Gosh I'm glad to hear that he seems to be doing better. We can all tell how much you love each other, and I don't pray much but I prayed for Waffle.
We have hardwood floors, not great for dogs, so we've put nonskid throw rugs on all the takeoff-landing zones and some main traffic areas (I almost wish I'd kept the horrible old carpet). We have a step for the bed and try to make them use it. I try to avoid long downhill flights of stairs.
What pain drug did they prescribe?
You might check out Joanna Kimball's blog, Ruffly Speaking (cardies). She wrote about hip dysplasia; I think she said that corgis are all borderline hip dysplasia, and if you showed a corgi X-ray to a vet without telling them what breed it was, they'd be thinking hip dysplasia.
Don't let him get overweight. My snake oil is exercise; I suspect that a lot of moderate exercise might prevent a lot of these skeletal problems. Just like us, if we don't keep fit, we go out and tweak our knee or something on a weekend. And hey, walking the dog sure beats working. Build slowly and don't overdo it.
Let's all remember, we go through good times and bad, so when the bad times hit, keep our cool and get through them, they pass.
I want butter and maple syrup now.
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