Da Vid Back At Vet

[Charlies_Dad]

Perhaps it's time for a new vet/second opinion???

[Walliered]

No, this is my regular vet and not the surgeon. Yes it was L7-S1. It took the surgeon 6 1/2 hours so it was a LONG surgery. I can type the entire discharge instruction if you want. Thanks.

[Walliered]

L7-S1 There was a huge disc herniation at L7-S1. The herniation appeared to have been a chronic process based on the size and calcificaion of the disc material. Additional, the anomaly of the lower spine likely contributed to biobecianical alternations which contributed to disc disease. Surgical deconpression went well but was extended due to the aloofly contributing to a much longer laminectomy. Probably some of these words are misspelled, but I cannot read his writing. He had a hell of a surgery. The surgery site is sunken in a lot. Before he fell this time, he was still limping on his left foot (just like before the surgery). We started acupuncture last week. This has been a hell of a mess. Thanks

[RaineysMom]

no advice, just prayers coming for Da Vid :hope

[Guest 2GreytsMom]

Poor baby! He must be so uncomfortable... it's so hard to see them hurting. Prayers for your boy (and you).

[Walliered]

He ate 4 cups of food this morning. I mixed 3 different kinds of kibble and then put tiny pieces of beef liver and the juice (a lot) on top of it. He then ate about 1 cup of turkey (for dogs with ground bone). Then drank some water. Still will not stand up unless forced to go outside, but I am happy with the food. My vet has tried to call the surgeon several times and he has not answered her phone calls. What is up with this? Are her calls being screened? Should I try to find his home phone/house number and either call or drop him a line..Maybe send a certified note to his office??? Thanks

[Charlies_Dad]

I'm glad he ate this morning, poor Vid, I am sure he is uncomfortable. Not sure what's up with the surgeon not returning your vets calls. Have experienced this once with an Oncology specialist and my regular vet and they started answering his phone calls after I paid a visit to the Oncology office. As I told them, "if I have to show up in person to follow-up on a phone call, you get the nasty me". I was polite and professional but they got the understanding phone calls need to be returned and so did everyone in their lobby. I really hope you can get your boy comfortable and on the mend.

[greyhead]

Kyle, you are the best!

 

Hooray for Vid eating and drinking! Agree that something needs to happen to get the surgeon responding, and that something may have to come from you if the vet isn't getting it done. Sending lots of sympathy and gentle virtual hugs from someone who has been through a long-haul thing or two with a greyhound.

[MP_the4pack]

He ate 4 cups of food this morning. I mixed 3 different kinds of kibble and then put tiny pieces of beef liver and the juice (a lot) on top of it. He then ate about 1 cup of turkey (for dogs with ground bone). Then drank some water. Still will not stand up unless forced to go outside, but I am happy with the food. My vet has tried to call the surgeon several times and he has not answered her phone calls. What is up with this? Are her calls being screened? Should I try to find his home phone/house number and either call or drop him a line..Maybe send a certified note to his office??? Thanks

 

It's the last week of August, the most popular vacation week. Is the surgeon out this week?

[MaryJane]

Good to hear that he ate some food and hopefully he will start getting better. I'm so sorry that it is such a long road to recovery for him.

[tbhounds]

He ate 4 cups of food this morning. I mixed 3 different kinds of kibble and then put tiny pieces of beef liver and the juice (a lot) on top of it. He then ate about 1 cup of turkey (for dogs with ground bone). Then drank some water. Still will not stand up unless forced to go outside, but I am happy with the food. My vet has tried to call the surgeon several times and he has not answered her phone calls. What is up with this? Are her calls being screened? Should I try to find his home phone/house number and either call or drop him a line..Maybe send a certified note to his office??? Thanks

 

It's the last week of August, the most popular vacation week. Is the surgeon out this week?

But, no voicemail, no support staff to take a message?

[Guest BlueCrab]

Agree with the others that it's time to find someone else for another opinion and there's no way the original surgeon shouldn't be providing followup for such a major surgery - even if he is on vacation. This is his patient with a serious followup issue - even if he's on vacation there should be support staff or on-call staff to handle his patients.

 

We had similar surgery decompression / spinal cord surgery done to our German Shepherd back in...'08 I think it was? I felt horrible for him for having it done and doubted myself for ever putting him through it. But he was much, much better off within a couple days and when the sutures came out a couple weeks later he was a whole new man. 9 weeks is too long. I'm soooo glad to hear he's eating tho.

 

The neuro vet who did our surgery was Dr. William (Bill) Bush in Leesburg VA. IIRC Meredith had a good experience with him at some point at well so she may be able to chime in. Personally, based on my own experience with him, I wouldn't hesitate to call him up and say "you came well referred by someone up in Maryland; here's my deal. Can you recommend someone down here in my area for a second opinion/follow up / help?".

[Walliered]

Thanks. I sent the surgeon a certified/return receipt requested letter today telling him my vet had been trying for several weeks to get in touch with him. I put her and my phone number in it. We will see what happens. He ate a bunch tonight and I was able to take him outside. He peed a bunch and of course had the big D. I expected that because of the medicines. He was off the IV when I got there, but had the little semi permeant ports still in his leg. He cried when I left and that is good because yesterday he really did not care. And, Lady is not right. Her blood work was good, but she tires out really fast. Also, she does not seem to drink much. She is 7 years old. My vet has told m she wants me to take her to Charleston, but just have not had the time because of Da Vid. Damn this is really a lot to handle. There is a bad thunderstorm going on right now and Da Vid is deathly afraid of storms. I can only imagine what he is going through right now. There is no one at the vets after about 8PM.

[JJNg]

L7-S1 There was a huge disc herniation at L7-S1. The herniation appeared to have been a chronic process based on the size and calcificaion of the disc material. Additional, the anomaly of the lower spine likely contributed to biobecianical alternations which contributed to disc disease. Surgical deconpression went well but was extended due to the aloofly contributing to a much longer laminectomy.

 

L7-S1 means this was lumbosacral. This is a bit more complicated than a typical herniated disc farther up in the spine. However, the recovery time frame shouldn't differ much, and everything I wrote above still applies. If the surgery was successful, he should not be in this much pain 9 weeks post-op.

 

At the lumbosacral space, along with the disc herniation, there is often also a component of stenosis (ie. LS - lumbosacral stenosis) that may need to be addressed as well. A general surgeon, even if board certified, may not be as experienced in dealing with this as a neurosurgeon. Especially given the surgeon's lack of support, I would strongly recommend getting a second opinion, preferably from a neurologist/neurosurgeon (the closest probably being in Charleston). Unfortunately, to really figure out what's going on in his spine, he may need another MRI or CT. If that's not an option, he may just need to be managed medically like any other LS case, as it sounds like the surgery he received didn't really help much.

[Guest FullMetalFrank]

Nan I am just seeing this and sending my prayers for your dear boy. I hope he is feeling well enough to come back home soon. I am sorry he has to be there at the hospital at all; but to be alone at night? I don't think I could handle that myself, let alone one of my dogs... If he does need a second opinion with a neurosurgeon/neurologist and there is one in Charleston, maybe he and Lady could be scheduled so both could be seen in the same timeframe (assuming the type of specialist she needs is available at the same location.) I wish I were closer and that there was something I could do to help.

[Burpdog]

I wonder if my vet (the rehab one) will consult with your regular vet. I think she will and give her opinion re time it should take. I'll copy & paste what you said was done so she has it when I get to work. I'll p.m. you the phone number.

[FiveRoooooers]

L7-S1 There was a huge disc herniation at L7-S1. The herniation appeared to have been a chronic process based on the size and calcificaion of the disc material. Additional, the anomaly of the lower spine likely contributed to biobecianical alternations which contributed to disc disease. Surgical deconpression went well but was extended due to the aloofly contributing to a much longer laminectomy.

 

L7-S1 means this was lumbosacral. This is a bit more complicated than a typical herniated disc farther up in the spine. However, the recovery time frame shouldn't differ much, and everything I wrote above still applies. If the surgery was successful, he should not be in this much pain 9 weeks post-op.

 

Thank you. I try to stay out of this forum but this thread and the others about Da Vid are just ripping me up. Something is wrong, very wrong, with your boy. I hope you can get another opinion for him ASAP. In the meantime, can you possibly bring him home?

[Burpdog]

What can I do to help?

[Walliered]

Thanks everyone. Thanks, Diane. I cannot bring him home. It takes 2 people to lower him onto his bed without him screaming in pain. He is getting up on his own and that is a huge improvement from Monday. He is eating good, wanting treats, wanting to go for a walk, drinking water good. Everything is looking good, except lowering himself to his bed. Dr. Holcombe tried to put him down by herself today and he screamed. When 2 people do it he is silent. The surgeon still has not called my vet, but do not know if he got the certified letter yet. I am taking Lady to Charleston tomorrow at 2:00. I am beginning to wonder if something is in my insulation or roofing material that is affecting my dogs. So, I will go in and feed/walk Da Vid early tomorrow and head to Charleston. Maybe someone will cancel and we will get in earlier. Oh, I do not think Dr. Angela Holcombe would object to any Vet calling her. She is one very nice woman. Her office number is: 912-748-7800 The name of her practice is: Faulkville Animal Hospital.

[tbhounds]

Fingers crossed for tomorrows visit. Keep us posted ok?

[Charlies_Dad]

Good thoughts for your boy and I hope things go well today.

[lovinggreysslp]

Sending more positive thoughts and prayers for Da Vid.

[Guest FullMetalFrank]

Let today be a good day, please... I am thinking of you and the hounds.

[Walliered]

I just posted on Lady's thread, but Da Vid may get to come home tomorrow. I went back this afternoon (5:00) and will go back tonight at 10:00 to let him out. Then in the morning the tech said she would meet me about 8:00. He is doing much better, but I am so afraid of a fall and that would put him right back to where we started. You know, where the surgery was on his very lower back, is sunken in a lot. I do not have anything to compare it to, but the surgeon took out a lot of bone in my humble opinion.

[Charlies_Dad]

That is good your boy is doing better. I hope he is able to come home and is on the mend. Another fall could be an issue, do you have a way to limit his activities?