IVDD Episode 2...day 3

Our worst fear came to pass. Lulu has had another episode of IVDD (Intervertebral Disc Disease). For those unfamiliar with this devastating condition, PedMD defines IVDD as, "Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is a condition where the cushioning discs between the vertebrae of the spinal column either bulge or burst (herniate) into the spinal cord space. These discs then press on the nerves running through the spinal cord causing pain, nerve damage, and even paralysis."

Read More http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/neurological/c_dg_intervertebral_disc_disease

Lulu's first episode of this occurred in 2010. You can read all about it on this blog. Back then, we opted for surgical correction. It was extremely expensive and recovery was difficult on all of us, but especially painful and frightening to Lulu. Even if another surgery was free, I couldn't put her through it a second time.

So more on Lulu's condition today. Lulu is paralysed from somewhere behind the shoulder down her hindquarters. She is in pain, she is scared and she is stressed. We are trying to treat her conservatively yet humanely. She is on a pain killer that targets nerve pain (Gabapentin), and a muscle relaxer (Methocarbamol). We opted to take her off a second pain killer (Hydromorphone), because it has caused dysphoria in the past and it seemed to be causing this again. She's also seeing a talented and loving holistic vet, Kristine Krausser, DVM,  at Prairie Side Veterinary Hospital in Kenosha, WI, who has her on a schedule of acupuncture treatments and has ordered her Chinese herbs for supplemental therapy.

We have to do everything for Lulu. Bring her food. Administer water through a syringe. Express her bladder so that she can urinate. Clean up after her when she has a bowel movement, since she has no control over those muscles. We have to flip her over regularly to prevent bedsores. At least twice a day, we have manipulate her body through a series of physical therapy movements to maintain muscle tone. We have to do this all while caring for a four month old daughter, another dog and each other. But, we aren't ready to give up on our Lu. We have hope she'll recover.