Care after Back Surgery

Krista · November 11, 2005, 08:35:50 AM

I posted this to DODGER's List, but I thought maybe the wonderful people who have been down this road before me might also be able to offer good advice. Sorry if you see this twice because of that.

So Mike, Mack, Sue, Clarese, Lori, Eileen, Laurie and all others....Any advice for me?

Roscoe has just been home a little about 14 hours. Here's what has happened - is this normal?

6:20pm - bladder expressed at vets office
8:00pm - home, drank about 8 ounces of water - so thirsty, ate dinner (like a champ), took anitbiotic pill
8:30pm - pooped, almost normal just stinkier and a little softer
9:30pm - bladder leaked. Was able to express a small bit more. Changed his bedding and cleaned him with baby wipe
Midnight - expressed bladder, good amount with 3 tries
6:00am - took outside, sling walked a little, expressed some urine, he pooped, sling walked back to crate once in the house.
7:00am - he ate like a champ, took last anitbiotic pill
9:40am - bladder leaked a LOT, took outside, sling walked about 10 feet, tried to express bladder with nothing coming out - but he did poop - sling walked about 10 feet back, gave clean bedding, cleaned him with baby wipe

Should he be leaking urine within 3-4 hours of being expressed????
Is it normal to leak urine just before a bowel movement?

Mike · November 11, 2005, 10:02:26 AM

Clifford leaked quite a bit until he got his legs under him. It was the fact that he stunk so bad (even with wiping him down with baby wipes) that prompted me to tell him he needed a bath. I went to run the water and turned around to find him crab-hopping down the hall to get away from the water. Once I saw that, I knew he would be fine. That was on the 8th day.

Clarese · November 11, 2005, 03:15:44 PM

I don't know... Conrad's surgeon would not release him from care until he urinated on his own. By the time he got home, he was not leaking at all, though I can't say that was the case while he was at the vet. Sorry I can't be of more help.

lotsadox · November 21, 2005, 03:21:17 PM

Amanda didn't leak much after her surgery, but she started pottying on her own within a day or so. I can't really remember as it was about 7 years ago. Sorry I can't be more help.

Krista · November 22, 2005, 09:17:14 AM

Thanks anyways. Roscoe regained bladder control last week, and he's doing really well.

CA_Trixie · November 22, 2005, 10:03:02 AM

Good news, happy to hear Rosoe is doing well, sending positive thoughts for his continued recovery.

snicker pumkin · November 23, 2005, 07:21:44 PM

Your little puppy looks how pumkin looked after her laminectomy (like a little football). She is a red dachshund and had her surgery 2 years ago and is a miracle. She was almost paralyzed. It will take some time. I think that she stayed in the hospital around 10 days after her surgery and could go potty when I got her home. Things like this just take time though and it will be a while before he can walk. Good luck. Drew

Krista · November 24, 2005, 04:03:06 PM

Thanks Drew. Roscoe also had a laminectomy - no fenestration. He was completely paralyzed in the rear by they time he had surgery (paralysis set in just a few hours before he had surgery). Roscoe came home 3 days after surgery. It has now been 16 days and he is close to being able to walk again. We are sling-walking with him and both legs are moving very well on their own, he just is still to wobbly to actually be able to support his own weight for more than a few moments.

We are really pleased with his progress. His stitches are now out and the surgeon does not want to see him again unless there is a problem.

Shumard4 · November 30, 2005, 01:53:29 PM

Krista,

I am sorry I have been so absent from the board and that I missed your question. My surgeon kept Timmy 7-8 days both times. He wasn't leaking by the time he got home. I am glad that things are going well for you with Roscoe anyways.

Lori R. · December 01, 2005, 08:03:05 AM

Krista,

Penny was able to pee and poo after her surgery. However, the only draw back after the operation was the fact that she had trouble peeing. She squats to low to the ground and needs to be wiped. I asked the vet and they told me it had to do with their urinal track, being connected to the back and might be causing a slight discomfort.

It is nothing serious and it has been a year and she still needs to be wiped. I don't know if this helps, but I just thought if he is having trouble peeing, it might be linked to the operation.