Recovery time after disc surgery and incontinence

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Recovery time after disc surgery and incontinence

Posted : 2/27/2008 5:04:37 PM

We have Hashibufu he is a red almost 6 year old male and like all of you love your dogs we love him with all our heart and soul. Unfortunately Bufu (his nickname :-P ) had 2 herniated discs about 4 months ago, happened out of nowhere, we rushed him to the emergency clinic after 48 hours despite the advice of our incompetent vet of letting the dog "rest for a week and see how he evolves" (sorry if I sounded bitter). Well we took him to the Dallas Veterinary Surgical Center and Dr Lange and Dr Altman did an outstanding job (God bless them my dog can walk again because of that), they said that if we had taken him 12 hours after he would have completely lost sensation on his back legs and he wouldnt have been able to walk.
Now The Buffs (another nickname he has :-P ) evolved amazingly from the surgery, he walks, runs and even jumps on the couch (we try to avoid his jumping of course) though the problem now is that he apparently severed his sphincters nerves so he is incontinent, he actually got back a lot of his pee control but he can't really tell when he is pooping (each time he pees or poops his tail gets up and really stiff), me and my wife have already set to the idea that he might never get it back, in other forums they have adviced me that 4 months is not nearly enough recovery time for the nerves and his back after such a major surgery, I would appreciate your input regarding this.

Thanks

A loving father

jennie_c_d

Posted : 2/27/2008 5:27:32 PM

More time may, indeed, help. Acupuncture might help, as well. My little dog has a comparatively very mild nerve problem, and acupuncture has really helped with her bladder incontinence.

calliecritturs

Posted : 2/27/2008 7:28:56 PM

Acupuncture FOR SURE. There are specific nerves that 'tell' the brain when they have to go -- and there may be healing yet, particularly if there is deep pain response in the feet (not asking you to 'hurt' him ... that's a technical thing the vet probably may have spoken of - it's a diagnostic term they use).

ANYTHING 'neuro' is benefitted by acupuncture. Now I'm not saying to leave your vets ... I'm saying to ADD an acupuncture vet. If you go to http://www.tcvm.com there is a locator on the left side. It goes both by state and zip code so you should be able to find someone relatively near you.

The other thing I was hugely recommend is massage therapy. Now you CAN do a lot of it at home (any of Dr. Fox's pet massage books are superb) ... but if you go to http://www.petmassage.com they can (if you email them) help you find someone near you who they have certified ... and they also have instructional manuals/videos as well.

See acupuncture promotes healing ... it can target specific areas (so have your vets send x-rays TO the TCVM vet -- it will help that vet pinpoint exactly where to work even more). Literally it stimlulates healing and helps energy and blood flow better to the area that needs healing.

Massage goes right along with that -- part of what massage will do is stimulate the formation of new blood vessels and the re-growth of tissue and nerves that may have been disrupted or hurt. I have seen it do MARVELOUS things.

Good luck!!! I've worked a lot with acupuncture vets AND pet massage therapists -- if I can help in any way let me know!! Good luck!