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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Aug 11, 2014 3:02:24 GMT -7
It is Graduation Day! It has been 8 weeks of crate rest and the 11th has finally arrived. Baxter Boo is doing great. So ready to be able to sleep with him again. We won't be putting him back in the cart right away. First we are going to allow him to sleep with us again and let him out for small periods of time in his drag bag. Then this coming weekend start working him back into using his cart.
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Aug 11, 2014 6:14:21 GMT -7
Happy Happy Graduation Day!!! Enjoy your new freedom (carefully!!) You did it!!
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 11, 2014 8:55:29 GMT -7
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Aug 12, 2014 4:40:13 GMT -7
Baxter Boo's first day after Graduation went well. He slept with us last night and did great, no accidents. Yesterday evening after work we had him out of his pen in his drag bag and he was allowed to socialize with his big sister Lacey. We kept Bonnie (our 15 month old dachshund) in a seperate room because she is way to hyper to be around Baxter Boo at this early stage of re-introduction.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Aug 20, 2014 2:34:26 GMT -7
Happy 11th Birthday to my Baxter Boo, here is Baxter Boo at age 3 months.
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Post by Pauliana on Aug 20, 2014 20:55:04 GMT -7
Happy belated birthday to adorable Baxter Boo..Still cute after all those years.. What a sweet puppy picture of him! Thanks for sharing it, Shari!
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Aug 27, 2014 2:54:08 GMT -7
5th disc episode
Not sure what is going on with Baxter Boo, last night he yelped and showed signs of discomfort. He was doing fine yesterday and last night right before we went to bed when he was in the bed with us is when this happened. We put him back in his crate and gave him 1/2 a tramadol. This morning no yelping and he is acting almost normal. He is fussy, ate well and went to the bathroom. However, he seems to be cautious in his movements in the pen. Going to call the vet after they open but wondering where we might go with Baxter Boo from here. In the past we could not afford surgery but depending on the cost we might be able to swing it.
May 2009: First episode Conservative 100% recovery January 2013: Second Episode Conservative 100% recovery February 2014: Third Episode Conservative, did not regain use of rear legs and was in a cart June 2014: Fourth episode Conservative: still no use of rear legs Graduated from 4th episode on August 11th, had not reintroduced cart, was using drag bag and sleeping with us with no problems until last night I know surgery at this point would not be successful for him for the purpose of walking again. But I am wondering about surgery helping these reoccurring episodes and pain.
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Post by Debbie Blackwelder on Aug 27, 2014 8:40:13 GMT -7
So sorry Baxter Boo is having problems again. You and Baxter have been through so much and deserve a break. Please let us know what the vet says about his care. I will let one of the more experienced moderators answer your question about whether the surgery might help his reoccurring episodes of pain. I would say if you were interested in that route, then the first thing to be done would be a MRI to see the extent of the damage to Baxter's spinal cord. I know if there are fragments from the disk there, then they can be surgicaly removed, and that would relieve the pain. But first the neuro doc would have to do the MRI to see the extent of the damage. Hope this helps, please let us know after your visit. I have attached a link to Board Certified Neuros: Board-certified neuros (ACVIM) and ortho (ACVS) surgical specialists can be found at University vet teaching hospitals. You can locate others in your area here: www.acvim.org [neuros] Dodgerslist Members Report of Surgical Costs: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgerycosts.htmSincerely, Deb
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Aug 27, 2014 13:55:41 GMT -7
Thank you Deb. A woman who works in the same building as I do recommended a surgeon, she has doxies too and one of her doxies had surgery for IVDD two years ago. My regular vet put Baxter Boo back on predisone, 5mg 2X a day; pepcid and tramadol (1/2 a 50 mg tablet as needed for pain). He has not yelped since last night. He is acting much better now but not 100%, we are getting a referral from my regular vet to the surgeon. We would not be able to afford the surgery until the end of October but looks like we could at least do an MRI now and consult with the surgeon and see where we stand. I hope to be able to get him in for a consult next week. In the meantime we are employing strict crate rest again to be safe.
Baxter Boo has an appointment on Wednesday, September 3rd with a specialist to discuss whether he would benefit from surgery. Until then he is on crate rest with meds.
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Post by Pauliana on Aug 28, 2014 20:28:53 GMT -7
Hi Shari! Keeping Baxter Boo as well as you and family in prayers.. Thanks for keeping us posted, I am so sorry he is having pain again. Since he has had so many relapses surgery might be the answer in his case. I hope the specialist gets Baxter Boo back on the road to recovery.. MRI's are usually done right before surgery so they can plan out the procedure. It's a good idea to discuss with your Vet whether they think it's ok to have an MRI done a month ahead of time as opposed to right before surgery. Baxter Boo would have to be anesthetized for the MRI, so it would be mean he would have to be anesthetized twice, if it's done a month ahead of time and then again for his surgery. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/surgery.htm
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Aug 29, 2014 8:59:20 GMT -7
Hi Shari. I am so sorry that this is happening again I am hoping that your specialist can give you the information about surgery for Baxter Boo. Keeping your little one in thought and prayer. ((hugs))
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Post by Cindi & Kytt on Aug 31, 2014 18:19:14 GMT -7
Hi Shari, Please do let us know how the appointment goes. Given the frequency of his episodes, I would think surgery would be a viable option. Hugs and prayers to you both. Cindi and Keeghan
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 1, 2014 13:44:20 GMT -7
Thank you everyone. Baxter Boo started his taper to 1 5mg ▼ predisone once a day today and so far so good. Wednesday, we meet with the surgeon. They told me on the phone it can be $4000 to $5000 but the woman who works in my building said she paid just under $3700 last year and I see in the section here under costs that members post, someone paid $3600 at the same place two years ago. If the actual cost is closer to $4000 we can have that by the end of September but if it more like $5000 it will be October after my husband's bonus at work.
Ideally I would like to do surgery around the 1st of October because I am already scheduled to be off that first week of October and can be home with him.
Will let you know what the surgeon says tomorrow.
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Post by Pauliana on Sept 1, 2014 20:39:21 GMT -7
Hi Shari,
Thanks for keeping us posted on Baxter Boo.. Hope his appointment with the surgeon goes well and will be looking forward to hearing what his thoughts are on his case going forward..
Prayers continuing for Baxter Boo and his loving family!
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Sept 2, 2014 8:03:52 GMT -7
Hope that surgeon can give you the information that you need and a workable solution for sweet Baxter Boo! Keeping you in thought and prayer (((hugs)))
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 3, 2014 16:58:42 GMT -7
Baxter Boo was seen by the surgeon today and he is not a good candidate for surgery. Baxter Boo is now also prescribed Gabapentin, 40 mg every 12 hours as needed for pain, along with this current predisone (5 mg once a day until he begins his tamper on Saturday to every other day) and tramadol, 25 mg every 8 hours as needed for pain.
Once he is off this round of predisone and has completed a wash out period, we are going to discuss the possibly of using Rimyadl. I had a poodle once with hip dysplasisa and she took Rimyadl daily from the time she was 12 years old until she passed away at 16 years old with no problems.
The results of his neurological exam are Grade IV paraparesis with the right pelvic limb being stronger than the left. INtact spinal reflexes with cutaneous trunci muscle reflex cut off at T13-L1. No overt spinal hyperpathia and no other neurological abnormalities.
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 3, 2014 17:06:21 GMT -7
What was the reason he is not a good candidate for surgery?
What did the surgeon think the reason for the pain that started Aug 27...was it another disc episode. Was it scar tissue causing pain or something else. If a disc is assumed to be torn, would there not be the need to let it heal with 8 weeks of rest.
It may well be the treatment Baxter needs is lowest possible dose of an anti-inflammatory so that he can enjoy life w/o pain. Keep us updated on whether this adjustment to pain meds keeps pain fully away.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 3, 2014 17:51:30 GMT -7
According to the papers from the surgeon, it is a partial slippage of the intervertebral disk that caused the pain on the 27th. The last 8 weeks of crate rest was probably not long enough and it was related to his episode in June.
He said that Baxter Boo was not a good candidate for surgery based on his pelvic limb muscle contracture and the chronicity of his signs.
He is back on 8 weeks of crate rest, (7 weeks to go since he has already been on for one week).
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 6, 2014 8:27:57 GMT -7
Baxter Boo starts his tamper to one predisone (5mg) every other day today. So far the tampering has gone perfectly.
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 6, 2014 8:45:18 GMT -7
The taper of prednisone is the peek at how well getting swelling down is going. So we are very hopeful the balance of the taper goes equally well. Got our fingers crossed!
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Sept 7, 2014 6:14:44 GMT -7
Fingers crossed for a continuing pain free taper!
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 15, 2014 3:09:37 GMT -7
Baxter Boo's taper to 5 mg predisone every other day is going great, no signs of pain. He will take his last predisone on Friday then do his wash out period before starting the Rimaydl.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 21, 2014 16:33:25 GMT -7
Baxter Boo's tamper to predisone every other day did not go well. On Tuesday, he showed signs of pain. So Wednesday, his predisone was increased to twice a day again. Tomorrow we start one predisone a day again
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Post by Debbie Blackwelder on Sept 21, 2014 16:50:09 GMT -7
So sorry to hear this, but it will get better with time. Little Baxter Boo will recover, the nerves just take time to heal, there is no deadline when dealing with nerves. Good luck on the next taper.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 24, 2014 3:01:09 GMT -7
Baxter Boo's 2nd tamper to predisone (5mg) once a day has begun and so far so good on this 2nd attempt to tamper
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Post by Debbie Blackwelder on Sept 24, 2014 6:23:15 GMT -7
So proud you are keeping us updated, keeping my fingers crossed the taper continues well and it's not the end of the world if it doesn't, remember that.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Sept 28, 2014 9:57:22 GMT -7
Baxter Boo has begun his 2nd attempt at tampering to preidsone (5mg) to every other day. So far he is doing great. Hopefully this tamper will be successful.
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 28, 2014 10:34:52 GMT -7
May this taper of prednisone prove to be the successful one that gets rid of all the inflammation.
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Post by Shari&BaxterBoo on Oct 1, 2014 10:11:39 GMT -7
Baxter Boo has three weeks left of crate rest and thankfully, the 2nd attempted at tampering his meds is going well. With three weeks left, I have been wondering about water therapy once he is done with his crate rest. Has anyone tried water therapy with a dog who is in a cart? Also considering acupuntcure, anyone have experience with acupuncture?
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Oct 2, 2014 8:28:40 GMT -7
Water therapy is an excellent way for them to start moving those unused muscles that have atrophied due to crate rest. When they are in water up to the shoulder (not over) they only are supporting about 30% of their body weight which make exercising a whole lot easier. You may need to hold up Baxter Boos backend with a sling if it is paralysed. Acupuncture provides great benefits in both pain relief and nerve stimulation. And they really seem to enjoy it for its relaxing benefits too! Good to hear that the taper is going so well
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