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Post by Nancy & Maisy on May 8, 2015 13:47:21 GMT -7
Thanks, Paula. I edited my last post before I saw yours. I would prefer to observe; it's just that this yelp was the same yelp that happened 7 weeks ago, prompting me to take him to the vet for his back the first time. He has never shown any other signs of pain; except for a slightly shortened gait behind and I'm surely not going to let him run so I can observe that. The only signs of pain he has ever shown are this yelp (on only 2 occasions before he went to the vet 7 weeks ago) and possibly a low grunt or groan when picked up. He has never trembled, been reluctant to move, had a lack of appetite, or any of the other signs in the list on the forum. So, I'm concerned that he's in pain again.
He can be too active in his crate at times; like when the cat walks by or someone is at the door. If he begins to be too active during pottying I bring him right back inside to his crate. But there are times during crate rest when he might scratch an itch or roll around; things I just can't prevent. Same with Maisy. I tell them no and ask them to stop, but sometimes...
I'll talk with the regular vet when she calls and get her opinion and make a decision.
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Post by Nancy & Maisy on May 8, 2015 15:42:23 GMT -7
She called and said to start [22 lbs.] Tramadol 25 mg 2-3 times/day and let the neurologist confirm before starting an NSAID. I guess that's what I'll do.
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on May 9, 2015 6:12:11 GMT -7
Tramadol is short acting. So you can give the last dose of TRamadol 8 hours prior to seeing your neuro so that it will be out of the system. That way a vet can observe all symptoms in order to make the best diagnosis.
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Post by Nancy & Maisy on May 15, 2015 14:23:14 GMT -7
In the end, I decided to follow your advice Paula and observe. Mo hasn't show any further signs of pain; no yelping no matter where he's touched, so we're good to go for GRADUATION tomorrow. I'm looking forward to his 1 minute walk up and down the hallway!
What I'm not looking forward to is Maisy's reactions to Mo getting to come out while she has to remain on crate rest for 4 more weeks. Wish me luck!
I have a question about hydro/swim therapy and how highly you recommend it; do dogs do just as well without it after conservative, or does it speed their return to normal musculature, etc.? Does it help prevent future disc episodes?
Thanks again to all of you for this board and your helpful, supportive, educational and compassionate responses. Thank goodness you're here!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on May 15, 2015 16:08:46 GMT -7
So how many days is it since Mowgli is not on any pain meds... just that one day May 8 or 9? Then he would be ready for graduation tomorrow as you have proof there is pain. The water therapy is for those dogs with neuro deficits. The water's buoyancy makes it easier for weak legs to move than to fight on-land gravity. Now if you just want to slowly give Mowgli a chance to bulk up muscles and it is warm you might be interested in using a $10 child's wading pool, or walking in water along the shore line. My dog's love to chase a tennis ball or floating carrots, so lot of fun exercise opportunities with water. It takes a lot more effort in water so do take it slow so he doesn't get sore muscles. Mowgli was born with a degenerative disease. With this disease it is unpredictable. Some have only one episode their entire life while others may have multiple. The things we do may prolong another episode if one is intended to happen that is the disc becomes so degenerated that the pressure of vertebrae moving cause a disc crack or tear. So here are some ideas for after crate rest to make your home back friendly and the type of activities to encourage if you have not already addressed them. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmWell Maisy is just going to have to get alot more kisses and hugs at potty times to make up for losing her crate rest buddy! When you get a chance let us know more about Maisey here: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/2753/nancys-maisy-faye-conservative-gradNancy, you are doing a wonderful job, caring for your two IVDD dogs!
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Post by Nancy & Maisy on May 16, 2015 18:56:49 GMT -7
Thank you, Paula!
Mo never went back on meds, so the last meds were in April (forget the date at the moment). He had his 1 minute walk today; outside. He was pulling too much inside and was way too excited, so I carried to his potty area and let him walk there. This helps a little with Maisy feeling left out, too.
I've read the After Crate Rest article several times and have some questions. I have several ramps I bought over a year ago and one my hubby made. They're in the house and in the yard. There are some situations though that I really wonder about. Let me know if anyone has ideas:
1. There are steps up from our patio to the backyard grassy area. The dogs love to FLY down the ramp at the backdoor and up the ramp into the yard at breakneck speed (usually to chase our squirrels). I'm thinking this is no longer going to be okay for them. While I hate to take away their joy, I'm thinking it's best if they go out on a leash, at least until they calm down some after first getting out (I'm talking about after they've been brought back from crate rest).
2. I've trained them to use the ramp at the backdoor and the one leading up into the yard pretty reliably, but we have 2 sets of 2 steps up into the grassy area that are very wide (8-10 feet) and the ramp of course doesn't cover them. They LOVE the backyard. Any ideas about how to deal with these 2 sets of wide steps? They use the ramp when they fly out, but not always when they come back in. They also love to jump up onto the tree trunks when hunting the squirrels. What in the world can I do about that?
Ideally, every square inch of step in the yard and in the house would be ramped, but that's not very feasible. We live in a one story, but there's a very wide 2 step drop into the family room. I keep the doors closed most of the time so they can't use them. If I place a ramp there, they go around it and use the steps. Sigh. 3. When we walk on our street, there are curbs on both sides of the road and no sidewalk for quite a distance. It's going to be super hard to prevent them from jumping on and off the curb when a car comes by and I have to move them towards the side of the road. I have no idea what to do about this.
Any ideas are more than welcome. The good news is that Mo doesn't jump onto furniture. Maisy will pretty reliably use a ramp. I have big pillows in all the chairs and keep a ramp at the couch. I'm worried about all of the situations I listed above, though.
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on May 17, 2015 13:51:15 GMT -7
Nancy, sorry it looks like Mo has not graduated under your name, but we are still waiting on Maisey's upcoming graduation. The things we do to provide a back friendly environment are to help prolong another disc episode. Some dogs will have one disc episode their entire life while others have multiples. So hard to predict with this disease. So do the best you can, do what makes sense for your house situation. You are at least lessening opportunities for jumping. Running is good exercise, it is the abrupt stops and zig zags to discourage. A disc episode happens at the point when the cushioning flexible jelly-like disc deteriorates to hard and non-flexing. Pressure to the disc by the vertebrae moving is the last straw and the squeezed disc tears. So do what is possible and then we have to let dogs be themselves. One of our past members has written her philosophy of living with an IVDD dog... it might help to put things in perspective for you: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/410/living-fear-ivdd
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