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Post by Lynette & Sadie on Feb 22, 2016 11:45:47 GMT -7
My mini doxie Sadie will be 10 in June & around 15 lbs (a little over weight). Always very active. Never went to the Vet for a "problem". On Jan 12 I knew she had a UTI and went to vet with a urine sample which was confirmed. Vet did Geriatric work up-chem, QBC, ECG. She went on Uroeze and Clavamox and it cleared after 14 days of meds. Then on Feb 13 she started favoring her rear left leg. I did not know anything about what this web site talks about but I was always careful of her back. She has always jumped in her recliner which she did with ease. The Vet said her blood work on Jan 12th came back good.....like a 3 year old. The Feb 13 visit with radiographs showed a herniated disk on top of spine (worst place). He did Laser therapy single session, enema because she was full, and prescribed
[15 lbs]1/2 tablet Robaxin (methocarbamol) x 3 for 10 days Previcox 57mg tab [ as of 2/13: 1/2 tab 2x/day[Pancreved Pancreatic Enzymes ?mgs ?x/dayClavamox ?mgs 2x/day
Laxatone]
From the beginning she never yelped or whimpered. On Feb 15th at 4AM she threw up and her small poop was black. She also started elongating her back (like stretching), head pulling right, every 2 - 3 minutes. Back to Vet on Feb 16th. Good thing the Vet had baseline blood work for Jan 12th. The 12 pack blood chemistry panel showed infection and the blood count for pancreas was low. Conclusion, pancreatitis.  Needless to say, she was hospitalized from 2/16 thru 2/20, IV Fluids, Clavamox, Previcox, etc. I got her home 2/20 noon. She is on Pancreved 45 minutes before eating, twice daily Clavamox for 4 days, Previcox 1/2 tablet every 12 hrs for 5 days, Methocarbamol 1/2 tablet for 7 days. I give the meds with food. Waiting for 45 minutes prior to eating takes some getting used to. Also, was given Laxatone which I am now cutting back on.....really works. I don't like it because the stool is black , but then so is the Laxatone so I don't know if it is the meds or Laxatone for the black stool. How do I keep her from going on her back (wanting a tummy rub)? Also, she contorts her back wanting to clean herself. I try to dab it with cotton pad/water before she does. This is all not good for the back....RIGHT? |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,567
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 22, 2016 12:14:59 GMT -7
Lynette, so sorry Sadie is dealing with not just a disc episode but also pancreatitis. NSAIDs like Previcox do increase stomach acids. That is the reason whenever taking to also be proactive and use a stomach protector like Pepcid AC. Please read up and discuss getting the acid suppressor Pepcid AC (famotidine) on board. All anti-inflammatories can damage the stomach. Proactive vets don't wait til there is nausea, vomit, loose stool, red or black stool leading to serious bleeding ulcers from the extra stomach acids Previcox causes. Pepcid AC (famotidie) blocks the production of acid by acid-producing cells in the stomach.The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) with a disc episode for doxies is 5mgs 2x/day (0.44mg mg per pound every 12 hours.) Get at the grocery store but FIRST do ask your vet in this particular way: Is there any health reason (heart, liver, or kidney) my dog may not take Pepcid AC (famotidine)? Know all about your pet's meds, reading IS important: www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html and marvistavet.com/famotidine.pmlAs of 2/13 have you been doing strict crate rest? Let us know you are on the same page about crate rest. The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the crate rest part. With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. That 6 weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form. Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite in far right column- see the pink box: www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm STRICT means: - no laps - no couches- no baths - no sleeping with you- no chiro therapy - no meandering at potty times.Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps. Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on!  Plain pureed canned pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. NOTE: alternatives are really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel off; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potatoe. --To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal and soak overnight. At mealtime add one teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. -- To firm up the stool add 1 teaspoon plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day to kibble and no extra soaking water to the kibble. |
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Post by Lynette & Sadie on Feb 24, 2016 15:29:48 GMT -7
How do I ask questions of other members? If possible. My Doxie is bored in her pen. What do other members do for their pups? Can I give her a Nyla Bone? I sit beside her pen as much as possible just to be close. Any suggestions?
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Feb 24, 2016 16:06:43 GMT -7
Here are some of the things that members have found valuable to keep their dog happy in the crate.
Place the crate near a window with a view, on the coffee table in front of couch where you sit. Place the crate so the dog will be in the middle of family activities, near your bed at night. Secure crate to a flat moving dolly (or put casters on plywood) to easily move the crate room to room. Fill a kong with a slight slather of soft dog food and freeze. Put part of the dog's total daily dinner kibble in the kong to lengthen time to consume dinner. Good low cal snacks are carrots, apples, or frozen green beans, licking a frozen low sodium broth ice cube.
Use a stroller to move the dog from room to room with you as you move about.
Your post here is visible to other members who can chime in with their own suggestions.
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Post by Lynette & Sadie on Feb 29, 2016 7:08:35 GMT -7
I have read about no sleeping in a bed, but what are the cons? Sadie wakes up after about four hours of sleep (after feeding) and just sits and looks at me and cries. If I lay next to the pen she lays down and goes back to sleep. She actually sleeps thru the night in bed and also stretches out more so than she does in the pen. I just see a lot of pros with sleeping in bed.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,567
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 29, 2016 10:45:36 GMT -7
Lynette, there is no substitute for 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks. Anything else is not conservative treatment.
All dogs do the unexpected in a blink of an eye. A set back to the disc means too much movement re-tore the disc. More pain for Sadie. More vet bills for you. Starting all over again with 8 weeks to get that disc to heal.
The recovery suite does not allow a dog to do anything bad to themselves in a blink of an eye. The suite is always horizontal, supportive of the spine. Never slopes into a person.
So let's think of ways to maintain crate rest yet perhaps help Sadie relax in her suite so you both get a good night's sleep.
-- Place the recover suite crate on a very study table next to your bed. Sadie will be able to see you and you can touch her through the wires and feel close together.
-- IF your bed is large enough, place the crate on top of your mattress in a secure area, next to the wall, by the headboard, etc.
-- Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the crate, petting. So anytime you see unwanted behavior ignore it, turn your back, leave the room if you have to. Preferable is to start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior. Anytime your dog is sitting or lying down quietly, give a reward. Soon your dog will see they get rewards for quietly sitting or lying down, etc.
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Post by Lynette & Sadie on Mar 4, 2016 13:55:49 GMT -7
Sadie is doing really good. She of course is still on pancreatitis meds and thyroid meds, but no pain or muscle meds. I have to really watch her getting too excited to see me when I come home. She has always greeted me with a dance on her hind legs. I have to rush to her pen to keep her down. She is eating Science Diet a/d and really wolfs it down. Vet wants to keep on a/d for now. We have six more weeks of confinement in an ex pen. I have learned a lot from Dodgers List.....thanks so much.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 4, 2016 15:09:11 GMT -7
It is great that Sadie is doing so well. Be diligent about the rest of the crate rest. When a dog walks and moves, the vertebrae move, tearing down the important scar tissue that is forming to stabilize the disc rupture. We all want Sadie to continue with her good recovery.
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Post by Jenn & Sadie on Mar 4, 2016 19:00:28 GMT -7
My neurosurgeon told me I can use a carrier with a firm non bendable base as her crate, instead of an actual crate. I bought the sherpa carrier. Also I give it extra support by placing the carrier on a big rectangular platter. I put her like that in my bed ( in firm carrier on platter) and neurosurgeon says that is fine. We would never sleep if it weren't for this recommendation.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 5, 2016 14:55:40 GMT -7
The sherpa carrier with the firm base sounds good. The goal is to keep her as still as possible and that should do it. If having her in that carrier on your bed in a secure spot helps both of you sleep that is excellent.
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Post by Lynette & Sadie on Mar 31, 2016 14:57:00 GMT -7
Two more weeks to go! Sadie is doing so good and she is returning to her playful self. Which is not always good because I have to keep telling her to stay down. She likes to come up on her hind legs when she sees me come home. I rush to her pen and hold her down.
So now I have a question.....how do I start getting her used to normal again? Is there a process? How much is too much? I need some guidance? Thanks
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Mar 31, 2016 15:18:11 GMT -7
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,567
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Post by PaulaM on Mar 31, 2016 17:41:12 GMT -7
Lynette with graduation day on Apr 9 you will want to do some advance planning. The link Romy gave explains with a sample schedule how to to ease back into more normal activity at graduation. The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled conditions. Not free reign of the house and yard immediately! LOL Also check out how to teach four paws on the floor! www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmRight now that standing on back legs is not good for the still healing disc. Try placing a blanket over the top of the crate hanging down to her eye level when sitting on her butt. That way when she stands up on hind legs she will be in the dark with no view. That should discourage her from rising up on back legs. And now is the perfect time if you haven't already to make those home modifications so that you can reduce the stress on her spine in the future. No more stairs, ramps up to furniture, or blocking furniture all together. All those ideas and more are in this link: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm |
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