PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 14, 2016 20:52:36 GMT -7
Chris, so sorry to hear another problem for Oscar. Hope the antibiotic will bring fast comfort and kill the bacteria.
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Jul 15, 2016 16:16:15 GMT -7
Oscar is in some real discomfort.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 15, 2016 20:27:03 GMT -7
Chris what did the vet think... any changes to meds....how is Oscar now?
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Jul 19, 2016 7:16:21 GMT -7
Oscar is on baytril 68 1/2 pill every 12 hours. He is off prednisone and all pain meds. After 4 days on the antibiotic for the prostatitis he is starting to feel much better.* It is now possible to access his back. It appears he has lost some use of his right rear leg. It is stiff and weak; periodically but infrequently, he will misplace his foot and stumble a bit. It appears to rotate slightly from the hip in a slight circular motion.
*The prostatitis likely resulted from the prednisone. Most likely Oscar had long term a non-symptomatic infection and it was kept under control by his own body. Prednisone is immunosuppressive. The immunosuppressive aspect of the drug allowed the infection to grow until it created the prostate abscess found on the sonagram. The first course of antibiotic was calculated at the lowest dosage (2.5mg/kg -14 days course) and that kept the bacteria under control, but not eliminated. When he ended the first course of treatment the infection roared back and radiated pain to the back and rear legs. The dose was increased to 5mg/kg b.i.d. This is the recommended amount to clear a prostate infection and the course is 8-12 weeks. I researched this myself. I also discovered that it is not recommended to use an antacid with Baytril and some studies specifically suggested they interfere with its effective absorption. The vet did not disagree.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 19, 2016 8:41:38 GMT -7
Chris wonderful to hear the antibiotic is helping!!!
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Jul 21, 2016 13:51:01 GMT -7
July 21, On my 5th week and Oscar is definately getting stronger and his prostititis is resolving and under crontrol. There is no signs of pain but today while outside doing his business his rear right leg started to act up and he started limping. He is now back on his bed sleeping. I am having difficulty having him eat at dinner time and he has become very picky. He picks and eats some and will eat later in the evening, but not like he once did when his brother was alive. It's strange.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Jul 21, 2016 14:22:44 GMT -7
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 22, 2016 10:59:26 GMT -7
Chris, do run by the new limping of the right rear leg with your vet. Let us know what your vet thinks.
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Jul 26, 2016 7:55:26 GMT -7
Jul 26: The right rear issues have totally resolved, the Baytril continues for 2 more days but the infection and pain are under control
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 26, 2016 8:14:05 GMT -7
Chris, that is good news on the right rear leg and pain being in control
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Aug 19, 2016 17:11:52 GMT -7
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Post by Pauliana on Aug 19, 2016 21:11:24 GMT -7
Thank goodness, I am so glad Oscar is feeling much better! Thank you for the update!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 20, 2016 8:06:58 GMT -7
Chris, very nice news to read this morning walking normally and infection gone! Oscar has now graduated. Here are some ideas on how to ease him back into more normal activity. The idea is to gradually give more freedom under controlled conditions. Not free reign of the house and yard immediately! LOL Take a look at our information and then come up with a plan to gradually increase activity over about a month's time following the end of crate rest. Also check out how to teach four paws on the floor! www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htmNow is a 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.htmwww.dodgerslist.com/literature/aftercraterest/furniture-blocker300.jpg |
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Aug 27, 2017 5:57:41 GMT -7
[original subject: Back issues uncertain
oscar blockage w/ history of pancreatitis last ivdd 2014]
Chris' Oscar 8/17 blockage surgery Oscar is sensitive on his far rear, almost on his backside about one inch just before his tail starts. He recently had surgery to remove a blockage from eating pork bones. A few days later he started shivering and I went back and another vet prescribed Baytril 68mg 1.5 pills once a day and metronidazole 75 once per day because she thought he might have an infection. He's been on these pills for a day and a half. He has no appetite, although he'll eat some sliced turkey and chicken from my hand and drinks. Any help would be appreciated. He can walk, although his rear is stiff and as I described he's tender in his further back rear area. He's lethargic too wanting to sleep. My name is Chris. The diagnosis was an infection I'm curious how a far back DSK presents. Oscar has not received a specific infection diagnosis, the vet prescribed Baytril 68mg (1.5 pills) and metnapril (sp) 250 mg (1/4 pill) once per day. The surgery ( removal of a blockage from colon from a pork rib ) occurred on 17th, infection? presented 25th. I ask because he has had an episode before, but this presented so differently with no trouble walking and some pain in the rear (like above his hips part of spine area). The second vet ( surgeon wasnt available on 25) threw out the suggestion of back issue then walked that diagnosis back, settling on infection. I wanted to watch for signs. So I wanted some insight [Moderator's note: please do not modify
weight?
Baytril 68mg tab: 1.5 pills
metnapril sp??? 250mg tab: 1/4 pill 1x/day] |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 27, 2017 8:42:32 GMT -7
Chris, thanks for registering. The usual way vets will come up with a diagnosis is to gather all the factd they can by observing, tests, etc, and then come up with several possible diseases. One of them being the most prominent their mind. Anytime leg are affected with the dachshund breed, their is always a suspcion if it might be a disc episode since with a previous disc episode, you know Oscar was born with IVDD. Each disc episode can be very different in signs from dog to dog and even the same dog. Some episodes are pain only. Some cause mild neuro dimishement and other severe that legs become paralyzed. As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions. 1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord 2. Wobbly walking, legs cross 3. Nails/toes scuffing floor 4. Paws knuckle 5. Weak/little leg movement, can't move up into a stand 6. Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down) 7. Bladder control is lost 8. Tail wagging with joy is lost 9. Deep pain sensation (DPS), the last neuro function, a critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment. Surgery can still be successful in the window of 12-24 hours after loss of deep pain sensation. Even after that window of time, there can still be a good outcome. Each hour that passes decreases that chance. Precious hours can be lost with a vet that gets DPS wrong. Trust only the word of a neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) surgeon about DPS. See photos of the varying degrees of neuro diminishment here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htmAt any suspicion of a disc episode happening, getting your dog into a crate is to protect the exterior from more cracks, a tear. The more a disc buldges out of shape or tears then the spinal cord receives damage that we see as loss of neuro function. Might be good to have print out of this page for Oscar's folder handy when you suspicion a disc problem to guide you in the action you would need to take: www.dodgerslist.com/faq.htm |
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Oct 1, 2017 9:04:51 GMT -7
Oscar recovered from blockage surgery (previous post) but the vet believed he had a back issue on top of the surgery and infection for which he was treated by Baytril beginning at 64mg bid decreasing to 32mg per day. He was started on a course of back -pain meds without the prednisone with the baytril. My suspicion is movement during surgery injured a collapse disk.)
He recovered quickly and was terrific until this morning October1, 2017. He has been on one 81mg aspirin per day along with a probiotic. Yesterday he had a red blood out of his anus for a short time, which then cleared. He ate nothing for dinner who's is not unusual as he is finicky.
This morning (10-1-17) He is reluctant to move. He appears unstable but capable of reluctantly walking, no knuckling under, albeit with a very slight wobble and an unwillingness to lift his leg. His abdomen was tense. His stool is dark and slightly mucus. The Vet is closed today so i cannot call or visit until Monday.
I have started him on 1/4 Roboxin (every 8h) tramadol (every 8hr) and Gabapetin (every 8hr). I have started scarifate(sp) 1/2 pill diluted with water in case We should want to start prednisone as I gave an aspirin this morning and there has been no washout period.
He is sleeping in the living room.
[Moderator's note: please do not modify
15.5 lbs
Aspirin as of 9/10: 81mgs 1x/day
Robaxin 125mgs 3x/day
Tramadol 25 mgs 3x/day
Gabapentin 100mgs 3x/day
Sucralfate 500mgs 3x/day]
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Post by Ann Brittain on Oct 1, 2017 9:39:18 GMT -7
Hi Chris, Welcome to Dodgerslist. I'm sorry to hear Oscar is having issues. Not being as well versed on medications like others here on Dodgerslist, I won't comment on the dosages you're giving him. You will get comments on the dosages and meds you're currently giving from our experts.
The symptoms you describe, reluctance to move, stiff belly, etc indicate that Oscar is in pain. I'm also concerned about the blood he's expressed especially since he had the blockage surgery. I'm also concerned about Oscar's loss of appetite. You say your vet is closed until tomorrow, but there must be some option for emergency care.
If not, please get him in to his vet as early as possible tomorrow.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 1, 2017 12:09:57 GMT -7
Chris do you now have Oscar on 100% STRICT rest 24/7 , only out for a very, very few footsteps at potty time in order to prevent worsening the the disc? Mark your aspirin bottle "not for pets". There are safer formulations for dogs than aspirin. Why was he being given aspirin daily? Since what begin date? How much does Oscar weigh? Now there is a serious problem to use either a canine NSAID or a steroid if a vet determines there is a new disc episode going on. Can you get Pepcid AC on board. It works differently than sucralfate. Pepcid suppresses acids. Sucralfate bandaids the damaged stomach or intestine area with a gel coating. Know how to use sucralfate with correct timing with food and with Pepcid AC: marvistavet.com/sucralfate.pml |
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Oct 1, 2017 12:28:33 GMT -7
Oscar is 15.5 pounds. Oscar is 17 yo. He can stand, he can walk, he is continent but is reluctant to do more than sleep. He is confined but not crated; although given his age it's not really necessary as he will not move except to shift himself on his blankets and he has his water bowl nearby. He goes out for bathroom, then he is carried back to his bed. I noticiced the change in behavior just this morning when I took him out in the morning to pee and immediately started the drugs. Later he went out and pooped, darker looking, but solid. There has been no vet diagnosis.
His meds are:
Aspirin 81mgs 1x/day. Every morning for a month as he has some mild arthritis; he gets a probiotic every morning and he has done well on this as a normal morning routine. I will stop the asprin tommorow morning and have already begun sucralfate anticipating starting prednisone.
The following drugs were started 10-1-2017 at 7:30am
Robaxin 125mgs 3x/day
Tramadol 25mgs 3x/day
Gabapentin 100mg 3x/day
Sucralfate 500mgs 3x/day]
is 1/4 PepcidAC an appropriate dosage? I seem to recall that was the dosage I used before.
I will no add prednisone unless directed by the vet on Monday as he has a murrmer. He had the aspirin this morning.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 1, 2017 12:45:08 GMT -7
Please discuss Pepcid AC with your vet in light of a murmur The quote I supplied said: " There have been some reports of exacerbating heart rhythm problems in patients who already have heart rhythm problems so it may be prudent to choose another means of stomach acid control in heart patient"
Is aspirin self prescrbed by you or a vet?
Sucralfate is now useful because you saw blood. Normally scuralfate would not be started in advance of Pred. It would be started at the same time as pred.
All dogs do the unexpected in a blink of an eye. The recovery suite (ex-pen, wire crate, etc) are preventative measures to protect a suspicion of a bad disc from worsening...being one step ahead of dogs is our job.
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Oct 1, 2017 15:09:16 GMT -7
Asprin was begun by me. Stopped while Oscar recovered from his infection and during a period he was on back pain meds, I placed him back on asprin about 3 weeks ago. Vet is aware I placed him back on, said nothing pro or con, I will stop giving him the Aspirin.
[Moderator's note: please do not modify
15.5 lbs
Aspirin as of 9/10: 81mgs 1x/day; 10/1 STOPPED
Robaxin 125mgs 3x/day
Tramadol 25 mgs 3x/day
Gabapentin 100mgs 3x/day
Sucralfate 500mgs 3x/day]
He sleeps, I've tried the crate but find he gets agitated in the crate and does better confined in a small area on his blankets.
oh. He's also regained his appetite when he saw the boiled chicken breast in his bowl. Ate it all. He also went out and pooped a darkish mucus-oily feces and peed, lifting his leg. It's strange. He shows some of the signs of back issues, but it's not presenting like my other did or as he had in 2014 or even most recently. He seems to be improving too quickly for a back issue, tho he's not back to normal.
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Post by Pauliana on Oct 1, 2017 19:45:24 GMT -7
Chris, please let us know what the Vet has to say after he examines him hopefully tomorrow, so he can determine what exactly is going on, whether it's a disc episode or something else..There are other conditions that have similar symptoms..
Be sure to ask for a stomach protector other than Pepcid due the heart murmur. It's important to protect his stomach from the acid anti inflammatories can cause.. Prevention is far better than treating serious GI tract damage..
Healing thoughts and prayers for Oscar!
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Oct 2, 2017 11:38:39 GMT -7
Believe it is a back issue. Could be arthritis in the spine ( as Oscar has a collapsed disk and it showed some arthritis Observed on a previous X-ray) or a mild disk issue or even a minor sprain of the back. There are no nureological issues. No X-ray taken.
Kept on the muscle relaxant- Roboxin above and 2 pain medications above. No Asprin for a washout in the event he doesn't improve or deteriorates. Told to keep an eye on him for any significant changes.
My observation is he is better on the pills, sleeping. He walks normally, tho reluctantly. Eats the boiled chicken breast offered, ignores his regular food.
I had a thought after I left, I gave him asprin everyday but recently and for a week I began to use a topical "hotspot & itch relief medicated spray" by Veterinary Formula. It included hydrocortisone. I'm wondering if he wasn't licking it and with the aspirin there wasn't an interaction and GI issue.
[Moderator's note: please do not modify
15.5 lbs
Aspirin (NSAID) as of 9/10: 81mgs 1x/day; 10/1 STOPPED
Hydrocortisone (steroid) spray
Robaxin 125mgs 3x/day
Tramadol 25 mgs 3x/day
Gabapentin 100mgs 3x/day
Sucralfate 500mgs 3x/day STOPPED]
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Oct 7, 2017 17:41:46 GMT -7
Oscar was doing terrific with no pain or deficits until this evening, Sat. 10-7-2017. He had stopped taking pills 4 days ago. He has no neurological deficits but he again twisted his back and is in pain. I gave Roboxin 125mgx3; Tramadol 25mg x3 and Gabapentin 100mg x3. He is currently sleeping.
I have Prednisone which I haven’t started but I am considering giving 5mg x2. I recall using a Pepcid AC 1/4 pill a half hour before the prednisone. Is this correct?
[Moderator's note: please do not modify
15.5 lbs
Aspirin (NSAID) as of 9/10: 81mgs 1x/day; 10/1 STOPPED
Hydrocortisone (steroid) spray STOPPED
Relapsed disc 10/7
Robaxin resumed 125mgs 3x/day
Tramadol resumed 25 mgs 3x/day
Gabapentin resumed 100mgs 3x/day]
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 7, 2017 18:43:25 GMT -7
Chris it would be best to NOT start any anti-inflammatory without first touching base with the vet. You tie their hands if you choose one class over the other. Anti-inflammatories stay in the body for 5-7 days! AND it has only been 7 days of washout from the last dose of LONG LASTING aspirin. With any anti-inflammatory drug 5mgs of Pepcid AC every twelve hours is the usual. Since Oscar has a heart issue, you will need to speak with the vet on what he wants for GI tract protection. Read about any drug you are considering at the Mar Vista Vet page here: www.marvistavet.com/pharmacy-center.pmlPain meds last 8 hours, so by morning the vet will be able to see symptoms clearly and make his best diagnosis. Let us know with pain meds back on board (Robasin, Tramadol and Gabapentin that pain stays in control right up the next dose. The most important thing is the limited movement of the spine with crating. How do you imagine he may have twisted his back? Did you get all four questions right?
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Oct 7, 2017 19:06:54 GMT -7
I think Oscar was caught in his bedding and twisted himself. He seems better now after the pills worked. He has no neurological issues. He walks normally, lifts his leg and stands normally. I’ve memorized your list.
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Post by Chris & Oscar on Apr 2, 2018 7:04:06 GMT -7
He has recovered
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 2, 2018 9:54:12 GMT -7
Chris, glad to hear all is well again with your Oscar. Oscar at 17 now is such a trooper under your watchful eye and care! How about giving new members some inspiration with a snapshot of Oscar for our photo galler here: www.dodgerslist.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=5LOGIN info: username: Dachsie password: dodgerslist14 Or you can email (owner's name, email addy, dog's name + photo caption) to : photogallery@dodgerslist.com |
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Post by Julie & Perry on Apr 2, 2018 10:58:36 GMT -7
Chris I'm so happy Oscar has recovered. He's quite a fighter to come back from this as a senior.
I noticed you listed Oscar has/had pancreatitis.
Another member, Kate, has a dog named Milo who's just been diagnosed with pancreatitis. They're listed under conservative care.
Maybe you have some tips/ information that could help them.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,589
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 2, 2018 11:20:42 GMT -7
Chris, the helpful tips you could give would be in the category of if there is a qualified, knowledgeable group like we have here for IVDD. If you have a recommendation for which degreed type of vet to best help (general DVM vet, which kind of specialist? Often we do see a specialist as a good opton for a consult because general vets don't usually have experience with the unusual conditions. This Forum is narrowly focused on IVDD and that is really our only experience and expertise where we feel we have good sound information to share backed by our associations and consults with professionals in the field www.dodgerslist.com/index/education.htm . We don't feel either moderators or any other members should be giving out specific help tips about pancreatitis. We have no way to know if information given on other diseases would be harmful. We only know IVDD. Hope you will understand why we don't discuss other diseases on this IVDD Forum. Thanks! |
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