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Post by Kbear02 on Dec 18, 2017 16:08:10 GMT -7
 also a registered user: dodgerslist.boards.net/user/5929My 3 yr. old Frenchie is Beluga. Beluga had surgery approximately 7 months ago on her C3, C4 with a large calcification removed. I was in & out of the ER Vet a total of 4 x’s. Beluga was panting profusely, painful upon touch, having muscle tremors, & was very rigid. Being a nurse I was extremely concerned about her airway becoming occluded, that she might have an MI, or that she was having a neurological deficit such as a seizure. Beluga was sent home on Tramadol, Trazadone, & Methocarbamol at first. I ended up having to be proactive, obtained the name of a local neurologist, & made my own appt. Beluga was admitted the 1st time for a total of 7 days she sat untouched up in Jacksonville, FL waiting for surgery due to other neurological emergencies. Beluga developed a UTI & began urinating on herself due to the stress of being caged all day at the neurologist, then transported to the ER overnight. Beluga did well after this for the past 7 months, then on 12/12/17 she began having the same symptoms prior to having her cervical surgery. I had my friend watch her overnight while I worked without improvement. Once again I had to be proactive & decided not to waste my time going to the Vet. & made an appt. with the neurologist. I took Beluga in on 12/13/17 & she was admitted after her neurological exam with a complete workup that afternoon, & in surgery by 2:30 p.m. with an L3, L4 compression & multiple calcifications along her spine. Beluga’s neurologist states that typically the lumbar surgery happens 1st followed by cervical, if it’s going to happen at all. Beluga was discharged home on 12/15/17 with a total of 18 staples. She was prescribed Keflex BID x’s 7 days, Tramadol 50mg BID PRN, Trazadone BID PRN, Valium BID PRN, & Methocarbamol BID PRN. [Moderator's note: please do not modify
23 lbs
Prednisone tapering
Tramadol 50mgs 2x/day
Keflex (antibiotic) 2x/day
Trazadone 50mgs 2x/day
Valium 5mgs 2x/day
Methocarbamol ?mgs 2x/day] Beluga is on strict crate rest for the next 2 to 3 wks. which is proven to be difficult being that I’ve got 3 other Frenchie’s she’s dying to play with. Her gait is wobbly, she arches at times her back like a cat, pants profusely, has muscle spasms & tremors, & is difficult to get calmed down enough to medicate. Her feeding schedule is off & currently I’ve got to sit on the floor with her while she’s eating. I have to carry her outside & sit her down for potty time. She’s showing improvement slowly each day, but every morning is a struggle getting her calmed down enough to medicate. I’m so thankful I found this forum & hope to learn from other Frenchie parents experiencing similar issues. I realize each case is unique & hope that Beluga’s expierence helps other Frenchie owners out there. [Notes via email moved to Forum:
Currently taking a tapered dose of Prednisone, Valium 5mg PRN, Keflex BID x’s 7 days, Trazadone 50mg BID PRN for anxiety
surgery was performed by a Vet neurologist at North FL Neurology by Dr Meeks.
She’s painful upon waking in the morning, but once she’s medicated she’s very calm & manageable.
I work 12 hr shifts overnight so she’s alone during that time crated.
She has an appointment tomorrow
It’s just first thing in the morning when I come home that she’s like that which is probably because she needs something for breakthrough & gets excited as well as is painful. While I’m home she’s very comfortable, is good ambulating, & neurologically stable with no loss of bladder or bowel. ]
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 18, 2017 17:08:12 GMT -7
Charity, welcome to Dodgerslist. We are glad you have joined us. I'm sorry to hear Beluga has had a 2nd disc episode to deal with. But the good news is that she is walking even if wobbly and that bodes well for more neuro function to to self repair.
What I'm concerned with is all the signs of pain you report in the morning. That should not happen. Pain meds need adjustting.
Call you get in to phone call tonight to the surgeon's hospital where there will be someone to look at her file even if the surgeon himself is not on duty. Each of the pain meds (methocarbamol, tramadol) have a short half life in dogs and are not likely to fully control pain if they have not been Rx'd for every 8 hours. Just as you are reporting pain is surfacing before the next dose.
What is the dose of methocarbamol at 2x/day?
It may be that yet a third pain meds would be added (gabapentin) to deal with nerve pain also every 8 hours.
Often it will take about 2 weeks before all the swelling caused by the procedure itself to resolve. Til then have no patience with pain, when pain meds can easily be adjusted just by reporting what you observe.
I encourage you to register and then log in for the Forum. It makes it easier for you to post, get alerts when someone has posted on Beluga's thread. And it makes it easier for us to track Beluga.
The taper of prednsone is not just as a means to signal the body to make its own steroid hormone, but kinda a test for pain. So there is still painful swelling going on and now the prednisone is no longer working on it. THEREFORE, the pain meds need to be at an aggressive every 8 hours. With your 12 hour shift, could a friend, neighbor, etc perhaps give a dose?
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Post by Charity & Beluga on Dec 21, 2017 14:21:16 GMT -7
Beluga is doing much better, she’s actually spunky, & tried to chase lizards in the bushes. Incision looks great, no erythema, bleeding, or signs of infection. I’ve figured out a schedule that’s working for both of us to control her pain. She’s not grunting when I pick her up to take her outside anymore & she is resting comfortably. Appetite has increased & feeding schedule is back on track. Jan 14, 2018 since graduated www.dodgerslist.com/forumads/Graduate.jpg |
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Dec 21, 2017 14:34:53 GMT -7
I am happy to hear that Beluga is doing better.
I think it is still too early to chase lizards though, much as she wants to. How long does the surgeon want for crate rest? Mostly we see the surgeon wanting 4 weeks of crate rest, but sometimes it is 6 weeks or even more.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 22, 2017 8:22:15 GMT -7
Charity, good news you report.
What is the med schedule that is working better, maybe helpful insight to others on a work schedule on this Forum. Is she still on methocarbamol ? mgs ?x/day, any changes made to tramadol 50mgs 2x/day?
23 lbs
Prednisone tapering
Tramadol 50mgs 2x/day
Methocarbamol ?mgs 2x/day
Keflex (antibiotic) 2x/day
Trazadone 50mgs 2x/day
Valium 5mgs 2x/day
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