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Post by Pauliana on Feb 13, 2018 18:43:05 GMT -7
Laser light therapy, acupuncture and electro-acupuncture can be very beneficial to assist with re-establishment of nerve connections in the body for dogs that are paralyzed. They not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration. CAUTION: Laser light therapy is contra-indicated with tumors. Xrays are used to rule out other disease mimicking a disc problem such as tumor, fracture, etc.
Maggie is healing and the body does many of the repair jobs on it's own and the best thing for her right now is limited movement of the spine. After crate rest is over, it could be beneficial for her.. It's best to wait and see how she is doing at the end of crate rest and then decide if that is what would be best for her..
Sometimes acupuncturists can be found who will come to the home to administer treatment.
When using conservative treatment which requires strict restriction of movement of the spine, the benefits of treatment must be weighed against the risk of transport, particularly when IVDD symptoms are mild, such as wobbly walking or knuckling, or when transporting a large dog that cannot be lifted.
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 14, 2018 15:50:49 GMT -7
Thank you so much for all of your support and guidance through this time. I will contact the surgeon next week if there are no signs of pain to see if the carprofen is still necessary. The surgeon seemed to not like using meds since he kept emphasizing how important the crate rest is. We are now on the tapering of prednisone. She got 5mg this morning, nothing tomorrow and her last 5mg dose will be Friday morning. She has been off the methocarbamol since yesterday and seems ok. I am holding off on the treatments to see how Maggie progresses on her own. She did well last time with our at home exercises and water therapy when she was ready. Will keep you updated
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 24, 2018 4:59:34 GMT -7
Maggie started 1/2 a 25mg of carprofen 2x a day on 2/22 [?]. As well as taking 5mg of Pepcid 2x a day. It is supposed to last for 2 weeks. On 2/21, I called to see if it is necessary because she had no signs of pain that I could tell.
[Moderator's note: please do not modify 16.8 lbs Prednisone as as of 1/11: 5mgs 2x/day for 5 days, as of 1/31: taper dose in response to a relapsed disc: 2.5mgs every other day as of 2/5: 5mgs 2x/day for 2 days Relapsed disc on 1/30 due to DVM Rx of walking 8 wks crate rest Neuro surgeon Rx'd on 2/7 Carprofen on Feb 20 or 2/22???: 12.5mgs 2x/day for 14 days as of 2/21: 12.5mgs 2x/day for "just in case" Methocarbamol 125mg 2x/day to end on 2/13 Pepcid AC 5mgs 2x/day]
He [The technician I spoke with consulted with another doctor on duty.] said to still give it to her just Incase there is still some swelling. So now we are 4 days in and I came home yesterday to a mess of diarrhea in her crate. The poor thing! We changed all bedding right away. I called the vet and they said to not give tonight’s dose of carprofen and see if she improves. Keep giving the Pepcid. If I see improvement in her bowels, to give the next dose this morning. I have been up with her all night taking her out every 1-2 hours to go. I do not feel comfortable giving her the next dose. We have a camera during the day to watch her. We noticed around 11am that she was getting restless. We feel this is when it started. When should I start getting concerned if it doesn’t go back to normal? Vet said if there are no improvements, they may need to add another medication. And to feed her normal. She has been eating and drinking. Vet said to check for blood. How can I tell if there is blood in her stool? I saw a slightly dark brown streak in one of her bowel movements last night. But none since. It’s been a mixture of consistency. One bowel movement was solid at first, then softer. Next it was watery. Then next was a little firmer. Sorry for the details of poop 😳. I’m at a loss right now of what to do.
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Post by Julie & Perry on Feb 24, 2018 5:10:17 GMT -7
Diarrhea is a sign of a gastric problem. As well as pepcid ac ask your vet for a prescription for sucralfate. That is a medication that bandages irritated parts of the stomach.
I believe you give sucralfate an hour before a meal or two hours after.
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 24, 2018 6:18:52 GMT -7
Called the vet. Maggie is being prescribed with Proviable and metronidazole. I will add doses once I pick those up. She will continue the Carprofen and Pepcid as well. They said it works within 24 hours. She just ate (gobbled up her food) and is drinking normal.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 24, 2018 6:40:14 GMT -7
Please do not give any more carprofen, Kellie. With no sign of pain returning with the stopping of the Prednisone for three days, there is obviously no longer swelling and no longer a need for any type of anti-inflammatory. Julie is right, you need to speak to the vet about adding Sucralfate as a second stomach protector that works in a different way to bandaid the damaged mucus lining and also promotes a healing environment. Sucralfate will require timing with other meds…so do your homework so you can discuss things with the vet: www.marvistavet.com/html/sucralfate.htmlYou should be able to see blood in the stool if there is any. Regardless of whether there is blood or not, do get the Sucralfate on board. The ONLY meds that Maggie needs at this time are Pepcid AC and Sucralfate. Please let us now what the vet says after speaking to them this morning.
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 24, 2018 7:04:57 GMT -7
Called the vet [The technician I spoke with consulted with another doctor on duty. ]. Maggie is being prescribed with Proviable and metronidazole. I will add doses once I pick those up. She will continue the Carprofen and Pepcid as well. They said it works within 24 hours. She just ate (gobbled up her food) and is drinking normal.
After reading your post, should I just stop the Carprofen on my own? And if I see signs of pain I can give it to her again? Why would the vet want me to continue the carprofen if she has no pain?
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Feb 24, 2018 7:20:02 GMT -7
I can't give you an answer as to why your vet wants you to continue the carprofen if Maggie has no pain which would indicate there is still swelling, especially in light of the fact that it has caused GI distress that now has to be treated. That is something you need to speak to your vet about. You're the captain of Maggie's medical team and you need to have a good understanding of the meds your vet has prescribed. You shouldn't self-prescribe (start or stop meds on your own) but you should speak to the vet and understand his reasoning. I think you mentioned before that he wanted to continue the carprofen just in case there is some swelling. None of us want to give our dogs meds for any longer than absolutely necessary and in this case, it just doesn't seem necessary at all to continue the Carprofen and actually contraindicated in light of the diarrhea. We're not vets and can only give you our opinion. This is something you need to work out with your vet.
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 24, 2018 7:26:03 GMT -7
Thank you. The surgeon we talked to originally will be in on Monday so I can give him a call then. I will continue with what I am told until I speak with him. The technician I spoke with consulted with another doctor on duty. They reviewed Maggie's records and then prescribed the probiotic and metronidazole. I will keep an eye on her.
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 24, 2018 12:37:52 GMT -7
Here are the updated meds as of 2/24 due to diarrhea (more than likely a side effect from carprofen):
5mg Pepcid 2x a day 1/2 a 25mg carprofen 2x a day 1-2mL Proviable (probiotic) paste every 8 hours for 3 days 1 Proviable (probiotic) capsule mixed with food once a day for 15 days 1 250mg metronidazole every 12 hours for 5 doses
Stool is starting to return back to normal. A little at a time. Needing to go outside every 2-3 hours. Maggie is acting normal other than that.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,571
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Post by PaulaM on Feb 24, 2018 12:48:34 GMT -7
Kellie it is important for you and for us to know the credentials of ANY vet you are speaking to. The vet who sent instructions via a technician , was that vet a neuro ACVIM, a regular DVM vet? The FDA says: " What to do? If you suspect a possible side effect to an NSAID, STOP giving the drug" www.fda.gov/AnimalVeterinary/ResourcesforYou/AnimalHealthLiteracy/ucm196295.htm It is quite likely carprofen (NSAID) is the culprit of the diarreah. as best as I can follow and make sense. Maggie is NOT on any pain meds AND not in any pain. So why continue to subject her to the GI tract damage that carprofen is very likely causing? NSAIDs can be stopped abruptly not like prednsone which MUST be tapered. 16.8 lbs Prednisone as as of 1/11: 5mgs 2x/day for 5 days, as of 1/31: taper dose in response to a relapsed disc: 2.5mgs every other day as of 2/5: 5mgs 2x/day for 2 days Relapsed disc on 1/30 due to DVM Rx of walking 8 wks crate rest Neuro surgeon Rx'd on 2/7 Carprofen on Feb 20 or 2/22???: 12.5mgs 2x/day for 14 days as of 2/21: 12.5mgs 2x/day for "just in case"Methocarbamol 125mg 2x/day to end on 2/13Pepcid AC 5mgs 2x/day
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 24, 2018 14:21:50 GMT -7
I agree. I have been told that I need to stop the Carprofen but the DVM is saying to continue. It was also suggested to not stop or start meds on my own without a recommendation from the vet. I have already spoke to them about stopping the Carprofen and they say to continue. What am I to do?
I will add that when she was off all meds, she would have tightness in her back when I pet her. Twitching almost. That is a sign of pain, right?
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Feb 24, 2018 14:46:19 GMT -7
It is definitely better to consult with a vet about medication. But carprofen "just in case" does not take into account the GI side effects that she has already encountered. If you bring up that concern to your vet he may agree to stop.
I am listing the signs of pain here for your easy reference; shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move, tight tense tummy, restless, can't find a comfortable position. Ears pinned back, arched back. Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight, head held high or nose to the ground. Not their normal perky selves. It is hard to know if the twitching is a sign of pain but if she does that and shows any of the other signs it is likely to be pain. If when off all meds she is showing signs of pain then the meds must be continued.
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Post by Kellie & Maggie on Feb 24, 2018 15:04:00 GMT -7
Ok. She favors her back leg quite a bit. The one that is weakest. When she was off the meds, this was worse. On the meds, she will squat to pee on it. When off the meds, she would lift it when squatting. The DVM will be calling me on Monday. I will discuss this with him directly. Until then, I am directed to continue meds.
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