Tina's Basil 2/16 conservativ - NECK Corgi/Spitz - UK

Tina, welcome to Dodgerslist!  

ANYTIME there is a disc episode going on, the protection of the spinal cord is a very HIGH PRORITY.

Let us know you have Basil INSIDE of a recovery suite (wire crate, ex-pen etc.) This is to prevent further damage to the disc which in turn can pressure the spinal cord causing more neuro damage.

#2 ANY TIME an anti-inflammatory is on board, right away a stomach protector must be on board!!! That is why you are perhaps seeing GI tract damage of bloody poop!  With a stomach protector on board Metacam can very likely continue without a pause.  Metacam is the med that is working on the swelling that contributes to nerve death where you see knuckling. weak legs!  The spinal cord is a priority!

The reason we ask which country is that meds may be different name, different availability. 

STOMACH PROTECTION
Dogs don't speak up at first signs of trouble like a person would. By the time we notice black or red blood in the stools, things can quickly go from bleeding ulcers to a life threatening perforated stomach.
Ask if your dog has any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn’t need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a “no health issues” answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).

Mar Vista Vet reports: Pepcid AC has a very limited potential for side effects, the reason of release to over-the-counter status. The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease as these diseases tend to prolong drug activities. 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 patients.
marvistavet.com/famotidine.pml

Since both the stress of changes in routine and Metacam will cause extra stomach acids, we follow the proactive vets who use Pepcid AC (famotidine) when any anti-inflammatory is in use.

The usual dose during a disc episode is Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours.
Give the anti-inflammatory with a meal as added protection. www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html



PAIN
Is there currently any signs of pain with this very likely a NECK disc episode?  Let us know what you observe. There are no pain meds on board... just the anti-inflammatory Metacam.

 SIGNS OF PAIN:
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, can’t find a comfortable position, Arched back, pinned back ears. Holding leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight, head held high or nose to the ground. Not their normal perky interested in life selves.
      Never have any patience at all with pain. When meds are correctly dosed for your dog’s body, pain is covered dose to dose and when having to move such as at potty time. 

METACAM
For how many days was the Rx for?  What date did Metacam start?

Thanks so much for the information, Basil has been on bed rest (he cannot be crated as he goes crazy if you try and lock him away) since early December due to a cruciate ligament injury. We’ve been doing hydrotherapy twice a week since then to build muscle in his damaged leg along with 5 minute leashedwalks and things had been going brilliantly up until this “episode”. 

As it’s been diagnosed as a “mild” disc protrusion in the neck area (they mri scanned his brain down to just after his fore legs) and they’re unsure if he has any bruising to his spine our orthopaedic surgeon advised us to limit walks to no more than 15 minutes on a harness and lead he hasn’t suggested that we need to rest him as much.  He is only having 5 minute strolls to potty once a day along with small walks up the garden 3/4 times a day to wee. 

I’m struggling to find information to help understand what a mild protrusion is in comparison to a complete slipped disc but the surgeon is attributing the wobbliness to this in the absence of any other cause rather than telling me directly this is the cause, it feels like it’s an assumption rather than a diagnoses. 

Im committed to getting Basil back to full health whatever it takes but am reading/receiving conflicting advice currently making it difficult to know what the right course of action is. 

I have raised questions with his physio regarding his rehab and am seeing her on Friday so will gather more information then but currently just feel overwhelmed and worried, having made such good progress with his CCL this is a massive set back and I need to formulate a plan.

Our normal vet has put up some antacid for us and we’ll reintroduce metacam and this on Friday.  

Im going to do lots of reading but if anyone has had a dog or can point me in the direction of a dog who has been diagnosed with a mild protrusion and can share their stories and actions I’d be really grateful

thank you.