Ann's Noah 3/4 Conservative - Mini Schnauzer

Good Evening...I just found this page and am thankful for it....our story is below:

Noah - Miniature Schnauzer - 6/18/04 - 18 pounds

Sunday, February 24, 2019 (early AM):  Noah woke up early, but seemingly uncomfortable and wanted to use the rest room.  He ran down the stairs and then began making weird noises, hind legs spread out on the floor, and floundering around.  I picked him up and took him outside to use the restroom; he laid on the ground making weird noises and stool "shot out."  He continued to seem to be in intense pain so my boyfriend and I, put him in the car and went to the emergency vet.  He cried out all the way and urinated and defecated in his bed on the way there.  They took him in the back immediately and I could still hear him wailing.  The vet came out shortly after and said she thought he was having either a seizure, aneurism, or stroke and I may have to make a "decision" by the end of the day.  She said he was not in pain, but having dysphoric vocalization caused by something in the brain.  I was offered to either put him to sleep or watch him for 12-24 hours to see if he "comes out of it."  I chose to give him some time.  They started an IV, gave him a mild sedative, and pain med.  They also took xrays but did not see any concerns; they suggested driving an hour away to get a $2500 MRI, but I could not afford it. After about 30 minutes he passed out and was in a deep sleep but breathing erratically...I thought it was the end.  However, about two hours later, he just seemed to be in a deep sleep.  As the hours passed he became more alert and ate some chicken and drank some water.  He was not his normal self and his right hind leg seemed paralyzed.  Around 8pm I went home as the decision was to let them watch him overnight.  Around 8:30pm, the doctor that took over at shift change called to go over things; she had ran blood work and only elevated liver enzymes showed up which is normal for him.  She felt that he needed the MRI and if I wasn't going to do that, then there was really nothing else they could do, so I could come and pick him up if I wanted to avoid an overnight ICU charge.  So I returned to pick him up and we went home with a bottle of GABAPENTIN 100 mg to be taken one capsule every 8 hours.

Monday, February 25, 2019:  I took Noah to his regular vet on Monday to go over things.  They also concurred that without an MRI, they would not know how to proceed. The doctor did the pain sensitivity test to his back hind leg and he reacted; so she said he was not paralyzed in that leg.  She also stated that if it was IVDD the meds should help and recovery in time, but if he did not recover than it may be something else. But, they prescribed an anti-inflammatory, PREVICOX 57mg to be given 1/2 tablet every 24 hours.

Tuesday - Thursday February 26-28, 2019:  Medicine was given as prescribed and Noah spent 99.5% of his time laying down and sleeping.  Noah seemed to be slowly improving, wagging his tail when I came home from work; walking on three legs to use the bathroom (but falling over when defecating), and raising up out of his bed Thursday night to greet someone he hadn't seen in a while.  (Keep in mind that no one had mentioned strict crate rest to me.

Friday, March 1:  Early in the morning, Noah had bright red blood in his stool and it was a mixture of hard stool and diarrhea.  Later, I came home from work and after taking Noah out to the bathroom, he started to have another attack like he had Sunday.  A lot of crying out and discomfort; getting up, then laying down in different positions trying to get comfortable.  I gave him a pain pill as it was time for his dose and put him in the car to take back to the ER.  He was going crazy all the way there, he jumped off the seat onto the floor and floundered around and hollered all the way there.  Once there, we had to wait for a while to see the vet because she was finishing surgery.  Noah was floundering, crying, and going crazy the whole wait.  At some point, they took him in the the back and the doctor evaluated him.  She said an MRI would be necessary to really pinpoint the issue, but if she had to guess, it would be IVDD because he didn't pass the paw test and by reviewing his symptoms.  She also stated that without further intervention, we were probably just looking at palliative care at home.  So she doubled his dose of GABAPENTIN...so two 100mg capsules every twelve hours.  I told her about the bloody stool and she prescribed METRONIDAZOLE 250mg every 12 hours just in case it was the meds that was irritating his stomach. We also discussed prices for euthanasia and cremation.  She also suggested to stop the anti-inflammatory. 

[Moderator's note: please do not edit
18 lbs.
No Crate rest Rx'd!! 
Previcox as of 2/25: 28.5 mg 1x/day for 4 days - STOPPED 3/1 due to GI tract damage
Crate rest not started until 3/4
Gabapentin 200 mg 2x/day
Metonidazole 250 mg 2x/day
no GI tract Pepcid AC on board!!!]

Saturday,March 2:  Spent the day knocked out sleeping...probably from double dose of pain meds every 8 hours.  Blood in stool was still visible but not nearly as much.

Sunday, March 3, Tonight/Presently:  Spent the day sleeping again, but around 8pm, after eating and drinking, he had another attack.  This time I gave him his pain meds right away and applied a heating pad.  He seemed as though he needed to defecate but couldn't.  He is still urinating fine.  I notice when he has these attacks he seems to have spasms in the lower stomach and back.  He shifted positions several times in his bed as he was panting and crying out in pain.  Eventually, the pain medicine kicked in and he is now currently resting but panting rapidly.

Random information:  I have been researching everything I can find on his symptoms and the only one that makes sense is IVDD.  I cannot afford an MRI or surgery and came across the information for crating him this morning so I ordered one from Amazon to be delivered Tuesday.  This evening after this third attack in a week, I continued searching and I found your site.  So much great information.  I haven't mentioned yet that his back right leg that he hasn't been able to use feels cold to the touch and when he has the attacks he loses use of both legs until it passes, and then it it just the back right one.

So, what to do, what to do...I have had Noah almost 15 years,  since he was 8 weeks old.  Up until this point he was happy and spunky still.  I would hate to put him "down" if this is something that can heal.  I saw the medicine list and it seems he is not taking no where near all he should be taking; especially the steroid?  I need all and any advice....

Thank you in advance,
Ann