Shawn & Bruno
New Member
M - Dachshund .. Bruno puppy ....Newman RIP
Posts: 45
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Post by Shawn & Bruno on Nov 13, 2019 14:32:46 GMT -7
The figure 8 sling ( www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KJFL1ML/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o00_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1 ) that I ordered from Amazon but I think I need a PHD to figure out how to put it on him. The gauze sling doesn't work as I am cleaning his paws/belly 5-10 times a day including 1AM, 3AM, 5AM, etc. Today is the same day as yesterday. No obvious signs of pain. Eating and drinking (!!!) very well. Not much change in the right (bad) paw. I am going to the vet on Friday for shockwave therapy and the vet will take a quick look at his progress.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Nov 13, 2019 14:47:22 GMT -7
I hope the figure 8 sling works for Newman. I used a figure8 sling during my dog's IVDD episode and it made a difference. At first, I used a different type and it also got peed on.
Very glad that Newman is eating and drinking well and remains pain free.
Transports are risky so be super careful that Newman doesn't move too much when you are transporting him to the vet. Depending on the size of his crate it may be a good idea to pad it with rolled up towels, so he can not shift around in it during turns.
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Post by Linda Stowe on Nov 14, 2019 14:25:11 GMT -7
Hi Shawn,
Good news Newman is showing no signs of pain. Will you explain what the shockwave treatment consists of?
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Shawn & Bruno
New Member
M - Dachshund .. Bruno puppy ....Newman RIP
Posts: 45
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Post by Shawn & Bruno on Nov 16, 2019 15:29:16 GMT -7
Newman had major set back today. He just fell over onto side after potty onto pain. Brought him inside and laid on bed nearly dead. Rushed him to vet. They put i think ✙morphine into him. He is just laying on side softly crying every once in a while. Waiting to hear options from dr [Moderator's Note. Please do not edit 7 lbs Dex injection on 11/1 in clinic Dex in clinic as of 10/31: 0.25mgs 1x/day as of 11/4: 0.25mgs 2x/day for 7 days as of 11/8: 0.25mgs 2x/day for 3 days, then MON 11/11 a test taper to reveal any: _pain / _neuro methocarbamol 125 mgs 3x/day til Nov 13th!- STOPPED gabapentin 250mg/5mL: 40mgs (0.8mL dose) 3x/day- STOPPED ✙morphine at the hospitacal Pepcid AC 5 mgs should be 2x/day ]
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Post by Julie & Perry on Nov 16, 2019 15:35:36 GMT -7
Oh Shawn, I'm so sorry. I will be thinking and praying for you both.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Nov 16, 2019 16:09:29 GMT -7
I am so, so sorry Newman is having this setback. Please let us know how he is doing. Both you and Newman are in our prayers.
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Shawn & Bruno
New Member
M - Dachshund .. Bruno puppy ....Newman RIP
Posts: 45
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Post by Shawn & Bruno on Nov 16, 2019 16:55:12 GMT -7
Pain meds injection similiar to morphine and he isnt crying. Laying like a zombie tho He has side to side twitching in eye which is hopefully fluid in ear causing in balance Exacerbating his balance and walking, etc. slight chance it is stroke... he had deep pain sensation but has compression causing the pain. Clearly the Dex isn’t working. Doctor said to keep him 48 hours and to do multiple cold laser treatments, shockwave treatments, methocarbamol, pain meds, and ✙ solu-medrol with heavy dose to remove compression and then prednisone. Even if prednisone is weaker, he has seen it be more effective in certain case. I need to ask if we can use that longer than dex without the bad side effects. [Moderator's Note. Please do not edit 7 lbs Dex injection on 11/1 in clinic Dex in clinic as of 10/31: 0.25mgs 1x/day as of 11/4: 0.25mgs 2x/day for 7 days as of 11/8: 0.25mgs 2x/day for 3 days, then MON 11/11 a test taper √11/16_pain / _neuro ✙ SoluMedrol in clinic as of 11/16 ✙methocarbamol 125 mgs 3x/day til Nov 13th!- STOPPED gabapentin 250mg/5mL: 40mgs (0.8mL dose) 3x/day- STOPPED ✙morphine at the hospital Pepcid AC 5 mgs should be 2x/day ]If we can’t stop compression with solu-Medrol it might be end of the road solu Medrol has bad side effects from cancer to diabetes and Newman is already 15... praying it works. He said running out of options but he’s seen miracles with these dogs.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 16, 2019 18:13:31 GMT -7
Shawn, there is no simply no such thing as the end of the road with a dog who still maintains DPS or even who has lost it. You either have misheard or you are getting misinformation. The option still remains as it always has to do another round of a steroid, try a taper and see if pain/swelling has been resolved. There is NO anti-inflammatory whether that be the very powerful to the more usual of prednisone that does not take anywhere the neighborhood of typically 7-30 days to get the painful swelling around the spinal cord down. It is not that Dex is not working, it is that, AGAIN, it may take in the range of 7 to 30 days on it EXCLUDING taper days to achieve all swelling is gone. --- Taper days are not high enough to work on swelling. Taper days are used for a different perpose --- Taper days are to proove if all the painful swelling is gone or whether another course is needed. Look at his Dex Rx's. Do you see that he has ONLY been on Dex for 10-11 days in total? 11/11 was the date of tapering to TEST TO SEE IF PAIN would surface. The answer you got was another Rx of dex should be prescribed. Discussion should include The danger of using these very high powered steroids like Dex and even solu Medrol which increase the potentialfor GI tract damage. Discuss adding a 2nd GI protector sucralfate if going with solu-medrol, but rather advocate for the more usual of Prednisone. So the question is if Newman's fall due to ear balance issue retore the healing disc and caused the pain and more swelling OR.... was it tapering off of dex reveaedl there was till swelling a steroid needs to deal with. Do inquire more about what ShockWave Theraphy is. This statement seems to indicate there would be movement in the area of where the bad disc is. A BAD idea for a disc that is not supposed to subjected to movement." Shockwaves are characterized by jump change in pressure, high amplitude and non-periodicity. The kinetic energy of the projectile, created by compressed air, is transferred to the transmitter at the end of the applicator and further into the tissue. Let us know what you find out about this therapy, what your understanding is, please.
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Shawn & Bruno
New Member
M - Dachshund .. Bruno puppy ....Newman RIP
Posts: 45
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Post by Shawn & Bruno on Nov 17, 2019 20:02:44 GMT -7
Apologies as I wasn't clear. We did a ton of xrays and heart/livery/skeleton all look the same as before which, per the doctor, is a 5-6 year old. The brain x-ray showed fluid in the ear which caused the lack of balance and probably the fall perhaps in conjunction with the compression.
I am waiting for an update for today but the doctor txt'ed me at 2AM to tell me he believes the Solu-Medrol has reduced the compression and Newman is able to sit up. He said reduced pain but not sure why he would say that given he is on pain meds so that is expected. He said "responding favorably".
The doctor said essentially we have 2 options:
1 -- Heavy solu-medrol to get the immediate compression down and then switch to prednisone which is much weaker but for a longer period for time. He has seen situations where it was more effective than Dex. Continue with crate rest and hope compression reduces and that nerves regenerate. I assume we can try this a few different rounds if necessary.
2 - #1 doesn't work and we have to use heavy steroids such as Dex/etc. to reduce compression and risk the bad side effects such as diabetes, cushings, etc.. If this works -- great. But, he might have bad long term. This would be final call.
Let's pray for #1.
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Post by Judy & Vesper on Nov 17, 2019 22:51:17 GMT -7
That is really such good news, it seems he is really doing much better. Is he walking better or still knuckling his paws? He still drags both paws every few steps but the left paw he would be able to put down properly [not knuckling under] every few steps. But, today, I notice the right one going down maybe 3 or 4 out of the 10 steps or so he used for potty. It might be just the way the foot went down after he moves his leg but this was the first time I noticed it going flat.
Well done for getting him this far
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Shawn & Bruno
New Member
M - Dachshund .. Bruno puppy ....Newman RIP
Posts: 45
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Post by Shawn & Bruno on Nov 18, 2019 9:02:53 GMT -7
Newman took a turn for the worse yesterday/today. We held him in our arms and said goodbye. This was by far the hardest thing I've ever had to deal with. I am still numb from it and not quite sure what to think/feel. Since Saturday night, Newman responded fairly well to the steroids but his vitals (blood/heart rate/internal temp 98F instead of 101F) started to deteriorate quickly. The head vet (owner) believes that he has a brain tumor which explains his dramatic personality change about 1 1/2 years ago when he turned aggressive out of no where and all of the other odd issues (lack of balance, eye twitching, etc.). As I look back over time, it starts to explain things that we tried to justify or ignore. He was crying over and over in our arms and wanted to get out of our arms I've never hear him like that ever in 15 years. It was a different dog. Thank you to everyone for all the help and sincere thoughts and care. You've always gotten me through the difficult times even when I thought there was no hope -- you were there for me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
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Post by Julie & Perry on Nov 18, 2019 10:23:09 GMT -7
Shawn, you were brave and strong to fight for Newman and also to give him the gift of peace when he needed to go.
My heart is breaking for you.
God bless you and be with you as you grieve.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 18, 2019 10:38:37 GMT -7
Shawn, I'm so sad to read your post of vital signs deteriorating. I can only imagine the extent of your heart break as you lovingly gave him a kind gift of release to the rainbow bridge. May you and your family all be able to take comfort to know all the sweet memories of him now reside in your heart and memory. May the coming days allow you to recall them whenever you want to feel close again.
My sincere condolences and warmest of ((hugs) to you.
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Shawn & Bruno
New Member
M - Dachshund .. Bruno puppy ....Newman RIP
Posts: 45
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Post by Shawn & Bruno on Nov 18, 2019 11:56:12 GMT -7
I keep going back-n-forth on whether it was the right decision but I couldn't be selfish. We wanted to take him home but vet said "that's not the right move" which made it clear. When we held him, he was just crying/yelping to get away. The vet said no pain.. I wonder if Newman just knew... I don't know. No pain anymore which is the most important.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 18, 2019 12:15:24 GMT -7
Shawn, I believe the better approach is to accept at the moment you made the best decision with the information you had at hand. Vitals plummeting is a dire forecast of the nearby future. Go forward, knowing you did your best. When it is time perhaps think about a legacy for Newman by your side in spirit helping to educate about IVDD? We love it when members have a mind to pay forward and help another. We invite you to hop on to our educational bandwagon team in any way that makes you happy. Education about disc disease is our number one mission! --- You've been there, and are doing it....if you see another member on the Forum needing support or information share what you know to be true or point them to one of our many IVDD articles. The "search box" on each page makes quick work to find the right helpful link: www.dodgerslist.com/-- "Share" our FB/twitter/ posts to widen the reach of IVDD knowledge www.facebook.com/Dodgerslist twitter.com/DodgersList-- Hand carry our literature and introduce us to your vet. When in conversation at the grocery store line or wherever you meet breeds most prone to IVDD (Dachshunds, Beagles, Poodles, Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Pekingese, and Chihuahuas) to give out our little cards. Ask Linda to send you our free packet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/litorder.htm
-- We have store where you might find something you absolutely need! Our earnings go to paying for our webpage and literature to hand out. www.dodgerslist.com/store.htm- Help another trying to find an IVDD vet… We have a directory where you can share. Here is where to enter information in the directory: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-postingState: Clinic/hospital: Address: Costs of treatment Date of treatment: What was included in cost (MRI?, days stay, ER? PT? meds for home, sling, etc.) Comments especially if an IVDD knowlegeable vet on conservative treatment or good surgeon:
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 18, 2019 14:57:47 GMT -7
My sincerest condolences on your tragic loss, Shawn. I'm so very sorry to hear this outcome. Your love for Newman shined through each of your posts and he was a lucky boy to have had such a loving home with you. My prayers are with you.
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