Nicole, welcome to the Forum. There is too much missing info to properly comment. So here is how treatment for disc episode works so that you can indentify for us and yourself where the problem is.
The anti-inflammatory: PrednisonePred is used for 7-14 days, then tapered to see if all pain is gone. The usual is a 2x/day dose. It appears Tin is in the taper with a 1x/day dose.
-- What date did pred begin reducing in mgs or frequency?
-- what was the start dose in mgs for pred?
-- Whenever there is pain, then clearly there is no need to test for pain, right? Instead another course of pred is given. It may take several courses totaling 7-30 days (excluding any taper days) before all swelling is resolved.
Pain MedsPlease provide the details of mgs for each med. NOTE: these pain meds do not last long in the body and start to deline in 8 hrs. That is the reason pain meds are Rx'd for promptly every 8 hours to provide full pain relief.
There are normally three source of pain and thus each must be addressed right at the get go!
—Methocarbamol works on the pain of muscle spasms.
— Tramadol is the general pain reliever.
— Gabapentin works on nerve pain.
There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. Look for your dog to be acting their normal, perky self when pain is fully under control round the clock.
SIGNS OF PAIN:
◻︎ shivering-trembling ◻︎ yelping when picked up or moved
◻︎ slow to move ◻︎ tight tense tummy
◻︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◻︎ head held high or nose to the ground.
◻︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
◻︎ not their normal perky selves
◻︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
NECK DISC pain
◻︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◻︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◻︎ holds front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
NECK disc care:these are the extras you can do at home to help with a neck disc and won't hurt if it is one in the back:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmHow the disc heals Strict limit of back/neck movement is key to avoiding an early healing disc from relapsing and to avoid a surgery. Sounds like 12/13 Tin's disc relapsed getting bloodwork done or perhaps due to being in the pred taper, not doing real crate rest?
Let us know you are on the same page about crate rest.
The centerpiece of "DISC disease" treatment is the healing of the disc via limited movement of the back via a recovery suite. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong disc scar tissue to form.
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm PLUS further guidance on conservative treatment on our "All Things IVDD page:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmSTRICT means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no meandering at potty times.
Carry your dog to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very, very few limited footsteps.
Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on!
-- Call your vet on the phone and advocate for another course of pred up at the anti-inflammatory dose given twice a day. It might be a 7-day course or a 14-day course of pred.
-- advocate for all pain meds to be Rx'd promptly every 8 hrs.
-- Pepcid AC (famotidine) at the grocery store.
The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) with a disc episode is 0.44mg mg per pound every 12 hours. Pepcid AC has a very limited potential for side effects.
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).
