Welcome to Dodgerslist. We are glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve learned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! Learn more about us and how we team up with veterinarians:
dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/
Dodgerslist work's with vets:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/20/education-team-ivdd
What is your dog's name? Yours also? I am Romy.
Some other terms vets used for IVDD are pinched nerve or herniated disc. Did the vet mention either of these ?
Please start your dog on Strict crate rest right away. One of the most important parts of conservative treatment for dogs with IVDD is Very Strict crate rest. You can think of the crate as a sort of cast for a broken bone. A broken arm is immobilized in a cast to allow the bone to heal. We can't put a cast on a dog's spine so we use the crate to immobilize it. this allows the disc to heal. It takes 8 weeks of strict crate rest and form secure scar tissue on the exterior of the disc. During this period, the dog should be in the crate 24/7, out only for pottying and necessary vet visits.
STRICT means:
- no laps
- no couches
- no baths
- no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy
- no dragging or meandering at potty times .
Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps
The page below gives more information about crate rest.
www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-proc
A disc problem in the neck can be more painful and may take longer to resolve because a dog moves its head with almost all actions and whenever a part of the body moves. That constant movement means that healing can take longer because the neck doesn't get the rest to allow the disc uninterrupted healing. Extras you can do at home for a neck disc:
www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/cervical-care-tips
Is your dog showing signs of pain only when nearing the time for another dose of pain meds? The signs of pain we look for are :
- shivering-trembling
- yelping when picked up or moved
- tight tense tummy
-arched back, ears pinned back
- restless, can't find a comfortable position
- slow or reluctant to move in suite such as shift positions
- not their normal perky interested in life selves
If a neck disc:
- head held high/ nose to the ground
- 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 up flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
Please let your vet know about the signs of pain you are seeing as soon as possible. It may be possible to increase the frequency and/ or dosage of the gabapentin and Methocarbamol. For example, the vet may want to increase the frequency of the Methocarbamol to 3x/daily or raise the dose of the gabapentin.
More information about meds can be found at the link below:
dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode
All anti-inflammatories, like Vetprofen, cause excess stomach acid which can cause serious GI issues, to avoid these problems a stomach protector like Pepcid AC is important. Ask the vet 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).
The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound, 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours for as long as your dog is on the anti-inflammatory.
It can be dangerous to follow a steroid shot with an NSAID, Vetprofen. Vetprofen is a brand name for the generic carprofen. The package insert for carprofen says: " Concomitant use of Carprofen with other anti-inflammatory drugs, such as other NSAIDs or corticosteroids, should be avoided because of the potential increase of adverse reactions, including gastrointestinal ulcerations and/or perforation"
You can read more about carprofen here:
animaldrugsatfda.fda.gov/adafda/app/search/public/document/downloadLabeling/1459
Usually a 5-7 day washout between a steroid medicine and an NSAID is used to avoid the risk of stomach problems that can be caused by having both types of medicine in the body.
Your dog's steroid shot was on November 22. If she has shown no sign of stomach problems like vomiting or diarrhea or lack of appetite, she has, luckily, avoided this. Pepcid AC should still be used while your dog is taking the NSAID.
A medication chart is useful to see patterns, have dates and specific facts handy as you discuss things with the vet. Download a sample and a blank form to use with your dog's meds:
It is very scary when our dogs have IVDD. It becomes less so when we learn all we can about the disease. We have a lot more information at our main website:
www.dodgerslist.com
