You are doing fine. I can see your post. Welcome to Dodgerslist.
It helps us to give better advice if we have more information about your Lucy Lou. Can you answer the questions below:
Is Lucy Lou still showing signs of pain? These are the signs of pain we look for:
- 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
Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way between doses. If not in control, let your vet know right away, so pain meds can be adjusted.
You have mentioned gabapentin. What dose is Lucy Lou taking? Are you giving it every 8 or every 10 hours? Gabapentin does not last long in the body and often needs to be given every 8 hours to provide the best relief.
Did she start taking the pred on Monday?
For how many days is the full 5mg 2x/daily prescribed for?
All anti-inflammatories cause excess stomach acid, which can cause serious stomach damage. To help prevent such damage, a stomach protector like Pepcid AC is used.
Ask the vet if Lucy Lou 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.
How much does Lucy Lou weigh?
Is she eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit? —Poops OK? Normal firmness & color -no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers? No diarrhea?
A critical component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT crate rest (no PT, little movement). With little blood supply, discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. Those weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form. The page below has information on how crate test works:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
STRICT means:
- no laps - - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times
Can she specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control – OR- do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control?
Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs. Info on expressing can be found at the link below:
www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/
If she has bladder control, carry her to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps. Use a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) to support her back end.
Can Lucy Lou move her legs at all? or wag her tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
Information about the stages of healing is here:
What is your name? I am Romy.
It is very scary when our dogs have IVDD. It becomes less so when we learn all we can about the disease. More information can be found at our main website:
www.dodgerslist.com
