It has been a little over two weeks since my last post so I thought an update is in order. We are doing the happy dance around here for sure. Detour continues to improve on a daily basis . Pity that he still hates the crate, but he is adjusting. He cries a lot, but I move him from room to room (I put recovery suites in my three favorite places) with me and that seems to help him stay calm.
So much has happened in the last two weeks. I had to start a new job which takes me away from the home for a number of hours each day. I have found a wonderful pet-sitting service that has been making visits every three hours to carry Detour out to pee and playing with both Detour and Delilah while I'm at work. It has become a bit expensive, but it is only for four more weeks and this way I can focus on training in and not on worrying about my dogs at home.
I had a vet visit on October 31st and we decided to leave Detour for one more week on the same regimen
Pepcid ac 5mg (Give 1/2 a 10mg tab 30minutes before prednisolone)
Prednisolone 2.5mg twice per day (1/2 - 5mg tab every 12 hours
Tramadol 12.5mg every 8-10 hours (1/4 - 50mgtab)
Trazadone 12.5mg - 25mg every 12 hours. (1/4 - 1/2 50mg tab)
methocarbamol 125mg every 8 hours. (1/4 - 500mg tab)
gabapentin (oil)vet 0.5ml twice a day (1ml of 20mg/ml daily liq may give in divided doses)
We have started the▼
steroid taper and
reduced the pain meds to every 12 hours so it will like this for four days Sat 11/2, Sunday 11/3 Mon 11/4 Tuesday 11/5.
Pepcid ac 5mg (Give 1/2 a 10mg tab 30minutes before prednisolone)
Prednisolone 2.5mg once per day (1/2 - 5mg tab every 24 hours
in the am)
Tramadol 12.5mg every 12 hours (1/4 - 50mgtab)
Trazadone 12.5mg - 25mg every 12 hours. (1/4 - 1/2 50mg tab)
methocarbamol 125mg every 12 hours. (1/4 - 500mg tab)
gabapentin (oil)vet 0.3ml twice a day (1ml of 20mg/ml daily liq
the next step is to take the prednisolone to every other day,
the GABA to 0.3ml every 12 hours
the pain med and muscle relaxer to as needed.
I am going to have to continue with the Trazadone for awhile because I have a spoiled neurotic best friend who really doesnt like being confined. I can live with that as long as he stays calm enough not to reinjure himself in the crate. We have another vet check visit on Wednesday 11/6 and another acupuncture session which seems to help Detour immensely.
The taper is going well, and I
see none of the pain signs reemerging (arched back, tight abdomen, shaking and refusing to move at all - and the face....I can tell by his expressions when he is hurting!
I am changing up my house with ramps and lowering the bed and moving furniture so there will be no more jumping down from anything. The vet thinks with time, he will be able to do my small set of stairs to the paper area and the back door (its a very very old home and the staircase is narrow with small steps).
So that is it from us for now. We are into week five - three to go - life is good!
My eternal gratitude to all of you who supported us as we found our way this far and encouragement and good wishes for those of you beginning the process. DO NOT GIVE UP, it is manageable and the time goes faster than I ever imagined it could.
Detour, Delilah and Ruthie
Read more:
dodgerslist.boards.net/post/new/998#ixzz2jgt8qOnH
