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Post by diana88 on Oct 19, 2013 8:44:18 GMT -7
I am beside myself. Copper is a 6 year-old mini doxie weighing in at 10.6 lbs. On 9/30 he woke up with back pain. We took him to the vet on 10/1. He was diagnosed with a disc problem.
He was given Robaxin 500mg 1/4 tab every 8 hours and 1/2 baby aspirin every 12 hours for no more than three days.
We took him back on 10/8 as it was not any better. Aspirin had been discontinued at this point.
They have him continuing the
Robaxin and added Rimadyl 12.5 mg every 12 hours
Tramadol 10mg every 8-12 hours.
Rimadyl was only for 14 days. He finished that.
AT NO TIME DID THEY TELL US TO CRATE HIM 100% 24/7! I am very upset about this. He has kept himself quiet most of the time thank goodness, but unfortunately I think that is because he is still in quite a bit of pain.
I would appreciate some feedback. I don't think what he taking now is helping with his pain. He seems in almost constant pain, shaking, does not lift his head very high, doesn't lower it very much. He has seems to have good reflexes in all his legs yet. I need to know what questions to ask the vet so I can advocate properly for him.
I am so relieved I found this forum. Thank you.
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Oct 19, 2013 9:58:45 GMT -7
I'm not a moderator, but I suspect that they will also suggest to you that you find another vet ASAP. Yours is obviously not comfortable treating IVDD. You need better pain control right away! He needs to be on an anti-inflammatory to get the swelling down.
Most important, he must be crated 24/7, only carried out to potty. The crate acts as a cast to restrict movement, allowing the disc to scab over. It takes 8 weeks for this to happen, so you need to commit for the long run. I won't say it's easy, but it's worth it!
Hang in there! A moderator will be along shortly.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member 
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335 
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Post by StevieLuv on Oct 19, 2013 10:11:16 GMT -7
Hi, my name is Maureen. Welcome to Dodgers List, I am glad that you found us, and I am sorry that your Copper is having a disc episode. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks is what allows the disc to heal. Movement is what tears the weak and early healing scar tissue on the disc. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc. So true conservative treatment with the single most important part of the care…crate rest…. starts today. The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe from other pets and kids from bothering them. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm -- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? Pepcid AC to protect the stomach should also be on board. We follow proactive vets and give our approx 13-20 lbs doxies 5mg 30 mins prior to Pred. Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "Is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?" -- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you do some happy talk? -- Eating and drinking OK? -- Poops OK - normal color and firmness, no dark or bright red blood? -- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy? Here is a link regarding healing and pain On healing and pain www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htmGreat place to start reading www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmIn the early days of learning our dogs have IVDD, everyone needs a shoulder to lean on while getting things figured out, dealing with emotions, getting up to speed on meds, what disc disease is, etc. Your job in the coming days is to become a reader so you become the confident leader of the health care team.... to discuss confidently various issues from medications to recognizing if suggestions of activity would be harmful to the healing disc. All that takes being a reader. Start on our main website with "Overview: the essentials" yellow button it will give you the degree of understanding you need right If your Vet is not familiar with IVDD, you can help bring them up to speed by learning all that you can. It is impossible for them to know everything about every disease for every species, and that is where we come in as owners - being the best advocates that we can, and if they won;t help you in the ways you need, then you can find another one. We are all here for you, and will do anything that we can to help. We have all been through this IVDD journey. Keep us posted. dKeeping you in thought and prayer. |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,593
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 19, 2013 10:18:17 GMT -7
Diana, is sounds like a neck disc, they can take some time to get all the inflammation down. If your vet has been advised of the pain, and he still took away the anti-inflammatory, Rimadyl, then you do need to find a vet who is more comfortable in treating a disc episode today. Pain simply can't be tolerated or allowed when there are meds to help. Today asap: 1. Get up to speed on the meds including the the very important stomach protector Pepcid AC. For the typical meds used with IVDD print out this reference card as well to keep with you to know the dangers of anti-inflamamtory use. Tramadol will likely not control pain if not given promptly every 8 hours. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm all about anti-inflammatories and the dangers www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htmwww.dodgerslist.com/literature/MedCard.pdf print out this card for your wallet www.dodgerslist.com/literature/MedCard.pdfThe pain medications to advocate for 2. Ideas for finding a new vet.http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/VetchkList.htm dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-posting Vet recommendations 3. Extra things you can do to help with a neck disc www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmAfter getting back from the vet: Please list his current meds with exact name, dose in mg and how often you give them. Keep us updated…this is a bump in the road of life, you both will get through it with your commitment to reading & self education to get things right for Copper re: meds, maybe a new vet, but most of all advocating strongly for what Cooper needs today. |
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Post by diana88 on Oct 19, 2013 10:34:56 GMT -7
After finding and reading this forum this morning and sending my initial request, the first thing I did was to bring his crate into our living room and he LOVES his crate thank goodness. He went right in there and is resting comfortably. He is currently taking Tamadol 10mg 1 tab every 12 hours Methocarbamol/Robaxin 500mg 1/4 tab every 8 hours He only walks when necessary; otherwise, he is content to sit. Not like him at all. He does hold his left rear leg up when standing but I think he walks on it. He does wag his tail when we talk to him, or when he saw his crate being moved into the living room.  He does drink and eat and it is easier for him if the water and food dishes are off the ground, but not too high. His poops seem normal. Again, he seems to be resting comfortably in his crate now. If he moves he is yelps, but as long as he lays still he seems okay, no yelping no shaking, etc. I think the most frustrating thing is the vet did not educate us. They never told us about keeping him crated for 8 WEEKS.... we had no idea the recovery time. It would have been nice knowing going into this. Again, I'm so grateful for this site. I am off to do some reading. Thank you for the support. I was a basket case after reading some of the stories here but have calmed down. |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,593
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 19, 2013 10:59:15 GMT -7
Diana, you have reported all the signs of pain (only walk when necessary which is reluctance to move; not bearing weigh on left rear leg, yelps if he moves) It is very clear not all the inflamamation is gone in the spinal cord. Tramadol and methocarbamol do nothing to address swelling they are pain medications. Do let us know you ARE giving Tramadol promptly every 8 hours. If your vet: --prescribed aspirin (mark your bottle: not for pets) --didn't tell you crate rest is the hallmark component of conservative treatment --It sounds as though there was not a washout of 14 days before the stop of one and the start of the other which vets who practice safe medicine look for. No dates were given re: aspirin and Rimadyl use. "Aspirin poses an exception due to its strong platelet inactivating abilities so 10-14 days is recommended when switching to Carprofen (Rimadyl) from Aspirin. Allow at least one week between Prednisone and Carprofen.” from:
www.marvistavet.com/html/rimadyl.htmlThen if he is open to learning what you have learned at the Main Dodgerlist Web page readings AND you will be on your toes to question and ask why about everything, then he may be able to help Copper. If not, you really do need to find a new vet who knows IVDD. So many have remarked what a world of difference it became once they found their IVDD vet…they are out there you just need to take your new found knowledge to be able to measure a vet and hire the right one for this job. Please let us know what changed to meds have been made to get things right for Copper. |
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Post by diana88 on Nov 18, 2013 17:47:29 GMT -7
I am happy to report Copper is well on his way to recover. We did go back to the vet and took information from this WONDERFUL website with us. The vet still did not want to put him on a steroid because she didn't think it was "bad enough". So we continued with their treatment plan for meds but we 24/7 crated him, carried him with a sling to potty and his improvement was amazing in just a few days.
He is still has the occasional twinge of pain but it is night and day to his constant whimpering and crying.
I'm sorry it took so long to come back and update.
Again, a huge thank you and hugs for what you do.
Diana
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 18, 2013 18:30:35 GMT -7
Hi, Diana
I'm glad to hear that Copper has improved. I am concerned, though, that Copper is still showing signs of pain, even if it's only an occasional twinge. What signs of pain are you seeing? Is he still on the same course of pain meds?
Robaxin 12.5 mg every 12 hours
Tramadol 10mg every 8-12 hours
Pain needs to be completely under control from one dose of the pain meds to the next. Pain indicates that there is still swelling on the spine. Please let your vet know that there are still signs of pain so the meds can be adjusted. Are you continuing with the strict crate rest? His spine still needs to have limitation of movement since there is still swelling.
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