Lauren's Lacie 11/6 conserv. Chi Grad: when fully off Pred

I thought if they're cold and wet it indicates a 'healthy dog' ...just thought maybe the pred had something to do with it.

Hello I havnt posted in a while, it's kind of the same old same old I have been tapering the prednisone for the last few weeks and im giving her 1/4 in am and pm. Friday I am supposed to taper again and just called vet to see what to change it to. But she wasn't there and won't be until Sat. Do u know what I should do? Like skip the am time? I know she will want me to bring her in Sat anyway to do exam and give liver test. I said I cant afford blood work and she said she could do one test for $25. Lacie can walk but sometimes stumbles but is doing well and can wag tail etc. Please let me know if u know the next taper step. Im gona have the other doctor call me and get his input but im thinking I might have to call the nuerologist. But I dont want to because they were never too reachable or friendly and I can guess she'd say 'come in' and she charges over $100 and then there's the tests she'd want.

the other vet just called me and said to give her one fourth in the mornings only ..starting Friday ..mand that depending what's wrong with her she could be on prednisone for a long time like if its auto immune . I said she has been on it since November and I heard you are not supposed to be on prednisone for that long and he had mentioned she might have to be on it all her life...so getting diff answers. but I said she is doing really well and has not worsened even with tapering

Its going to be a long taper. Now its 1/4 only in mornings. Not evenings anymore. Im still doing pepcid....should that be cut in half? Its 5mg a half hour before the pred. Ive already let lacie walk as the vet said it was ok and she doesnt do it too much. But still no pain and shes doing great.

Forgot to say that the next taper will be 'every other day'

Lauren, it's most important that you keep Lacie on strict crate rest until she is completely off of the meds. Until she is off of the meds, there is no way of knowing whether the swelling is gone or not. If there is still swelling, she should continue to have limited movement. Swelling presses on the spine and nerve damage can result if there is too much movement. I realize what a long time Lacie has had in the crate but it's truly best to continue to limit her movement until all meds have stopped.

Please continue to give the Pepcid AC 30 mins before the Prednisone and then every 12 hours thereafter (twice a day) for as long as Lacie is on the Pred.

I'm very glad that there are no signs of pain and that Lacie is doing so well. It's a very slow taper but it will be finished and then Lacie can gradually be re-introduced to movement.

All the best to you both.

Just wanted to update this..Lacie is doing well and off all medications. She was on prednisone for a while as it was being tapered. She just had her last 1/4 prednisone Friday. (Which was every other day) the nuerologist and vet agreed theres no need to do every 3rd day so shes just off pred. She can walk but not jump, which I wouldnt let her. She stumbles sometimes when she wants to play with a toy and she doesnt play too rambunctiously with our other chi because I think she knows her own limits. I dont know if she will ever be 100% but were just happy she isnt in pain and can walk and play etc. She doesnt walk on wood floor but luckily we have carpet. Her cage is in kitchen and she cant walk on that floor so sje still pees in her bed on a pad..I tried to train her to go on the pad in FRONT of their beds but she peed the bed instead. Hopefully she can learn to pee outside soon or outside of bedding. I dont scratch her neck or touch it because im scared it would hurt her or at least make her think it might hurt. The vet wants me to bring her in one more time soon so I might do that and to see if neck is still sensitive.

Thank you to everyone here for the help and support during the horrible time while she was in pain and healing. It was the best help I had. I hope she never goes through it again but if she does I will be back here and I wont give up on her like I didnt this time. Should I be doing anything else or be aware of anything going forward?

Lauren

Lauren, I am sooo happy for you! I know how long a haul it has been for Lacie and you. Enjoy the snuggles with your sweet baby girl.

As a suggestion for the kitchen, perhaps purchase one or two of the rubber pads that you put in the bottom of the bathtub to keep you from slipping for the kitchen. We have one where Mimi's food dish is so she can stand perfectly and have her food. They are super easy to keep clean so they work well for kitchens. Just a suggestion

Some dogs only have one episode during their entire lives while others have more episodes. All we can is make our home as back friendly as we can to protect their backs. Here are some tips if you haven't seen them yet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm

You do need to discourage her from shaking toys with her head. If you see her doing that, try to distract her with something else. If my Jeremy feels like "killing" his toys, I get his leash and take him out for a bit, even if we just walk around the yard for a few minutes. Or I take the toy he's shaking from him and give him one of his toys that he just likes to chew on.

Once the weather improves, it would be a good idea to take her out for short walks, using a halter and leash, gradually increasing the walks as Paula recommended. That will strengthen the muscles in her legs and around her spine. Exercise, gradually re-introduced, will keep her back strong.

If you see signs of a problem again (pain or loss of neuro function), immediately crate Lacie and take her in for an exam. You're armed with much more knowledge now than you were when Lacie first showed signs of a problem. And we'll be here to help you, if need be. Hopefully, she'll be one of the dogs that never have another problem.

Blessings to you both.

Dry skin could be due to diet. You may want to join a List that is dedicated to nutrition and run by Monica Segal, certified in Animal Health Care through the University of Guelph with studies in animal nutrition, physiology. You can lurk and learn alot that way or you can choose to ask a question pets.groups.yahoo.com/group/K9Kitchen/