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Post by Linda & Benji on Nov 23, 2013 21:17:46 GMT -7
My 3 yr old shoot a pickle!zu maltese cross hurt his back last thursday. It started with reluctance to move and developped in him not being able to use hind legs. Went to vet where he seemed to limp more one side so vet gave him injection of carprofen.gave me carprofen tablets. Whe I got home he got worse. Back to vet but different vet on duty . He said he might have disc disease. Said the carprofen not best and he change him to pred 5 mg . He weighs 9.125 kgs. Has to take 2 times a day for 4 days then 1 a day 4 days then every other day ffor 4 more tablets. They gave me no other tablets. He is fine resting but has not peed since yesterday. Ee gave him some liquid laxative from vet and microlax as vet said he had hard stools . He soiled himself but abut at least its out . Today he just won t pee. Should he have painkillers as well as pred? And how can I make him pee? He does not use back legs but has feeling in all of his body . Thanks
Benji weighs 9.125 kg
--What breed: shoot a pickle!zu maltese
-- What was the date you saw the vet and started 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7? Fri 22/11/13
when medication wears off he shivers and is in pain
Label is hand written and says"
pred 2x times daily 4 days then 2 x daily 4 days then every other day. First tablet 5 am this morning .
No other medication .
First vet gave shot of carprofen at 2pm friday . Today is sunday.
Also gave some laxative and two microlax tubes. Used one and he soiled self .
Peed on fri and sat but not today. Wants to wander to find spot to pee. Worried he ll get bladder problem
Drags legs but wags tail and has feeling in limbs
-- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? No
-- Eating and drinking OK?yes
-- Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood? No poops since first microlax .
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Post by Pauliana on Nov 23, 2013 22:01:16 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist! My Name is Pauliana, what is your name? Please let your Benji know with your utmost confidence that things are going to be ok…because they will. With this disease self education is critical not just so you make sure the right things are being done for the best recovery but for your own emotions. The unknown is simply a scary place. Get ready to fight this disease now and in the future by knowing all things IVDD. There is no better place to start than on our main web page with "Overview: the essentials" and then read all you can as soon as possible. Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmSafe vets use a washout time of 4-7 days if needing to switch from one brand of NSAID such as Carprofen to Prednisone. It is very dangerous to Benji's stomach. Ask your vet for Sucralfate to heal his stomach and ask if there is any medical reason why Benji can't be on Pepcid AC.. He should be on a pain medications such as Tramadol while the Prednisone works on the swelling.. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm. Please request Tramadol for Benji, he can't begin to heal until his pain is in control from dose to dose. -- Since Benji can't pee, here are some helpful videos with tips on expressing both urine and poop: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm. You will need to have your Vet or Vet tech teach you right away how to express with a hands on hands lesson.. The longer his urine sits in his bladder the more likely a urinary tract infection will develop. To avoid harsh laxatives that will cause him to move his back too much, a better option is Pumpkin. Pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with a teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. To firm up the stool add 1 teaspoon pumpkin to kibble and no extra water 1x a day. Note alternatives: really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel off; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potoato. Laser light therapy, acupuncture and electroacupuncture which sends a microcurrent of electricity to and from acupuncture points (which are really big nerve bundles), can be very beneficial at helping to re-establish the nerve connections in the body. Any one of these therapies can be started right away if in your budget... they not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration. Find a holistic vet here: ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html www.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] NOTE: Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs. |
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Post by Linda & Benji on Nov 23, 2013 23:59:58 GMT -7
Thank you very much . I ll ask the vet for tramadol and pep ac to help his stomac. He does not seem in pain since he had pred tablet. I am dreading when it starts back. I have a second tablet of pred to give him but if he wakes through the night in pain can I give him anything till I can get to vet ? I will look at clips abiut pee. He s going back to vet tomorrow so I ll ask to show me. I think they swapped meds after injection day and night because he needed quick treatment and I asked about changing. Does yohurt or milk help his stomac ? Just till I get to vet tomorrow. Its sunday and no vet open. Bdnji is sleeping lots. His brother chuck is staying away from him or us . Not sure if he knows something but he s acting dtrangw but is healthy . Thank you so much for helping me and benji. When I was 19 we lost a pekinese who became paralysed . We had him for a year totally dependant on my mum for his toileting . We did not know about this condition and we lived in middle east . Now after rreading lots I know we did the best we could for our pekinese.
Sorry my name is Linda. Thanks
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Sabrina
Helpful Member 
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471 
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Post by Sabrina on Nov 24, 2013 13:36:36 GMT -7
Hi Linda, my name is Sabrina. I'm sorry to hear of your Benji's disc episode, but I'm so glad you found Dodger'sList! What part of the world do you live in? It sounds like it may already be Monday for you?
During the 8 weeks of 100% crate rest, Dodger's List doesn't recommend changes in diet apart from adding in the pumpkin as Pauliana described to help with bowel movements. If you were to add in yogurt, and Benji then developed diarrhea/stomach issues - it would be difficult to tell if that was from the meds or the change in his diet.
When you have the opportunity, let us know what the vet says. We are here to support you!
))Hugs!((
- Sabrina
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Post by Linda & Benji on Nov 24, 2013 15:07:59 GMT -7
Hi sabrina.we live in perth western australia. The vet gave me liquid laxative as he said benji s stools were very hard and he had small hope that maybe due to constipation it was putting pressure on spine but he did not poo a lot and it was light colour. Benji always has hard stools. Benji and his brother get mostly heart, liver, chicken necks and other meat. The kibble is just a top up . And sometimes they get an egg. Their stool variescolour . As he is he could not poo as he can stand and he s picky one as to where he poo s or even pees. He woke me up at 12.30 am and he did a big pee . He s in crate and seems c9mfortable but I dread the thought of constipation as that would cause more pain. Today I will ask for tramadol and pep ac . Have given him lactose free milk and heart with his tablet this morning . Thank you for being there. His brother chuck seems to avoid him . He acts strange . Normally follows us around but now he stays in other rooms. No idea why except maybe he smells benji is sick ?
I have my daugther here to look after benji today and tomorrow while I have to go to work and I ll make arrangement for rest of week to go in late and get home early and my partner will do same. My question is how long can benji be left in crate on his own as I have to work and my boss is flexible but I can t have time off just now due to work circumstances. He s in a puppy pen which is thightly around his big plastic dog bed. He has water next to bed he can reach . Hes able to stretch out 8nbed but not sure how toileting will work . I am guessing 6 hours of day he d be without supervision. Can you advise on how this can work ?I know ppl crate dogs when they are out but toilet issue worries me . Thank you .
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 24, 2013 17:32:16 GMT -7
Linda, when a dog is on Prednisone or another steroid, they will likely need to be expressed every two to three hours until off this medication. Steroids create thirst and thus more urine production. Once you've become proficient and Benji is off medication, that would change to four to six hours. When you come home from work, give extra water (flavored with low-sodium broth if necessary) to flush out the stale urine in the bladder.
Sometimes the pack dynamics change when one dog is sick. They can sense the other dog's weakness. Hopefully, Chuck and Benji's relationship will still be a good one, but keep an eye on them. The stronger dog can sometimes become aggressive towards the weaker one, or sometimes the weak one can become aggressive since it knows it's weak and may be attacked. Just something to be aware of.
Please let us know when you have the Tramadol (and exact dosage in mgs and frequency) and Pepcid AC on board and whether the pain is completely under control with the Tramadol.
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Post by Linda & Benji on Nov 24, 2013 20:19:49 GMT -7
Hi Marjorie. Managed to get antacid tablets from vet but onky 2 tramadol. They want to see him tonight as he initially did not show much pain . Will see what they say tonight but he has done two huge pees since yesterday but only goes when he asks to be taken out. Unfotunately he does notpee on the spot but he needs a smell so I have to allow him a little sniffing or he won t go and his muscles to strong to express. I also noticed he was moving legs a little pretending or trying to walk so that was a gr3at sign . Only his second day of steroids. Will update after vet visit. My daughther is with him today and tomorrow so I can go to work.thank you so much .
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 25, 2013 7:33:02 GMT -7
It's OK for him to take a few steps when doing potty, but only a few. You might want to try fencing off a small area with plastic push-in-the-ground type fencing. He can sniff and pee within that small area. It does sound like he has bladder control. And wonderful news that he's moving his legs and trying to walk!
Looking forward to hearing what the vet says.
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Post by Linda & Benji on Nov 25, 2013 15:30:28 GMT -7
Went to vet last night and benji was in pain so he gave him injection of temgesic . He also decided to change thibgs from original plan. He s now on prednesol 5mg twice a day till he completes 7 days then once a day . He got his stomac protector but they are huge so I had to force it down . He olyneeds half a tablet twiceday. Tramadol 20 mg twice a day and muscle relaxent robaxin 2 daily first day then once a day. Painkiller seems to make him ppanthopefully he ll pee today if not then back to vet.
Do you think I could disolve tablets into milk and put in syringe? He struggles with medication at best of times but since he s on pain killer he s not been hungry so I can t hide tabkets in food. He takes lactose free milk in syringe .thank you .
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 25, 2013 17:48:45 GMT -7
Linda, GI tract and stomach side effects are from the steroid, not the pain killer. Not being hungry is a red flag for GI tract difficulties. I'm glad you've now started him on a stomach protector. Can you tell us the name of this stomach protector and how many mgs he's taking? We in the US also add Sucralfate as a second stomach protector when there are signs of GI tract problems. I just looked it up and apparently it's also called Sucralfate or Carafate in Australia. Please call the vet ASAP and ask that Sucralfate be added. It's very important since GI tract problems can worsen rapidly and he's already showing signs of problems (not being hungry).
Tramadol is very bitter. Does he like a piece of cheese or peanut butter?
Please confirm the exact list of current medications:
Prednesol - 5 mg 2x/day for 7 days, then 1x/day
Stomach Protector ?? - ?? mgs 2x/day
Tramadol - 20 mg 2x/day
Robaxin - ?? mg 1x/day
Sucralfate - to be added
Please let us know if pain is now under control.
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Post by Linda & Benji on Nov 26, 2013 6:42:40 GMT -7
Stomac protector carafate 120 mg 1/2 tablet twice a day . Robaxin does not say what mg just 1 tablet twice a day 1st day then half tablet twice daily . Today he pood and peed and legs moved more and he seems stronger.did not give tramadol tonight as he does not seem to have any pain and without tramadol his appetite gets better. He looks nauseous when I give him tramadol. Benji is really bad at taking medecine at best of times and it makes h8m more anxious to be forced to take them Will give him tramadol if he shows pain but he is so much cheerier without . Wags tail barks and seems happier and legs stronger . :-)
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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 Nov 26, 2013 12:01:22 GMT -7
Can you hide his medicine in a treat, like a piece of weiner or cheese. Tramadol is very bitter and needs a good disguise, the bitterness can bother their tummy too. If his Carafate is a huge pill you can smash it an mix it with food. One member swears by cream cheese as a way to hide medications. Good to hear that his attitude is happier and that he is showing good signs of neuro improvement. Keep up the good work!!  |
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Post by Linda & Benji on Nov 27, 2013 14:50:29 GMT -7
Now that his appetite is back we re getting in routine . Stomec protecter in bit of roast chicken then toileting . Then after 30 mns his 3 other tablets in chicken he gobbles them up they don t touch the sides. He gets his chIcken meal drinks and chews on whatever I give him to entertain . He s accepted being caged and only barks once when hr needs toilet and he never lies lol. He can stand and his legs move as we are out for toilet. He s getting stronger day by day . Thank you so much for this wealth of information. I am sure it can be t he difference between recovery or not if we did not have this website with fax. Everything you have advised including getting vet to give right meds has proven to be the right thing to do . Its so scary when it happens and I feel so much for poor dogs whose owners don t realise what is going on and who maybe can t afford visits to vets . I am so happy I found yr site to give me direction and confidence to insist on medication at vet. :-) you are all wonderfull giving yr time to help us all and our pets . Thank you .
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