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Post by bevkenna on Dec 27, 2013 19:02:03 GMT -7
Dahlia is a 6 year old female dachshund. Dahlia is overweight and I have been using Science Diet RD to help her lose weight. She weighs 20 pounds currently. Dahlia's problems started a couple of weeks after Thanksgiving. I had to put my oldest Dachshund down on Thanksgiving and I had noticed Dahlia's mood had changed after Gretchen died. On December 10th, Dahlia was not acting like herself. She seemed to have a distended abdomen but was eating and drinking normally. I have a job that requires I travel out of town. So my friend checked on her the next day and found her to be wobbly on her back legs as well as a having a hard abdomin so he took her to the vet. The vet X-rayed Dahlia and diagnosed her with constipation and sent her home with lactulose. When I got home two days later, Dahlia didn't seem to be any better or any worse. Later that evening she went outside to potty and upon her return, she acted like she was in extreme pain and was shaking uncontrollably. I held her and decided to take her to the vet in the morning. The next day, Dahlia was back to her old self. I found a large diarrhea stool in the yard and thought she had been able to pass whatever was causing her problems. She was back to her old self for 10 days. No signs of pain, leg weakness, or constipation.
On Monday December 23, 2013, she started acting constipated again. So I called the vet and got more lactulose. By Christmas morning she was unable to use her back legs again. I took her back to the vet on December 26th for another X-ray and examination. The vet determined it was her back this time and recommended an MRI/ back surgery which he said would cost around $7000 and I would have to take Dahlia up to Sacramento to UC Davis. I told him I just wasn't at a place in my life where I could afford $7000 for surgery so he prescribed conservative treatment and crate rest. He started her on prednisone 5mg by mouth 2 times per day for one week, then 5 mg 1 time per day for another week and then 5 mg by mouth every other day. He also prescribed Clavamox 125 mg 2 times per day for a week, Sulcurfate 1 gram 2 times per day and Tramadol 50 mg 2 times per day for pain. He showed me how to express her bladder as her bladder was filled with urine. I am struggling a bit expressing the urine. I have watched several YouTube videos on the subject and the dogs and people on YouTube make it look very easy. The vet gave me a book that one of his patient's mom wrote about her experience with Corgi's on Wheels. I am still very sad about everything. I am considering taking Dahlia up to UC Davis for a second opinion. I trust my vet's opinion but would like a vet neurologist to have a look at her. Dahlia is the sweetest dachshund I have ever owned and I have owned many. I hope that everything will work out but I am a realist and know that whatever life offers Dahlia, I will see her through it! Any ideas or suggestions from doxie moms/dads who have been down the road I am now traveling is much appreciated!
Bev
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Post by Pauliana on Dec 27, 2013 20:05:20 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist Bev. I am so sorry to hear Dahlia is having a disc episode.. Having gone through this with my Tyler, I can totally relate and so can all of the moderators and members here.. The alternative to surgery is conservative care as your Vet recommended. It is wonderful that he gave you the book about the Corgi on wheels. That means he will be supportive and encouraging in his care of Dahlia.. It's the hope with conservative care that the spine will reabsorb the injured disc with meds and limited movement. The nerve damage can reverse once the disc material is reabsorbed. Good job on getting Dahlia into a crate right away. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. Carried in and out to potty. 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. How are you doing expressing her bladder? How often are you expressing? Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? While on Prednisone, she will be more thirsty and probably drinking more, so she should be expressed every 2-3 hours until you become proficient expressing. Here's more info on expressing: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmCan you give us a bit more in essential information about Dahlia: -- Is there still currently pain? Signs of pain are holding the head in an unusual position, head held high or nose to the ground, shivering/trembling, not wanting to move much or moving gingerly, yelping, tight/tense stomach muscles, arched back, holding leg up flamingo style, not wanting to bear weight on the leg, just not their usual perky-interested-in-life self. -- Please get your vet's permission to give 5 mg of Pepcid AC (generic is famotidine) 30 minutes before each dose of the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours). Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "Is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?" If your vet says your dog has no health issues such as liver, heart, etc to keep her from taking Pepcid AC, then do get it on board. -- Eating and drinking OK? -- Poops OK - normal color, firmness, no dark or bright red blood? The best way for you to help your dog is by learning about this disease. Here are some links to get you started. Please click on all of them to get a good background of understanding. www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmLaser 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. Please don't despair. IVDD is not a death sentence. Many dogs regain use of their legs and even if they don't, their lives can be happy ones. www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htmOnce we receive more information from you, we'll be better able to support you through this. We're here for you and will help you in any way that we can. Prayers for a complete recovery for Dahlia and hugs for you. |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,565
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 28, 2013 20:18:10 GMT -7
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Post by bevkenna on Jan 10, 2014 16:31:52 GMT -7
Hi Everyone, Thanks so much for your website and support. I read and reread everything I could on this website to educate myself and then talk to my vet about my findings. Dahlia had so much pain that I called the vet the day after I started strict crate treatment and he prescribed Tramadol. The tramadol helped to ease the pain and aid in her adjusting to life inside her crate. The bigger issue that I was struggling with was bladder expression. I read books, viewed anything and everything I could find on YouTube, Dodgerslist or other websites about how to be successful expressing a dog's bladder. Even my vet when he was trying to teach me how to express Dahlia's bladder had a difficult time with it. One video spoke about how some dogs continue to have some nerve innervation to the bladder making it a bit more difficult but not impossible. We talked to the vet about starting medications to aid in relaxing her bladder and he prescribed valium and prazocin. That helped a lot but Dahlia continued to leak urine in between expressions causing her skin to turn red. I cried on a daily basis and sometimes hourly, wondering how I could keep her healthy and her skin intact as we (Dahlia and I) mastered bladder expression. I continued to read everything including the success stories, clinging to hope that my Dahlia would also get some relief. I started rinsing her with warm water and gently patting her down and covering her skin in A & D ointment to provide some protection. We struggled together for 10 days and then suddenly on January 5th, 2014, I couldn't express her at all. Her tummy was getting bigger and firmer and despite the meds, nothing. I was just about to call the vet when Dahlia suddenly got wide eyed and struggled to get out of her crate. She was urinating and I could tell that she knew it. It has been 5 days now and she is now dry and having normal bladder and bowel movements when we take her outside for potty breaks. On January 7th, I came home from work and when I greeted Dahlia she wagged her tail for the first time since December 23rd, 2013. I again cried knowing she is slowly regaining her functions. She has regained her deep pain response and today she moved her back legs as if she were walking when I took her outside to go potty. I use a sling to support her back legs and typically her legs are flaccid but today that was different! I am continuing her conservative treatment with meds and strict crate rest! Over two and half weeks has passed since my vet diagnosed Dahlia with IVDD, recommended surgery or conservative therapy and also told me I may need to consider euthanizing her. It has been a crazy ride with many lows and some recent highs but I am so thankful for your website and the valuable information I gained as I poured this website over and over again! If this is all of the recovery Dahlia gets, I will be okay as her tail is wagging again and nothing can replace a happy tail wag!! As soon as my financial situation settles down, I fully intend on buying several of your DVDs, one for myself, one for my daughter who has doxies and two for my vet! One he can have for his files and one to give to the next person who comes into his office with a dog diagnosised with IVDD!! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you! I promise to update you with Dahlia's progress as time goes on! Bev  |
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Jan 10, 2014 20:14:35 GMT -7
You and Dahlia have certainly been through a lot the past few weeks. Kudos to you for persevering and learning all you can about IVDD and how to care to Dahlia. She has made some wonderful improvements since your last posting and I'm so very happy for both of you.
Can you update on her current meds? These were the meds in your initial posting:
prednisone 5mg 2 times per day for one week, then 5 mg 1 time per day for another week and then 5 mg by mouth every other day.
Clavamox 125 mg 2 times per day for a week
Sulcurfate 1 gram 2 times per day
Tramadol 50 mg 2 times per day
How has the tapering of the Prednisone been going? No signs of pain during the taper? Is she now on the 5 mg every other day?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,565
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 11, 2014 0:08:08 GMT -7
Bev, wonderful news on neuro functions returning. Your journey definately had a rough start…but look at Dahlia now she is really going in the right direction of healing. We do hope you will stop in…Dahlia's story is wonderful inspiration to those just beginning what seems to be a dark journey to know there is light there is alway good hope for each dog.
Do give us an update on the meds and tell us about the taper.
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Post by bevkenna on Jan 13, 2014 9:50:10 GMT -7
Hi Marjorie and Paula, Dahlia is currently on Prednisone 5 mg every other day, I need to check with the vet for how long he wants that taper. The directions don't have a specific time frame as the first few weeks had. The clavamox was for one week only and I have her on 10 mg Pepcid AC daily. She also gets Tramadol 50 mg twice per day for pain. Yesterday, I noticed a little quivering when I picked her up to take her out potty but I hadn't given her a pain med yet. Once she had the Tramadol, she was comfortable for the rest of the day. I continue the strict crate rest and watch for the little changes. I was talking with a friend about building ramps in a few months, once the crate rest is over. Dahlia never was a furniture jumper, always used steps but I think that ramps will aid in prevention in the future. I am also working very hard to get some weight off of her. She is on Science diet R/D and no treats. I haven't weighed her but she appears smaller! I have added glucosamine to her food as well. Again I appreciate all of your information! I keep reading and learning! If you had told me three weeks ago how far Dahlia would have come, I don't think I would have believed it but living through it, I am a true believer!! Thank you for your fabulous website!! Bev |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,565
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 13, 2014 10:42:25 GMT -7
Bev, since Dahlia is showing signs of pain that Tramadol masks, then you have information that it is not time to taper. There is still swelling going on in the spinal cord that Pred needs to continue to address. Tapering Pred lowers this meds ability to address inflammation. Let your vet know about your observations of pain as he likely will want to go back up to the anti-inflamamtory level for a bit longer and then try another taper. The hope is that a 7-14 day course of pred will do the the trick. Some dogs have needed more like 30 days…each dog is individual… The taper is the test so the vet knows how long to continue using Pred. Let us know what the vet Rx's. We'd love to see Dahlia. Do you have a photo you can share…uploading info here: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/260/upload-photo-dog |
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