Trish's Oscar 3/22 conservative

Trish, welcome to Dodgerslist.  You are doing a wonderful thing.... reading and getting up to speed on IVDD...this is how you protect Oscar and give him the best ever chance to heal. Kudos.  Because this can be an overwhelming time with emotions high and hard to focus on all the detail, I want to point out a few things. I know you will continue to read and get up to speed as things settle into a normal routine of care.

I am extremely concerned at you information of a steroid (prednisolone shot) on 3/23 and a NSAID, Metacam, to begin the next day 3/23.  Can you double check your information.  Here is why:

1. Katrina R. Viviano, PhD, DVM writes in Small Animal Pain Management Clinical Pharmacology "NSAIDs have significant drug interactions with glucocorticoids (gastrointestinal ulceration is potentiated by glucocorticoids via inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis), benzodiazepines, salicylate containing herbs (meadowsweet or willow), gingko, garlic, ginger, ginseng, and aminoglycosides. ... Consider a minimum of a 7-day washout period between NSAIDs and either glucocorticoids or other NSAIDs." SMALL ANIMAL PAIN MANAGEMENT CLINICAL PHARMACOLOGY Katrina R. Viviano, PhD, DVM
secure.aahanet.org/eweb/images/AAHAnet/phoenix2009proceedings/pdfs/01_scientific/025_SMALL%20ANIMAL%20PAIN%20MANAG.pdf

2. ”Drugs of the NSAID class should not be used concurrently as the potential for the aforementioned side effects increases. For similar reasons, NSAIDS should not be used in conjunction with corticosteroid hormones such as Prednisone, Dexamethasone etc. Pfizer recommends a 5-7 day rest period when changing over to Carprofen or to another NSAID from Carprofen. Aspirin poses an exception due to its strong platelet inactivating abilities so 10-14 days is recommended when switching to Carprofen from Aspirin. Allow at least one week between Prednisone and Carprofen.” from:
www.marvistavet.com/html/rimadyl.html

We have seen dogs in our group die with the dangerous practice of switching (steroids <--> nsaids) without a washout of 4-7 days.  Sometimes in an emergency of loosing of neuro functions a hard decision must be made to switch in an effort to preserve the spinal cord. Then the vet takes great precautions to protect the stomach with not just one but two:  Pepcid AC and sucralfate.

Any use of an anti-inflammatory requires stomach protection.  Here is why:
Cortisteroids (Prednisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, etc.)  are involved with stimulating gastric acid secretion causing GI upset to the more threatening bleeding ulcers or holes in the stomach or intestine.  Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way:  "is there any medical reason my dog may not to take Pepcid AC?"  If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in protecting the stomach by giving doxies 5MG Pepcid AC (generic name is Famotidine) 30 mins prior to steroid. Pepcid AC is a generally safe over-the-counter suppressor of stomach acid production for healthy dogs. Dogs don't speak up at first signs of trouble like a person would. By the time we notice black or red blood in the stools, things can quickly go from bleeding ulcers to a life threatening perforated stomach.  We ask that all members read about each med their dog is on or may take as a safety measure. This directory is in alpha order:
www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html

Please get Pepcid AC on board and keep your vet in the loop asap. Not eating well and drinking are already showing adverse signs of the Prednisone and like just plain stress of not feeling good.  Dogs can get ulcers just the same as people when under stress.

Tramadol is very bitter.  hide it well.  One a dog get a taste they will be very suspicious.    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.

Let us know you are going to ask your general vet to stay on pred and not switch or you are going with a washout to before a switch to Metacam.

Hi, thank you for that great information. I had no idea. Oscar weight approx. 12 pounds. He is a mini dachshund. He doesn't seem to be in much pain. No yelping or shaking, shivering or trembling when moved or picked up. He doesn't seem reluctant to move his head or body within the crate. He does wobbly walk and moves his legs although with difficulty when we take him outside to pee. He began wagging his tail yesterday. There is no bed wetting and I haven't noticed any leaks. When we take him outside, he only goes a little ways before peeing. He doesn't seem to be sniffing out old pee spots before peeing. He still has not pooped but yesterday he seemed as if he were trying. We began giving him canned pumpkin (1 tsp) twice a day, yesterday. We are still feeding him ground chicken, white rice, and I started adding water to it yesterday. My husband was reading on this board and felt it was not good to give him the pain medicine so we didn't give him any last night or this morning. He still seems pretty comfortable. I am giving him a homeopathic remedy for nerve pain called Arnica Montana which is completely safe and does not interact with any medications. It is good for people and pets. My husband and I are trying to understand how to help him have a bowel movement and watched the video but any suggestions there would help. I bought the Walmart brand of Peptid AC yesterday and will begin giving him that today after I here from you. He still has a good appetite for the chicken and rice. He does not drink water on his own and I give it to him in a dropper. Thank you!