Lorry & Baggy
New Member
My mini-daxie's name is Baguette....Baggy for short....she's the sweetest dog on earth!
Posts: 11
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Post by Lorry & Baggy on Mar 31, 2014 20:13:54 GMT -7
My mini-daxie, Baguette, (Baggy), had her surgery for a herniated disc, back in July 2013. She goes to physiotherapy once/week, and takes an anti-anxiety pill, twice daily. She's still not walking. Her life has been quite normal, scooting around the house with her diaper and panties on, and resting in her stroller. The wheels don't appeal to her. I believe they are too heavy for her, and even after several adjustments, the bars seem to jab into the backs of her front paws. She resists walking with the wheels. So, for no apparent reason, all of a sudden, she appears to be depressed. She's eating well and all of her bodily functions are normal. She just doesn't have spunk anymore. Even her licking our faces has been reduced to 2 licks! She's so afraid of the vet, that I'm hoping I won't have to take her for tests. I'm just wondering if anyone has any ideas as to what it could be. Do dogs grow discouraged after 8 months of not walking? Has anyone experienced similar symptoms? Thank you all for your time to read this. Any info would be appreciated.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 1, 2014 9:10:28 GMT -7
Lorry, welcome to Dodgerslist. It is not normal for a dog to be discouraged about walking..they just do not think like humans about not walking. I think it would be a good idea to have a vet examine her for what is going on to change her mood. Can you give us a bite more detail -- How much does she weigh? -- What is the exact name of the anti-anxeity pill? What are the reasons this was prescribed..what was Baggg doing? Sometimes avoiding less powerful drugs that can have serious side effect can still help a dog relax. Using any oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives. Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog.
Place a DAP pheromone diffuser at floor level where the recovery suite is. Some brands to consider: --Comfort Zone (DAP) wall plug-in diffuser 48ml www.petcomfortzone.com/dogs.html --Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml www.adaptil.com/ Use a diffuser with one oral calmer from below: Oral calmers: 1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/anxitane-l-theanine-chewable-tablets/behavioral-health 2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine. www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.php 3) Rescue Remedy is a liquid herb combo to help with relaxation www.bachrescueremedypet.com Other product brands may be available in your area or on-line… just shop by the active ingredient(s) on the label and the quantity for best price-- Do you express her bladder? Do you express every 4-6 hours? That should resolve the need to use diapers. Let us know more about the reason for using diapers. -- What is the brand name of the wheelchair. A chair that is not designed with an IVDD dog in mind or not fitted well, can do more harm or make the dog feel uncomfortable about using it. Good article to assess needed wheelchair features: www.dodgerslist.com/links/cart.htm
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Lorry & Baggy
New Member
My mini-daxie's name is Baguette....Baggy for short....she's the sweetest dog on earth!
Posts: 11
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Post by Lorry & Baggy on Apr 1, 2014 17:30:22 GMT -7
Baggy weighs 11 lbs. She's not overweight. The drug is Apo-Clomipramine 10mg twice/day (Clomicalm) She's on this drug because since her surgery, it's been impossible to calm her down when anyone comes over to the house, when I take her out to the vet, physio, visiting, even just for a stroll in her stroller. She wouldn't stop barking. Well, the pills have not succeeded in stopping any of that behaviour, but they have calmed her down in terms of her body tensing up, her sleeping at night is now uninterrupted by sounds waking her. She sleeps much more than without the pills, but she always loved to sleep a lot. Now she can sleep more soundly. I've noticed her body is more limber and not as tight as it was before. She seems more at ease….although still way more nervous than before her condition began. I express her bladder and her bowels, (thanks to a video link from your website), at least 5 times/day. If I'm not able to be there, she goes in her diaper and I clean her up when I return. She wears a diaper because when she gets excited, (like whenever the doorbell or telephone ring, or someone walks too close to our door), she leaks. If I actually open the door for someone to come in, she will poop from the excitement! So, although she does get some "no diaper" time, it's only when I'm sure that she's empty and that no one is coming over. I cannot control the phone ringing, which is the same as the doorbell……which rings through the phone. The wheelchair brand is "Walkin' Wheels". The man I bought it from has come over to adjust and readjust 3 times. We even changed the harness. She never liked any form of harness or clothing and would put on the brakes if I tried to get her to wear them, so I guess it's the same thing with the wheelchair. I'm worried about leaving her in someone else's care when I go on vacation. She's become so incredibly attached to me that when she sees me preparing to leave the house, she quivers and whines and hides from me. She stays in my Newfie's huge crate,(without the Newf, of course!), all nicely made up comfy, with water and her favourite blanket. She can turn around in there and do summersaults if she could, so it's all about separation anxiety….I believe. They physio-therapy is great to keep her muscles toned but there's no sign of walking on solid ground for more than 2 steps.
Not sure what to do next.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Apr 2, 2014 8:24:16 GMT -7
Lorry have you read the package sheet that comes with Clomicalm? The top adverse reaction is depression! So it may be that this med is not the one for Baggy. IF you have not given the oral calmers plus a DAP phermomone diffuser a try, I would consider it. Also you may want to hire a canine behavior specialist to help Baggy overcome her anxieties or Google to find tutorials. Here is an article to get you started with: www.whole-dog-journal.com/issues/11_7/features/Canine-Separation-Anxiety_16044-1.htmlAfter Googling, I found the package info sheet. The FDA writes: "Novartis Animal Health US, Inc. encourages you to take the time to read this package insert which describes the use of Clomicalm Tablets for the treatment of separation anxiety in conjunction with behavior modification (training) in dogs... The administration of clomipramine hydrochloride in the presence of food resulted in an increase in the rate and extent of drug absorption... "... adverse reactions are based on voluntary post approval adverse drug experience reporting: lethargy / depression, anorexia, elevation in liver enzymes, vomiting and diarrhea." www.drugs.com/pro/clomicalm.htmlIf Baggy CAN take a few footsteps on her own, that may be one of the reasons she does not like the Walkin' Wheels. There are certainly design drawbacks to the Walkin Wheels as you described that contribute to Baggy's resistance to use. If it is in the budget you may want to consider a cart that would be used as a PT wheelchair to support Baggy during her PT at home and can also have her legs up so she can enjoy some speed with wind flapping her ears again. Eddie's is a high end cart that I can personally recommend, but if Baggy is able to move her legs could be an expensive PT type of cart. You might check with Dogs to Go for less than $100 wheelchair as the way to go for a supportive aid to encourage use of the legs. Both are pictured and their links here: www.dodgerslist.com/links/cart.htmWith warm weather approaching you may also like to give Baggy a chance with water therapy in a $10 kid's pool. All the details are here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm
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Lorry & Baggy
New Member
My mini-daxie's name is Baguette....Baggy for short....she's the sweetest dog on earth!
Posts: 11
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Post by Lorry & Baggy on Apr 10, 2014 19:17:48 GMT -7
I've had a different vet evaluate Baggy's anxiety. She prescribed 50mg. 3/day of Gabapentin. I read the side effects and there doesn't seem to be anything to worry about. She may be somewhat sedated at first, but I was told that she would regain her energy in a little while. This new vet thinks that Baggy's spasms may be painful and this medication will ease any pain she may be experiencing. I'm hoping she will feel more at ease with Gabapentin. Do you have any experience with this drug?
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Apr 11, 2014 14:44:16 GMT -7
Gabapentin is a pain med that usually is given along with Tramadol for hard to control pain. It can be given to treat anxiety. It also is given to help with neuropathic pain. If the vet feels Baggy is having neuropathic pain, please read the following link so you become familiar with this condition that can lead to a dangerous issue: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/neuropathy.pdfThe vet feels that Baggy may be having muscle spasms? I'm concerned that she should be having muscle spasms or pain (other than neuropathic pain that can occur) 9 months following surgery. Did the vet feel that the spasms were coming from her tensing up her muscles and causing them to spasm? Methocarbamol is usually given to treat the pain of muscle spasms. I would try some of the calmers that Paula recommended above to see if they can given little Baggy some relief from anxiety. My Jeremy gets overly excited when people come to the house and giving him one of his hard treat bones helps distract him and calms him down. But he's a cocker spaniel and treats are much more important to him than visitors!
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