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Post by Alli & Cleo on Apr 21, 2014 19:35:07 GMT -7
Symptoms & Diagnosis:
Hello! We rescued a 6 yr old doxie about 2 months ago named Cleopatra (Cleo). We already had a doxie / terrier mix and I had previously read about IVDD. Despite the preventative measures we took (ramp to the couch, carrying up and down stairs, always walking with a harness), Cleo was diagnosed with IVDD. I had just taken her to the vet Thursday (4/9) morning for a check-up and she was fine when I got home from work. That night, I went to pick her up and she yelped. After that, she would shake and cry whenever we moved her. *She has never had any signs of ataxia, knuckling, or paralysis.
We took her back to the vet the next day and he diagnosed her with a mild case of cervical IVDD. He didn't do an X-ray, but he was pretty confident she had a disc issue when he tested her range of motion. He put her on
Predisone (5 mg 2x a day for 3 days, 1x a day for 3 days and once every other day for 3 days) and Methacarbamol (250 mg every 10 to 12 hrs).
The vet also told us to have her take it easy and to refrain from walking her (except to take her outside) for 2 weeks.
Unfortunately, I had not read about the strict crate rest yet. Thus, she was in her kennel for 18 hrs a day or so, but I let her lay in her bed and sit up on the couch with me for a couple days (prior to reading all about IVDD on Dodger's List). 
She seemed to feel much better for the first 3 days, but started yelping in pain when we picked her up on Sunday when we started to ▼taper her Prednisone to once a day.
Regression & Meeting w/ Specialist:
I called the vet back the following morning and he recommended we speak with an Orthopedic surgeon.
The surgeon said she is a good candidate for surgery because she wasn't responding to the medication (particularly when we tapered the Prednisone). He said they often don't wait for ataxia or knuckling with cervical IVDD and they recover faster when the IVDD is not as severe. He said we could try switching the meds and reevaluate in a couple weeks if we didn't want to do surgery right away.
From what I had read, I didn't think surgery was our first go-to since she didn't have ataxia or knuckling, so we decided to try
Tramadol (25 mg 3x day) and continue with the
Prednisone (2x a day for 5 days, then once a day for 5 days and once every other day for 5 days) along with strict crate rest for 6 weeks (though after reading here, I now know 8 is necessary).
We have a check up in 2 weeks and are instructed to bring her in if it gets worse.
Since then, she seems to be doing much better. She hasn't yelped in several days, and doesn't seem as tense in her neck as she had been. We are adhering to the strict crate rest, which she hates - especially now that she feels better. It's hard to see her so upset, especially since we haven't had her that long, but I know this is what's best.
Questions
-We're checking back in next week and I'm a little nervous that the vet poking and prodding will set her pain off again. I don't know if this is an irrational fear or not, but it didn't take much for her to regress the first time. Do you have any thoughts?
-I've been coming home at lunch to let her out (since she's on Prednisone), but I'm not sure I can continue to leave work every day (it takes me over an hour to drive home and back). We do allow dogs at my work, and she's been several times since we have had her. My question is, If I transport her in a soft crate and keep her in it all day at work (other than potty breaks), is this ok? My vet didn't seem to think it was a problem, but I just don't want to do anything that will set her back.
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Post by Pauliana on Apr 21, 2014 21:02:36 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist! We are a friendly group and go by first names.. My name is Pauliana, what is yours? So glad to see that you are reading up on IVDD and doing your homework on this condition. That's the best thing for your Cleo. That way you are aware when bad advice is given such as "taking it easy" instead of strict crate rest.. I know she is in great hands with you. Something to keep in mind that it takes 7 days and for some dogs more like 30 days for the Prednisone to get the swelling down. The swelling is what is causing the pain.. When the Vet thinks the swelling might be down, they call for a taper. During that time pain medication is backed off or stopped. It is important for you to be watchful and to have a plan in place with the Vet should she show signs of pain, so she can go back to the original twice daily dose of the Prednisone ( as well as go back on her pain medications) immediately, so she isn't in pain for long. Pain=swelling=more time on Prednisone needed. If she shows no signs of pain continue to taper until completion..After that no further medications would be necessary. Just continue crate rest until the 8 weeks is up.. Don't worry if the first taper doesn't work out, that is common. Also if she is in pain when time for a taper, the taper should be cancelled for the time being... You have to be the eyes and ears for the vet.. She needs to be pain free from dose to dose and if you see that isn't the case it means the Tramadol needs either to be increased in dose or she needs to be on a muscle relaxant such as Methocarbamol, which can be very helpful for a cervical disc episode.. and also Gabapentin for hard to control pain and also nerve pain, it works very well with Tramadol.. They make each other work better! Glad so far she seems to be out of pain..That's the goal! Here is an article on cervical disc episodes: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmIf she is padded with extra towels or soft blankets in her soft crate for the car ride, there shouldn't be a problem taking her to work with you.. As long as she is carefully moved, it should be ok.. How to carry a dog with IVDD. Don't let anyone pick her up unless they do it this way:  Most dogs here don't like their crate rest.. and we all feel badly about it but know it's the best thing for them under the circumstances.. Here is a good article about emergency crate training: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/EmergencyCrate%20Training.htm#EmergencyconfinementHealing thoughts and prayers for Cleo... |
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