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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 2, 2014 19:48:06 GMT -7
We have Hope on crate rest, today was her first full week of crate rest.
Axel took off barking at the doorbell today, slid on the hardwood floor and I thought it looked like he stumbled when he turned around to trot back to me as I yelled at him to stop. As the day went on, he started to tremble randomly and his back knees started to touch when he stood still. He seemed a little clumsy.
I'm not sure if it's his back. He also has a doggie version of cystic fibrosis (congestive pulmonary failure) and had a hard time breathing today, that can sometimes make him tremble. However, he's walking funny, his tummy seems tender to the touch and he's walking hunched up more than normal (he's naturally a little hunchbacked).
Since his disc episode last summer I watch him like a hawk, and I feel like prevention is so much better than dealing with a full blown disc episode again. Like I've advised others on this board, I'd rather he be annoyed at me for the next 2 months than have to watch him drag his legs and be in pain again.
Should I be putting him on prednisone too, or is crate rest going to be enough IF I've caught it super early? He's already on
prednisone 2.5 mg once a day for his lung condition, along with
theophylline which speeds up the cilia in his lungs.
I will be calling our vet tomorrow morning.
As it is, I changed out his big fluffy comforter in his large crate to a flat crate liner, a pee pad, and a fleece blanket wrapping it all up so that it's as flat and supportive as possible. Hubby's headed out tomorrow morning to buy an attachable water dish and a smaller crate and crate liner. Hope is using the ones we purchased last summer when Axel had his episode.
To be honest, when I noticed he was walking funny this afternoon, I just broke down sobbing. Both my babies having a disc episode, both of them locked up in cages for 8 weeks, it's just something horrible. I'm having a really hard time holding it together. I'm also afraid my vet will think I beat my dogs or something. I'm really freaking out.
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Post by Pauliana on May 2, 2014 20:55:17 GMT -7
Oh Hester, I wish I was there to comfort you.. Your Vet will know you aren't beating your dogs.. IVDD episodes happen and he knows the medical history of both dogs..
If you have Tramadol handy, i would give him one and call his Vet in the morning..It's better not to give Prednisone at the anti inflammatory dose until the Vet examines him as it may cover symptoms and make it harder to diagnose his current problem.. Tramadol will help him over night and be out of his system by the time he is examined..
Praying it isn't a disc episode this time.. I really feel for you.. You didn't do anything wrong, accidents can happen in the blink of an eye.. You never know what these rascals are going to get up to...
Big Hugs!
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 3, 2014 15:30:51 GMT -7
We saw the vet. Axel is now on 5mg of prednisone 2x a day for the weekend at least, and possibly a few days more, and then we will start to taper and reassess. Axel doesn't seem to be uncomfortable, it seems to be that he's just standing funny and hunched, but not trembling and his belly doesn't seem as tender any more. His right rear leg turns outwards when he stands on it, so that his back knees touch. The vet is hoping that he's just pulled a muscle, so we will re-evaluate in a week's time. He said crating him is the best choice since we don't have money for an MRI at this point. The positive side effect will be that it will probably make his breathing easier. Tapering him will be more difficult though, because of it. We ran into that problem last year, where he got a lung infection after lung infection after his treatment.  He spent the entire months of December and January battling pneumonia. |
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,571
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Post by PaulaM on May 4, 2014 11:44:05 GMT -7
What type of GI tract protector is Axel on while on Prednisone?
When we sleep funny and get a stiff neck, we hold it to the side in an unusual position that is least painful. A hunched back is the same idea, the dog hold it that way as it is least painful. So either he has learned it is painful to straighten out and that is why the hunch or he is still actually in pain. Be watchful for other confirming signs of pain that a pain reliever does need to be on board. Shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy, head held high or nose to the ground, not normal perky self.
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 4, 2014 12:35:51 GMT -7
He's on Pepcid because he's on prednisone (2.5 mg) daily for his lung condition.
He was sleeping on his back earlier today, but when I just took him out to potty, he seemed to take forever to get into his pooping position. Although, when he was done, he wagged his tail and seemed his usual chipper self. No shivering, yelping or anything else unusual. He doesn't seem as hunched today, but that left leg is still wonky.
He's still on 24/7 crate rest.
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Post by Stevie & Cleopatra on May 4, 2014 17:04:47 GMT -7
Oh Hester, I am so sorry to hear about your double-duty! It can be so overwhelming to have 2 patients at once. When Cleo was recovering after her surgery last year, my other dachshund, Augustus, got injured when a large dog picked him up and shook him. I thought he was dead, but he just had 4 bloody holes in his neck from the other dog's teeth. I had to dress his wounds each day and give him meds too, and I remember thinking, what else could go wrong?
Your vet will understand, it is hard being a dachshund mother! You are doing such a great job attending to both of them, and I will be thinking of you, Axel and Hope!
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 5, 2014 18:43:34 GMT -7
It's actually working out to be a little easier. They both aren't jealous of the other now because they're both crated, both getting their meals in their crates and both getting treats in their crates. Go figure.
Axel seems great, but seeing his legs go weird after only a few steps makes me nervous, so crate he stays.
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 8, 2014 15:56:24 GMT -7
Tomorrow we start the taper for Axel.
Down to 2.5mg in the morning and 5 mg at night for prednisone.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,571
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Post by PaulaM on May 8, 2014 20:12:02 GMT -7
HOpe to hear a smooth taper and no hint of pain surfacing: no shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy, not normal perky self?
Are the pain meds also being backed off or stopped to give a clear picture on pain?
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 9, 2014 4:59:57 GMT -7
Stopped. He hasn't been on pain meds for several days now and it's looking good!
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 13, 2014 19:01:33 GMT -7
The taper continues to go well, although I think that he may be getting weaker. Being on prednisone for so long because of his lungs has caused some muscle wasting to begin with, and so I'm not seeing the improvements I am seeing with Hope. He still looks the SAME as he did before, and when he pees his back legs don't line up, one is always kind of behind so that 3 of his legs are in line with each other and the other is just a lot further back. Like he's doing a lunge. I guess with Hope moving along so well and seeming to regain control of her legs so fast, I'm anxious for Axel to show similar improvements. My husband said that maybe because he doesn't have as far to go, because he wasn't as bad, that maybe the improvements are harder to see. I think it's just that he's healing slower. I hope he'll be ok. He's only been on crate rest for 2 weeks, so it's still a long way to go! |
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Post by Pauliana on May 13, 2014 19:49:55 GMT -7
Hi Hester,
Axel and Hope having an episode at the same time makes it tempting to compare them to each other but each injury is different and their rates of healing will be different too. Nerves are the slowest part of the body to heal.. Once nerves have repaired then muscles will also have to be retrained to relearn proper placement of the paws. Some muscles will need to regain strength for walking. Consider learning to walk again as it would be for a stroke victim or a baby learning to walk. At first, the steps will be weak and a bit unstable. Relearning to walk takes coordination, building up strength, and lots of patience.
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Vita & Emmie
Helpful Member 
Currently graduated for the 3rd time; walking and running!
Posts: 189
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Post by Vita & Emmie on May 15, 2014 10:49:42 GMT -7
Hi Hester, I go away for a week to visit my folks and your other fur baby breaks?! I got all confused - I saw it was you and then I thought "wait, it was Hope, the female...what?" I'm all caught up now. I'm so sorry you are in this sandwich of pain and caregiving! Well you know all about how we're here for you. I hope Axel turns the corner soon. You once said he was "your" dog, so you should be able to offer him some comfort. Anything, I can do from so far away other than send healing thoughts? Best wishes from Em and me.
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 15, 2014 14:18:38 GMT -7
Vita, I KNOW!!!! I was a mess, crying my brains out.
He wasn't as severe as her, and because he'd had an episode before, I knew what to watch for. As soon as he started walking funny, we got another crate and in he went. He's doing pretty well, but he's not progressing as fast as Hope is, which is driving me nuts because she's doing SO WELL.
It's horrible to have both of them in cages, and no snuggles or anything. It's so lonely without my furbabies when I have a nap without them.
5 more weeks. 5 more weeks.
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Vita & Emmie
Helpful Member
Currently graduated for the 3rd time; walking and running!
Posts: 189
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Post by Vita & Emmie on May 18, 2014 7:57:44 GMT -7
Is it even possible to sleep without a weenie on you? I at least had my Isabella dapple, Hula, while Emmie was in her crate! You poor thing! Don't compare the healing rates of the dogs, they are individuals with different injuries...and you don't want to be like one of those horrible parents that "compares" her children! I saw your note about wanting to get a stroller for the pups. I just wanted to tell you that I have seen a number of them out there and that they can be quite expensive - hundreds of dollars and varying quality. My groomer has a stroller for going on mountain hikes when her Yorkie just gets tired (he's not injured or anything, just too small) - I can find out the brand for you if you like. Then one day I was at HomeSense and they had dog strollers for $70! I didn't need one as my Emmie is a tiny thing and goes in a special carry bag over my shoulder and at my waist, but they looked like a pretty sturdy, good choice. So, worth checking out; I know HomeSense seems odd, but mine has a great pet section and that is where I got the stairs for the weenies to get up to the bed - gorgeous stairs, only $50.
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on May 19, 2014 17:36:34 GMT -7
Our dogs couldn't do the stairs because they've never learned to use normal stairs!! We do have a little ramp that goes out in the backyard, and it took about a week training them to use it!
As for the stroller, if you could ask what the brand is, that would be great. $100 for a stroller for them wouldn't be too bad considering we're hoping to get several years of use out of it. With both of them needing it, carrying them gets pretty heavy when their combined weight is around 25lbs. We have a "dog car seat" that locks into my car (buckles into the seat belt, and then loops over the headrest for extra stability, and then zips up so even if we have to stop suddenly, they'd just get squished onto the mesh/material siding), and it fits both of them, and it keeps them safe and stable and I LOVE it for them. It does come with wheels and a luggage handle as well as backpack straps, but it tips the wrong way so it's kind of awkward and they fall forward, and I'd want something a little more stable on our walks.
Axel's still walking a little funny. His skin got so dry from the prednisone, and today I stood him on my kitchen table and rubbed him with the moisturizer that I found for him that soaks right in (called Wondercoat), and he kept lifting his rear left leg and kind of just standing on his toes on that leg as I rubbed his belly. When he goes out to potty, he still does the lunging kind of thing.
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Post by Judy & Louie on May 19, 2014 23:38:26 GMT -7
Hello Hester . . . just wanted to send a note of support. You are doing incredibly well, all the effort and energy you are expending for your dogs. It is always a journey with our pups who are going through trials. I have experienced 3 episodes of IVDD with my dog Louie, now 10.
Last week after an ER Vet thought it was another episode of disc problems but turned out thankfully not. I crated him nonetheless until he was back to his old self. I bought a wonderful stroller 4 years ago and worth every penny. It is well made and Louie loved being in it. On warm days would put him in it, zip up the mesh covering and he could be one with nature in the backyard. Helped with boredom from being crated. It is called Happy Trails by Pet Gear which I ordered online.
Well wishes for Axel and Hope,
Judy & Louie
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He spent the entire months of December and January battling pneumonia.
