|
Post by Angela & AnnaBelle on Jun 11, 2014 15:05:59 GMT -7
I have just a few questions for everyone out here. When we came home the evening of 6/4/14 there was something noticeably wrong with our 3.5 year old dachshund. We took her to the emergency vet that night and got started on 2 different muscle relaxers and tramadol for pain. Also crate rest (or doggie jail as I like to call it). We go to our regular vet tomorrow for a check up. She has become wobbly legged since yesterday, urination is fine though. Just wondering if it's the combination of medications, the crate rest (not using her legs as much), or do they go from bad to good to bad to good? This is my first experience with this and I'm so worried about my baby. (Also my daughter left on Monday and not sure if she's just feeling sad because she's gone also).
I have tried to research on line, but there are so many different opinions on this. The more I read the more confused and sad I become.
The emergency vet said crate rest for 2 weeks, but I'm reading longer. Really longer doesn't bother me at all, I just don't want her to suffer. She doesn't seem in pain at this point.
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
|
Post by PaulaM on Jun 11, 2014 18:46:29 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist. We are a small and friendly group...we just go by first names. Mine is Paula what is yours? The single purpose of the crate rest part of conservative treatment is to give the disc the right environment of little movement and time enough to form scar tissue....that process takes 8 weeks of 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out for a very, very few footsteps at pottytime. We'd love to learn more to be of best support to you: --What is your dog's name and yours? -- What was the date you saw the vet and 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for this current disc episode? -- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy? -- How much does your dog weigh? Would you give us a list of exact med names currently given, their doses in mg's and frequencies? Anti-inflammatories can increase GI tract damage. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason my dog may not take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours. This directory very good for learning about each of your dog's meds: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.htm -- Has the wobbliness coincided with the stop or tapering of one of the meds? Excessive movement at potty times? It appears that your dog may not have been put on any anti-inflammatory. We look forward to understanding just what meds your dog is on. You may find this little card to carry with you at vet visits helps to keep all the meds straight as you discuss things with the vet. D/l here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/MedCard.pdf -- Eating and drinking OK? How are poops today- normal color and firmness, no dark or bright red blood? -- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? -- If there is pain or neuro diminishment, dogs can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy. These therapies can be be started right away to help relieve pain and to also to kick start energy production in nerve cells to sprout. So if this therapy is in your budget, seek out a holistic vet.ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html www.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs. Self education with this disease is critical to sift through misinformation and avoid it. Knowledge is to make sure the right things are being done for best recovery. And for yourself, knowledge lets you step out of a very scary place…"the unknown" and the toll it takes on your emotions. Get ready to fight this disease with this current episode and in the future by knowing all things IVDD. So you are savvy about conservative treatment this page is a wonderful place to get a good overview of each of the phases of healing: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm Hope to hear you will be able to follow all the informative links and complete your readings in the next couple of days.
|
|
|
Post by Angela & AnnaBelle on Jun 11, 2014 19:56:45 GMT -7
Hello all! My name is Angela and my doxie's name is AnnaBelle Rose
Took her to the emergency vet on 6/5/2014 (it was midnight when we got there so this happened on the 4th but with the late hour it was really the next day)
The telling if she's still in pain is hard to tell. She has always been a nervous dog and shakes all the time before. I don't think it's any worse. No tight hard tummy though. That's what made us take her in in the middle of the night. Her stomach was so tight.
She weighs 9 pounds 8 ounces. She was given 2 different injections that night. One was Rimadyl and the other was Buprenex.
Right now she is taking Carprofen 12.5mg once a day Tramadol 12.5 mg every 8 hours Methocarbamol Suspension 60mg every 8 hours I've been giving the last 2 every 8 hours since Thursday morning. Also not sure if I should, but don't want her to be in pain.
The wobbliness could of been when she took off running across the back yard on my yesterday. Today she has been very unsteady on her feet. Still wags her tail when she hears my name.
She has been eating and drinking so so. She's never been a big eater or drinker. Urination seems normal and stools are normal. I've been adding a small amount of canned pumpkin to her food in the morning. That is probably the biggest change, but I chalked that up to the medication.
Hope this helps some. I tried to go question by question.
Thanks again for all your help.
|
|
StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
|
Post by StevieLuv on Jun 12, 2014 6:39:32 GMT -7
Hi Angela, my name is Maureen. Welcome to Dodgers List. I am sorry that your AnnaBelle Rose is having an IVDD episode, but I am glad that you found us. Paula has given you great information, and it sounds like you have her pain undder control. To help prevent her taking off on you, you can try a couple of things. First is to have her on a harness to prevent the escapes (they are SO fast aren't they - the little dickens) and the other is to get some of that push into the ground garden edging that looks like little fence sections, or an ex pen and creat a 6 foot diameter circle that is used as a potty spot. Keep on reading and learning and keep us posted. We are here to help
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
|
Post by PaulaM on Jun 12, 2014 8:06:25 GMT -7
Angela, disc episodes can be very painful so giving the two pain meds promptly on time every 8 hours is a good thing to make sure no pain surfaces. Carprofen (Rimadyl) is the anti-inflammatory. When the vet feels all the inflammation might be gone, he will call for a stop of the pain meds and the carprofen. Your job will be to carefully observe for any hint of pain surfacing indicating not all the painful swelling is gone and the need to be back on meds for a bit longer. Do let us know you have ask your vet if AnnaBelle has any health issue to prevent protection of the stomach with Pepcid AC (famotidine) 5mg 2x/day. Marueen's idea of using fencing worked much better for me than the harness, leash idea with the physical and visual to indicate there would be no sniff festing going on! Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep your dog's aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash will control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference.</font> 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.
|
|
|
Post by Angela & AnnaBelle on Jun 12, 2014 8:12:17 GMT -7
Thanks so much everyone! Even with the wobble in her legs she still likes to take off. I am off to buy a pen today! She hates the kennel so much, but my brother just stopped by and she started barking and wagging her tail at him in excitement. I will ask the vet today about pepcid to take along with. She only has one more dose of the carprofen tablets and maybe one more dose of the methocarbamol (since it's in a container that I can't see thru, I really have no idea how much is in there). Wasn't sure if I was doing the correct thing with giving the medication every 8 hours or not, but wanted to stay on top of it.
She hasn't whimpered or cried out when I've picked her up to take her outside all week, so maybe that's a good thing?
Thanks again everyone!
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
|
Post by PaulaM on Jun 12, 2014 8:29:45 GMT -7
Ask the vet what plan B is in case pain surfaces on the stop of carprofen. What happens if pain shows when he is closed this weekend and an expensive ER trip might be necessary to get back on all the meds again? As an integral part of AnnaBelle's health care team, you do not want to be in the dark about anything, you want to know all the what if's
|
|
|
Post by Angela & AnnaBelle on Jun 12, 2014 9:00:16 GMT -7
I totally agree with you! I need to know what's going on at all times.
Just a quick update as we got back from the vets now. All peripheral nerves are in good shape yet! Kenneled rest for a long time yet and a re-check in a month.
|
|
|
Post by Jean & Mimi on Jun 13, 2014 7:07:56 GMT -7
Hi Angela, is AnnaBelle still on all of her medications? Glad she had a great vet visit.
|
|
|
Post by Angela & AnnaBelle on Jun 17, 2014 16:19:53 GMT -7
Sorry all! Been busy with work and "Baby Girl" as we like to call her. She is still on all of her meds. Today was the first time I tried 12 hours instead of 8 for 2 of them. She seemed to do ok with that, but I could tell when it was time. How long do the dogs usually have to be on these medications? Thanks for all the well wishes. She has her good days and by evening she isn't herself Just taking it one day at a time.
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,611
|
Post by PaulaM on Jun 17, 2014 18:48:49 GMT -7
By evening not feeling good may well be a sign of pain. It may mean her pain meds are not right, might need to add in a 3rd pain meds such as gabapentin. Can you tell us exactly what you mean by not herself.... 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? Which two meds did you try 2x/day instead of 3x a/day? You will want to be up-to-speed on how long meds are used so you can be on top of advocating for AnnaBelle's needs at the vet. The orange button "PAIN RELIEF" and "SWELLING/INFLAMMATION" are very pertinent to your question. www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
|
|