Teri can you specifically tell us if you are seeing any of these signs of pain today: shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy, not normal perky self?
Max is NOT on top end of pain meds. So if you are seeing signs of pain and your vet is not comfortable in treating for a disc episode, then you'll need to search out a new vet who does know IVDD. We hope to hear the light pain med dose is masking all the pain dose to dose of Tramadol & methocarbamol.
Can you correct the pred dose, if we have misunderstood:
Pred, a three day course @ 10mg pred 2x/day, then a taper starts.
Three days would be a very short course of pred. for such severe neuro diminshment. It took a lot of inflammation in the spinal cord caused by the disc tear. Of course no one wants to use pred any longer than the time it takes to get all the painful swelling down. So if you are starting the pred taper today, please be very observant for any signs of pain or worsening neuro functions.... that would indicate it is not time to taper but to extend Pred at the original dose for a bit longer and then try a taper. As Paulinana commented we see that it can range from 7-30 days to get all the swelling/inflamamation resolved. The full information on own pred is used with a disc episode is here and a must read and understand concept:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htmTramadol is very bitter so it needs to be hidden in a small marshmallow, a piece of banana. Once they get a taste of it they will be highly suspicious. Might even wrap the treat with a thin slice of deli meat. Make three treats. The 2nd containing the tramadol. #1 plain treat to let him know it's a good treat. Hold #2 pill treat in site so he is greedy to get it. Hold #3 plain in site so he is likely to gulp the pill one down to get another treat. Make sure there is not tramadol dust on your fingers to contaminate the treats.
Is he staying dry in between expressign sessions. No leaks found in bedding?
How is the bloat today?
Panting can be a sign of pain or anxiety or from pred. You might try placing a fan near the recovery suite but not pointed at him...the light circulation of air may help with panting and rule out that he is in pain.
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. Are you soaking each kibble meal?
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions . When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order.
1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. Wobbly walking, legs cross
3. Nails scuffing floor
4. Paws knuckle
5. Legs do not work (paralysis, dog is down)
6. Bladder control is lost
7. Tail wagging with joy is lost
8. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for successful surgery. Surgery can still be successful in the window of 12/24 hours after loss of deep pain sensation. Even after that window of time, there can still be a good outcome. Each hour that passes decreases that chance. Precious hours can be lost with a vet that gets DPS wrong. Would surgery be an option for your family?
my name is Teri, and I am Max's 'mom'. I appreciate the feedback. He is doing much better today, seems as if there is no pain today, or if there is pain, it is minimal and not noticeable. I have a call into the vet to see what else he wants to do. I also figured out that the reason he is not eating is because we were trying to hid his meds in his food.....not working, so it was back to the drawing board to get him to take his meds. He is eating and drinking okay today. Still needs to have his bladder expressed, but he was able to raise his tail to poop today! I know that this is a long road ahead. I had one go down years ago, but not as bad as Max. Thank you again for the feedback and encouragement!
