Megan's Bruce 8/21 conservative — Beagle

Megan, welcome to Dodgerslist, we are glad you found us.

First things first Bruce can be a good candidate to heal under conservative treatment. You are doing necessary STRICT rest. Your vet however is seriously under medicating for pain. You will need to do some reading and be able to strongly advocate for aggressive pain meds OR you will need to find an IVDD knowledgeable vet pronto. Pain hinders the whole healing process not to mention it is plain torture.

Before discussing pain meds, these articles can give you good background information:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

Details on the pain medications typically used with a disc episode.
vasg.org/g_drugs.htm#GABAP
vasg.org/t_drugs.htm#TRAM
www.petplace.com/drug-library/methocarbamol-robaxin-v/page1.aspx

Michael Richards, DVM: When pain relievers must be given after an injury has occurred it sometimes takes much higher doses to tamp down the pain and get it under control. It is good to keep this in mind, because many people make the mistake of using low doses of pain reliever initially, hoping they will work. It is probably better to start with high doses and then to cut the dosage if it becomes apparent that lower dosages will work.

Another way of thinking about it [pain] is like a seesaw. You can put a rock on the high end of seesaw and it might not cause it to go down. If you add a second rock that might not move it, either. But eventually you will reach the point where the weight on the upper end suddenly causes the high end of the seesaw to fall. This is how pain threshold works. You really don't feel pain even though something has the potential to cause it until there is enough "weight" to tip over the pain threshold -- then you feel it suddenly. www.vetinfo.com/dpain.html

Once you have phoned the vet and indicate you concern about the pain Bruce is being subjected to til the pain meds are RX'd to be just right for him, then please fill us in on a few more details.


-- Pain should be fully under control in one hour and thereafter dose to dose of the pain meds - 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?

-- Eating and drinking OK? How are poops today- normal color and firmness, no dark or bright red blood?

-- Currently can your dog wobbly walk? 

-- 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.

Never give up, stay focused, stay postitive and stay strong!  You and Bruce will get through this bump in the road of life.