|
|
Post by gcorr002 on Apr 7, 2013 12:45:18 GMT -7
Hello everyone, my name is Gabriel and my dog is named Chance.
Chance is 5 year old Beagle/Rat terrier mix. He's 20 lbs and and long.
On April 1st he was diagnosed with a slipped disk in his lower to mid back , after we took him in with him dragging his back legs. Since then he's been under 24/7 crate rest. He's lying down on his side for now and occasionally props himself up to eat and drink. Most of the time he's pretty relaxed and just sleeps. He shivers alittle when it's time for his next dosage or meds.
Chance is taking 4 meds
- Predisone - 20mg, 1/2 tablet 2 times/day for 10 days, then 1/2 tablet 1/day for 10 days, then 1/2 tablet every other day for 10 days. Sterioid Anti-Inflammatory.
- Robaxin - 500mg every 8 hours as muscle relaxant
- Tramadol - 50mg every 8 hours for pain
- Acepromazine - 10mg 1/2 tablet as needed. Tranquilizer. Chance has never been crated and is prone to separation anxiety.
Chance can be picked up and moved without putting up a fight, but since he hasn't wanted to use the bathroom outside we express him when he gets up and he deficates while laying down. We just clean him up after he goes. He leaks a little but he holds his bladder until we tell him to go.
The was able to elicit deep pain sensation and reflexes from Chance's legs, and when he's sleep he twiches his toes on his paralyzed hind legs. He's wagged his tail briefly while pooping but doesn't wag normally.
He's been eating fine and drinking great.
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
|
Post by PaulaM on Apr 7, 2013 13:02:24 GMT -7
Gabriel, welcome to Dodgerslist. I'm glad you have him on strict rest..... 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks is what can allow his disc to heal. Nerves can take much longer to heal and can continue well after the 8 weeks of crate rest. Was surgery a consideration for your family? Shivering nearing the next dose of pain meds shows his pain meds are not yet right. It takes working as a team and communicating so the vet is aware adjustments are required. Discuss adding gabapentin to the mix as vets are finding very good results with the 3 combo meds. Cortisteroids (Prednisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, etc.) are involved with stimulating gastric acid secretion causing GI upset to the more threatening bleeding ulcers or holes in the stomach or intestine. Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "is there any medical reason my dog may not to take Pepcid AC?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in protecting the stomach by giving doxies 5MG Pepcid AC (generic name is Famotidine) 30 mins prior to steroid. This directory is in alpha order and a must to look up all meds your dog is on: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.htmlWhile on pred you will likely need to express him every 2-3 hours so he stays dry. Is he staying dry in between expressing times? Have you seen him wag his tail if you do some happy talk to him? The very, very lightest least aggressive range of motion and leg massage is necessary for paralyzed legs during conservative treatment. The information highlighted in PINK pertains to a dog who can't walk. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htmLaser light therapy, acupuncture and electroacupuncture which sends a microcurrent of electricity to and from acupuncture points (which are really big nerve bundles), can be very beneficial at helping to re-establish the nerve connections in the body. Any one of these therapies can be started right away if in your budget... they not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration. Find a holistic vet here: ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.htmlwww.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] In the early days of learning our dogs have IVDD, everyone needs a shoulder to lean on while getting things figured out, dealing with emotions, getting up to speed on meds, what disc disease is, etc. Your job in the coming days is to become a reader so you become the confident leader of the health care team.... to discuss confidently various issues from medications to recognizing if suggestions of activity would be harmful to the healing disc. All that takes being a reader. Our main website will give you a very good overview and a degree of understanding you need right away…. as time permits continue on to read all of the articles in the Disc Disease 101 core readings on our Main Webpage. Start here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htmGive Chance a big kiss and hug and reassure him things are going to be ok....because they will be. Tell him his Mom has done the single more important part of the care with 100% STRICT rest 24/7 and now she's on her way to be a reader of IVDD information. |
|
|
|
Post by gcorr002 on Apr 7, 2013 14:52:56 GMT -7
Surgery will not be an option financially, if we did have the money we would but the surgeon we were quoted told us about $6000 for the MRI and the everything involved with the surgery. I was also told it wasn't 100% chance of recovery
I'm currently in the process of getting the vet to call me back about getting additional meds for pain management and if there is any reason we shouldn't use prevacid.
In between expressions he leaks very little. 1% to 5% what he later expresses. so he stays relatively dry. Pooping he whines and I know it's time because he tries to help and make the effort to push it out. So happy for hard excrement and upset for diarrhea. He's always eaten hard food but since he's been in the crate he prefers the wet kind. Hopefully his body get used to the wet stuff soon and we don't have anymore diarrhea episode.
|
|
|
|
Post by natureluva on Apr 7, 2013 15:42:03 GMT -7
Hi Gabriel, just FYI, the diarrhea could also be from the steroid being given on an unprotected stomach. Steroids cause excess acid to form in the stomach, which can irritate the stomach and cause diarrhea or vomiting. If the stomach is left unprotected, ulcers and stomach perforation can occur. Please do ask your vet asap if you can give 5 mg of Pepcid AC 30 minutes before each dose of steroid. The generic name for Pepcid is famotidine, and you can get it at any pharmacy or Walmart, etc. You may also wish to ask your vet for Sucralfate in addition to the Pepcid, to coat the stomach. We have seen many dogs recover with conservative treatment. It is amazing what strict crate rest can do. It is this that heals the disc while the meds mask the symptoms. Feel free to read through some of our Success Stories, stories about pups just like Chance. You will see that each dogs recovers at a different rate and to a different degree. Even dogs that remain paralyzed have wonderful lives, they simply use a cart. Their personalities do not change. You can read the Success Stories here: www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory.htmWe look forward to your next update. Best wishes, ~Lisa |
|
|
|
Post by gcorr002 on Apr 8, 2013 10:07:28 GMT -7
OK So prevcid is now in the med rotation. And the pain meds are moved up to every 6 hours. Even with that Chance seems to be very upset/uncomfortable. He bites at us now when we change the bedding. So we have to muzzle him while working on his crate.
Calling the vet this afternoon to find out if a different pain med can be introduced. This is so frustrating, last 2 night we woke up about 6 times to check on him when he was yelping, usually a sign that he needs to use the bathroom, but nothing. It's so hard to stay optimistic. He should be getting better since he doesn't even move. Only moving he does is to try to get himself up but he can't hold himself up and it freaks him out.
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
|
Post by PaulaM on Apr 8, 2013 11:51:44 GMT -7
Gabriel, Ask for gabapentin to be added to make it a 3 combo mix to help with pain control. Vets are finding very good success with pain control as gabapentin work synergistically with Tramadol. In general, while H2-blockers [Pepcid AC] have a rapid onset of action (< 1 hr) and a duration of less than 12 hrs, PPIs [Prevacid] have a delayed onset of action and a prolonged duration of activity (up to 3 days). www.fda.gov/ohrms/dockets/ac/00/backgrd/3650b1b_tab_03.pdf So in the mean time Chance does not have stomach protection. Please get him on PEPCID AC (famotidine) today by calling and having the vet in the loop. If you are also seeing loose stools diarreah, take no chance it is from changing his food. Likely it is the Prednisone. Ask for a 2nd stomach protector on top of Pepcid AC....sucralfate. You can read about the timing of this med. We have observed on this Forum that Pravacid does not work as well with some dogs. Let us know what the vet prescribes and if the pain is under control with the adjusted prescriptions. |
|
|
|
Post by gcorr002 on Apr 9, 2013 10:09:19 GMT -7
Hello everyone, I'd like to first thank you guys for all your support. This forum really helped me and my girlfriend Erika through what was the toughest decision we had to make with Chance.
So as of yesterday the medication that Chance was taking was no longer keeping him calm and letting him rest. We took him in to the vet and upon a second neuro exam he had lost more sensation along his back. They wanted to be certain if it was indeed deterioration or a side effect of the medication. They observed him overnight and they were fairly certain it was Myelomalacia. They called in a neurologist for a second opinion, and he also confirmed it. I was very upset but I understood what that meant since I had looked it up on the boards beforehand. We put him down this morning. We brought him his little toy frog and was pretty excited to see. We held him until his last moments.
Chance is puppy angel now. I know he's happier. Me and Erika loved him very much.
I hope everyone the best luck with their dog's recovery. I hope this might help someone know what to do if you notice your crate rested dog suddenly doing worse instead of better.
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
|
Post by PaulaM on Apr 9, 2013 10:38:00 GMT -7
Gabriel and Erika, my heart aches and breaks for with you on the loss of your sweet Chance. You know there was nothing you or anyone did to cause Myelomalacia to happen. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Myelomalacia.pdf Thankfully you were well read to know to get help and know why Myelomalcia requires a kind but difficult gift of release to the Rainbow bridge. Chance crossed to another world knowing your deep love and affection and how well you cared for her. She left feeling how much you loved her! Godspeed, dear Chance! Warmest of ((hugs)) and my sincere condolences to you both. |
|
|
|
Post by Pauliana on Apr 9, 2013 11:39:48 GMT -7
Warm and sympathetic hugs to Gabriel and Erika. Chance loves you always and forever..
RAINBOW BRIDGE
Just this side of heaven is a place called Rainbow Bridge. When a pet dies -
one that's been especially close to someone here, that pet goes to
Rainbow Bridge. There are meadows and hills for all of our special
friends so they can run and play together. There is plenty of food,
water and sunshine, and our friends are warm and comfortable, fear and worry free.
All the animals who had been ill and old are restored
to health and the vigor of youth. Those who were abused, hurt or
maimed are made whole and strong again just as we want to remember them
in our dreams of days and times gone by.
The animals are happy and content, except for one small thing; they each miss
someone very special to them - someone who had to be left behind. That someone
who was kind, gentle and loving. That someone who took the extra step,
stayed the extra minute, reached out and touched with love, even once.
The animals all run and play together, but the day comes when one suddenly
stops and looks into the distance. His bright eyes are intent, his
eager body quivers. Suddenly he begins to run from the group, flying
over the green grass, his legs carrying him faster and faster.
You have been spotted, and when you and your special friend finally meet,
you cling together in joyous reunion, never to be parted again. The
happy kisses rain upon your face, your hands again caress the beloved
head, and you look into the big, trusting eyes of your special love, so
long gone from your life but never absent from your heart.
Then you cross Rainbow Bridge together. . . . . . . . . . . . .Author Unknown
|
|
|
|
Post by natureluva on Apr 9, 2013 13:21:15 GMT -7
Gabriel and Erika, Chance left this world SO very loved by you. We are grieving with you. I'm so sorry. Big hugs, ~Lisa
|
|
