|
|
Post by julienne on Apr 21, 2013 14:26:51 GMT -7
Sorry it's taken so long to respond, it's been hectic since Friday. Hank saw a daytime vet yesterday morning and was prescribed methocarbamol, glucosamine (for life, apparently) and vetprofen (generic brand of Remadyl, I was told.) The vet said hank's reaction time was slow and his back was pretty bad. At this point I started crying because it seems like Hank is inching closer and closer to being like Jack. The vet recommended 3-4 weeks of crate rest (of course I'll complete my 8 weeks though) and to switch food because Hank is 2-3 pounds overweight. He completed his first laser light therapy treatment but at $30 a treatment and no "immediate effects," my parents refuse to pay for another. My birthday is in 2 weeks so every monetary gift I receive will go straight to Hank's therapy fund.
I have some questions. First, the vet stressed that the metho and vetprofen were only as needed. I'm terrified of going off them again for fear of Hank being in pain. When should I stop usage?
My parents are wondering how long this will last, and if surgery would be the "cure" for these back problems. The vet highly recommended an orthopedic surgeon that has had numerous IVDD patients and is very familiar with the disease. She also said that while Hank has a large chance of having more ruptured discs in the future, surgery would be the best option, but is usualky not a financial option. Is this true?
Cal, thank you for your encouraging words. Everyone is so supportive and kind here, so very different than my family. My parents almost refused to take Hank to the vet for his medications because he "looked fine." Lately all I hear is nagging about the cost of Hanks care (almost $900 so far) and it's very hard to listen to. I appreciate everyone's kind words and advice, I take it all to heart.
|
|
|
|
Post by natureluva on Apr 21, 2013 14:56:01 GMT -7
Julie, I am so very sorry to hear that your parents are giving you a hard time regarding Hank's treatment. Laser therapy usually takes a few treatments to get results. The thing about laser therapy is that it reduces inflammation on the spinal cord and revs up nerve healing. It is a shame your parents will not pay for the laser. How many/much methocarbamol and Rimadyl did the vet give you? Usually Rimadyl is given daily to continually reduce inflammation on the spinal cord. The methocarbamol is a muscle relaxant to help with pain. If you think that Hank is in pain, ask the vet for Tramadol, which is an opiate-like general pain reliever that is frequently prescribed for IVDD pain. Remember that the most important part of conservative treatment is the STRICT crate rest. It takes longer for discs to heal than even bones, so that is why 8 weeks of crate rest are needed. What surgery does is immediately remove the disc material that is bulging or has leaked out onto the spinal cord. It involves either an MRI or myelogram beforehand, and that in and of itself is quite expensive. We have seen surgery cost anywhere between $2,000 and $6,000. Surgery is usually reserved for dogs whose pain cannot be controlled, who have had acute disc ruptures, or who have failed to recover after more than one round of conservative care. Here are several links for you to research for financial assistance: www.thepetfund.com/ and www.uan.org/index.cfm?navid=163 and www.humanesociety.org/animals/resources/tips/trouble_affording_veterinary_care.html www.help-a-pet.org/www.speakingforspot.com/helppayingforveterinarycare.html www.theamericandogmag.com/non-profit/resources-veterinary-bills-financial-assistance For senior dogs: www.facebook.com/pages/Senior-Animal-Medical-Aid-Fund-Inc/119486670195?v=info#!/pages/Senior-Animal-Medical-Aid-Fund-Inc/119486670195?v=wall Also, Walmart, Target, and many grocery stores have a generic drug program and you can get a 30-day supply of some drugs for $4 each. Walmart has TraMadol in the correct dosage for our dogs and also Prednisone. Target may have Methocarbamol. So, you can ask the vet for a prescription and take it to the store and have it filled. Just tell them it is for a K9. My heart goes out to you - wish I could give you a big hug. You are such a good mommy to Hank. Please let us know how he does. Best wishes, ~Lisa |
|
PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
|
Post by PaulaM on Apr 21, 2013 15:21:17 GMT -7
Julie, you did a good job you got extra Rimadyl (vetprofen) and methocarbamol)!!!! Hank can still walk even though his reaction time is hindered, right? He can still go potty on his own, right? If yes to all, then he is still a good candidate to recover with conservative treatment.... hang in there you are doing such a good job. It would be nice if we all could afford all the bells and whistles with laser light therapy but that is not always possible. Do know that Hank can still heal. It is the vetprofen that will work on getting swelling down and the methocarbamol to give him relief from pain and the MOST important is you know he needs the 8 weeks of crate rest!!!..... you have all the elements.... Oh, yeah...do you have pepcid ac on board for his stomach? Tell us if he is pain free still dose to dose of the methocarbamol? Methocarbamol and Vetprofen are NOT as needed. You use the meds until there is an assumption swelling might be all gone. Then the vet will call for a stop of both. If there is pain, then swelling is not gone and the need to continue them a bit longer. It can take 1-2 weeks or even more like a month to get all the swelling down. How many pills did you get of each and what is the dose in mg and how often are you to give them? Your parents are looking for an answer as to how long things take to heal. There is no one answer... different parts of healing take different amounts of time. Can you print out the Overview and help them to understand what Hank's body is going through? Here is the overview: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htmConserve and spend your money in the wisest way possible. Do not buy any more glucosamine. If you have not opened the bottle, return it for a refund. Read up on supplements: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Supplements.htmAs Natureluva mentioned you can check out the $4 generic meds at your grocery store, Walmart. For right now since you can't with any safety change to a different NSAID or a steroid, that would leave Tramadol as a pain reliever and Pepcid AC (famotidine). Still it could be worth checking out. Your vet would need to write an Rx if this program as anything to offer you. two links to investigate: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/IVDDcourse/medications_used.htmlgenericmedlist.com/Please do update us, we always wonder when we don't hear back. |
|
|
|
Post by julienne on Apr 21, 2013 16:55:34 GMT -7
Hank is currently showing NO signs of pain, can use the restroom by himself, and is able to walk normally. He is, however, having a hard time scratching his ears/face.
His medications are as follows:
Pepcid AC 5 mg: 30 minutes before Vetprofen.
Vetprofen 25 mg: 1/2 tablet every 12 hours. (20 pills)
Methocarbamol 500 mg: 1/4 tablet every 8 hours (6 pills)
Thank you all for the continuous support. I know I'm in for a bumpy ride but it's so much easier to have you all here, teaching me and providing emotional support.
Natureluva, thank you SO much for the links. I'll look into each and every one of them. My sister just offered to pay for at least 2 of his treatments or medications, so that helps too.
Pauliana, I believe Hanks pain is under control. The tremadol would replace the methocarbamol, correct? I don't think he will need more pain relievers after he finishes the methocarbamol.
Unfortunately, I already opened the glucosamine. The vet did such a good job of convincing me that, with new medical research, it's beneficial for IVDD dogs. I feel cheated in a way, but I'm even more upset with myself for not properly researching it beforehand.
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
|
Post by PaulaM on Apr 21, 2013 17:44:11 GMT -7
Julie, still having bladder control is good! Leg movements depend on nerves and that function can come back to be able to scratch. So all hope is not lost, in fact Hank is doing a lot better than other dogs and they came back.
So you have enough of the NSAID, Vetprofen, to last for 20 days.... that is a good amount of anti-inflammatory. And you have enough of methocarbamol which helps with pain of muscles spasms to last only 8 days. Hmmmmm, that is strange. The hope is that before the 20 days are up you and your vet will have a plan as to when to give it a try to stop Vetprofen and any pain meds to assess swelling. Did you two discuss such a plan?
Tramadol is a general pain reliever that most vets give along with methocarbamol. So it is good that the muscle relaxer alone is keeping Hank out of pain.
Vetprofen is not a pain reliever, so if methocarbamol is stopped and Hank is not in pain in 8 days...then I would phone call the vet and tell him you'd like to stop the Vetprofen to accurately assess how inflammation is actually doing. If Hank at the stop of Vetprofen should still be in pain, then you would need a pain reliever on board to go with the balance of the Vetprofen. Every dog is different on the inflammation...so it is guesswork as to when to stop meds. While these meds are heaven sent when doing their job, there is no benefit to use one bit longer than necessary. They all carry side effects and you want to lesson adverse side effects by getting off them when the time is right... no pain.
|
|
|
|
Post by Jan & Peanut, Cosmo & Panda on Apr 21, 2013 19:20:52 GMT -7
The muscle relaxer/methocarbamol is $14.46 for 30 & the Tramadol is $4 for 30 & so is the PREDNISONE at Wal-Mart. Make sure the vet puts their medical number on the Tramadol or WalMart pharmacy won't fill it.
|
|
|
|
Post by julienne on Apr 27, 2013 16:18:22 GMT -7
Sorry for the lack of updates everyone. Hank is doing okay, with the exception that it seems like his spine is protruding a bit and you can kind of see it under his skin? He's shivering a little bit here and there and it's making me very nervous. Worst of all his methocarbamol runs out tomorrow but I think he should continue with it for at least another week, along with his vetprofen. However, I could not take him to the vet today due to both monetary and family problems, and tomorrow it will be closed. The earliest i can take him in would be monday afterschool. However, my sister was able to bring some of her dog's tramadol that she no longer needs in hopes that Hank could use it. It's a 50 mg tablet prescribed to her 40 lb dog every 8-12 hours as needed. Could I perhaps cut this into a size that Hank could use? He's 15 lbs. Any advice is truly appreciated. Thank you!
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
|
Post by PaulaM on Apr 27, 2013 17:05:03 GMT -7
The bones of the spine being more prominent is likely due to the way he is holding his back… many dogs tend to have a hump during a disc episode. Shivering/trembling, shaking would be a sign of pain. Can you determine if the shivers are due to being cold… does a warm towel from the dryer stop the shiveres. If he shivers nearing the next dose of methocarbamol or after having been moved to potty, then I would say that is a sign of pain…. showing there is still inflammation going on in the spinal cord. Is it too late to get a phone call into your vet to get the right dose of Tramadol for Hank? Since we are not vets we would not be able to prescribe meds and doses. As with all meds you might give your dog or are giving your dog, you do need to read up on each of them for safety reasons so you are in a position to discuss things with your vet. vasg.org/t_drugs.htm ; www.1800petmeds.com/Tramadol-prod11064.html |
|
