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Post by samantha on May 3, 2013 12:30:26 GMT -7
Midori
just recently suffered from a slipped disc - we cannot afford the surgery, and we prayed that a couple spinal injections would help. Up until the very last minute - she showed no progress, could not use the
bathroom on her own, and couldn't move an inch in her legs. The morning we were expecting to put her down, she started using the bathroom on her own AND walking (stumbling, a little bit like a baby calf) - but she's
getting stronger and I feel like she is a miracle baby. I'm just curious if there is more that I need to do? She is on Prednisone (the steroid) a muscle relaxer, an acid relief, and some diarrhea medicine. She keeps getting stronger and stronger each day and our vet told us to let her walk if she feels comfortable doing it, but to limit it so she doesn't over do it. Is there anything else I'm missing here?
She is eating and drinking pretty well now, her diarrhea has eased up a lot and she is not shaking or panting since she has started the muscle relaxer. Every day there seems to be an improvement. She went to the vet 4/29 and was hospitalized to receive the spinal injections until 5/1.
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Post by Sally & Vinnie on May 3, 2013 12:46:41 GMT -7
You should put her on crate rest to limit movement and allow the disc to heal. 8 weeks! Also read everything you can on here. It will really help.
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on May 3, 2013 13:26:36 GMT -7
Samantha, glad to see you have joined us all! It IS in the cards for each dog to get back to enjoying life after finishining out the 8 weeks of needed crate rest...putting to sleep is just not a treatment for disc disease. So buckle up and join in the process of learning your dog's disease and how to best help her. We are a group who LOVE details. Can you give us the specifics on: 1. The name of the spinal injections 2. the exact names of all the meds she takes at home with the dose in mg and how often you are to given them. What was the start dose in mg for Predisone? Has there been a reduction, a taper or is there a a date scheduled? What is the diareah med, what is the acid relief med? 3. It sounds like Midori is suffering from the prednisone if she still has any loose stools at all...her stomach lining needs further protection Please strongly advocate for a 2nd stomach protector being on board asap called sucralfate. Read and know her meds so you can be a monitor as a nurse would be do a hospital setting. Marvista is my go to place to get up to speed on my own dog's meds: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html Have you seen any black or red blood in her stool? 4. The only way a disc heals with with 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks …. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc. The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off the bed at a TV doorbell and safe from other pets and kids from bothering them. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal. 5. Can you confirm for us that Midor does have bladder control. That is you do not see any urine leaks in her bedding, does not leak on you when lifted? Hang in there with Midori giving her the gift she needs a recovery suite....she'll be back in the family groove after she has healed her disc at the end of 8 weeks. Tell us about her recovery suite..which do you have, a pet stroller, a wire crate. Lots of terrific tips on setting up her recovery suite here in the rose-colored block: www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htm 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. Start on our main website with "Overview: the essentials" yellow button it will give you the degree of understanding you need right away…. as time permits continue to read all the orange buttons and the blue button "Disc Disease 101 core readings" to complete your education. Here is the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm |
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Post by samantha on May 3, 2013 13:35:08 GMT -7
1. 1.50 Dexamethasone injection on 4/29 and 4/30
2. Methocarbamol 500mg 1/4 tablet every 12 hrs for muscle relaxation
Sucralfate 1 gram 1/2 tablet every 8 hours for loose stool
Famotidine 20mg 1/4 tablet every 12 hrs acid reducer for nausea
Prednisone 5mg 1 every 12 hours for 5 days, then 1 every 24 hours for 5 days, then 1 every other day until gone. (20 total)
Diagel 1 ml every 24 hours (3 ml total) for diarrhea
Cerenia 24 mg 1/2 tablet every 24 hours for vomit
3. No black or red in her stool and it has hardened up quite a bit.
4. I just learned this information and have since put her in her kennel. (She was sleeping in the bed in a confined space where she did not move at all.)
5. She does have complete bladder control.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member 
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335 
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Post by StevieLuv on May 3, 2013 14:35:16 GMT -7
Good job getting on top of this condition right away! Is Midori a doxie?
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Post by samantha on May 3, 2013 14:42:21 GMT -7
Yes, miniature and 4 years old!
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Post by natureluva on May 3, 2013 16:49:47 GMT -7
Hi Samantha, thanks for the additional information on Midori. That is good news that she still has bladder control. Hopefully with the STRICT crate rest (minimizing movement of the spine is what heals the disc, while the meds mask the symptoms) her neurological functions will stay intact. Acupuncture and laser light therapy are excellent complementary treatments for IVDD. They both stimulate the nerves to heal and reduce pain and inflammation, and acupuncture has the additional bonus of inducing a state of well-being. These treatments can begin asap, as long as you can safely transport your dog to and from the appointments (crated). You can ask your vet for a referral to a holistic vet that does acupuncture and laser light therapy, or you can search for one in your area here: www.holisticvetlist.com/ Please keep in touch and let us know how you're both doing. Best wishes, ~Lisa |
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Post by samantha on May 3, 2013 16:51:13 GMT -7
And yay! As of a few minutes ago she no longer has diarrhea. She also used to only poop if I was helping hold her back/give her support. Now she looks at me like I'm crazy and won't do anything until I let her walk a couple steps on her own.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on May 4, 2013 10:32:45 GMT -7
I know that look very well  Glad to hear that the diarrhea is gone, one less thing to deal with |
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Post by samantha on May 5, 2013 10:47:01 GMT -7
Question, she is starting to climb up her kennel and jump around. I'm not sure if there is a way to prevent it. Also, I put her pills in a little but if cheese for her to take them, anyone else know of a way to get her to take them because it seems to be making her constipated now.
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Post by Pauliana on May 5, 2013 14:55:03 GMT -7
Try lunch meat. Give her a small piece without the pill, the second, with the pill. That worked for Tyler. We did have to try lots of things because he got wise to us.. Try putting a towel over the crate to create a den like atmosphere. That should help calm her. Here are some calmers to try. Farnum's Comfort Zone with D.A.P. www.petcomfortzone.com/dogs.html [pheromone diffuser] with one oral calmer from below: Oral calmers: 1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/anxitane-l-theanine-chewable-tablets/behavioral-health 2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine. www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.php [Composure] 3) Rescue Remedy is a liquid herb combo to help with relaxation |
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Glad to hear that the diarrhea is gone, one less thing to deal with 
