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Post by Amy & Chico on May 14, 2013 7:29:25 GMT -7
And here we go again. I wonder if my boy is ever going to get a break. It looks like Chico is having another episode. He is showing signs of pain...tight tummy, yelping and crying when I pick him up, and shaking, plus when I put him in his bag to play on Saturday evening, he didn't move at all, which is highly unlike him...he usually takes off like lightning!
Yesterday I noticed what I think is swelling on his spine, right about in the same area as the last 2 times. I've put him on complete crate rest and have been giving him 1/2 a Tramadol and 1/2 a Methocarbamol every 6 hours and he is resting while on that. I have some leftover prednisone, but don't dare start that until I talk to the Dr., which will be today. He is still eating and drinking fine, expressing pee and poop as normal, so that's a good sign. I am beside myself. I hate that this is happening again. I can't afford surgery, honestly I can't even afford a vet visit right now!!
I will keep you all updated after I talk to the vet.
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Post by Amy & Chico on May 14, 2013 8:19:00 GMT -7
I just talked to the vet. He is one that doesn't like to prescribe steroids, which in a way is good...he wants me to keep him on the tramadol and methocarbamol and crate rest for a couple more days to see what happens, since we aren't entirely sure it's a disc episode. If there is no improvement after that, then he will see him to verify an episode and put him on the steroid.
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Post by Pauliana on May 14, 2013 8:44:52 GMT -7
So Sorry to hear Chico is having another IVDD episode. It great that you crated him right away and contacted the Vet for further instructions. It is always best to treat it as if it is IVDD until you know for sure that it isn't.
Sounds to me that he needs to have that swelling addressed ASAP whether by Steroid or NSAID and don't forget the Pepcid AC to protect his tummy..
Sending feel better wishes to Chico.
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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 15, 2013 9:30:58 GMT -7
Hi my name is Maureen and we are going through a second IVDD episode here too. I don't have any great advice for you - just a note to let you know that I'm thinking of you and Chico and hope that he is resting comfortably soon!  |
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Post by Amy & Chico on May 29, 2013 14:59:37 GMT -7
Well, I suppose I will update.
We did a week of Prednisone and thought he was feeling better but then he wasn't. So, we are now on the following:
Prednisone 1/2 tab twice a day
Pepcid 1/4 tab twice a day
Gabapentin 1 capsule once a day, alternating with Tramadol as needed.
He doesn't seem to be in too much pain anymore. He is just resting now. The odd thing is that he seems to be irritated when I am expressing him, but he is showing no other signs of having any nerve healing so I don't know.
Thanks everyone for all of your support this time. I appreciate it.
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,610
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Post by PaulaM on May 29, 2013 18:20:45 GMT -7
It is not unusual to have to try a 2nd or 3rd round of Pred before all the swelling is gone. There really is no way to know if all the swelling is gone until a taper off of Pred is tried. If there is pain, that lets the vet know to go another round.
"doesn't seem to be in too much pain" what pain are you seeing?… there should be NO pain if the pain meds are correctly prescribed. Tramadol is a very short acting pain med and is not likely to control pain unless given every 8 hours. Gabapentin can also be given more often than once a day. Why was methocarbamol stopped? There is no one size fits all pain relief. Just gotta keep communication open with the vet on what you observe so he can adjust the dose in mg and the frequency or maybe add in yet another pain med. Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy?
Often it takes being at the anti-inflamamtory dose of prednisone (5mg 2x/day) for 1-2 weeks or even for some dogs more like a month before all the swelling is gone. On the taper the dose is lowered to less than the anti-flammatory dose and that is the time to assess just how well reduction of swelling is going by observing for pain.
Can you give us the specifics on name of meds with their dose mg?
Can Chico wag his tail if he sees you enter the room or if you do some happy talk to him?
Have you given him the sniff and pee test to see if any bladder control is returning? It can be more difficult to express when control starts to return. The only way for us humans to know if there is bladder control is with the sniff and pee test. Carry outdoors, set on an old pee spot to sniff it. See if urine is then released. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning. You should continue do a quick express check to verify there is full voiding until you are certain it is consistently happening. Let us know what you observe.
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