Linda's Rinku 5/8 conservative - India

Linda, panting can be a temporary side effect of Prednisone (OMNACORTAIL) plus with the heat there is not helping. Do you have a fan circulating air near his recovery suite but not pointed at Rinku? Or do you have air conditioning?

If his poop is getting softer, that can be a sign of Prednisone causing damage to the GI tract. Please do not take any chances specifically ask for another stomach protector to be on board called sucralfate.

If you can also make a change to the news of the stomach protectors famotidine instead of Zinetac (Rantidine) pursue it. Famotidine as you will read is a better protector with less problems with other meds. www.marvistavet.com/html/famotidine.html

It is important to speak with the vet about the above two things but also just as important to strongly advocate to get pain med(s) on board. This is not right that Rinku has to suffer with pain shown by holding his head high and yelping. It sounds like he has a neck disc this time.

Please ask the vet for these pain meds that vets use all the time with a disc problem:
Tramadol as the general pain reliever and it i s usually prescribed to be given every 8 hours because it is short acting.
Methocarbamol for the pain from muscles…that typically happen with a disc episode especially a neck one

I wanted to know exact what was given at the hospital as you had mentioned pain killers. Why where no pain killers sent home with Rinku?

What date is he supposed to take a NSAID, DOLOCARP/Carprofen. As long as Rinku has pain, it is not a good idea to be switching from a steroid, OMNACORTAIL/Prednisolone to a NSAID. The switch would require 4-7 days washout before switching. YOu will need to read, read and make sure you have the knowledge to speak up for and advocate for Rinku's needs with the vet. This article explains what you need to know re: NSAIDs and steroids: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

Let us know you have the 2nd stomach protector on board and which pain meds you got added on board for Rinku today.

YOu also need to go back for another hands on top of your hands lesson on expressing the bladder. This is a health issue to keep bladder infection away. If you learn to express, there will be no need of diapers. We do not recommend diapers as they cause their own problems and dogs abhor having to sit in their waste/feces/urine. You will get a lot more out of the lesson by looking at the video and reading the tips to express urine and to express for poop. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm

Rinku and you can get through this again…. we are here to support you. Keep us updated on your sweet Rinku.

Thanks for the update, Linda, we were wondering how Rinku was doing. 

The porridge is not sufficient nutrition and should be only for a few days when dealing with a diareah or vomit situation. Do transition him back on his kibble as it provides the necessary minerals, vitiamins and nutrients to carry on with all the repair jobs his body is having to do right now.

The pinching between toes is a reflexive action…this kind of exercise is something that should wait until after all 8 weeks of crate rest has been completed. Pinching, tickling paws is not a good idea right  now as it may cause too much movement of the back.  Do make sure you are only doing the PINK highlighted info and only the red numbered items for range of  motion and massage as described in this article:http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/massagepassiveexercises.htm  

Can you tell us about his cart… is it a wheelchair. Wheelchair should wait until the end of 8 weeks as getting them in and out would be too much movement for the back. It would be best to carry Rinku to and from the potty place in your arms. Keeping the back horizontal to the  ground and supporting his chest and butt.  Here is one way you could carry him that would provide good support:

hi paula

yes rinku is doing good-this morning he did not poop but pee'd a lot, plus he had passed urine in the night in his diaper and a good quantity as well.

i am giving him the kibble since he likes it and asks for it, he is drinking water pretty well and this morning he had his milk and bread.

the cart is one that i had got from dogstogo-laurie and larry's product and he loves it coz it gives him comfort from what i have noticed, its much more comfortable than the sling thing that i had made for him, that used to press against his peepee and cause the foreskin to go right back exposing the whole peepee, and that looked really uncomfortable also to make him squat to do his job was not easy since i would have to bend over and hold him-since i too have back and knee troubles this was turning out to be a painful excersize for me as well-but no worries, if it means its better for rinku-than i will do it.

yes we carry him just like shown in the video here and thats the way we have been carrying him ever since the last incident.

i like the slings you have shown here and will try to make one like the same and try it out.

i dont observe signs of pain but not ruling out the fact that he must be having some pain, as there is a slight quivering when he is petted along the back(yes very very gentle), now wether that is because of feeling slightly ticklish of pain, i cannot say-but he does not cry out or any such thing.

tomorrow he has to be taken to the vet as well and i hope they say all is well.

wish him luck please.

thanks

linda