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Post by Kelly&Onyx on Jun 8, 2013 17:26:53 GMT -7
Hello, Dodger's List. I was hoping that I would not have to return here after my frequent visits last year. Sadly, I am back, as my boy, Onyx, is having issues again. Onyx is an 8 year old miniature dachshund. In August of 2012 Onyx started having pain and difficulty walking. At the time the initial thought was that he had a lower back disc that was the source of the issues. Long story short, the imaging showed he had both a back disc and a neck disc that were potentially causing problems. He ended up having surgery on the neck disc as the vet felt that was the one causing the problems. He recovered fully and was a happy boy for several months.
Unfortunately, his neck is causing him pain again. This time he has slightly different symptoms in that he does not have neurological issues. When we noticed him in pain we thought it might be his belly as he does have belly issues as well. When he showed no improvement the next morning we immediately crated him and gave him diazepam. That was on Sunday, May 5.
He has been on crate rest ever since. I would not say it is 100% though. We struggle at potty time because he WILL NOT pee or poop without sniffing around. I have stayed in one place with him for half an hour on more than one occasion and he will not go. If he can find his spot he will go, but he walks much more than he should. Aside from that he does not get to come out for any reason. We have an expen so we make it big enough for one of us to go in and lay with him which he loves. In short, crate rest is not hard for us as he is the best at it (aside from potty time).
We called the vet on Monday morning, May 6, and she advised us to continue diazepam and add tramadol. At that point he did not go in to see the vet as the result was going to be conservative treatment either way. On May 9 he had a muscle spasm and was in clear pain and unable to move his neck during the spasm so we rushed him to the vet. They then started him on methylpredinsolone, 4 mg. The steroid was a longer treatment than last year with a longer taper. Total, it took three weeks and his last dose [methylpredinsolone] was exactly one week ago.
At our check in (phone call) with the vet last week she recommended surgery. This was based on the fact that he seems fine for several days and then seems to have a bad day with pain. We are trying to avoid surgery, but honestly I feel like that is what will end up happening if we can come up with the money. It is very different than last time though because he has very good days (most days are good), and he has bad days. He has no neuro symptoms and can do things he could not do at all until after surgery last time. For example, he shakes his head, stretches, and rolls on his back (probably shouldn't, but not sure how to stop him). There is a clear distinction between the two types of days (good and bad) and some days start out one way or the other and end up the opposite.
Since we are trying to avoid surgery we started acupuncture this past Wednesday and are going to go weekly to see what happens as well. He seemed relaxed after the first treatment and this week we are adding the electricity. I am going to ask about cold laser when we go this week too.
Right now Onyx is on the following meds: tramadol 50mg, 1/2 tab once/day and diazepam 5 mg, 1/2 tab twice/day. I just picked up more steroid ▲(methylprednisolone) today, but have not started him on it yet. I don't feel he is doing poorly overall at this point, but he has pain sometimes so I think he probably needs more steroid or maybe just an adjustment to his pain meds. And yes, we always give him pepcid when he is on the steroid.
One thing that drives me crazy is the difference in information as far as crate rest goes. Our neurologist only prescribed 3 weeks of crate rest and said that if the disc doesn't heal in 3-4 weeks, it won't. Many other vets say the same, but I have faith in this website and the information here. I just don't understand how the info can be so different. Five weeks difference is a lot of time. We are sticking with crate rest for 8 weeks, by the way.
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Post by Pauliana on Jun 8, 2013 22:08:43 GMT -7
Welcome back to Dodgerslist. I am sorry to hear that Onyx is again having a cervical disc episode and I am glad you crated him right away. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmI would say since he is still in pain and Tramdol is a very short acting pain medication call and ask the Vet to prescribe it every 8 hours for proper pain control.. There is still a lot of room to adjust the pain medications. Methocarbamol works well with muscle spasms for example and also works well with Tramadol and that may help get Onyx pain free so he can begin healing. He should have much better days when the pain is under control. Cervical disc episodes are extremely painful especially since the head moves everytime the dog moves so pain meds need to be more aggressive. Please read this link. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmMany Vets don't recommend 8 weeks of crate rest because they feel people won't do it so they opt for shorter times because they feel their clients will be more likely to comply. Our Vet recommended the full 8 weeks though. It drives us crazy when we hear the shortened crate rest times too and the other misinformation out there but that is why we are here! It's hard with the male dogs getting them to potty in short amount of steps. Tyler was difficult that way too but eventually he learned we weren't going to go any farther and he complied. He was annoyed though.. Take care and keep us posted on Onyx.. |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 9, 2013 11:14:43 GMT -7
Jory, sorry to hear Onyx is having another problem. The cervicals can take much longer to heal and 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks really can't be short cutted without lapses to the early healing disc. Recovery suite are only big enough to turn around in, stand up, and when lying down to fully stretch out the legs. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks also mean 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. So too much movement could have been the reason for pain after coming off methylpred a week ago as the tearing of the disc is a painful event. Set up a fenced 6 foot diameter area in the grass so Onyx knows there will not be any sniff festing going on during potty times… just a few footsteps to get the job done. The poke in the ground garden edging fence or an expen can be used at pottytime. When he cam off methylpred did the pain meds also stop to give a verification that all the swelling was really gone? 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 the pain meds are backed off or stopped and that is the time to assess just how well reduction of swelling is going by observing for pain. Rule of thumb is: pain = swelling = more time on Pred needed. How is his pain today? Do you know have him on methylpred…. pain meds will do nothing to work on inflammation…prednisone does that. Your vet is very light on the pain meds so there is plenty of room room to adjust for dose in mg, frequency and adding in the typical meds used with a disc episode. Please read up on them and be prepared to advocate if you observe pain. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htm Also let us know you are doing all the extra thing to help with a neck disc recommended in the article. Hang in there with strict rest and proper pain meds …. so Onyx can again get back to healing his disc |
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Post by Kelly&Onyx on Jul 8, 2013 11:51:56 GMT -7
Hi, everyone. I just wanted to give an update as this forum has been so valuable for me going through this with Onyx and I hope this thread can help others as well. Onyx is now finished with his 8 weeks of crate rest (finished about a week ago). He has been seen for 5 sessions of acupuncture as well and he is doing great. He is back to his old self and a very happy pup!! We are slowly allowing him to work his way up to "normal" activity and he went on his first short walk yesterday. He is off all medication and has been for more than a week. I swear by the crate rest and acupuncture and we plan to continue the acupuncture treatments indefinitely. He has great range of motion back in his neck and is pain free. Although we are always hopeful that he will not have any other issues with his neck (or back), we know it is likely he will. Every vet we have seen tells us it is not a matter of if, but when. For now we plan to allow him to be a dog as much as possible while making sure we do what we can to keep him pain free and avoid another "episode". |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 8, 2013 13:57:16 GMT -7
Congratulations on completing crate rest. Glad to hear Onyx is incrementally working his way back into normal activities and doing well at it!!
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Post by Pauliana on Jul 8, 2013 21:22:54 GMT -7
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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 Jul 9, 2013 9:11:04 GMT -7
Congratulations Onxy!!  |
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