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Post by kelseyr on Jun 20, 2013 16:09:51 GMT -7
My Oscar is 5 years old, he was only two when I rescued him from an abusive home. Since then he has been my best friend. Last Tuesday he was playing with some kids and the next day (Wednesday) I realized he couldn't walk well. I called the vet and they got him In that night. They said it was possibly some inflammation and sent him home on tramadol and deramax. Two days ago I realized his back legs were giving out and I called the vet. They seemed not worried and scheduled me for today. I went in and they did an X-ray which showed IVDD. She recommended surgery. I am a full time nursing student and cannot afford $3000-$5000 dollars. I did apply for care credit and got approved but I wanted to try to see if his meds and crate rest would help at all. The vet called me back and said the surgeon said Oscar needs emergency surgery but could not do it due to scheduling. They want to refer me to another place. When I explained this to the vet she said if he gets any worse I need to bring him in immediately and if I still choose not to do the surgery I will have to put him down. I have been crying nonstop all day, this is my baby and I don't want him to die. I'm afraid if I try the crate rest he will worsen and the surgery will no longer be worth it. And if I do the surgery what if it doesn't work or what if it comes back?! Help!!!
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Jun 20, 2013 17:47:34 GMT -7
Don't despair. Your sweet Oscar may well recover with meds and crate rest. I'm sure there will be a moderator along shortly to give you extensive advise, and ask a lot of questions to help them better advise you.
In the mean time, read all you can on this website to educate yourself. This will allow you to be the best advocate and care giver you can be for Oscar. IVDD is a nasty, chronic disease, and the more you know the better. Keep Oscar crated 100% of the time, only out for potty breaks. Carry him outside, and only allow a few steps to get the job done.
If possible, (and I KNOW how hard this is), keep your attitude positive when you're around Oscar. Don't give in to whining, but reward him for quiet behavior in the crate. You can and will get through this. have courage!
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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 Jun 20, 2013 17:52:12 GMT -7
No! No! NO! You do not have to put him down if you don't have surgery!! IVDD is not a fatal disease, and Conservative treatment is a perfectly reasonable plan of treatment!! - oh I am so sorry that you are going through this. First thing to do is take a deep breath and realize that you are not alone anymore - we are all here for you. Step 2 is to confine Oscar to a crate or recovery suite www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm and www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htm for 8 weeks, only out to potty. A space just big enough for him to turn around in and to stretch out comfortablly. If you can give us a list of his medications and the dosage and frequency given we can help out there too. Does he have a stomach protector like Pepcid? You can buy that at the drugstore without a prescription. Does he have bladder and bowel control? Does he wag his tail when he is happy or if you happy talk to him? Is his pain under control? There is so much info on this site for you to learn from so read, read ,read. www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm You are the captain of Oscars health care team, and getting up to speed will help you with the Vet. If your Vet won't help with conservative treatment we can help with a list of those who will. I don't want to overwhelm you with too much information. We will provide as much help as we can. You are not alone, don't give up, we are here!! |
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Post by jochs311 on Jun 20, 2013 18:37:01 GMT -7
Hang in there. We are new to this too last Friday. 100% crate rest except to go potty! Euthenasia is NOT an option. The best advice I can give is read and take in everything!!! You will end up with more knowledge than your vet on IVDD if you do. I really hope Oscar gets better soon. Tucker's healing energies sent your way  ? |
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Post by Pauliana on Jun 20, 2013 19:06:19 GMT -7
Kelsey, welcome to Dodgerslist. Conservative treatment works and there are many Dodgerlist dogs who are LIVING proof of that!! A vet that gives you a choice of surgery or Put to sleep is not the one you want to treat your Oscar.. He is not comfortable in treating IVDD. Like Maureen and Pollysmom said, IVDD is not a fatal disease is it a disease that can be lived with and managed! Here is a link that explains how to find a IVDD vet. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/VetchkList.htm I highly recommend a change in vets to one that will work with you in treating Oscar! Here is a link about pain relief: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm and and another link that explains that Oscar can have a great quality of life with IVDD. www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm
Here's a link to our success stories.. C after the name means the dog was treated with conservative treatment. www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory.htm
What dosages and frequencies given for the Tramadol and Deramax? And be sure to ask your Vet if there is any medical reason not to give Oscar Pepcid AC to protect her stomach while on the NSAID Deramax. Pepcid AC 5 mg for a small dog, 30 minutes prior to the Deramax...and then another dose 12 hours later. We follow vets that are proactive in protecting IVDD dogs stomachs BEFORE bleeding ulcers develop! Very important. Oscar doesn't need any other problems to deal with.. : ) What breed is Oscar? Not sure what size dog he is.. and that is important to know in regards to dosages of medications. Stay positive and upbeat in front of Oscar so he won't be frightened.. Believe us, you can help him through this and things will get better in time... 8 weeks of 100% crate rest, 24/7 only out to potty is the key to limit movement of his discs and spine so he can heal. Yes indeed we are here! Sending healing wishes.. |
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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 Jun 21, 2013 8:11:51 GMT -7
How are you and Oscar doing this morning??
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Post by kelseyr on Jun 21, 2013 15:02:09 GMT -7
Thank you all soo much for the support! Oscar is a 5 year old Dachshund. I got him when he was 2yrs from a woman who starved him and abused him, he was rail thin, missing patches of fur, and infested with fleas. Obviously he is now my baby and spoiled rotten! Let me start off by saying Oscar is not completely paralyzed in his back half (knock on wood). He is still just wobble walking. Yesterday he could barely hold himself up to poop but also started new meds yesterday and has now improved today. This morning when he held himself up to poop I could have cried if I had any tears left! I am not happy with the way the vet talked to me, I felt she thought I was a bad mother because I wanted to try conservative treatment first. I work for a doctor that has SEVEN dachshunds and is part of a dachshund rescue, and he said conservative would be fine. The only thing that worries me is that he has calcification on 2 of his discs and I don't think the medications can help with that. Oscar is now taking formatidine (pepcid) 10mg, 1/8 tab every 8hrs, Tramadol 50 mg 1/2 tab every 12 hrs, prednisone 5mg 1 tab every 12 hrs for 5days then every 24 hrs for 5 days then every 48 hrs, methocarbam 500mg 1/2 tab every 8 hrs for 7 days, and sucralfate 1g every 8 hrs for 3 days. My fiance and I have decided to do the surgery because we are worried that he may become paralyzed and at that point his chances of recovery may go down. We will make payments on the surgery and just make things work because Oscar is our son and we are NOT putting him down!
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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 Jun 21, 2013 19:29:51 GMT -7
Definitely read about the benefits of surgery and the benefits of conservative treatment, both have their good and bad points. Surgery is NOT a guarantee that he will not be paralysed...(not trying to freak you out-just want to make sure that you have all of the facts) www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmOur Stevie was paralysed and is now walking again after conservative treatment - twice!! She has 8 calcified discs poor little girlie. Sounds like you have his medications under control - is he free from pain? Keep us posted - we will do whatever we can to help. Keeping you in thought and prayer. |
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Post by kelseyr on Jun 21, 2013 19:40:51 GMT -7
Well now I'm scared, do I go through with the surgery? Or do I wait and see if he gets better? Does he have more of a chance of relapsing if I don't do the surgery? I'm just so confused and scared.
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Post by Pauliana on Jun 21, 2013 20:13:44 GMT -7
Kelsey, I understand how scary this is and how much you love Oscar.. Been through this with my Tyler and believe me I was just as scared as you are now. He had successful surgery. Maureen's Stevie has recovered very well indeed using the conservative method as many of Dodgerslist dogs have. There is no wrong answer here.. Just a decision that needs to be made taking Oscar's and your needs into consideration. Keep in mind that they don't normally do surgery on a dog that hasn't lost the use of their legs. If the dog is wobbly walking usually conservative treatment is tried first..The important thing is crate rest, only out to potty, to avoid further injury to his discs and spine and it is limited movement that helps the discs to heal..Medications can take down the inflammation and mask the pain but limited movement is the key to helping Oscar heal. Here is an article for you to read that compares the two treatments, surgery or conservative. This will help give you a clearer picture to help you decide. It is such a hard decision but read carefully with your husband and I think this will help you both to come to plan that will help Oscar. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmHere is some information about Calcified discs: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CalcifiedDiscs.htmOscar is on the right medications to treat him right now. Have you observed any signs of pain now that he is on Tramadol every 12 hours? Signs of pain are holding the head in an unusual position...head held high or nose to the ground, shivering/trembling, not wanting to move much or moving gingerly, yelping, tight/tense stomach muscles, holding leg up flamingo style...not wanting to bear weight on the legs, just not their usual perky-interested-in-life self. Tramadol is a general pain reliever. It has a short half life of 1.7 hours and may need to be prescribed at a minimum of every 8 hours, so if you notice Oscar is in pain let the Vet know to change the frequency to every 8 hours. Take a deep breath and know everything is going to be ok. IVDD can be managed and with tender loving care, Oscar will be on the road to recovery.. |
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Jun 21, 2013 20:19:50 GMT -7
I feel for you. Deciding how to proceed is so difficult.
I reread your posts and didn't see any mention of pain, loss of proprioception (knuckling under) or deep pain status. Those answers might help the moderators to better advise you.
Hang in there.
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Post by kelseyr on Jun 21, 2013 21:03:57 GMT -7
I don't exactly know what knuckling under is, but when his legs give out he is dragging them a bit and nails are scuffing. He does not seem to be in any pain but his tummy is hard but I don't know if thats due to constipation from the pain meds. I'm going to see what they say at his consultation and hopefully they will be honest with me regarding if surgery is absolutely needed or not. Either way I'm willing to do what it takes to save my baby. Thank you everyone again. I'm so thankful for a site like this for people like me who are scared and need support. Thank you!!
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Post by jochs311 on Jun 21, 2013 21:56:23 GMT -7
Hi. Knuckling over is when the toes are backwards when he tries to stand. The tight belly is a sign of pain. The belly muscles will contract in attempt to hold the spine aligned.
We have been on 100% bed rest for a week now. We have seen improvement in Tucker as far as his spirits he was parilized when I got home Friday. It's tough to decide what's best if your vet isn't on the same page. I know. I have heard acupuncture is great for their recovery. We have an appointment Tuesday.
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Post by kelseyr on Jun 22, 2013 19:10:42 GMT -7
Oscar has shown some improvement today, he is barely scuffing his nails when he goes out to potty and is barely falling in the yard like he was. I am still doing 100% strict crate rest 24/7, my arms are so sore from carrying him around with me hehe, but its so worth it. I still do not notice any signs of pain other than his tight belly but I truly think he is constipated because his poop seems to be very hard, probably due to his pain medicine. I am slightly confused on his meds, the sucralfate says give on an empty stomach and so does the methocarbam and the sucralfate says to not give any other meds for a half hour. I have been giving the Sucralfate and waiting a half hour and giving meds according to schedule. I also have a log to keep track of times give and when the next doses are due. I am still going to take Oscar to his consultation in Akron, Ohio on Monday but may not schedule surgery if he continues to improve.
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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 22, 2013 19:50:08 GMT -7
Good news that already his neuro functions ARE improving! During crate rest we focus on letting the disc heal as nerve repair may or may not come during crate rest. If money is a consideration, then you may wish to hold off on a specialist unless there would be signs of diminishing neuro functions or if his pain simply can not be brought under control. Sucralfate does have a timing to it. It works best on an empty stomach to form the protective gel as it needs a more acidic environment. So according to the Mar Vista Vet site www.marvistavet.com/html/sucralfate.html that would mean: -Sucralfate 1 hour before a meal - Pepicid 30 mins before Deramaxx - Deramaxx and other meds given with a meal or a snack. I've not read that methocarbamol needs to be given on an empty stomach. Both tramadol and sucralfate can cause constipation. Pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with a teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. To firm up the stool add 1 teaspoon pumpkin to kibble and no extra water 1x a day. Note alternatives: really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel off; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potoato. I would tell your vet about the tight belly as it may be referred pain. Tramadol has a very short half life of 1.7 hours and is likely not to control pain very well unless prescribed at least every 8 hours. Do advocate for increased pain management. Let us know what the vet says. |
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