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Post by jaclynmiller72 on Jun 25, 2013 16:10:18 GMT -7
H.el nglo everyone,
I want to tell you all Molly's story and maybe someone can shine some hope our way. My little girl , 4 yo doxie, hurt her back jumping on the couch Thursday night 6/20. It was mild, she was able to walk just had mild discomfort if you touched her back. We took her to the vet in the morning and the vet started her on▷metacam, robaxin and tramadol if needed for pain. She seemed back to her old self and sunday when I took her outside to use the bathroom she walked down 2 steps and that wad it. Molly became limp in the back legs and was in extreme pain. I rushed her right away to the emergency vet in our area and by that time molly had loss deep pain reflex on the left side of her hind legs, the right leg is limp but the vet says she still has some feeling. Molly also is incontinent of stool and we have started expressing her bladder, we still are learning to do it correctly. Monday molly spent the day at the vet gettint iv ▷steroids and iv pain meds along with accupunture. Tuesday she seems to be declining, she won't eat and I have been trying all her favorites. She barely drinks and I can't get her to take her pills. I had to take her back to vet today to get a pain shot along with a steroid injection. Molly seems so depressed and angry with us. She hardly even wants to look at us. I pushed her crate up against a window so she can have some stimulation but it doesn't seem to be helping. Molly is prescribed, tramdol 10 mg 3-4 times a day, roboxin 250mg every 12 hours, pepcid ac .5 tab twice a day, and phenoxybenzamone 2.5 mg every 12hrs. Molly took these meds yesterday but will not let us give her anything today. I feel like such a failure to her.
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Post by jaclynmiller72 on Jun 25, 2013 16:10:56 GMT -7
Hello everyone,
I want to tell you all Molly's story and maybe someone can shine some hope our way. My little girl hurt her back jumping on the couch Thursday night 6/20. It was mild, she was able to walk just had mild discomfort if you touched her back. We took her to the vet in the morning and the vet started her on metacam, robaxin and tramadol if needed for pain. She seemed back to her old self and sunday when I took her outside to use the bathroom she walked down 2 steps and that wad it. Molly became limp in the back legs and was in extreme pain. I rushed her right away to the emergency vet in our area and by that time molly had loss deep pain reflex on the left side of her hind legs, the right leg is limp but the vet says she still has some feeling. Molly also is incontinent of stool and we have started expressing her bladder, we still are learning to do it correctly. Monday molly spent the day at the vet getting iv steroids and iv pain meds along with accupunture. Tuesday she seems to be declining, she won't eat and I have been trying all her favorites. She barely drinks and I can't get her to take her pills. I had to take her back to vet today to get a pain shot along with a steroid injection. Molly seems so depressed and angry with us. She hardly even wants to look at us. I pushed her crate up against a window so she can have some stimulation but it doesn't seem to be helping. Molly is prescribed, tramdol 10 mg 3-4 times a day, roboxin 250mg every 12 hours, pepcid ac .5 tab twice a day, and phenoxybenzamone 2.5 mg every 12hrs. Molly took these meds yesterday but will not let us give her anything today. I feel like such a failure to her.
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Post by Yvonne & Billy on Jun 25, 2013 16:54:53 GMT -7
Hello Jacklyn, (is that your correct?)
My name is Yvonne and I have a 4 year old Cocker Spaniel that is on his road to recovery so I can understand the heartbreak you must be feeling. I'm so sorry to hear that Molly is going through some rough times right now. Please don't feel like you're a failure to her. Clearly you are on this forum to help Molly. Just because hind sight is 20/20 doesn't mean you've failed her.
There is a wealth of information on this site so while you wait for one of the more knowledgeable volunteers to steer you in the right direction, please take the time to read everything on this site. It is the one thing that helped me to stop hyperventilating and find my head and most of all gain hope. I, too, was a wreck. LOTS of tears. My husband was more scared he would lose me than our baby boy! =)
It will get better. Trust that things will. Hang in there~~~
Sending prayers and good thoughts...
Warmly,
Yvonne
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Post by Pauliana on Jun 25, 2013 18:34:13 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist Jaclyn! You are not failing Molly ((((HUGS!))) but your Vet did a dangerous thing in giving a steroid injection without a 4-7 day stop of the NSAID Metacam! (At least it sounds that way.. If not I am sorry..) Molly is not eating or drinking due to an adverse reaction. Not meaning to scare you but this is important for Molly's sake as well as yours.. NOTE: FDA and manufacturer package inserts warn against use of a NSAID with a steroid or with another NSAID without a washout period of 4 to 7 days before starting the new medication. Vets that practice safe medicine require a 4- to 7-day washout period between the medications. Not eating is a sign of a adverse reaction and GI tract problems. By the time you see vomiting, loose stools, diarrhea, red or black blood in stools it becomes a very serious situation, which can quickly move to life threatening , get with your vet ASAP about a 2nd stomach protector, Sucralfate to coat her stomach.. Glad she is already on Pepcid AC which works a different way to prevent acid..
Since she is not eating and refusing her medications, she needs to be seen by her Vet to get the Sucralfate and her medications and get her back on the path of recovery.. She can heal but her tummy needs help so she can feel better and eat again and importantly take her medications which she needs on a regular schedule and hopefully she will cooperate when she feels better. I know how upsetting all this is, been through it with my Tyler and I can tell you with confidence it gets better as the days go on. The early days are just plain rough..
Acupuncture is wonderful and I am glad she is getting, it will help a lot!
How many pounds does Molly weigh? Is she a mini? I am wondering because her medication dosages seem low for pain control.. She isn't angry with you but she is in pain and she is grumpy because it hurts so much. I believe she needs adjustments to her Tramadol and Robaxin until she is pain free dose to dose, she can't begin to heal until her pain is under control.. She will get there but she needs help and I know you will be her advocate and do the best you can for her.. Please begin your reading here to learn all you can about IVDD so you can protect your Molly www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm
Is she continuing to take Metacam? OR has she been switched to Prednisone or another steroid?
Here is a video and information to help you with expressing.. Don't worry you will get better at it with time and practice. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmAnd last but never least here is some info on how to make your home back friendly for Molly. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm |
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Post by jaclynmiller72 on Jun 25, 2013 19:07:12 GMT -7
Thank you all very much. It's so helpful to hear positive words from dog lovers who have gone through the same thing. Molly weighs about 11 lbs. She is on the small side for a dachshund but not a mini. We are going to the vet tomorrow for more acupuncture and possibly a laser therapy treatment, I will ask the vet about adding on that other medication to help her stomach. Molly has always been a little nervous nelly do you thinking asking for an anti anxiety med would be a bad idea? I feel like she is too upset to move forward with healing and possibly the anxiety is giving her an upset stomach too?
She is no longer on the metacam, she had received 3 doses before starting the prednisone, I hope this adverse reaction wears off quick so she can take her meds and get her appetite back.
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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 25, 2013 19:23:24 GMT -7
Hi, my name is Maureen. Anti anxiety meds can help if your girl is an nervous nellie, but her stomach upset is most likely caused by the steriods given without a washout period from the NSAID. Ask your vet for a stomach protector like sucralafate - to allow her tummy to heal up. Accupucture and laser are both excellent treatments to help the damage to heal- alot of us have seen excellent results from these treatments.
Keeping you in thought and prayer (((hugs)))
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Post by Pauliana on Jun 25, 2013 19:36:16 GMT -7
Hi Jaclyn,
What was the date you saw the vet and started the all important 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for 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)? I want to make sure I have the date in your subject title correct. We use that day to determine when her crate rest graduation date is..
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Post by jaclynmiller72 on Jun 25, 2013 20:18:21 GMT -7
Sunday 6/23. It has been hard on us emotionally, but we have been sticking to it and we are only taking her out for bladder expressing and vet visits.
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Post by Pauliana on Jun 25, 2013 21:00:52 GMT -7
We had to find ways to make Tyler feel included in family life while in crate rest.. Neil laid down by the crate to keep him company.. We also had a recovery suite in the living room, a sleeping crate in the bedroom and another in our office.. We did all we could to make him feel included and it calmed and comforted him.. As you go along you will also find ways to keep Molly feeling included..http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm Here is a video showing you how to lift and carry Molly. Here are some of our success stories to give you hope! www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory.htm |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,610
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 26, 2013 10:19:48 GMT -7
Jacklyn, this is an emergency. Molly needs extra protection for her stomach asap, today. There was a switch from Metacam to Steroid without a 4-7 day washout. Both this meds carry GI tract problems, when used together it put the dog's stomach at double jeopardy for bleeding ulcers or worse. Sucralfate need to be added to the Pepcid AC. As always read to be informed about each of your dog's meds. Sucralfate has timing requirement with food and with pepcid AC that you will need to know about. www.marvistavet.com/html/sucralfate.htmlThe link below will help you to quickly get an overview of how and what heals during 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, carry to and from the potty place….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. Here is the page to read: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htmThe 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. While on steroids you will have to express every 2-3 hours to keep her dry. This is a new skill for you to learn so don't hesitate to get another lesson, review the tips and the video here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htmAs soon as the meds are right for her (stomach protection) things will get easier to care for her. What is the dose in mg you give Pepcid? What is the exact name of the steroid injection and the IV pain meds given? Is her pain fully under control today… or is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy, holding leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight? Exactly how often are you actually giving Tramadol…3x a day or 4x a day? Can you verify you are only giving 10 mgs? How much does Molly weigh? We anxiously await hearing you have Sucralfate on board |
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Post by jaclynmiller72 on Jun 29, 2013 18:42:55 GMT -7
Update on molly. Its been a busy few days. She finally started eating and drinking yesterday. We have been able to sneak her pills into her food. She has lost some weight which is concerning since she was never overweight, hopefully she will put it back on fast. We have had to improvise with food since she won't eat her dog food. She ate a little of a hard boiled egg and some chicken. She was incontinent of stool frequently, but she hasn't pooped in 2 days now. I am not sure if she's constipated or just has no stool yet due to not eating for a few days. Otherwise we have gotten very good at expressing her bladder finally. I hope we are heading in the right direction. She doesn't appear in pain, its well controlled with her meds.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,610
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 30, 2013 9:38:40 GMT -7
Glad to hear she has started eating…. when possible do slowly transition her back on her kibble, maybe soak the kibble in meat broth and top with a bit of the chicken and egg? As kbble has all the nutrients and minerals she will need for all the repair jobs going on in her body that egg and chicken alone do not.
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