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Post by sheababy on Jul 12, 2013 10:06:43 GMT -7
Shea is my wife and my Peagle, beagle Pekinese mix. She came to us 5 years ago from a breeder in OK. She was a litter of one and has some dog socialization skills. I was against this dog from the start due to i didnt want the responsibility of caring for the animal. When she arrived via crate and airplane, instantly hearts melted and she became part of our small family. I spent every waking hour with her and thats probably the cause of her separation anxiety. Crate training was a disaster with her, i blame the plane ride. Eventually she was given run of the house. Never destroyed anything other than the occasion chewing of a shoe or throw rug. Puppy school showed this dog was extremely smart but had some doggy socialization skill problems. Shea can be a bit frustration with her very choosey potty places. Loves to sniff. Squeaky toys better watch out, she was given a fuzzy pig with the squeaker in the middle and within an hour ripped the toy open and found the squeaker for me like that was her objective. Chipmunks love to pester her due to the area we live in. She feels that she should be the one to navigate when we are on a trip. Sitting in the back seat is not for her she needs to be in the front so she can see where we are going. Head out the window the sniff is also one of her favorites.
In October of 2012 my wife and i noticed that she wasn't as active when we arrived home and would be reluctant to jump up on to the couch. Our local vet said to watch her and see of she got better. She seemed to return to normal over a few days so we let it go. Few days later she tried to jump up on to the couch to sit with me and let out an awful scream. Trembling and shaking my wife and i didn't know what to do. Local vet was seen the next and a full exam including her back was done with no findings. Xray's scheduled for a few days later due to fasting issues. She was found on the floor by my wife that night with no use of her back legs. Had a total rupture of her L2-L3 disc and was run to the closest teaching and surgical hospital for a CT and surgery. One of the worst days of my life. her surgery went well and spent a week in the ICU then discharged to our care. Crate training was awful for her so she was placed on painkillers and sedatives for her crate rest which is another issue all together. After weeks of heartbreaking fits and worry she was able to walk again on her own. She regained about 90-95% of her function in her rear legs with ataxia only when she was walking slowly. Her trot was 100% but when she would run she had some rear end steering issues.
Once the IVDD issue was behind us we attempted to address the separation anxiety and behavior problems with a specialist at the same hospital. This appointment was not cheap. The medications that Shea was placed on should have stopped a charging Rhino not inflated the problem of a 20 pound hound dog. The solution ended up blocking off the furniture that she would jump up onto and buying her not one but two very large dog beds for her to use while we were away.
We were told that the chances of her having another disc disorder were 10%. Her life started to become more normal as did ours. This changed on Wednesday of this week when my wife was greeted at the door by a less than excited dog and a female dog that normally lifts her leg when peeing squatted to the ground. Immediate suspicions when she started to pant and tremble. I rushed her up to the ED where she had her surgery and knew what the response was going to be. No xrays or CT on dogs that can still walk, risks are too great. She received a pain shot due to the pharmacy not being open and slept most of the ride home. I would have to then turn around and head back to the hospital that is 60 mins away when the pharmacy opened for her medications. Luck for us a second vet clinic in that area is a surgical speciality site. I called and they agreed to see her for a second opinion. While waiting for her appointment I scanned the net looking for options. Cold laser therapy was one listed and they offered it. Relatively cheap in comparison to surgery. 8 sessions for 200$. After the vet finished her exam we had to wait for the laser tech. Beautiful day outside so we waited there. She was acting more like her old self better gait, no anxiety and wanted to walk and sniff. Laser therapy only last a few mins and then home. She was put back on a whole regiment of steroids and neuropathic pain meds. Prozac for her anxiety which the big teaching hospital was against. She is now quite sedate, walking, eating and going to the bathroom all really on her own. She has her second laser appointment tomorrow and a follow up.
Im putting this out there for people that maybe going through this or have gone through this. This sucks, my wife and I are having our first child in Nov and should be having a great time planning that. Instead we are worried sick about either when this disc is gonna go or if we are torturing this poor dog that has only ever been loving.
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Post by Pauliana on Jul 12, 2013 14:28:06 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist. My name is Pauliana, what is your name? I'm sorry to hear Shea is having a second disc episode after her surgery of October 2012. Do know it is in the cards for Shea to get back to enjoying life and all the activities she did before the episode after having completed the single most important part of conservative treatment. 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, 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. The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe from other pets and kids from bothering them. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm The 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. In the early days of learning our dogs have IVDD, everyone needs a shoulder to lean on while getting things figured out, dealing with emotions, getting up to speed on meds, what disc disease is, etc. Your job in the coming days is to become a reader so you become the confident leader of Shea's health care team.... to discuss confidently various issues from medications to recognizing if suggestions of activity would be harmful to the healing disc. All that takes being a reader. Start on our main website with "Overview: the essentials" yellow button it will give you the degree of understanding you need right away…. as time permits continue to read all the orange buttons and the blue button "Disc Disease 101 core readings" to complete your education. Here is the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmWe love to be able to better support you, can you give us a few more details: Did she once again begin crate rest on July 10th? -- Is there still currently pain nearing the next dose of meds or at any time - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy? Let the vet know. Your vet has lots of options, but needs your feedback to tweak pain meds to get it just right for Shea. Let us know if you are seeing any pain. -- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? Please include the all important stomach protector such as Pepcid AC. Phrase the question to your vet this particular way: "Is there a medical/health reason for my dog not take Pepcid?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving small dogs 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory. If your dog is larger than say 12-15 pounds the dosage would be different so ask the Vet the correct dosage for your size dog. -- If there is pain or neuro diminishment, dogs can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy as you are discovering. These therapies can be be started right away to help relieve pain and to also to kick start energy production in nerve cells to sprout. So if this therapy is in your budget, seek out a holistic vet. ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html We look forward to learning more about Shea. Hang in there, this is a bump in the road of life, but both you and Shea can get over the bump and get back to life after 8 weeks of crate rest. Congrats on your future baby.. she will come into the world to loving parents.. |
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Post by sheababy on Jul 12, 2013 16:47:53 GMT -7
My name is Chris and the dogs name is Shea. Peagle is the mix breed. First let me thank you for taking the time to read my rant and reply. We have a follow up tomorrow and will be asking about the Pepcid. As far as the crate goes, this dog has a fear like no other and is more of a hazard to her than a help. We have been through all of that with specialists and have a system in place. Laser treatment are being done now. This is just a very frustrating situation for a very wonderful dog.
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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 12, 2013 19:45:49 GMT -7
Chris, did you start 100% STRICT rest 24/7 on July 10th? The recovery suite can be an ex-pen, a pet stroller when you are at home to keep her by your side…lots of options to ensure that disc can heal properly with the requirement of limited movement. At potty time are you carrying her to and from the potty place and only a very, very few footsteps allowed. Crate rest for conservative treatment is necessarily more strict than for a post op dog's crate rest. Let us know what you have for a recovery suite system. Can you list her exact meds in mg and how often you give them? Is her pain being fully controlled dose to dose of the pain medications. Steroids can take days to weeks to get the swelling down that causes pain. Have you tried some of these calmers to see if she can relax in her crate. Using any oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives. Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog. Farnum's Comfort Zone with D.A.P. www.petcomfortzone.com/dogs.html [pheromone diffuser] with one oral calmer from below: Oral calmers: 1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/anxitane-l-theanine-chewable-tablets/behavioral-health 2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine. www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.php [Composure] 3) Rescue Remedy is a liquid herb combo to help with relaxation www.bachrescueremedypet.com Other brands may be available in your area… just shop by the active ingredient(s) on the label. |
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Post by sheababy on Jul 18, 2013 9:27:26 GMT -7
Ok thanks for the responses. The Pepcid has worked great we were never informed of that during her original episode.Maybe i wasn't clear in the original post. This dog has severe separation anxiety and fear of crates. yes crate rest was utilized post surgery. Once the pain medication and sedation meds were dc'd she became very restless and destructive in her crate. We determined with many call to her vet that her comfort and calmness was more important. Every calming agent known to man was bought and used sometimes more than one was utilized. A behavioralist was consulted and his directions were followed to a tee. Shea, my Peagle's name has serious issues when it comes to being confined and left alone. The option that we decided was the best after three months of and SSRI and a sedative was to allow her the first floor of our home which is carpeted. Furniture was blocked off and she was given her own bed to lay on even though she preferred the floor. No cart was ever needed due to her recovery and the sling worked very well to stimulate her to walk on her own. We are currently dealing with symptoms of a new disc problem. The problem that we and many Im sure are encountering is that there are no clear answers when dealing with this. Not one vet has been able to tell us for sure that she is suffering from a new disc problem. For people going through this for the first time understand that this is an absolutely awful time period. The not knowing is terrible. I am writing this for your people. We are treating her current problem medically, muscle relaxers, neuro pain meds and steroids. Her comfort is the only priority. She currently is able to walk with minimal "wobble", urination and deficating are without problem and she has maintained a healthy appetite. Laser treatment seems to be working well. Its a cheap in relation to other treatments option. Day to day is the status that we are at and it is awful but seems to be the only way to be right now.
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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 18, 2013 9:48:53 GMT -7
Chris, without advanced $1000+ imaging (MRI, CT, etc) there is not proof and this proof is reserved for planning out the surgical procedure. However, the exam, the breed, the history of the dog, the way they present at the exam all can give a pretty good basis for a diagnosis.
I know under the circumstances you are doing everything possible to limit the amount of footsteps Shea can take. Movement of the vertebrae with each footstep is what pressures discs. The healing disc is at risk to tear with its still quite weak scar tissue. With rest that disc can heal and she can be a good candidate for conservative treatment. If she is moving too much, and the early disc re-tears her best best might be surgery.
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Post by sheababy on Jul 18, 2013 13:31:48 GMT -7
OK maybe this "blog" was a bad idea. I appreciate all the suggestions but i am not on here for those. All of these suggestions have been exhausted and we are currently waiting on either a miracle or a complete devestation. I have had countless consultations with Surgeons, therapists for separation anxiety and generalized vets. I really was just looking for an outlet and a way to possibly help someone that is going through this for the first time. If i have made a mistake then feel free to remove this thread.
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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 18, 2013 15:07:58 GMT -7
Thank you for clearing that up. So many are looking for solutions that we may have misunderstood. I totally understand the need to talk about what is going on - my little girl Stevie has refractory epilepsy and I was beside myself when she came down with IVDD and we still couldn't control her violent seizures. So much for keeping her movements to a minimum. We were doing everything that we could, consulting with specialists, switching meds without result and so on, without success. I was looking for comfort and support too- not advice, because I was so afraid that we would lose her. Please keep posting - there are many dogs that suffer from terrible separation anxiety and fight the crate or recovery suite. You may have the solution that helps another dog and it is always good to know that you aren't alone.
Keeping you in thought and prayer.
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