Michelle's Coco Bear 7/23 surgery was: 7/4 conservative

The most important thing you can do is educate yourself. It sounds as though you already understand the importance of 100% crate rest, only going out for potty. That is the most important component for recovery.

There is a wealth of information on this website. Read, read, read. The more informed you are the better advocate you'll be for your pup. I'm sure there will be a moderator along soon with more information and lots of questions. You'll get through this. There are lots of us here going through the same thing, and we will help you as much as we can.

Welcome to Dodgerslist Michelle!

You have come to the right place. So glad you started Coco Bear on strict crate rest on the first day. Good for you! Since  damaged discs take about 8 weeks to heal and form secure scar tissue during conservative treatment, you did the single most important thing for Coco's recovery. There are no medications that help this along—only time and limited movement of the back and neck with STRICT crate rest. When a dog walks and moves, the vertebrae move, tearing down the important scar tissue that is forming to stabilize the disc rupture. Anytime out of the crate is a dangerous time for a healing disc. Only potty time and vet appointments are a necessity to be out of the crate. Medications can work on the inflammation and mask the pain but crate rest does the rest. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htm

Thousands of dogs on Dodgerslist have regained functions in as little as a few days, 2 weeks, others 11 months, and still others 3 years later. IVDD is a disease of patience to allow the body to heal on its own terms. Acupuncture and Laser Therapy stimulate the cell’s metabolism that leads to the body’s natural repair abilities and can be started at any time. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm

Laser light therapy, acupuncture and electroacupuncture which sends a microcurrent of electricity to and from acupuncture points (which are really big nerve bundles), can be very beneficial at helping to re-establish the nerve connections in the body. Any one of these therapies can be started right away if in your budget... they not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration. Find a holistic vet here: ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html www.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] NOTE: Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs.

When using either a steroid  an acid reducer such as Pepcid AC is necessary. Dodgerslist follows those vets who are proactive in protecting the stomach, choosing not to wait until a bleeding ulcer or life-threatening stomach perforation happens.


What was the date of the day you started crate rest for Coco Bear? 

What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies?

The most inportant thing is to read, read and read some more about IVDD. The more you know the better able you are to help Coco Bear recover. Here are some of our success stories to give you hope! www.dodgerslist.com/monthstory.htm

IVDD is a disease that can be lived with and managed. Please read this, it will help you to feel better. www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htm and also how to make your home back friendly. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/protectback.htm

Healing wishes over the miles!

Hi, my name is Maureen. Yes indeed the Pepcid is the over the counter human one. We follow proactive vets and give our approx 13-20 lbs doxies 5mg of Pepcid 30 mins prior to Prednisone. Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "Is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?"
Talk to your Vet before increasing her Prednisone, that drug is for swelling and if there are no signs of pain you may not need to do that. Weaker legs today may not be a huge concern, but again call your Vet if it continues. Each dog is an individual and nerves heal at their own slow pace. I know that our Stevie has some days when she is stronger than others.
Keeping you in thought and prayer

Michelle, Coco should not be in pain. Healing cannot begin until pain is under control. Yes, she can take pain meds along with the valium and pred. Call the vet and ask for Tramadol. It is generally the first med that is given for pain. The vet can also add Methocarbonal and Gabapentin if needed.

MIchelle, often it can take more than one round on Pred at the anti-inflammatory dose til all fo the swelling is resolved. During the time on the anti-inflammatory the pain meds do need to be adjusted so that there is no pain surfacing dose to dose of pain relief medications. Pain deters healing and each dog is individual in their pain management needs. Neither prednisone nor Valium are pain relievers.  Bone up on meds used with IVDD here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm

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 that is the time to be prepared to assess just how well reduction of swelling is going by observing for any hint of pain.

Rule of thumb is:
pain = swelling = more time on Pred needed.

If there is no pain on the taper then it goes to completion. Then no meds at all are needed any longer. To have a clear picture on a taper, pain meds are also stopped or back off too.

Cortisteroids (Prednisone, Prednisolone, Dexamethasone, etc.) are involved with stimulating gastric acid secretion causing GI upset to the more threatening bleeding ulcers or holes in the stomach or intestine. Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "is there any medical reason my dog may not to take Pepcid AC?" If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in protecting the stomach by giving doxies 5MG Pepcid AC (generic name is Famotidine) 30 mins prior to steroid.  We ask that all members read about each med their dog is on or may take as a safety measure. This directory is in alpha order  and one I use for  my own dogs:
www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html

Let us know the names of meds prescribed, the dose in mg and how often you are to give them.

We are anxious to hear back that Coco's pain is being managed fully dose to dose of her new pain meds, that pred is back on board to continue work on swelling and that her stomach is being protected with Pepcid AC.

Michelle, if I could reach through this post, I'd give you a big hug….kudo's gal for advocating and getting the pain meds Coco needs. Pain management does need communication between you and the vet. You observe for pain signs and relay them to the vet so he knows if further tweaking is necessary. There is no cookie cutter recipe as each dog is individual in their needs. Once the meds are customized for Coco, pain will be under control in 1 hour and there after dose to dose.

When there is hard to control pain that Tramadol is not controlling, then vets are finding good success by adding in gabapentin.

Tramadol is not likely to control pain unless given every 8 hours as it's half life is 1.7 hours. If pain is still not controlled with tramadol you may want to discuss using methocarbamol to control muscle spasm vs. the valium. So there are lots of options to get pain control perfect for Coco.

Thanks, ladies! And hugs back to y'all as well Coco is my baby just like my two human children. Only difference is she is a little hairier! Lol! I will do all I can for this precious little girl just as I would my human children. I'll keep y'all posted on her condition later this evening. I'm praying the Tramadol helps. She's calmed down quite a bit today. She's not able to walk at this point, so I have began using a scarf to help support her while she goes potty. Thank y'all again for all the advice. I would be lost without your support.

OK we're back in the game! Got Coco's Tramadol  12.5 mg every 8 to 12 hours as needed for pain. I will monitor her for signs to see which time frame works best for her. I also got more Valium, so I will keep her on that as well. This is such an emotional roller coaster! This morning she wasn't able to stand at all and yet this afternoon she's standing and squatting to potty. I think two things happened last night to cause her pain level to get so bad: 1. We reduced the Prednisone too soon and, 2. I think her little tummy was so full it was causing even more pain. Hopefully we'll get her pain under control and continue her crate rest and PRAY, PRAY AND THEN PRAY SOME MORE for improvement.

Thank you for checking on Coco. She's having a good day considering how bad her night was last night. She was uneasy all night and then the diarrhea started. The Tramadol also seems to make her nauseated. I'm sticking with the Pepcid, and I'm making her boiled chicken now. I'll see if she will feel like eating in just a bit. This is such an emotional roller coaster. It's like one step forward and three steps back. On a good note, she has more strength in her hind legs today. I'm still doing total crate rest, and apparently it's helping. Now I just need to get her little tummy settled. I read you can give them Gatorade to keep them from getting dehydrated. Have you heard that's OK for them? She's also getting wise to her meds being hidden in bites of turkey. I found a pill that I just knew she had taken in her blanket! Little stinker! They're so smart. It was Tramadol too, so it's like she knew that particular pill made her feel sick and wasn't going to take it. Lol! God love her. I just want my baby back to normal. Her dachsie brother and sister are sure missing playtime with her. They're diligent about staying right by her though.

Check with your Vet about using unflavoured Pedialyte if you are concerned about electolyte loss from the diarrhea. You also may need Sulcralfate to protect her gi tract if the Pepcid isn't cutting it, so ask your Vet for that too.
One trick we used in the clinic when medicating suspicious dogs was the 3 treat trick. 3 pieces of cheese or lunch meat or weiner or what ever and make sure they see all of them. give them the first piece with no meds ( which they usually hork down), then the second piece right away with the pill and then rush the 3rd piece - they are usually so greedy that they don't even realize that they were fooled - just wanted to get all 3 pieces before someone else does or you changed your mind -
Hang in there!

The vet had me try Pepto Bismol. She hasn't had diarrhea anymore. He also had me boil rice, and let her start with drinking the rice water slowly. She did well with that yesterday afternoon and then followed with a small amount of rice in the evening. We were able to get her meds down using the trick suggested. Thank you! She had a great night last night. Slept from 10:00 pm until 7:40 am this morning. She's not whining or shivering. She was able to stand to go potty although she did tremble some. Had a normal poop this morning. I've given her more rice with a little chicken broth on it, and she did well with that. She's resting confortably on her side now. One step at a time! I'm dedicated to this baby girl. I fully believe she will get through this.

Hi, Debbie! Thank you for the kind words. The hardest part is seeing a once very active little girl just lying there looking at me as if she's wondering how I could have let this happen. It just breaks my heart

OK I've stopped the Pepto and have a call in to the vet. She is eating well, and having regular poop today. She's only shaking when she goes potty. I'm still giving Tramadol every six hours. I can see today how well the pain meds work when she actually gets it down. She's definitely more relaxed.

I know how you feel Michelle, but when you see that little tail wag, and you get that little kiss on the face you know you have done everything you can for your FurBaby. It is heartbreaking, I know, but you need to get past that, and focus on doing everything you can to help Coco heal. If there is anything we can do, you know we are here. I would of lost my mind, if it wasn't for DodgersList, the Moderators and Members. You have a long road a head of you, and every nerve in you...WILL be tested..Praying for you and Coco...and many (((hugs))).

There is a predictable order of how nerve functions return... happy tail wagging, then comes back bladder control….. this page will tell you what to expect next. No one can tell you a date or timeline, just the usual order that nerve functions come back in. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm

How are the pain meds working today…. anymore shaking? Full pain control dose to dose of the pain medications?