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Post by dean1982 on Jul 19, 2013 13:22:49 GMT -7
I'm new to Dodger's List as of today, and am so thankful that I found this website. Our doxie Scrappy is 4 years old, red, long haired, and is an absolutely amazing little guy. Three nights ago I got home from my office, and noticed right away that he wasn't acting like himself. I found him several times just sitting there staring out into space, and he is normally zipping all over the place. I initially thought he was having stomach issues because he would wince when I touched his sides or belly. Our vet is really close to our house, and let me bring Scrappy in after hours [editor: 7/17??] since I was really worried about him. Our regular vet wasn't the person that saw him, and even though she did diagnose a back problem, she didn't think it was anything major. At that point he was in slight pain, and his right rear leg wasn't acting 100%, but the vet gave him anti-inflammatory medication and sent us on our way. I REALLY wish I knew then what I know now.
The next morning my wife and I awoke to the poor thing shaking, and he had lost the use of his back legs. I rushed him back to our vets office, and thankfully was able to see our regular doctor. Scrappy was showing some positive signs, he has deep pain sensation, and is able to go to the bathroom on his own. Scrappy was prescribed steroids, pepcid for his stomach, Robaxin, and they placed a time release pain patch on the back of his neck. We've been instructed to keep him in his kennel except for small periods of time when we take him out to go potty. The next morning (yesterday 7/18) we opened Scrappy's kennel and he was able to take a couple of small steps on his rear legs, and he was starting to wag his tail! Of course we didn't want him to get overly excited, but the two of us were beside ourselves with joy and optimism.
I took the little guy in this morning and our vet was very pleased with the progress he's made since we were in the other day. They did laser treatment on his back and told us to keep doing what we have been with the crate isolation. That is where we stand as of this moment, and Scrappys next visit is on Monday.
I am so glad that I found this website, and look forward to talking with other people that have went through, or are currently going through this kind of situation.
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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 19, 2013 14:13:07 GMT -7
Hi Dean, my name is Maureen- Welcome to Dodgers List. Good job on getting Scrappy the care he needed right away and getting him crated. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for a full 8 weeks is the SINGLE most important thing you can do to help Scrappy-- it is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. …. 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. 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. If you could tell us the names and dosages of all of his medications we will be able to better assist you. Is his pain well controlled? Poops look normal? Laser treatment is an excellent treatment to add - it's great that youwere able to start that so soon! One of the best places to start reading on this site is www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm Please keep us posted on Scrappy's progress  |
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Jul 20, 2013 4:54:02 GMT -7
So sorry to hear about Scrappy. I, too, had a similar experience with my Cocker Spaniel, Jeremy. When he first had back pain and was taken to the ER, the importance of crate rest wasn't stressed to me and in fact, they walked him down a long hall to be weighed and back again and then out to the car. By the following afternoon, his hind legs were completely paralyzed with no deep pain sensation and he had emergency surgery. It took months before his hind legs started to move but he did walk again. He's been completely incontinent since his first incident. A year and a half later, he's down again but this time is milder and he can still move his hind legs. Jeremy also had acupuncture with some laser treatment and it was very helpful in getting those nerves working again.
It's wonderful that you're seeing improvement already. Keep strict with that 8 weeks of crate rest even if he's acting better. It takes that long for the disc to heal. Crate rest is like a cast for his back.
Take one day at a time and please keep us posted.
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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 20, 2013 10:09:58 GMT -7
Dean, how is Scrappy doing this mornging?
Can you tell us the name of the anti-inflammatory given on 7/17?l What is the name of the pain relief patch?
Do list all his meds with the dose in mg and how often you give them.
It sounds like Scrappy is going in a good direction of healing.
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Post by dean1982 on Jul 20, 2013 11:23:16 GMT -7
Scrappy is doing about the same this morning, and is still in very good spirits. Here is what the little guy is taking everyday.
Famotadine (Pepcid) - 20mg 1/2 pill twice per day
Robaxin - 500mg 1/4 of a pill three times per day
Dexamethasone - 0.5 mg 1 pill twice per day
I believe the pain patch is Fentanyl. When Scrappy wakes up I'll check to make sure that's exactly what its called
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Post by dean1982 on Jul 20, 2013 11:27:54 GMT -7
One other thing, the anti inflammatory they prescribed originally is not being taken ever since we took him in on the 18th. He was given an anti inflammatory injection on the 18th and the fentanyl patch is 25mcg
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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 20, 2013 15:50:08 GMT -7
Pain fully controlled is what you want to see. Nerve healing may or may not take place during the 8 weeks of rest…think in terms of months for nerve healing generally. It is always good policy to know all meds a dog was given (the exact names and the adverse side effects. This is my go to place to look up meds: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html I was just curious if a NSAID injection was given followed then without a washout a 4-7 days washout before the steroid. This is something you should know about so you are in a position to speak up for Scrappy's stomach should such a situation come up again. You can read about anti-inflammatories here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htmIs there an indication when the Dex taper will start? Often it takes being at the anti-inflamamtory dose of a steroid) 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 assess just how well reduction of swelling is going by observing for pain. The fentanyl patch will wear off in 3 days. So that would also be a time to looks for signs of pain that his pain meds are no longer doing the job. You may wish to read up on the typical pain meds used with a disc episode so you can participate in discussions with the vet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm |
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