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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 26, 2013 11:08:59 GMT -7
What is your dog's name? Axel, doxie
What breed is your dog and did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD? Miniature dachshund, 10 lbs, red, male, 7 years old, grade 1 diagnosis - pain mid-back and not turning paws over when placed knuckled over at the vet, will do it at home.
What was the date you saw the vet and started 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7? July 25, 2013. Started strict crate rest after coming home from the vet.
Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy? He hasn't yelped since yesterday evening, but very quiet and seems depressed. He never likes to stay in his crate by himself, but I haven't heard a peep out of him. Yesterday he was still walking okay, but would not want to "jump up" to ask to be lifted onto the couch or anything. This morning when I took him out to potty, he seemed pretty peppy and went to the bathroom no problem, but a few hours when I put him out again his back legs were trembling really quite noticeably, which is new.
What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? 5 mg prednisone, twice daily for 7 days, then reducing.
Can your dog walk/wag tail: Yes, he can walk. Not wobbly. Legs tremble. Very happy tail wag, but will stop himself if he starts to do the whole body shake.
Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? Nope.
Eating and drinking OK? Eating just fine, drinking more than usual.
Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood? He seems hesitant to poop. He does a little and then stops. I think it hurts. It seems drier than usual.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Jul 26, 2013 11:26:06 GMT -7
Welcome to the group, Hester. I'm so sorry to hear about Axel. I know how distressing all of this can be. Did the vet say anything about giving Axel a pain medication? He obviously had pain at the vet's office. Axel's reluctance to move (stopping before his body goes into a happy shake) and reluctance to poop indicate pain. His quietness and depression could be from pain, too. Please contact your vet and ask him to give Axel a pain medication. Tramadol is usually prescribed. Healing can't start until pain is under control. There should be no evidence of pain and he should be his perky self. Once he gets on pain medication, there should be no signs of pain from one dose to the next. Signs of pain are shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant to move much or slow to move, tight tense tummy, head held in the air or nose pointed to the ground. Please include the must have stomach protector such as Pepcid AC … 5mg 30 mins prior to the Prednisone. Ask your vet if there is any health reason that Axel might have that would prohibit him from taking Pepcid AC. It's best to be proactive against the side effects of Prednisone. The Prednisone will make Axel more thirsty so be sure to have plenty of water available in his crate for him. You may need to take him out to do his business more often than usual, too. I know you've said that you have started crate rest but I'm going to give you a little rundown on exactly what crate rest is. 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 Axel-- 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 there is pain or neuro diminishment, dogs can benefit greatly with acupuncture or laser light therapy. 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 Owners can be instrumental in helping their dogs recover. It takes being a reader as not all vets know this disease…but you certainly can know just one disease. So that you can have an informed discussion with the ortho, please read up on the two pertinent pages: www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htmwww.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htmIt sounds as though Axel will be a very good candidate for conservative care/crate rest. I know I've given you a lot of information to absorb. If you have any questions or concerns, please let us know. And please keep us posted. |
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Jul 26, 2013 11:38:08 GMT -7
Hi Hester, my name is Maureen. Welcome to Dodgers List. I' sorry that Axel is having an IVDD episode. Good job on getting the crate rest started right away! 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 Axel-- 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. Is prednisone the only medication that Axel is currently taking? The prednisone that he is on is for the swelling - does he have anything to control pain or to protect his stomach from the effects of the prednisone?? Reluctance to poop, trembling and depression are indicators of pain. Proper healing happens when pain is controlled, you can ask your Vet for pain control - and be insistent, don't take no for an answer. Pepcid AC protects the stomach and can be purchased over the counter. We follow proactive vets and give our approx 13-20 lbs doxies 5mg 30 mins prior to Pred. Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "Is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?" His ability to control his bowels and bladder and wobbly walk and tail wag are all great signs! Here is a great place to start your reading about IVDD www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmI know that this can seem overwhelming. We can best help our dogs by becoming educated advocates for them, and we do this by reading and learning and helping our Vets to learn about IVDD. You are not alone, we are all going through this and will do anything that we can to help. Please keep us posted on Axel's progress. Keeping you in thought and prayer  |
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Jul 26, 2013 11:39:12 GMT -7
I posted at the same time as Marjorie - great minds and all that... See we ARE all in this together! |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 26, 2013 11:54:30 GMT -7
Thank you. I called the vet and asked if I should give him anything for his tummy. He's been on a low dose of prednisone for the last month for his asthma, and he always has it with a meal. I'm lucky in that Axel loves taking pills, he swallows them dry, and I never have to put it in anything. And then he eats his breakfast or supper. He's a very regular pooch.
I have had dachshunds in my life since I was 13. I have had dogs most of my life. When I was 18 (almost 20 years ago) we had another doxie Oscar who went down, fast and sudden, lost all control of his back end. He had the surgery, and they nicked his spinal cord and that was that for his back end, no chance of recovery. We got him a cart, he had control of his bladder but no bowel control (and thus pooped like a horse, just dropped as he went along) and he was a happy and healthy doggie for about a year and a half, and then it hit him again only in his neck and he lost control of his front paws, and was in excrutiating pain. Unfortunately, we made the very hard decision to end his suffering.  I am so scared for my little boy, I know he's in much better shape than Oscar was, but it's almost like post-traumatic distress symptoms, I'm reliving the fear I had so long ago.
I was just worried about the trembling in his legs today. He wasn't trembling yesterday, and today his back legs were trembling when he peed. He's not crossing his legs or wobbling, though. Does that mean he's getting worse? Or is it pain? I know it's only been less than 24 hours, but I'm so worried for him.
I'm lucky that I have the summer off, I'm a supply teacher, so I can be home with him and watch him. We have another doxie Hope, and she's a little confused why her brother is locked in a cage. They usually sleep in their crate at night, so I'm happy that he's familiar with the cage.
The question I had is about night time crating. Usually they sleep together, and they don't wrestle or anything. Can I continue to put them together? I put them together last night. They are a bonded pair. They are pee-pad trained for night time use, so that was different for them to have the door locked, but they seemed to make it ok.
He's in a smaller crate in the living room right now, he can pretty much lie down and stand up, but not a lot of room other than that and he seems okay. I have a water bowl attached to the side of the cage so that he can drink as much as he needs to, and I am putting him outside every 2 hours in case he has to do anything. He also has a Kong filled with a little bit of peanut butter to give him something to do. |
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Jul 26, 2013 12:10:18 GMT -7
The safest thing would be to crate them separately - can they be in 2 crates that are side by side at night?? I totally understand your fear and worry after what happened to your dear Oscar. We all need a shoulder to lean on when this happens, and that is what Dodgers List is all about. I would be very concerned that the trembling could be caused by pain, and err on the side of caution and ask the Vet for some pain medication like Tramadol. While the trembling may be weakness caused by the IVDD, some dogs are very stoic and hide their pain, and he will heal better if pain is under control. He is sure a sweet looking little guy!! Keep us posted, and read everything you can. Keeping you in thought and prayer |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 26, 2013 12:38:07 GMT -7
To be honest, Axel suffers a lot of separation anxiety, which is why we got a second doxie as a companion for him. The picture I have up is of them, and that's pretty much how they are all the time if they can be. She's currently lying next to his crate in the living room. When I take one to the vet, I have to take the other for company because they get upset when they're separated. This has been hard on them already and it hasn't even been a day! We don't have two small ones, just one "jail" crate that he's in right now, and then their double sleeping crate for at night. Waiting for the vet to get back to me about Pepcid or sucrolate for his tummy, and some sort of pain medication. He's very happy licking his Kong clean, he's been doing it for the past 20 mins or so. He just peed again outside and tried over and over again to do a "grass roll" and I kept stopping him. No squeaking or whimpering when I picked him up, so I was happy about that, and the trembling seems less. I am so happy that there's a support group that I can post to and get advice. The next few weeks are going to see like torture. If they're not snuggling with each other, they're snuggling with me. They're my nap buddies, and I feel guilty snuggling with one while the other is in a cage! But, I know in the long run, it's the best thing - better a long 8 weeks of no snuggles than a lifetime of pain and surgery and fear and possibly horrible outcomes. |
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 26, 2013 13:15:52 GMT -7
The important thing is for Axel's disc to heal right now. Make a nice place outside of the crate against the wires for your other doxie to lie and lean against the wires near Axel. For Axel to have something warm to snuggle agains: fill a sock with 1-2 cups of dry rice or dried corn kernals. Knot the end. Microwave for 1-2 minutes. Test in crook of your arm for warm not hot temperature. Wrap in a towel so it's not too hot for the skin and place in crate. Let your dog snuggle against when you are present to supervise in case your dog has a desire to munch on the warm rice. Note: human heating pads can get too hot burning skin. Snuggle Safe is a commercial product that will keep warm the whole night. I've had mine for over 5 years and Clark does his happy dance when he sees it coming. www.petstew.com/B00008AJH9/pet-supply-imports-snugglesafe-pet-heating-pad.html [snuggle safe] If you are seeing any of these signs of pain after moving or nearing the next dose of Pred, please get help for Axel. Read up on the pain meds normally used with a disc episode. Your vet does not have Axel on any pain med. Pain will slow the entire healing proccess. More on pain med to discuss with your vet: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 26, 2013 13:55:12 GMT -7
He just went pee and poop had didn't squeak or anything. He started and stopped pooping several times, and I'm not sure if it's because it's a little more dried out than it usually is (he's a "soft serve ice cream" kind of pooper most of the time ... ewww), or because his back hurts. However, I noticed his back legs aren't trembling now. He seems very warm though, and the vet said that probably because he's been trembling he's gotten a little warm. He's not panting or anything, but I will keep an eye on him.
I called the vet and he gave me the ok to give Axel Pepcid before his breakfast in the morning (1/4 of a 10mg pill), and has also prescribed Tremadol or something like that for pain medication for the next 10 days. My hubby is on his way to the vet to pick it up. The vet said it will make him sleepy, so it's a good thing, I think. Hoping Axel just sleeps the next 10 days away.
I thought of having Hope sleep with us, but Axel will cry all night. I'll figure something out. I just want him to be safe, and I want both my dogs to have as little stress as possible as well since that will also affect how quickly he heals, I'm sure.
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StevieLuv
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Post by StevieLuv on Jul 26, 2013 17:31:19 GMT -7
More than one member here has slept with the crate on the bed for that very reason |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 27, 2013 6:55:30 GMT -7
So, here's a question, how do I stop the whole body shake? You know, the "I've been sleeping for hours" or "I just had a bath" full body flapping ears sort of shake??? I'm assuming that's not good! I put him outside this morning to potty and the first thing he does when he touches the ground is shake himself all over! I've tried stopping him, but it's always in the middle of it because he does it pretty much immediately.
He seems very perky this morning. He did his pee, and then wanted to run around. Wagging his tail like crazy. He was really stubborn about pooping. He's a walk around for a few minutes and poop kind of dog, he usually has his best ones on a walk, so this has been a hard few days for him. He eventually did, and today he didn't stop and start. We're going to buy some pumpkin later to make the "go" a little easier.
He loves his peanut butter toy. It's a Kong one with about 10 different pockets that you can fill with peanut butter or treats, and he spends almost an hour just licking it and make sure he got everything.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Jul 27, 2013 9:00:06 GMT -7
I don't know that you can stop the whole body shake - I would think that he wouldn't do it if was hurting though. To creat a safe, smaller potty area you can get that push into the ground garden edge fencing and make a small area to help restrict the number of steps that he takes when pooping. Great to hear that his personality is shining through and that he is feeling perky and happy, with lots of tail wagging You're doing a great job! |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 27, 2013 21:02:55 GMT -7
I think Axel is depressed. He's been SO GOOD about being in the crate, not once does he whimper or anything. He just stares at me. I'm not sure if he thinks he's being punished for something or what. He's always so excited to see me in the morning, but then by mid day he's not interested in me. I think it might be the medication. I put him out every 2 or 3 hours to see if he has to go potty, and so many times he just lays there and looks at me when I open the door to the crate.
His back end has stopped shivering, so I'm happy about that, but he's still very reluctant to poop. He misses his walks, and he's definitely having a harder time. We added some pumpkin (2 tbsp to 1/3 cup of dry kibble) to his food at dinner, and he has free access to water in his crate all day long. He pees every time I put him out, but pooping is proving to be quite the challenge. He wants to go for a walk and tries to run around the yard, and then he puts his tail between his legs and his ears go all wrinkly when I tell him no, and "go poo". I'm so sure our next door neighbours are tired of us standing out in the backyard repeatedly saying "go poo" a million times!
I've noticed that quite a few people on here are frustrated with their hubbies thinking that they're overreacting about their dogs' backs, but I am blessed with a husband who knows that I know what I'm talking about. I remember when we met and I told him about my love of doxies, and I cried telling him about Oscar and how we lost him and he'd been gone about 6 years at the time! Winnie, our next doxie, was blessed with never having a back problem despite thinking she was some sort of flying squirrel! Eric knows how much the dogs mean to me (we're a childless couple), and he's so supportive. Just today I was sitting on the couch staring at Axel, and I said "It won't hurt if I hold him on my lap for a while, just to snuggle, I'll hold him between me legs on the recliner so he'll stay straight" and Eric stopped me, and reminded me that what we're doing is the best for him.
3 days feels like it's been months!
I did the knuckle over test on Axel today and he corrected his paws immediately. I also pinched his back toes and he responded right away. I also was petting him gently while he was in his crate and he didn't seem to be in any pain when I touched his back. Thus, the temptation to take him out and snuggle.
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 27, 2013 21:49:20 GMT -7
Remember you are giving him the gift of crate rest so that his disc can heal. Nerves don't need crate rest to heal just time and mother nature. Axel is only on an anti-inflammatory, no pain medications, is that right? Not being interested, not being his perky self can be a sign of pain as can shivering, tight tense tummy, not wanting to move to go out of the crate at potty times. Most all disc episodes HURT. If you believe he is suffering with pain please tell you observations to the vet and see about getting tramadol on board. Healing can't fully get underway til pain is under control all day and all night. Use of pumpkin depends on additional water in the diet to relieve 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. Set up an ex-pen or some of that poke in the ground wire garden edging fencing. That will stop sniff fests at potty time. Make the fenced area about 6 foot diameter. Because Axel can walk there would be no need to pinch his toes. He can pee, so he necesssariy has to have deep pain sensation for which the pinching is a test for. You can read more about neuro functions here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htmkeep on doing a good job caring for Axel. |
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Post by jochs311 on Jul 27, 2013 22:07:47 GMT -7
Hi Hester my name is Jen. The whole IVDD is very stressful. You have to be sure Axel is on 100% crate rest. You mentioned his poop was like soft serve. The first thing I'd like to ask is what tummy support are you giving. Also are you giving the steroid with food? You need to give prednisone with food. Add the Pepcid too. If his poip us that soft I'd like to know what food you feed also. That has to do with it too. Healing prayers and thoughts sent your way.
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Jul 27, 2013 22:35:35 GMT -7
Good for Eric! You'll appreciate that support over the next several weeks. Regarding the whole body shake, I've worried too. However, when Polly was really in pain, she stopped herself from doing it. It hurt too much. That was one of the signs that she was really in trouble. I guess if they feel good enough to do it, there just isn't much you can do about it. I've worried about my neighbors getting tired of hearing "go potty, Polly" a million times a day. I've listened to their boys play basketball endlessly for 12 years, so I guess we're even.  |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 28, 2013 7:15:18 GMT -7
Current medication:
Pepcid AC 10 mg, 1/4 pill 20-30 mins before breakfast.
Theophylline 10 mg, 2x a day. This is for his asthma, which is quite severe, and we've never tried it before (new vet - he was surprised since it was the first thing most vets will try - thus the need for a new vet). It's a mild muscle relaxant, so it has the side effect of perhaps helping Axel out.
Prednisone 5 mg, 2 x a day (for 7 days and then will be tapered).
Tramadol 10 mg, 2 x a day (for 10 days)
I'm very careful about making sure that he gets the Pepcid, we wait the whole 20-30 minutes, and then he gets his prednisone and theophylline, eats his breakfast/dinner and then gets the tramadol. Hope, his fur sister, has a very sensitive tummy, so I'm always on the lookout for gas and tummy troubles. I occasionally have to massage her belly for her when she eats too fast and gets painful gas bubbles (the first time it happened it cost us $800 to get an x-ray and blood work because she was screaming in pain - and the vet said "She has a huge gas bubble. One fart and she'll be ok")
Like I said, I don't have kids, and so these dogs are always being checked out by me. I have always, since they were babies, been putting my hands in their mouths, massaging them, touching their paws. I can do anything I need to do with them in case I NEED to do something when they're in pain, or if I need to get something out of their mouths immediately (being doxies, they like to eat EVERYTHING - which means sometimes not edible things!). I clean their teeth, I clip their toenails, I express their anal glands, I'm always checking their eyes to clear them out when they get that nasty goober stuff in there - the vet is always amazed that no matter what, my dogs trust me when I open their mouth, or hold them when they get a shot, or grab their paws, and they don't move.
I've added pumpkin to his food last night and this morning. I think I put too much in, but he loved it.
He has ALWAYS been a soft-serve kind of pooper, right from day 1. About 4 times a day! It's not diahreah, it's just a very easy "go". He's such an active little pooch, and we always noticed that the more he ran around, the softer his poop was. Everyone always joked about it, and how often he goes. He ALWAYS (even when I took him for a walk before going) poops at the vet, she can always get a fresh sample because it's like the minute he walks into the exam room, he's gotta go, and she mentioned that it was a good poop. Now that he's been on crate rest, it's coming out like rabbit pellets almost, and I can tell he doesn't want to go. He's been fed Nutros food his whole life, all my dogs have been on it. It has chicken or lamb as the first ingredient, and Vitamin E added to it, and he's on a mix of the lamb and rice, and the chicken and rice "Senior" food which also has glucosamine/chondroitin added to it.
He has a water bowl attached to the crate, so he always has water any moment he wants it. He's peeing a lot, but that's totally normal for him.
Right now he's suntanning in his crate, and his sister is on the pillow next to him. I don't know how to attach a picture or else I'd show you.
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 28, 2013 7:25:24 GMT -7
The reason I'm so worried about the body shake is that he didn't want to do it before I took him to the vet the first day. He would start, like cock his head, flap his ears once and stop. After he got on the prednisone and Tramadol, now he's doing it in his crate, and I cringe thinking he's twisting his back all over the place when he does it. However, it's not something I can stop, and if it feels good, I guess he's the best judge of how he's progressing?
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 28, 2013 11:30:13 GMT -7
His sister is on a pillow outside of Axel's crate placed next to him? Photos need to be uploaded to any webpage such as our photo gallery. Details about Dodgerslist Gallery here: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/260/upload-photo-dogThen you only need to copy the URL and paste it into a forum post. |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 28, 2013 12:12:39 GMT -7
I can't flip this for some reason.
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Jul 28, 2013 13:32:06 GMT -7
Moral support. I love it.
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 28, 2013 18:27:13 GMT -7
So, the pumpkin seems to be working, he's going "normally" now, even though it's orange! I was thinking that he was doing so much better today, no shaky legs and he even tried to roll in the grass when I put him out to potty (I stopped him, but he just lay there and flopped his tail and sunbathed for a few moments, so I let him lie there). He also lifted his leg to pee! But, unfortunately, at dinner time, he ate his food and then made a little whimper and I thought maybe he had to go out again, and when I went to pick him up he yelped.  He went poop right afterwards when I got him to the grass, so I'm hoping maybe it was a full tummy and he was anticipating pain from the non-pumpkin days? I don't know. Also, the honeymoon is over with the complaining. He has started to whine. I was watching tv, and my husband had put his crate on the coffee table so that Axel could be close to me, and when I put my fingers in the cage to pet him, he turned his head away from me. He's mad. I don't blame him. This is a dog that has had complete freedom when I'm home, we have a doggie door in the screen door to the completely wiener-proofed backyard, and they even have their own "bedroom" which consists of a crate and a pee pad spot (they're picking about doing their business outside - only when it's warm and dry). They have a good life, and he's missing it. This experience has scared me for Hope (she's 4), so we're starting new habits. If we're not on the couch, she's not on the couch so she doesn't have to jump down (she can't get up - too short!). No more sleeping in the big bed, as Axel used to sometimes get away from me and FLY off it when he heard my husband get home from a late hockey or baseball game. My dogs never learned to do stairs, except for the 2 leading out to the backyard, but we went to the pet store and bought an aluminum dog ramp (it has a texture on it like sandpaper) and have already taught Hope how to use it (it lines up perfectly with the doggie door - with some peanut butter and cuddles, she learned to use the ramp in about 6 tries). Thankfully having had doxies before, we're very good at keeping them at a healthy weight. Oh, speaking of weight, with 8 weeks of confinement, should I be cutting back on Axel's food? I'm afraid he's going to get fat. I know he won't be as strong because he won't be working his muscles, but we can work on that later, but I'm worried he's going to turn into a chunky monkey! |
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
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Post by StevieLuv on Jul 29, 2013 9:01:12 GMT -7
How is Axel feeling today?? They sure can be miffed when they have to stay in the crate, and let us know in no uncertain terms that WE are in the doghouse for making them stay there Excellent work on making your home more "back friendly" - it will make things so much easier when Axel is all finished his crate rest too. Try not to worry too much about Axel's food - keep his treats low cal, that can help alot. While you don't want him to get fat, trying to change his eating habits now can stress you both out Keeping you in thought and prayer. |
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 29, 2013 11:19:40 GMT -7
Okay, he's yelped several times today. The problem with my sweet and sensitive ::)little boy is the fact that he fake screams to get sympathy! This is something he discovered when he was a puppy when he was in the kitchen and I stepped on his tail lightly - he screamed, I oohed and picked him up for a cuddle. My mom, another day, was walking down the hallway and he was following her, and she nudged him with her ankle and he screamed. She picked him up for a cuddle and fed him a treat. We continued with the "poor baby" treatment for a few weeks and then realized that he was manipulating us! And, thus, the "If I scream maybe I'll get a cuddle or a treat" theme began, despite the fact that I haven't given in in the last 6 years. He will scream when you step OVER him, he will scream if we're on a walk and his sister bumps into him, or if you sit on the couch when he's been sleeping and you wake him up. It's just a little "eeee" one-second high pitched kind of scream and then his ears wrinkle up and he wants up for a cuddle. My parents have dogsat several times, and I know they give in, so that's probably why he continues to do it. So, now that he's been confined ... is he screaming because he wants something, or because it hurts? I think one time today he genuinely screamed because something hurt because he started shaking afterwards. However, it's also a cool and rainy day today, and he can be what my husband terms "a pretty princess" because he doesn't like getting his paws wet on the grass and we've seen him shake and pick up his paws before in the past when the grass is wet or it's cold outside. He's not shivering in his cage right now, and when I pet him in his cage, he didn't seem to scream or show any signs of discomfort when I touched his back. His legs are trembling a lot today, though. Again, is he cold? Does he not like the wet grass? He only trembles outside. I wish they could talk. |
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Sabrina
Helpful Member
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471
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Post by Sabrina on Jul 29, 2013 13:05:35 GMT -7
Hi Hester! I'm Sabrina - my dachshund Charley is in his first disc episode and I wish he could talk to me in English, too!
Is Axel still on the Tramadol 2x/day? I've read on the main Dodger'sList site that Tramadol can wear off in 8hrs - is Axel's yelping worse around the time that the Tramadol might be wearing off?
Hang in there! )))Hugs!(((
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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 29, 2013 14:22:26 GMT -7
Hester, a scream, yelping of pain is quite recognizable and different than whines, barks for attention.
When there are two signs of pain going on that is likely pain you are seeing: shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy, not their perky self, not interested in life.
If they are trembling and you cover with a nice warmed towel from the dryer does trembling stop? Then maybe they were cold. Do signs of pain correspond to nearing the next dose of pain meds, that would tell you they are wearing off too soon. Does trembling happen after moving such as going out to potty, then that is pain. Please put on your detective hat. Disc episodes are typically quite painful. Tramadol has a very short half life and if not given at least every 8 hours it may not be fully controlling pain. Also muscle spasms are often associated with a disc episode. Methocarbamol deals with that type of pain. Until pain is fully controlled, healing just can't get underway. Pain affects the body detrimentally. Let us know what you observe.
Are you giving Pepcid AC every 12 hours, 30 mins before the Pred. And are you giving Pred with a meal?
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 29, 2013 20:17:12 GMT -7
Paula, that's the thing with Axel, he's an artist - and somewhat neurotic. If you heard him, you'd think someone just kicked him, and this has been something he's done his entire life even when no one has touched him. My brother-in-law once came running up the stairs in our house to grab his keys he forgot, and Axel flipped over and started screaming, even though Steve wasn't actually anywhere near him. He startles quite easily, so, for example, he screamed a few months ago when I accidentally dropped a hardcover book onto the floor and he was about 5 feet away. He then wrinkles his ears up and shakes a little, probably because it's the "oh $#!( you scared me" kind of response. That's why I'm having trouble. I have heard him in pain before, he's run into a wall wearing the "cone of shame" when he had a foot infection, and it sounds just the same except more prolonged. He's also a shiverer for a variety of reasons. He shivers when he's cold, but also when he's excited or nervous. He also shivers when he has to poop, that's something he's always done. He also shivers when he's in pain.
The other thing is that I can't tell if he's hunching his back because he's kind of hunchbacked to begin with. He has never had a straight spine. His belly was nice and soft after he went to the bathroom, he seemed to enjoy the little massage when I was checking on him. The only time he's had a hard belly today was right before I took him out and he pooped.
He's very perky first thing in the morning. He gets his meds with food and Pepcid is given to him 20 minutes before he's given any food or medication. He's fed twice a day. I space out his medication carefully. As the day progresses, he gets quieter and less interested in what's going on. Is this the medication? He doesn't shiver in his cage from what I've noticed, it just seems that when he's outside and gone to the bathroom and is standing there for the few seconds before I pick him up, he sometimes starts to tremble with his back legs. However, when I pick him up after he goes potty, he snuggles into my arms and stops trembling completely. I will then sit and look at him in his cage, and he doesn't shiver.
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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 29, 2013 22:48:59 GMT -7
Let's find out if he is in pain. Tramadol likely does not control pain well if not given every 8 hours. Get on the phone with the vet and ask for a prescription for every 8 hours. Then observe if the signs of pain have gone (no shivering, no reluctance to move.
I believe since as the day progresses he get quieter, less interested... he IS in pain!
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Jul 31, 2013 11:10:01 GMT -7
I think he's mad at me or something. He gets super excited when I come downstairs to let him out in the morning to go potty, but then after I feed him and put him in his crate, he just stares at me and sighs. He sometimes won't take a treat from me (a baby carrot), but then he'll take it from my husband. He has done this in the past when I "cheated" on him with my parents' dog Winnie (another dachshund), he could smell her on my pants and wouldn't "talk" to me for hours! He seems to be doing okay today, no trembling in his legs. We went out for a walk (my husband and I), and when we got home, we could hear him barking in his crate when we came in the door and then a YELP and nothing. I ran over to him because he's been going nuts with excitement lately that we were home, or when we wake up in the morning, and I think he might have hurt himself because he was shivering for a bit. I sat on the floor and pet him for a while, and he stopped shivering, but his ears were back and all deflated.
He always seems to do stuff that scares the crap out of me. He gets all wiggly and excited and even though I rush over to his crate, I can't stop him from going nuts when I wake up in the morning, or shaking himself all over in his crate, or readjusting and curling up. I guess he's showing me he feels okay, but it's usually when he's on medication and I know that he's thinking he feels fine, until something hurts! Argh!
He's finally gotten the clue that he has to poop outside on demand instead of taking his time sniffing and wandering around the yard. My husband and I have started a pee/poop time chart on the whiteboard in the kitchen so that we can always know when the last time he was out to do something. I've never paid such close attention to the bathroom habits of my dogs before!
Overall, I feel like he's doing okay. He's just annoyed off at me, and that's okay if it means he's healing.
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Post by Hester & Hope+Dashel on Aug 3, 2013 18:27:21 GMT -7
It's been a few days. Unfortunately, I had to take my dad to the ER on Wednesday night. He has a perforated bowel, and it's been a rough time. Axel hasn't gotten his medication as regularly as he should, as my mom is a mess and I've been taking care of my dad's details and keeping everyone updated on his health.
Axel started his weaning process yesterday from 10mg of prednisone to 5mg. It seemed to go okay yesterday, but today he has screamed SO many times when we pick him up after going potty or eating his meal. His right leg is really seeming to bother him, as he won't put it all the way down, and he's shivering a lot. I gave him his dinner tonight, and he was very interested, but he screamed when I picked him up.
It's a long weekend in Ontario, so my vet is closed for the evening and won't be open again until Tuesday. I called the emergency number to consult the emergency vet that I could increase Axel's dosage to 10mg again for the prednisone, and he said to go right ahead and just to make sure to call my regular vet on Tuesday. So, I hope that Axel feels better tomorrow with the extra dosage of prednisone. Maybe we just reduced it too soon? I hope so. He's been doing so well for the past 2 days, no trembling or anything.
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I am so scared for my little boy, I know he's in much better shape than Oscar was, but it's almost like post-traumatic distress symptoms, I'm reliving the fear I had so long ago.
He went poop right afterwards when I got him to the grass, so I'm hoping maybe it was a full tummy and he was anticipating pain from the non-pumpkin days? I don't know.
