jiorio
New Member
Treatment: Conservative. Status: Continent and walking; Number of IVDD episodes: 4
Posts: 38 
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Post by jiorio on Jul 27, 2013 14:43:11 GMT -7
We're back!!!!
This looks to be the start of Lily's 4th episode of IVDD in 5 years and the 3rd in less than 2 years. I had started posting in early May when she started her 3rd episode. I stopped abruptly because my husband and kids were tired of hearing me say "This is what Dodgerslist says to do". They thought since the neuro vet recommended only 3 weeks of strict crate rest that it was the right thing to do. I held my ground the best I could and we compromised on 6 weeks and the last 2 weeks she had her harness and leash on when not in the crate and was confined to the pillows in the living room. To keep the peace in the house I stopped posting and now I regret it because I really needed the support. She had recuperated well and had been for acupuncture the end of June. The vet said she was doing well and said to bring her back as needed for tune-ups. She was resuming her normal functioning and as hard as we tried, she started jumping again! By the middle of this week she was getting very restless during the night. This morning she vomited about 4 hours after breakfast. By 1:00pm she yelped twice and I immediately put her in the crate. I gave her a Robaxin and Torbutrol left over from the last time. By 2:30 she was still yelping so we called and got her right over to the ER vet (the same one we saw at 2:00am 3 months ago!) . The ER vet isn't completely sure it's another IVDD episode but it sure seems like it to me! She's walking and continent. The vet thinks she yelps in anticipation of the pain. At my urging from past experience (I still had the pill bottles from the last time) she started her on the following meds:
Prednisone 5mg 2x/day for 7 days.
Methocarbamol 500mg 1/4 tab q 8 hours
Tramadol 50mg 2x/day. I asked about a stomach protector and stopped and got
Pepcid AC 10mg to be given 2x/day.
We were home by 4:00pm so I gave her a Prednisone and Tramadol with some cheese followed by Activia Vanilla yogurt mixed with low salt chicken brother and water. I tried to give her her regular dinner mixed with low salt chicken broth. She took a few bites and then growled at me! She has yelped a few times as she tries to reposition herself. I am trying to wait for the meds to kick in before we try to take her out. Of course, when my daughter came home from work on her dinner break, she tried to stand up in the crate and wiggle so that made her yelp. When yelps, so do I!
Thank you for welcoming us back into the fold and this time I am going to stay connected on a regular basis because you all know your stuff!!!!!!
Jill and Lily
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Post by jochs311 on Jul 27, 2013 18:31:35 GMT -7
Hi My name is Jen. I'm so sorry that you are going though another IVDD episode. I hope your husband gets more on board this time and sticks to 8 weeks of crate rest. We are going through our first episode and its really tough. I'm so thankful for Dodgerslist and the support we have gotten. You really need it in these tough times. Our pets are like our children. Sending positive thoughts and prayers your way.
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jiorio
New Member
Treatment: Conservative. Status: Continent and walking; Number of IVDD episodes: 4
Posts: 38
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Post by jiorio on Jul 27, 2013 19:36:27 GMT -7
Thanks, Jen! I really do drive everyone around me crazy when Lily goes through an episode! The last time it happened my mother-in-law was in town for 2 weeks and because Lily was in so much pain for most of that time, I didn't get over to my sister-in-law's to see her. She's my third child! I have never fully relaxed over her back since her first bout almost 6 years ago. When you love a doxie you always worry about their backs! I think what upsets my family the most is seeing me get so upset every time. You would think that with this being her 4th episode I would get used to it but you never do. We always wonder when it will be one that really puts her down. So far since we have gotten home from the vet I am cautiously optimistic. She has been out 2x to urinate and she hasn't yelped. As long as we keep giving the steroids and something to keep her resting I think we can make it until Monday when we can see our regular vet. This group really is the best place for support and education on IVDD!
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Post by jochs311 on Jul 27, 2013 19:57:08 GMT -7
Hi Jill. Do you have her on strict crate rest? Sounds like her pain is getting under control. Our Tucker was paralyzed 5 weeks ago. We don't have the means for surgery so we have been on strict crate rest since then. Tucker is now wobbly walking! Our vet wasn't much help though. He said get a cart he will not walk. Have you tried accupuncture? We have been going twice a week for 4 weeks and this past week we did once a week and will continue that for a bit. It has done wonders for Tucker. I recommend it!  |
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Post by Pauliana on Jul 27, 2013 19:58:33 GMT -7
Hi Jill, welcome back to Dodgerslist.. So sorry to hear Lily is having a 4th episode. So hard for you and it is a very emotional thing to undergo with a much loved pet.. It's so hard to get family to understand sometimes especially when they aren't of a mind to research and learn about IVDD.. Neil is the same way and won't listen either, so I very much know what you are going through trying to do the right things under pressure with the rest of the family.. It's an uphill battle sometimes.. Just tell them, this time they are going to listen to you, unless they want a lot more vet bills. That works with Neil. Good for you on advocating for Lily at the ER vet to get her back on Prednisone, Methocarbamol, Tramadol and Pepcid AC and getting her back in the crate.. We are here for you and very much understand.. |
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Jul 27, 2013 20:03:22 GMT -7
Feeling your pain. We're back for episode 2. I'm sorry you're going through this again. At least you know what to do. I hope your family will listen to you this time. I have a hard time convincing my husband to be strict with crate rest, too. I think he finally gets it, but I can't quite trust him.
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Post by Sally & Vinnie on Jul 27, 2013 20:42:25 GMT -7
The men in our family also are difficult to convince, but I always say that they are not the ones doing all the work (nursing care) so buzz off! Thank God my daughter is onboard with me! Thinking of you having a fourth episode...bless you!
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jiorio
New Member
Treatment: Conservative. Status: Continent and walking; Number of IVDD episodes: 4
Posts: 38
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Post by jiorio on Jul 27, 2013 23:39:34 GMT -7
I have indeed tried acupuncture and I am a firm believer in it! Our regular vet also happens to be our acupuncture vet. I think it really helped with her pain and healing all three previous times. She has also had the microcurrent treatment last time and that seemed to help too. I am hoping she can get a treatment this week when she goes. Right now she still seems to be doing well. She woke up around 2:30 because she wanted to go into my daughter's room. I used the opportunity to give her a dose of Pepcid since she usually eats around 4:30am. When I opened up the crate to give it to her, she wiggled past me! I screamed, she yelped, my daughter came running and Lily rolled over and wagged her tail for her. We got the pill in her and pulled the crate into my daughter's room. We looked like a couple of Keystone cops! Back to bed for a few hours now!
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jiorio
New Member
Treatment: Conservative. Status: Continent and walking; Number of IVDD episodes: 4
Posts: 38
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Post by jiorio on Jul 28, 2013 9:25:48 GMT -7
Well, we got through the first crucial night without any major issues! She's eating, drinking, peeing and pooping. Her gate is a bit wobbly but she is able to walk a few steps to do her business. The steroids and pain meds seem to be helping and they are holding her from dose to dose, unlike last time when it took close to a week to get the pain under control. If this is another episode of IVDD and it sure seems like it is, we hopefully caught it in time. We will get her into our vet tomorrow. They open at 8:00am but someone is usually there in the office by 7:30. If I call when they open they usually tell us to come right over. Thanks to the support and education of this group(and 3 previous experiences with it)I had the confidence to advocate for Lily effectively with the ER vet. One question I have is...I have been reading on this site to give the Pepcid AC 5mg 1/2 hour before giving her the steroids 2x/day. The nurse at the vet said to give her 10mg 2x/day. Given that the vet didn't seem too experienced with IVDD I would take this group's recommendation over hers. If I have been giving the 10mg 2x/day am I doing any harm to Lily?
Thanks!
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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 28, 2013 9:51:19 GMT -7
Great update - you did a great job of getting on top of this epsiode quickly! We follow proactive vets and give our approx 13-20 lbs doxies 5mg 30 mins prior to Prednisone. I seriously doubt that you did any harm to Lily with the 10mg size, and can safely switch to the 5 mg, 30 minutes prior to her steriod. Most of these medications that are sold over the counter have a wide safety margin when it comes to dosing, so don't fret keep us posted |
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jiorio
New Member
Treatment: Conservative. Status: Continent and walking; Number of IVDD episodes: 4
Posts: 38
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Post by jiorio on Jul 29, 2013 14:23:14 GMT -7
Lily saw the regular vet this morning. He called me and said he heard Lily had been at the Emergency vet this weekend. I told him what happened and he saw her at 10:30am. My 22 year old daughter and 15 year old son took her. He did an acupuncture treatment. He said her back felt tight and tense but she has good reflexes and good movement. I wasn't there but from what my kids said he wasn't 100% sure it was a disc again. He said to keep her crated and on the meds until Friday and then call him for an update. Given her history, I am still inclined to think it was at least the start of an IVDD episode. There was a reason she yelped and was tender. Also, the steroids seemed to help and that to me indicates there was some type of inflammation going on. I know without xrays it's hard to be sure but when in doubt, treat it as if it is.
Thanks to all for your support!
Jill and Lily
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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 14:44:36 GMT -7
Wobbly walking is a sign of nerve diminishment. Something was pressing on the spinal cord. Xrays are used to rule out other disease (tumor, infection, fracture) that can mimic a disc problem. With her history, I think you can't go wrong to give a suspicious disc time to rest, form good scar tissue. Without an MRI, there really is no proof this is a disc episode….and those $1000 pictures are used to plan out a surgery.
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jiorio
New Member
Treatment: Conservative. Status: Continent and walking; Number of IVDD episodes: 4
Posts: 38
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Post by jiorio on Jul 29, 2013 15:51:18 GMT -7
Clarification on my last post. The ER vet said Lily was a little more wobbly than when she saw her at 2:00am on a Friday morning 3 months ago but my daughter, who is with her every day, and my husband have not noticed any difference in her walking. Our regular vet didn't mention anything about her gait. To me, she seems about the same too. Since we will not be doing surgery again I know it's not worth it to get the "million dollar work-up". For right now I feel confident we are on the right track with her.
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Post by Pauliana on Jul 29, 2013 21:37:49 GMT -7
Jill,
It sounds to me like you are on the right track with treating Lily conservatively as you are doing.. You are a wonderful advocate for her as well. Now it's up to her own body to heal with the help of medications, crate rest and your good nursing..
Sending healing thoughts across the miles..
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jiorio
New Member
Treatment: Conservative. Status: Continent and walking; Number of IVDD episodes: 4
Posts: 38
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Post by jiorio on Aug 1, 2013 5:46:28 GMT -7
Just a quick update on Lily...she seems to be doing well! She hasn't had any pain meds since Tuesday morning. She is still on the Prednisone 5mg 2x/day but it tapers after tomorrow. We are keeping her on strict crate rest and I am supposed to call the regular vet tomorrow and given him an update. Even if he says it's okay to have her come off the strict crate rest I think I will still keep her confined and limit walking as much as possible. Also, my husband is off next week so I may ask him to take her for another acupuncture treatment. That's all for now!
Jill and Lily
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