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Post by Tara & Baloo on Jul 15, 2019 21:56:15 GMT -7
13.6 lb Mini dachshund, 2.5 years, Baloo. My name is Tara. I am having an incredibly hard time with this. He is so young and so spunky. The neurologist said even though he is young, he is now "retired" and after his month of crate rest, we will have to change his life completely to keep it from happening again. No intense playing, no furniture (we used ramps), no playing with other dogs, no long walks. I am having a deeply tough time coping with this and I just know he doesn't understand and it breaks my heart.
He has received a diagnosis of IVDD after x-rays from a DVM during the time of a dental cleaning a bit over a month ago. They have since been examined by other vets who have said his x-rays really were not bad at all. They can see the calcification, but there is not much yet.
Meds began Friday July 12. Gabapentin oral 250mg/5ml- Give 1ml by mouth every 8 hours for 10 days Prednisone 2.5mg tablet #16- give 1 tablet orally every 12 hours for 4 days, then 1 tablet once daily for 4 days, then 1 tablet every other day until gone Omeprazole 20mg capsule #5- give 4 beads [?] by mouth every 12 hours Trazadone 100mg- give 1/4 tablet every 8-12 hours (he is a wild boy and this is the only way to help him calm down) We also give him 2 cosequin chewables for small dogs daily and started a probiotic today.
[Moderator's note: please do not edit 13.6 lbs. Prednisone as of 7/12: taper dose @ 2.5mg 2x/day Gabapentin 250mg/5mL: 50mg (1mL) 3x/day for 10 days Omeprazole 20mg - 4 beads 2x/day Trazadone 25mg 2-3??x/day]
Friday July 12 we went in for conservative treatment. We rushed to an emergency neurologist. Baloo almost died after being under for his dental cleaning, so we want to avoid him going under again. We were told 2-4 weeks crate rest. He had a back episode. It was the 4th he’s ever had and it was his worst. It [yelping] lasted about a minute [??] but after that he was completely fine. There was no paralysis or obvious neurological symptoms.
No current visible pain. He did yelp quickly when picked up Saturday [7/13] morning but has not showed evidence of any pain since.
Eating and drinking okay. His poops are a bit soft currently but I will be contacting the vet about that tomorrow. I did begin a chewable probiotic today for him.
He can walk and wag his tail. He can urinate normally.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724
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Post by Marjorie on Jul 16, 2019 4:54:20 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist, Tara. So glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve gleaned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you. **Disc disease is not a death sentence! ** Struggling with quality of life questions? Re-think things: www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htmDo know that Baloo will be able to once again take long walks once movement is gradually reintroduced after the 8 weeks of strict crate rest. He will be able to play with other dogs - just not too rambunctiously. He will have to learn to keep all four feet on the floor, no jumping, no climbing steps/stairs. He will have a wonderful life and you'll soon see how well he adapts to his new normal. So please don't despair! Please let us know a bit more about the beginning of this episode. You mentioned that "it" only lasted about a minute and then he was fine. What did you see? Pain? Loss of neuro function? Since Baloo can walk, he's a very good candidate for conservative care, which consists of 8 weeks of very strict crate rest. More on that below. When you speak to the vet today, speak to him about adding Pepcid AC (Famotidine). Omeprazole is a good acid suppressor but it takes 5 days to reach peak effectiveness and that may be why Baloo's poop is beginning to be a bit soft. Pepcid AC works quickly to suppress acid. Doxie weight dogs: 5mg Pepcid AC (famotidine) every 12 hours. NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound, 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours for as long as your dog is on the anti-inflammatory. www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.htmlThe hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT crate rest part (no PT, little movement). With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. Those weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc. 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form. Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmSTRICT means: ◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you ◼︎no chiro therapy whys: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/chiropractic.htm ◼︎no dragging or meandering at potty times. ◼︎no PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc ◼︎At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best. Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment. Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps. Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog’s back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on! www.dodgerslist.com/literature/slingwalk.jpg  Knowledge is the power to fight the IVDD enemy and win!! The very best thing you can do for YOU, the caregiver, and for your dog is to get up to speed on IVDD soonest possible. Begin absorbing the must-have overall sense of meds, care and how the treatment works. Your dog will be depending on your ability to learn - excellent video series here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/theater.htm PRINT OUT this link and tape to your fridge: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm use the printout as your roadmap to avoid dangerous detours in your dog’s care make notes/highlight to keep yourself on track follow all the links in the next days to become the IVDD savvy pet parent your dog needs. Use the “search box” to easily locate topics over at our Main www.Dodgerslist.com website: www.dodgerslist.com/index/searchBOX.jpgHealing prayers for Baloo.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,544
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 16, 2019 10:54:24 GMT -7
Tara, in addition to the questions Marjorie asked in above post, also let us know there is not another dog inside the recovery suite with Baloo. With Baloo's mild symptoms and if you are committed to getting his disc to heal with 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out of recovery suite for a very, very few footsteps at potty time he WILL be able to join you in family activities of going on walks and many other things. Some may just require a slight modification to be back friendly. More on that later on.
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Post by Tara & Baloo on Jul 17, 2019 7:08:44 GMT -7
The 4 beads of omeprazole are from the capsule being open and then we give 4 of the beads from it.
Trazadone is 2-3 times a day based on if he is being spunky or not. Some days he is totally fine with his crate rest, others he will start whining, so that is a day that he gets the 3rd dose. He does not start jumping or anything, it is almost that the crate is just making him anxious that day so I give him that extra dose.
When he had his episode, there was intense pain. Only yelping and looking towards his read end. No loss of neuro function or anything like that, no strange eye movements or gum color, no urinating or anything. The yelping went on for about a minute, and then after that, it abruptly stopped like nothing had happened at all.
I actually just saw this post. Since it has been 5 days, I’m thinking maybe the omeprazole is okay now? What do you think? He has not pooped yet today but I will be watching for when he does. His poop yesterday was actually back to being okay as well.
Thank you so much!!
Also.. no other dogs in his crate with him. For the most part, the other dogs are not even around him. Only if they are being calm they can then walk around his crated area.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,544
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 17, 2019 8:35:11 GMT -7
Tara, for your 13.6lbs/6.17kg Baloo, just curious as to how many mgs of omeprazole are contained in 4 beads out of a 20mgs omeprazole capsule of beads? Do you know? Would that be around 6mgs omeprazole? (1mgs x 6.17kg = 6.17mgs of omeprazole). I think this is the first we've seen omeprazole Rx'd by number of beads, thus keen to have more information.
Also in regard to people the Mayo Clinic warns not to open the capsule unless directed by the Dr. "If you cannot swallow the omeprazole delayed-release capsules, you may open it and sprinkle the pellets contained in the capsule on one tablespoon of applesauce. This mixture must be swallowed immediately with a glass of cool water. "
How did your vet direct you to administer the opened capusule with the 4 beads? Do you follow up with lapping up water, too?
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Post by Tara & Baloo on Jul 17, 2019 19:36:31 GMT -7
I honestly am unsure about the amount contained in 4 beads. I was instructed by him to empty the capsules and use 4 beads. After counting it appears that there are 18 beads total in each 20 mg capsule. The only instructions are "Give 4 beads by mouth every 12 hours". I have been giving him a milk bone pill pouch with then beads smooshed into there and he eats it right up. He has access to water at all times, and I have noticed he drinks it after medication time.
Edit: I also give Pet Naturals of Vermont probiotics, and his poop has returned to solid for sure today.
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Post by Tara & Baloo on Aug 8, 2019 7:05:49 GMT -7
Baloo hasn’t yelped at his back 3 times. Last night he expressed his anal gland and then yelped at his back. This morning he yelped at his back and then two minutes later did again. Then he threw up (he hadn’t had his breakfast yet but I figured the pain triggered that yellow bile). Now he is fine, he ate breakfast and peed outside and is acting okay. I’ve been perfect with his crate rest. I dont know what to do or how to handle this.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,544
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 8, 2019 8:21:42 GMT -7
Tara, can you fill us in if there are have been any changes to the medication list you gave us on July 25th? An accurate current med list provides us with volumes of information to be able to make meaningful comments.
July 15th MED LIST 13.6 lbs. Prednisone as of 7/12: taper dose @ 2.5mg 2x/day Gabapentin 250mg/5mL: 50mg (1mL) 3x/day for 10 days Omeprazole 20mg - 4 beads 2x/day Trazadone 25mg 2-3??x/day
August 7th the vet expressed Baloo's anal glands?
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