PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
|
Post by PaulaM on Jan 26, 2020 8:51:48 GMT -7
Alison, sounds very much as though Che is not suffering with any pain and feels good. With that, it can be more of a challenge to make sure they are not moving their back too much. Some bark and move the whole body which would not be a good thing. At any rate barking is obnoxious for you! Here are a couple of ideas for you. ---Be aware you might be inadvertently training for unwanted behavior. To dogs rewards are: food, looking at them, talking to them, eye contact, approaching the crate, petting. So anytime you see unwanted behavior try speaking in your dog's language so he understands to calm down. Turn your body sideways, avoid eye contact until he calms and settles down. Preferable is to start teaching what you do want before there is too much practice in doing the unwanted behavior. Anytime your dog is sitting or lying down quietly, give a reward of a calm loving "good sit/lie." Soon your dog will see they get rewards by quietly sitting, etc. At random times you give a treat as reward for not barking, make it low cal (a small peice of apple, carrot). You can also use part of this regular portion of kibble as a treat. So subtract any pieces of kibble used as a treat from his meal later on. -- Many members have found a pet stroller to solve the whining problem because the stroller can be wheeled from room to room as you go about your activities. Pet strollers, however, should only be used when you are directly supervising. More details on strollers: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/strollers.htm-- Put a garment you have been wearing and have not washed in the crate. -- Nan Arthur, CDBC, CPDT, KPACTP: According to the book "Stress in Dogs" by Martina Scholz & Clarissa von Reinhardt, the most well-behaved dogs get 17 or more hours of rest and sleep per day. Teaching self-calming exercises can also help your dog to relax more. You can make something as simple as eye contact a very rewarding behavior that also acts as a way for your dog to “ask permission” when he wants something. When dogs have a focus and an understanding about how to behave to get what they want, they are much calmer overall. To do this, each time your dog looks at you, say, something like, “Yes!” or use a clicker to mark the second he looks at you, and then give your dog a food reward. [NOTE: for crate resting dogs, shift your body a bit] .... wait for your dog to look up at you again, say, “Yes,” and reward again. Do this exercise 10 or so times and then say, “All done,” and put the treats away. Come back later and do it again until you can see that your dog is really starting to make automatic eye contact in hopes you will say, “Yes,” again and give him his reward. [NOTE: Again, treats should be subtracted from the normal daily kibble ration so as not to gain weight during crate rest.] -- At night, try placing the crate on a sturdy bedside table to sleep next to you. -- During the day try the coffee table or the dinning room table so there will be a view out a window and a better perspective on what is going on in the house from a high. -- Make the crate or ex-pen more cozy by draping a blanket over part of the top. Play classical music or one of the wildlife TV shows. -- Relaxation Music for Dogs! Here's the playlistl 70+ "tunes" --Using any oral calmer in combination with a Pheromone diffuser seems to work best. It takes several days for these to start working - it isn't immediate but they are a much better option if you can avoid heavy duty prescription sedatives (ACE, alprazolam or trazodone). Of course always keep your vet in the loop on all things you give your dog. Place a DAP pheromone diffusor at floor level where the recovery suite is: --DOG Adaptil (DAP) wall plug in diffuser 48ml www.adaptil.com/
Use diffusor with one oral calmer from below: Oral calmers 1) ANXITANE® S chewable tabs contain 50 mg L-Theanine, an amino acid that acts neurologically to help keep dogs calm, relaxed www.virbacvet.com/products/detail/anxitane-l-theanine-chewable-tablets/behavioral-health 2) Composure Soft Chews are colostrum based like calming mother's milk and contain 21 mg of L-Theanine. www.vetriscience.com/composure-soft-dogs-MD-LD.php
|
|
|
Post by Alison & Che on Jan 26, 2020 9:26:26 GMT -7
I have dropped his meds down to at the vets order 25mg ▼tram 3x/day, 125mg ▼meth 3x a day . Maybe I need to keep them higher.
[Moderator’s Note. Please do not edit 15lbs MRI Sept 12 2019 re: 9/11/19 paralyzed legs disc episode Short walk RX on 10/7 - 4 wks after disc episode!!!! relapsed Disc #1 on 11/24 due to shortened 8 wkd crate rest disc relapse #2 getting on furniture until Dec 15, not 100% in recovery suite prednisone previous courses negated upon a disc relapse of 12/15 as of 12/15: 5mgs 2x/day for 23 days ; then tapered 1/8 due to liver-cortisol test results. as of 1/20: 5mgs 2x/day for 1 day until vet help was available as of 1/21 Dr. Green Rx's: 5mgs 2x/day for 14 days then 2/5 test taper for _pain/_neuro tramadol ▼25mgs 3x/day gabapentin 100mgs ▼3x/day (not to exceed 400mgs total/per day methocarbamol ▼125mgs 3x/day famotidine 5mgs 2x/day ]
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
|
Post by PaulaM on Jan 26, 2020 9:43:47 GMT -7
What date did the pain meds get reduced? Was the Rx reduction by same vet Dr. Green who Rx'd the prednsone 5mgs for 14 days on Jan 21? There have been so many vets involved, just like to keep straight which vet is prescribing which med.
Methocarbamol is at the more normal we typically see vets using for a 15lbs dog (125mgs 3x/day)
If all pain is currently being fully controlled dose to dose, then Tramadol is ok at the low 25mgs dose. Let us know if you are getting round the clock, dose to dose relief from pain for Che.
Just so we are in the loop....is gabapentin still at 100mgs every 6 hrs (4x/day)?
|
|
|
Post by Alison & Che on Jan 26, 2020 10:12:40 GMT -7
Hi. The pain meds were reduced two days after the prednisone was started, only about two days ago, to be sure there was no pain. Yes Che is pain free 24/7 thank god.
No the ▼gaba went to 100mg 3x/day.
The stroller idea seems to be working great. It's little short for him but he seems ALOT happier and no whining or barking.
I actually had the VIRBAC [Anxitane® S]on hand so I started that and I ordered the pheremones from Amazon. so thanks for that.
I am running this by you but I am really strung out about the issue, so please don't tell me no. Because I don't see another solution. My kitchen has been overrun with mice and no matter what I do I can't get rid of them. I literally put 24 snap traps out last Monday and haven't caught one. They are balancing on my stove irons, running into my bedroom at night, chewing my walls all day. I am just overwhelmed and completely out of options. So I am getting a foster cat today from the pound. I plan to have him temporarily, so if it a total unworkable faceplant with Che I can reverse the decision. Che definitely gets stressed when he sees cats. Uncontrollably whines etc. I am planning on keeping them separated and out of each others view as much as possible. But it is the only course of action that I see. I haven't been able to cook in my kitchen for two weeks becasue I am so disgusted.
I have sealed the holes in my kitchen and my house already last year about this time. They seem to come in. Last year, I think I just pretended they weren't there. But this year that is impossible. I know I am allergic to them and that is why my nose is running all the time. I hired a company for 350.00 to get rid of them and they put out snap traps and left. I don't think there is a real solution. I live in townhouses and who knows what the neighbors do. And I share a roof with the neighbors. I hear cats running on our roofs all night. I think the mice come from the roof, and in through my ceiling, down the walls and eat their way into my kitchen, I did find a hole, sealed it. But they are in my house still three days after the sealing. I suppose I could poison them, but what if Che gets out and eats one?
|
|
PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
|
Post by PaulaM on Jan 26, 2020 10:33:10 GMT -7
Alison, if you have tried the traps, then maybe the cat is an option since you know to keep Che from being able to see the cat. In NW Montana, Fall is a time rodents try to get into a warm house. The only trap that has worked for me is Intruder's " The Better MouseTramp®" Reusable and I found it at my local hardware store. Peanut butter worked as the lure. Is there anyone who can help you seal up the point(s) of entry the mice are using to get into your house with steel wool? Around pipes that exit the house that are not sealed right up to the pipe? In the crawl space if you have one are places to check for unsealed tiny spaces. Mice don't eat thru steel wool and it is cheap and moldable. Using mice poison with a cat on the premises who might eat a mouse is not an option. What is the name of the product made by VIRBAC?
|
|
|
Post by Alison & Che on Jan 26, 2020 12:37:03 GMT -7
Believe me. I can't seem to seal things. I put steel wool everywhere. they are in the walls and are eating through the wood.
I will be sealing everything again soon. It will be expensive and seems impossible when I look at my eves and roof. I paid someone to do it once and he did not do it good enough. 350.00 later..I just need an immediate solution now. I am going to get the cat now and will be rearranging my house to separate the two of them.
Thanks for the trap recommendation. I will get it.
|
|
|
Post by Alison & Che on Jan 26, 2020 19:48:02 GMT -7
Now Dr. Green is my full time vet. I provided her with the MRI and his blood test history. So from now on it will be her. She is with Pet Doctor. She conferences with the Senior veterinarian Dr. Sheriff Louis when necessary.
He has researched many things and talked to me about them. He could not find any research on the use of braces so he said he did not think they made enough of a difference to warrant the expense. He did advise Off the Record for me to experiement with CBD oil if I got some to see if it helped calm Che. I think he forsaw how agitated he would be in the crate 100%. They both advocate 100$ crating. I also tell them about Dodger's List. Dr. Louis thinks weight loss should be started later too, not now. And he is sympathetic to my vet from Mexico, which I like because she has been very good to me. We pow wowed about how difficult this weaning off the pred has been. He thought the vet from Mexico had found liver issues and that is why we had the wean. They told me to wean, but I am not sure why. He said it was good to do it. I think his being on vacation during this time caused a delay in getting the pain meds right. I couldn't call him. And I couldn't get Dr. Green either. It was a long long MLD holiday. HE [Pet Doctor's Senior veterinarian, Dr. Sheriff Louis.] assigned Dr. Green to make the big calls for Che and he would consult. So that is the status.
I am going to contact my MExico vet and ask about getting his prescriptions filled down there because it would be alot cheaper. She calls the prescription into a vet on the US side and he gives me the Mexico price. Then I don't have to transport Tramadol across the border. I have a running prescription for gaba and tramadol with the stateside vet based on my Mexicnan vet's prescription. Now I need to get the stomach lining meds and Methocarbonyl called in as well.
Stroller is working great. Cat is getting used to the bathroom. Sitting right under a place with mouse activity. I have high hopes.
|
|
|
Post by Judy & Vesper on Jan 26, 2020 23:20:49 GMT -7
Hi there Alison, It seems at last that everything has fallen into place Going through IVDD is dauning to say the least and with all the extra troubles you have had, I am glad that you have at last found people you trust to help you, and of course a cat to sort out your unwanted guests. Regarding the CBD oil www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Supplements.htm#CDBI am so glad Che is doing better . Just remember to kind to yourself as well and to take a break every now and then.
|
|
|
Post by Alison & Che on Feb 20, 2020 11:47:37 GMT -7
Hi Everyone: I have been diagnosed with precancerous thyroid and am preparing for surgery. I don't seem to be able to keep Che from jumping. I have really doubled up and tryed, but he jumped out of his stroller twice now in the last two weeks. I can't keep him crated because he constantly barks until I put him in the stroller and I haven't been able to control him in the stroller adequately. It is just too much for me to work and to do this level of supervision. I am considering putting him in a vet boarding facility in Mexico. At least there he will be crated and won't jump and they are used to dogs barking nonstop. He has constant needs that I can't spend all day trying to discern. I think having the cat around made it worse. Also, he has a vomiting crisis yesterday and was dehydrated and now he is inpatient at the vet for one to two days. I need to focus on work. I am trying to get a marijuana card for his pain because the prednisone I am thinking is going to cause too many side effects. The cat got out and is gone now so I ahve the pound to answer to for that. I can't explain the level of overwhlem and chaos I am feeling. I just can't keep going on like this. I wonder if you think it would be alright to put him in boarding.
|
|
|
Post by Romy & Frankie on Feb 20, 2020 14:13:17 GMT -7
Pet stroller have a screen closure to prevent dogs from escaping
|
|
|
Post by Romy & Frankie on Feb 20, 2020 14:35:50 GMT -7
I am sorry to hear that you must have surgery. That and a dog with an IVDD episode is difficult to deal with. I hope you will be able to find your cat. During the disc episode try to keep the cat separate from Che if the cat's presence riles him up. If you are thinking of putting Che in boarding for a short while during your recovery from the surgery I don't see a problem. Just carefully check out the boarding facility to ensure that they are aware of an IVDD dog's needs. Essentially there should be minimal movement, he should be carried out to potty, while being carried his back should be kept straight. These are things we know because we are parents of IVDD dog's but not all staff in all boarding facilities would know this. You may also have a friend or neighbor that would be willing to watch CHE during this time. You would have to teach them about how to care for an IVDD dog also. I am not sure what meds Che is currently on. Could you let us know the meds, their dosages and frequency? Sedatives like Acepromazine or Trazodone could be used to help calm Che and hopefully keep him from barking if the pheromone are not working.
The strollers that I most often see for dogs have a screened panel that can be zipped up to keep the dog from jumping out. Does your stroller have this option?
Best wishes for your surgery.
|
|