Kandy, welcome to the Forum. I'm sorry you are finding supportive vet help a challenge.
If Pebbles leaks on you when lifted and you find urine leaks in bedding, that is a sign a dog would need to be expressed. What was the reason the vet would not give you a hands-on-top-of-your-hands type of expressing lesson? He Rx'd an anti-inflammatory to help prevent an infection in the bladder. There is a problem with that approach if Pebbles really has lost bladder control.
-- continual overstretching of the bladder will cause the muscles to loose tone and when the brain can again message the bladder, the bladder will not be able to operate properly.
--- Expressing will need to be every 3-4 hrs as you learn to express proficiently. I.e. no more leaking in bedding and no more leaking on you when lifted. Stays dry expressing session to session.
Take a look at this video. Female are alot easier to express. The reason for the demo is to know how much pressure to apply and where to find the bladder as it often will slip from your fingers. Video to view before going to vet tomorrow for a lesson:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm Pebbles is not on any meds for the disc episode!!! the Dex inject has worn down and ineffective!!
-- Since she started with Dex, you will need to be watcher that another steroid such as Prednisone is used. Make sure there is no Rxing of the other class contradicated with steroid called NSAID (non-steroid anti-inflammatory drugs)
-- Take this card with you to keep the meds straight in your mind:
D/l here and print out:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/MedCard.pdf -- Have an understanding just how anti-inflammatory drugs are used. You will need to supervise as not all vets know IVDD.
Vets choose an anti-inflammatory (steroid or a non-steroid) during a disc episode to get painful swelling down in about 7-30 days. These powerhouse meds do wonders OR they can be dangerous. Vets who practice safe medicine and owners up to speed on medications make all the difference. Did you get all four questions right?
Answers here:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingswelingANSWERS.htm-- Since is may take 7-30 days to resolve swelling, pain meds need to be on board to provide immediate, round the clock relief. To provide round the clock, pain meds are normally Rx for every 8 hrs (3x/day)
1) tramadol as the general ,analgesic 3x/day
2) gabapentin for nerve pain 3x/day
3) methocarbamol for the pain coming from muscle contractions 3x/day
You will want to be up to speed to monitor, ask questions and advocate successfully. I keep this vet's webpage bookmarked for just that reason myself
www.marvistavet.com/pharmacy-center.pmlDIAGNOSING
Most are diagnosed by knowing the breeds prone to IVDD (dachshunds). What the dog's history of perhaps a previous disc episode or a disc surgery. The way the dog presents at the hands on exam.
--$1500 MRI's are normally done prior to a surgery
--Xrays do not proove a disc episode but are used rather when it is suspcioned it may be something else. Helps to rule out those "others" such as tumor, broken back vetebrae, an infection in the vertebrae. So if an exray is recommended the vet should be telling you exactly what his thinking is.
PEPCID AC (famotidine) a must with any anti-inflammatory drug prescribed
Proactive vets don’t wait til there is lip licking of nausea, not eating, vomit, diarrhea leading to serious bleeding ulcers, red or black blood in stool due to the extra stomach acids anti-inflammatory drugs cause.
Pepcid AC (famotidine) blocks the production of acid. The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) with a disc episode is 0.44mg mg per pound every 12 hours. Pepcid AC has a very limited potential for side effects.
Ask if your dog has any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn’t need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a “no health” issues answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
HEALTH ISSUES: “Mar Vista Vet reports: Pepcid AC has a very limited potential for side effects, the reason of release to over-the-counter status. The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease as these diseases tend to prolong drug activities. There have been some reports of exacerbating heart rhythm problems in patients who already have heart rhythm problems so it may be prudent to choose another means of stomach acid control in heart patients.”
marvistavet.com/famotidine.pml Hope you will be able to register and sign in. Will be watching for your post tomorrow for the meds Rx'd. Fingers crossed you will find this other vet to be more knowledgeable or at least open to addressing the concerns you will be voicing.