Nancie's Stewie 7/30 Conservative Doxie-Maltese

Welcome to Dodgerslist Nancie! Please let Stewie know with your utmost confidence that things are going to be ok…because they will. With this disease self education is critical not just so you make sure the right things are being done for the best recovery but for your own emotions. The unknown is simply a scary place. Get ready to fight this disease now and in the future by knowing all things IVDD. There is no better place to start than on our main web page with "Overview: the essentials" and then read all you can as soon as possible. Here's the link www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

I am concerned that Stewie is still in pain which means his pain medications need to be adjusted. There is a lot more that your vet can do to get him out of pain. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htm     He can't even begin to heal until his pain is under control from dose to dose. You will see a different dog once he is out of pain..

Also the cause of the pain: inflammation and swelling in the spinal cord due to the disc rupture,needs to be addressed with an anti inflammatory..With his GI issue the vet likely doesn't want him on them right now.  Ask him if it is safe to use either a steroid or a NSAID with Flagyl.  If not ask him if it would be possible to switch to Sucralfate to heal his stomach lining and Pepcid AC to prevent acid while on an anti inflammatory.. Protecting his stomach is of primary importance but it is vital to get the swelling down so the cause of his pain can be addressed.. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsweling.htm

It's important to stick with 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out to potty for 8 weeks …. 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 order for Stewie's disc to heal.. Think of the crate as a cast of sorts to limit movement of his spine much like a broken arm in a cast.. It takes longer for a disc to heal than a broken bone and nerves continue healing long after crate rest is over..

Laser light therapy, acupuncture and electroacupuncture which sends a microcurrent of electricity to and from acupuncture points (which are really big nerve bundles), can be very beneficial at helping to re-establish the nerve connections in the body. Any one of these therapies can be started right away if in your budget... they not only help relieve pain and inflammation but will kick start nerves to begin regeneration. Find a holistic vet here: ahvma.org/Widgets/FindVet.html www.serenityvetacupuncture.com/index.php/faq_/ [one vet's overview/prices] NOTE: Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs.

There are lots of people here going through what you are going through with Stewie, and there are thousands of Dodgerslist dogs that have recovered using 8 weeks of conservative treatment which consists of 8 weeks of  100% crate rest only out to potty and medications..  Take care and keep us updated..we are here for you!

 

Hi Nancie, I'm Sabrina. I'm so sorry you and Stewie have to go through this - I hope the vet can get his pain under control quickly.

So glad you are reading up on IVDD - I was so lost until I found Dodger'sList! In addition to the info Pauliana linked, be sure to check out this page about crate rest and setting up a "recovery suite" ( www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm ) so you can have something set up for Stewie when he can come home from the vet.

)))Hugs!(((

The shock, stress and anxiety are terrible! Breathing exercises, stretching, and relaxing music help me some - and of course learning all you can about IVDD so you know what's going on and what to look for. It's been 3 weeks since my Charley-dog was diagnosed, and it's only recently that my anxiety has abated some. Dealing with IVDD is a rollercoaster for sure.

I'm so sorry you don't have anyone there with you to help - but stick with Dodger'sList, and you'll have a whole community of people who can help with knowledge and support! )))Hugs!(((

Nancy, it can take more than one course of Pred to get all the swelling down. This is how it works. During the time on the anti-inflammatory the pain meds do need to be adjusted so that there is no pain surfacing dose to dose of pain relief medications. Pain deters healing. Let us know that at the vet's he is pain free now.

Often it takes being at the anti-inflamamtory dose of prednisone (5mg 2x/day) for 1-2 weeks or even for some dogs more like a month before all the swelling is gone. On the taper the dose is lowered to less than the anti-flammatory dose and that is the time to assess just how well reduction of swelling is going by observing for pain. This is when owners need to be very observatant for any hint of pain arising and give that feedback to the vet asap. What date was the pred started in initially and recently stopped?

Rule of thumb is:
pain = swelling = more time on Pred needed.

If there is no pain on the taper then it goes to completion. Then no meds at all are needed any longer. To have a clear picture on a taper, pain meds are also stopped or back off too. So with Tamadol still on board after stopping pred, there was no clear picture on what swelling/inflammation was doing in the spinal cord.

I'm glad you are reading as you self-education will allow you to correctly monitor the things important to healing…meds, stomach protection, and 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 and recognize when dangerous advice is offered. Are you doing your reading from our Web page core IVDD readings: www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

Can you let us know specifics on the meds they are using at the vet.
What is the stomach protector…famotadiine (Pepcid AC)? or another?
What pain meds are they using? Is the pain now fully under control dose to dose?

Nancie,

Call the Vet and insist that Stewie gets pain medication. Pain medication has no bearing on Prednisone kicking in. In can kick in while his pain is being relieved.  The tramadol wouldn't prevent it from kicking in, that makes no sense at all..

Also make sure his stomach is being protected while Prednisone is being given.. especially with his lack of eating and drinking which is a signal of GI problems..

Sending hugs your way and it is very important for you to take care of yourself and relax as much as you can while all this is going on.. It is very hard coping with IVDD at first but it does get better with time and getting used to a new routine and a new normal.. Been there..and Tyler is doing much better now..

Hi Nancy, My name is Jen. I'm so sorry to hear about your baby Stewie and his IVDD episode. My vet was the same. Didn't give pain Meds. You need to be aggressive with your vet that his pain needs to be under control. He can not start the healing process if he is in pain. The prednisone will help a little but its just that a little. The Pred is an antiinflamatory not so much a pain reliever. You want to get him on a pain reliever like Tramadol. We had our Tucker on 50mg 2xs a day. Please make sure while on the Pred you give a stomach protector like Pepcid. Ask your vet if there is any reason you would not be able to give the Pepcid. Prednisone is very hard on the tummy. You want to give the Pepcid a half an hour before he eats and the pred with his food.(hide it in something and give it while he is eating)
We have 5 days left of crate rest and our boy Tucker has made so much progress in those weeks. We are also doing accupuncture with Tucker. It has been great for him. I recommend it. Sending healing prayers and positive thoughts your way.

Hi Nancie - I just wanted to say that it's so easy to feel guilty when something happens to our furbabies. Despite our best intentions I daresay none of us do a perfect job caring for them - I know I don't! - and so when something happens and they get hurt it's so easy to dwell on 'if only I didn't do x' or 'if only I'd done y'. But even if you had done everything "perfectly" Stewie might still have developed IVDD. So please don't beat yourself up! You have enough stress as it is! I know it's hard but don't dwell on feelings of guilt - save your energy for taking care of yourself, Stewie, and your other furbabies.

)))Hugs!(((
-Sabrina

Which vet is Stewie at now…. your local general DVM vet or a specialist DVM either an ACVIM (neurology) or a ACVS (ortho vet?

I hope you misheard about not giving any pain meds while letting predisone to work on swelling. If that is the case and they are not giving pain meds, go get Stewie and get him out of that place….that vet does not know IVDD.

Steroids can take 1-2 weeks to get all the swelling down in the mean time pain MUST to be under control with use of pain meds. Pain does all kinds of detrimental things to the body.

Healing occurs faster when pain is under control. Pain affects blood pressure, heart rate, appetite, and general mood. Until all the swelling is resolved, there will still be a source of pain. Herniated discs, damaged spinal cord require a significant amount of time to heal. New tissue must be generated. Swelling must have time to subside. Pain is so important to the overall well-being of a patient that it has become the 5th cardinal sign of human assessment. (Philips DM. JCAHO pain management standards are unveiled. J.Am Med Association 284(4):428-429, 2000) Institutions can risk their federal funding if they do not routinely assess for pain.

Hi Nancy,

Thanks for the update on Stewie. Glad he is doing so much better. Do be careful about letting him walk around the house.  There have been many instances of dogs doing the unexpected in the blink of an eye. One lady left the crate door open with the dog up on a table and he fell out.. Or  running to the sound of a doorbell and slipping on the bare floor.  Then all the healing that has taken place so far is undone and the cycle starts all over again..More pain and more vet bills.  I know they get restless when they feel better..and I am going through this with Tyler.. I just have to remember while it seems long now, it's the best thing for him.

Wishing the best for you and Stewie!