Sara's Jimmy 8/7 Conservative NECK

Welcome to Dodgerslist, Sara. I'm sorry to hear about Jimmy's disc episode. Please know that we're here to help you through this.

Please contact your vet to discuss an increase of the pain medication since Jimmy is still showing signs of pain. Pain must be controlled before healing can begin. There should be no signs of pain between doses of medication. If you see that Jimmy starts to have pain close to the next dose, then the dose needs to be adjusted by the vet. Please let us know what the vet says after you speak to him/her.

Please also ask your vet if there is any health reason why Jimmy wouldn't be able to take Pepcid AC. Pepcid AC is given to protect him from the excess acid produced by the Metacam. If the stomach is left unprotected, internal bleeding can occur. Please get your vet's permission to give 5 mg of Pepcid AC (generic is famotidine) 30 minutes before each dose of Metacam. Tell the vet you want to be proactive about protecting his stomach.

Good job in getting the crate rest started. Be very strict with it. It has to be 24/7, just carried in and out to do potty. Crate rest is the SINGLE most important thing you can do to help your dog-- it is the hallmark component of conservative treatment. …. 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 other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc.

The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document:
www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm

The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal.

Since you're dealing with a cervical issue, here are some helpful tips, such as raising the food and water dishes so Jimmy doesn't have to bend his neck down to them, moistening hard kibble, etc. www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htm

There are many pages of information contained on the Dodgerslist website that I hope you will read and become familiar with. Of course, we're here, too, for any questions that you may have. www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

Please keep us updated. All the best to you and Jimmy.

Welcome to Dodgerslist, Sara! 

Constipation is common with IVDD and the drugs used to treat it. However,pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with a teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. To firm up the stool add 1 teaspoon pumpkin to kibble and no extra water 1x a day. Note alternatives: really ripe mashed fresh pear, just take off the peel off; microwaved and mashed peeled sweet potoato."

As far as Metacam goes.. Your Vet will want to test the waters after 5 days by going off the Metacam to test whether the swelling, (the cause of the pain) is gone and the only way to test that is by going off of it and the pain medications. If pain returns it means more time is needed on the Metacam and it's important to go back on it as well as the pain meds ASAP.  Be prepared in advance with having more Metacam as well as the pain medications  just in case pain returns..With the weekend coming up make sure you have discussed this with your Vet, so you don't have to deal with emergency vet visits due to pain.. Also discuss with her NOW that Jimmy is still in pain, it means there is still some adjusting of Pain meds necessary.. Increase of dosages or an addition of Methocarbamol in case of muscle spams in the neck.. Neck disc episodes are extremely painful..and getting him pain free dose to dose of of the meds is imperative so he can begin to start healing.. Pain is detrimental to healing.. I am thinking it is too soon to go off the Metacam.. Be watchful of his pain levels and improvements or lack of improvements and report to your vet what you are observing.. My Vet put our Tyler on Metacam for 5 days and it did the trick,,but each dog is different and meds need to be based on each individual dog..Some dogs need two weeks or more on a NSAID..The shortest time is best due to side effects and that is why they test to see if swelling is gone after 5 days..

Great that you got Jimmy to the Vet so quickly..He has a great Mom! 

Not a silly question at all, Sara.  Dogs are very good at hiding their pain. Pain can usually be seen by shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, nose held to the ground, head held up high, tight hard tummy, holding leg up flamingo style, not wanting to bear weight on the leg. The limp you described yesterday is definitely a sign of pain. A cervical disc problem can be more painful than the lower back.

Sara, do you now have Pepcid AC on board?

Both Marjorie and Sabrina have listed the signs of pain. You want to make sure Jimmy's pain stays under control dose to dose of the pain meds (Tramadol and Gabapentin) If there is any hint of pain nearing the next doses, then the pain meds are not right they are wearing off too soon or there may need to be a 3rd pain med added.

With a disc episode there are several phases of healing…this is a great overview to get an understanding, and to know what you are observing and what to monitor for: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm

I just got off the phone with the vet.  She said yes to Pepcid but because of a negative interaction with Gabapentin I need to separate the administration of the two meds by at least two hours.  Good to know.  Apparently, the pepcid reduces the effectiveness of the Gabapentin.  We discussed pain management and she's pretty sure Jimmy's only experiencing pain when he uses the leg.  He's not shivering or whimpering like he was prior to pain med administration the first day.  Even better, when I drove up to the house at lunch today I could hear him barking his little head off - demanding to be let out of the crate!  Usually that noise makes me cringe but today it was music to my ears.  He must be feeling better!

Hi Sara, My name is Kathy and my fur baby Pooh. I cover his pill with peanut butter and he takes it like it is his favorite treat. The first two weeks are the scariest. After that you seem to have a better handle of what is going on if you read the information on this site. The key is to just keep reading and rereading. Pooh will graduate on Aug 23.
He really is back to his stubborn self. Crate rest is the key and the last few weeks are hard becsuse they are feeling better and want out.

Brilliant!  I'm going to try this tonight. 

Thanks for asking. Jimmy is doing much better. He's not happy with being in jail 24/7 but I know ultimately it's for the best.

And still on Pepcid AC while on Metacam? It is guess work as to when Metacam has dealt with all the swelling in the spinal cord. Ask when your vet is wanting to test the waters to see if all the inflammation is gone. Usually the pain meds as well as the Metacam would be stopped to get a clear picture of any sign of pain. If there is pain (not moving his head or neck much, yelps, shivers, etc.) then all the meds are needed back on board for a bit longer. If there is no pain arising, then no meds at all are needed….. just the 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 to let the disc finish up healing.

Acupuncture is good to help with pain reduction and if there are neuro deficits to help spur those nerves into self repairing. How is his limp does he now bear weight on that leg, move it normally… no knuckling?

I cut back the kibble, but added in low calorie, fibrous treats to give her a full feeling. Carrots, whole pea pods, green beans, sweet potatoes, apples...that sort of thing. She didn't seem to miss the kibble, and actually came out of her original 6 week confinement after surgery weighing less than when she started.

I wish someone could control my intake that effectively.