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Post by Jeanna & Reggie on Jul 21, 2020 9:42:12 GMT -7
[Original subject line: Worried mommy ] Hello. My baby boy is Reggie, he is a 6 year old dachshund. He has had IVDD once before and has re injured his back.
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit weight? Quellin (carprofen) as of what date? ?mgs 2x/day for how many days? then test for _pain /_neuro tramadol ?mgs 3x/day needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board w/ Quellin!]
He currently is taking Tramadol every 8 hours, and is supposed to take Quellin twice a day. I cant give him the later because he refuses to eat anything. He saw his doctor yesterday the 20th, and has not yet went to potty. I’m really worried about him, and really hate to keep calling the vets office. Any help would be appreciated.
QUESTIONS ☆ 1 Is there still currently pain? ☐x reluctant to move ☐ Xshivering, trembling ☐xyelping when picked up or moved ☐x tight tense tummy ☐Xcan’t find a comfortable position, appears restless ☐xhead held high or nose to the ground ☐xNot their normal perky selves? ☆ 2 20lbs Quellin 25mg,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. ☆ 3 Won’t eat, drinks small amounts hasnt urinated or pooped since yesterday morning,7/20/20
☆ 4 What breed? What is your dog’s name? Your name, too?Dachshund, Reggie, Jeanna ☆ 5 Did you specifically get a diagnosis of IVDD? Yes -- Is the vet a general DVM or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?general DVM
☆ 6 What was the date you saw the vet for CONSERVATIVE treatment?7/20/20
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 21, 2020 10:16:05 GMT -7
Jbelle, welcome to the Forum. With lack of history, essential details of dates, mgs, frequency hard to give you specific comments.
In general if your dog is not taking an acid suppressor such as Pepcid AC (famotidine) that would be the reason you are seeing RED FLAG signs of stomach damage that the non-steroid anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) is causing of not eating. Could also be pain, if he is only taking one pain med (tramadol) and too low a dose in mgs.
I would say get Pepcid AC on board asap. Fill us in the very soonest you can.
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Post by Jeanna & Reggie on Jul 21, 2020 11:19:25 GMT -7
Reggie was seen yesterday, 7/20/20/ by a regular DVM. He suggested to put Reggie on Quellin 25 mg, every 12 hours. He wasn’t put on any other meds at the time since he didn’t seem to be in a lot of pain at the time, now he’s in a lot of pain, holds his nose up in the air and shakes. He hasn’t peed or pooped since 7/20/2020 in the morning. Since the Quellin hasn’t improved his pain, they have now prescribed Tramadol 25mg on top of his Quellin, which has been changed to pill form since he won’t eat. He doesn’t seem to use his back legs at all now, and when pinched doesn’t have any reflexes as he did yesterday. I’m trying to be patient but I’m also wondering if I shouldn’t get him to an emergency vet.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 21, 2020 11:27:29 GMT -7
JEANNA, if you can, get a hold of your family vet ASAP to get meds on board. IF family vet won't do, then you must take the risk of a transport to see a new vet ASAP and get those meds right.
Loss of neuro function NEEDS to be reported IMMEDATELY HOURS matter. The vet may well want to switch over to the most powerful of anti-inflammatory drugs a Steroid such as Prednisone.
Double stomach protection is necessary NOW Pepcid AC + sucralfate. Take no chances of a bleeding ulcer on top of what all is going on with the disc.
GET THE PAIN meds right with which ever vet. HAVE NO patience with pain at all.
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Post by Jeanna & Reggie on Jul 22, 2020 18:55:25 GMT -7
Reggie is currently having emergency surgery,started at 930pm on 7/22/2020.. His doctor said he has a very severe injury on T14; and then 4-6 more blown discs further down. There’s a possible risk for him to develop myomalacia(sp) and then there will be no hope. At this time she gives him a 25% chance of walking again. He will need to stay in the hospital for 3-5 days. I’m totally heart broken as he is very special to me.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 22, 2020 20:15:17 GMT -7
Jeanna, thank you so much for update about Reggie's surgery. Where was the surgery done? Jeanna, I bet your mind is flooded right now with concerns, questions. Now is the time to jot those things down. Here's a starter list of questions to which you can add some of your concerns to ask your surgeon: dodgerslist.com/2020/06/03/discharge-day-list/This page is good reading by Dr. Isaacs, ACVIM (neurology) as he explains many post-op questions for our IVDD community: meds, crate rest, PT and discharge day. dodgerslist.com/2020/05/12/dr-isaacs-surgery-answers/See if there are any other things you can do to make post-op crate rest go smoother with these very useful tips and ideas: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/Please do continue to update us as you learn more what the surgeon said after the surgery this evening. We'll be thinking of you and Reggie with the very best of wishes for a successful surgery to relieve the pain.
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Post by Jeanna & Reggie on Jul 23, 2020 17:34:38 GMT -7
Reggie made it through surgery last night and rested well throughout the night. His doctor called this morning and said Reggie was doing great, he’s doesn’t seem to be in any pain, is tolerating the medication. He ate pretty good earlier in the day. His surgery was done at VCA in Fishers, Indiana. That’s just north of Indianapolis. We’ve traveled a little over an hour from our home, so it wasn’t easy to leave him. I’m impressed so far with this place,a bit pricey, but he’s worth every penny. He doesn’t have good odds of walking again but miracles do happen. Right now it’s a waiting game to see how well he responds, they’re also watching for myomalacia, which is apparently rare, but since he couldn’t walk before surgery it could happen. I pray day and night he’ll pull through this, I don’t and imagine losing him.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 23, 2020 19:56:20 GMT -7
Jeanna, thanks for the update. It is way, way too early to say his ability to self repair his nerves do not have good odds. Soothe your mind by re-reading Dr. Isaacs link in my last post. What he reports is pretty much what we observe on this Forum since I've been here in 2007. It can take anywhere from days to close to a year to self heal nerves to the extent possible. Every dog is different. Best to think in terms of months rather than days/weeks for this slowest part of the body to heal. If need be, a wheelchair can be considered while waiting more move here repair to take place. Carts would only be considered after the post op rest period where the direction of nerves can best be assessed. Decisions made where money is best spent on more PT or a wheelchair.
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Post by Jeanna & Reggie on Jul 24, 2020 18:59:33 GMT -7
Reggie got released today and is resting comfortably at home now! He’s alert, eating and drinking. I have to express his urine for now, although, I think he may have tried to do that himself a couple times today. I’m prepared for whatever might happen down the road, I’m just so happy he’s back home. He is on prednisone, gabapentin,tramadol, and omeprazole. He seems to tolerate the medication just fine.
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit weight? prednisone ?mg ?x/day gabapentin ?mg ?x/day tramadol ?mgs ?x/day omeprazole ?mg ?x/day ]
Tomorrow I will take him outside and use a sling to see if he can pee by himself, they also said to try to get him to take a few steps while in the sling. This is a great website and thank you for all of your help. I’ll continue to give updates. Jeanna
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,493
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Post by PaulaM on Jul 24, 2020 19:26:46 GMT -7
Jeanna, so glad to hear Reggie is back home. Bet he is as happy to be back as you are for him to be home! When you are are settled, please give us the details on his meds: Reggie's weight? prednisone ?mg ?x/day gabapentin ?mg ?x/day tramadol ?mgs ?x/day omeprazole ?mg ?x/day For how many weeks did the surgeon want for post op rest which includes his PT? Rest can be 4 or 6 weeks. What directives did the surgeon give you for at home PT?The only way for humans to know if there is bladder control is with the “sniff and pee test.” Carry outdoors, set Reggie on an old pee spot to sniff. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder and express it. See if he will release urine on the old urine area. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning. You should continue to do a quick express check to verify there is full voiding until you are certain it is consistently happening. Let us know what you observe. NOTE: When the bladder is full, it fills the entire abdomen area so any pressure should release urine if bladder control is not yet back. You may need to hold the pressure for a little longer than you think you would. As the bladder empties, it gets smaller and can slip away from you. You’ll need to find it again. Sometimes it moves back by the pelvic area. Keep pressing until the bladder feels flat, almost like your hands are touching. The goal in expressing is that Reggie stays dry session to session. While on Pred he'll be drinking more and you may need to start with expressing every 2-3 hours. As Pred tapers and your skill level improves you can move to every 3-4 hrs and even every 6-8 hrs and he'll stay dry. Here's a review on expressing the bladder AND how to express for poop: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/We are so glad to hear you are finding useful one-on-one support here on the Forum. During overwhelming times, we think getting questions answered specific for your Reggie and pointed to important readings on the Main Website are important. But as things settle we do hope, you will learn all you can about Reggie's disease for the now and for living may happy years ahead in spite of IVDD.
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Post by Jeanna & Reggie on Jul 25, 2020 13:30:55 GMT -7
Reggie’s medicine regimen is as follows:his weight is 20lbs omeprozile 10mg, once a day tramadol 37 mg, every 8 hours ( I give him a half and a quarter of one pill. gabapentin 100 mg every 8 hours prednisone 10 mg one every day until Tuesday,July 28th, then he’ll start on 1/2 tab once a day. [Moderator's note: please do not modify 20 lbs Prednisone 10mg tab 1x/day - July 28 taper Tramadol 37mgs 3x/day. Gabapentin 100mg 3x/day Omeprazole 10mg 1x/day]The surgeon said he’ll be on strict crate rest for at least 4 weeks maybe more depending on how well he does. The tech showed me how to correctly pick him up by placing my hand under his bottom and my other hand in front by his chest. She also showed me how express his urine, where to place my fingers, and as you said, where the bladder might sneak off to when it gets smaller. Reggie isn’t overly fond of me helping him pee, and try’s to get away from me. He pees often and sometimes has wet blankets. I’m trying to get him on some kind of schedule every 2-3 hours. He also seems thirsty and drinks a lot of water when I give it to him. They told me not worry so much about him pooping, that it will happen. He hasn’t done that since Monday morning, July 20, will he just surprise me with a BM? His appetite is so so, I leave food available for him to eat as he wants. He ate well last night but not so much today. I have been able to get him to eat a little chicken and some steak today but that doesn’t seem like it’s enough. Again thank you for the support and all the information. Jeanna
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Jul 25, 2020 14:10:29 GMT -7
I am glad that Reggie is home. Dogs always do better at home.
Learning to express is tricky and needs to be practiced. It is possible that you are not yet getting all the urine out yet. Pred makes a dog want to drink more and then pee more. Because of these two factors peeing often is not unusual. It would be helpful for both of you if you can get him on a schedule for expressing. For now, try expressing every two hours. As time passes you will be able to go much longer between sessions.
Reggie should have free access to water during the day. At night, you can remove the water two hours or so before bedtime. This may help keep him drier at night. Dogs usually produce less urine at night.
He is likely to surprise you with a BM. As Paula mentioned, it is possible to express for poop as well as pee. Have you had a chance to look at the info here:
All anti-inflammatories cause excess stomach acid. Reggie is taking the stomach protector, Omeprazole. This does a good job but it reaches full effectiveness in 3-5 days. Pepcid AC works in 30 minutes. Let your vet know if he continues to be reluctant to eat. This can sometimes be a sign of stomach damage. Our IVDD dogs have enough to overcome without adding possible stomach damage. The vet can address this by adding Sucralfate as an additional stomach protector.
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