Is your dog in pain...what you can do

Stay strong, there is good hope and it IS in the cards for all dogs to get back to enjoying life again with their family.  Right now make sure you are giving the gift your dog so needs right now with STRICT rest.  Tell your pup all is going to be ok, because it will be!  Do post we have lots of great tips to share with you. Knowledge is power...get your knowledge here:  www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htm

#1 Make sure you have protected your dog's spinal cord with 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times. Carry to and from the potty place. At potty times just the very fewest of footsteps to get the job done then carry back to the recovery suite. 

#2 He needs to be seen by a vet for a diagnosis and the right meds just as soon as possible. The sooner meds are on board, the sooner healing can get underway.
                                          Dodgerslist members reported Surgical costs

#3 Already seen the vet and have meds but your dog is still in pain?  When pain meds are right pain would be in control in an hour and there after dose to dose. Phone your vet and let them know what you observe for pain (shivering, trembling, yelping, tight tense tummy, doesn't want to move much, holds nose to the ground or head held high)  Have no patience with pain. It may take some communication and feedback on signs of pain you are seeing so the vet knows further meds adjustments are needed to get it just right for your dog.

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Tramadol -           a  pain reliever that usually is prescribed every 8 hours to give full pain
                           coverage as it has a very short half life of about 1.7 hours.

Methocarbamol -  pain relief from muscle spasms. Usually prescribed 2 or 3 times a day

Gabapentin -        is add to the above two WHEN there is hard to control pain

Pepcid AC (famotidine) should be on board whenever any anti-inflammatory is on board
    Steroids:  Dexamethasone, prednisone, prednisolone, Methylprednisolone, etc.
    NSAIDs:  Aspirin, Etogesic (etodolac), Rimadyl (carprofen), Metacam (meloxicam),
                  Deramaxx (deracoxib), Previcox (firocoxib), Zubrin (tepoxalin),
                  Novox (carprofen), Ketoprofen, Galliprant, etc.

note:
Vets who practice safe medicine will look for a 4-7 day washout before a switch from steroid <--> NSAID

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    Both of the above classes of anti-inflammatories (steroids and NSAIDS) are associated with increased stomach acids which can cause: not eating, vomiting, and loose stools, bleeding ulcers to life threatening stomach perforation.   Phrase the question to your vet this particular way:" Is there a medical/health reason for my dog not take Pepcid?"   If there is no reason, we follow vets who are proactive in stomach protection by giving doxies 5mg Pepcid (famotidine) 30 minutes before the anti-inflammatory.