Welcome to Dodgerslist, Georgina. So glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve gleaned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you. Know more about us and how we team up with veterinarians:
dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/Disc disease is not a death sentence! Struggling with quality of life questions? Re-think things:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/hope-quality-life/You have a pain emergency that must be dealt with ASAP this morning. Not wanting to move is a sign of pain. Neck injuries can be much more painful than back injuries and can take longer to heal. It often takes three different pain meds to get the severe pain of neck injuries under control: Tramadol as a general pain med, Methocarbamol for the pain of muscle spasms that often accompany neck injuries and Gabapentin for nerve pain - and all three of these meds need to be given 3x/day to be effective. Please speak to the vet about adjusting the pain meds ASAP. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. There is no reason for Seren to remain in pain.
Do be aware of the controversy with giving Paracetamol (acetaminophen) to dogs.
Plumb's 7th ed: Acetaminophen (Tylenol): Dogs are more susceptible to red blood cell toxicity than are humans, so dose carefully. Because acetaminophen is not routinely used in veterinary medicine, experience on its adverse effect profile is limited. At suggested dosages in dogs, there is some potential for renal, hepatic, GI, and hematologic effects occurring. Plumb, Donald. Plumb's Veterinary Drug Handbook (Kindle Locations 1180-1181). PharmaVet inc. Kindle Edition.
How many mg in one ml of Metacam?You also have an emergency in that Seren is showing signs of GI distress (not eating). Anytime a dog is taking an anti-inflammatory (such as Metacam), stomach protection must be added. 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).
i.ibb.co/DCN9611/91x-Aj-s00z-L-SY355.jpgDoxie weight dogs: 5mg Pepcid AC (famotidine) 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 for as long as your dog is on the anti-inflammatory.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.htmlPepcid AC (famotidine) is only available via prescription in the UK so you would need to ask for one from the vet. Ranitidine, a different acid reducer, is available over the counter at the chemist there in the UK until you can get the newer better famotidine. 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. Be sure to tell the vet if you start Ranitidine. Doses:
www.petplace.com/drug-library/ranitidine-hcl-zantac/page1.aspx and
www.1800petmeds.com/Ranitidine-prod11204.htmlYou must also let the vet know that Seren is not drinking. That could be a serious side effect of Metacam. Or it could be that she's feeling nauseous from GI distress.
Seren should not be sleeping on a mattress but must be confined to a crate ASAP. The hallmark component of conservative treatment is the very STRICT crate rest part (no PT, little movement). With little blood supply discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood rich broken bone to heal. Those weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc.
100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 for 8 weeks provides limited movement to allow good strong scar tissue to form.
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —>
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/STRICT means: ◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you ◼︎no chiro therapy whys:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/?highlight=chiropractic◼︎no dragging or meandering at potty times. ◼︎no PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc ◼︎At home laser or acupuncture for severe neuro damage is best. Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment.
Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps. Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog’s back aligned and butt from tipping over. A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to a minimum as you stand in one spot. An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on!
i.ibb.co/K7HNj10/slingwalk.jpgSeren may well be a candidate for 8 weeks of strict crate rest IF the vets can get her pain under control with you being a strong advocate on her behalf to adjust meds until they are correct and strict crate rest is done for a full 8 weeks. Is there any loss of neuro function in Seren's front or hind legs? From what you've told us, the only symptom is pain. If that is the case, once pain is completely brought under control and Seren can rest and heal in comfort, conservative care is definitely an option rather than invasive surgery.
SURGERYThe purpose of surgery is to take the pressure off of the spinal cord by removing the disc material causing the compression. Surgical decompression allows a normal blood supply to return to the compressed spinal cord and for neurologic recovery to begin by the body self-healing nerves.
CONSERVATIVESeeks to relieve swelling/compression of the spinal cord with an anti-inflammatory. Over time the hope is that disc material where it should not be will shrink back enough so that pain resolves and nerves can start to self repair.
There are some other things that you'll need to do to help Seren's neck heal, such as softening hard kibble, raising food/water dishes, etc. More info here:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/cervical-care-tips/Knowledge is the power to fight the IVDD enemy and win!! The very best thing you can do for YOU, the caregiver, and for your dog is to get up to speed on IVDD soonest possible. Begin absorbing the must-have overall sense of meds, care and how the treatment works. Your dog will be depending on your ability to learn.
﹆1 Remove yourself from the dark scary unknown. Be in command of the 4 phases of healing, what to expect with pain, with swelling, disc and nerve healing. Get up to speed:
dodgerslist.com/healing-the-disc/
﹆2 Two FRIDGE FLYERs to print out
a) Help all of your family recognize emergency signs and action to take.
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/emergency-fridge-flyer2.pdf b) Avoid dangerous detours with the Conservative Roadmap for your fridge:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf﹆3 Excellent IVDD video playlist:
www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLGTcmjenJIkUNy9ke7IvPlFIMKFfjBSen ﹆4 At the MAIN WEBSITE, use the orange SEARCH bar feature to easily access the treasure trove of more IVDD information. You will feel so very empowered to help your dog!
dodgerslist.com/Please let us know what the vet says after speaking to them this morning. Healing prayers for Seren.
