Maria, you have an emergency to contact your vet or get to ER. Red flag signs of bloody diahreah and vomiting are very likley from the
Rimadyl Meloxidyl
Not only should Pepcid AC (famtoditine) 5mgs 2x/day be on board to suppress stomach acids, but also
SUCRALFATE to bandaid the damaged areas of the stomach lining.
With both stomach protectors on board PLUS if there is indeed pain and neuro diminishment just happening it is not the time to stop Meloxidyl, the anti-inflammatory drug.
Let us know what your ER vet or your vet says. Your vet can handle adjusting of meds on the phone. An ER vet will require a trip in.
Pad out the crate with rolled up blankets to avoid movement of the spine during transport IF, you must go to ER.
As damage to the spinal cord increases, there is a predictable stepwise deterioration of functions. When nerve healing begins, often it follows the reverse order.
What are the NEW or increase neurological issues you are seeing as of yesterday/today? 1. Pain caused by the tearing disc & inflammation in the spinal cord
2. Wobbly walking, legs cross
3. Nails/toes scuffing floor
4. Paws knuckle under
5. Weak/little leg movement, can't move up into a stand
6. Legs do not work at all (paralysis, dog is down)
7. Bladder control is lost. Leaks on you when lifted. Can no longer sniff and then pee on that old urine spot outdoors.
8. Tail wagging with joy is lost
9. Deep pain sensation, the last neuro function, a critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment. If surgery is not an option (for whatever reason) then the best option is conservative therapy.
Surgery can still be successful in the window of 12-24 hours after loss of deep pain sensation. Even after that window of time, there can still be a good outcome. Each hour that passes decreases that chance. Precious hours can be lost with a vet that gets DPS wrong. Trust only the word of a neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) surgeon about DPS. So if surgery is an option for your family get to a neuro or ortho asap.
A quick overview of conservative treatment vs. a surgery:
dodgerslist.com/2020/02/10/surgery-vs-conservative/Which specific SIGNS OF PAIN are you seeing as of yesterday/today?
◻︎ shivering-trembling ◻︎ yelping when picked up or moved
◻︎ slow to move ◻︎ tight tense tummy
◻︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◻︎ head held high or nose to the ground.
◻︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
◻︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
◻︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◻︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◻︎ holds front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
◻︎ not their normal perky selves
Excellent reading about use of anti-inflammtories during a disc epidode.--- Learn why Meloxidyl is not a pain reliever, how long it could take to rid the body of all painfully inflamed and swollen tissue around the spinal cord.
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/ We'll have you fill us in on missing details in next post. Let us know what the vet says today about getting sucralfate, and back on board Meloxidyl (if there is really pain and neuro diminishment going on as of yesterday/today).