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Post by maria76 on Aug 14, 2013 16:54:06 GMT -7
I apologize if my english is not perfect, it's not my first language so I hope I can explain myself well
My dog Kyra (13 years old, small, mixed breed) started limping from one of her back legs, then she started slipping when she tried to climb the stairs. Took her to the vet, they took xrays and told me that the last 3 vertebrae in her column were compressed, they explained how there should be a space and showed me how that space was gone in her lumbar area. They told me that I needed to hospitalize her for 21 days, in which she would be kept in a cage (strict cage rest) and that the first 3 days they would give her and endovenous diuretic; no visits are allowed so she doesn't get excited and doesn't wag her tail, and they "try to be indifferent" to them so the dog does not recognize them as "friends" and wags its tail. This seems very extreme to me because I'm risking my dog to depression and hospital infections and because I've read the stories of A LOT of people who have their dogs in crate rest at home. Is keeping her in the hospital really necessary? In the meantime they prescribed Artroflex and previcox for 7 days
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 14, 2013 17:16:41 GMT -7
Maria, welcome to Dodgerslist. You did a great job in explaining. So if Kyra is only limping she has pretty mild symptoms which you can care for her at home. It requried 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times. The reason it is so strict is to allow the disc to heal. When the back moves the vertebrae are pressured. The bad disc can not heal if it continues to be pressured. It takes 8 weeks for a disc to heal so the crate rest will be for 8 weeks not 21 days. There is no need for Kyra to be hospitalzed. She will heal much better at home as long as you are doing STRICT rest inside a recovery suite. Previcox is the anti-inflammatory to help get the swelling down. All anti-inflammatories should be also used with a stomach protector. Ask your vet is this particular way. Is there any health reason why Kyra may not use Pepcid AC (famatodine). We follow vets who are proactive in protecting the stomach by giving 5mg of Pepcid AC 2x a day for our about 20lbs doxies. How much does Kyra weigh? What is she a mix of? What city/state do you live in? During the time on the anti-inflammatory the pain meds are normally prescribed and may need some adjustments so that there is no pain surfacing dose to dose of pain relief medications. Pain deters healing. Does Krya show you any signs of pain still, not wanting to move much, still favoring her leg? Shivering, yelping, arched back? Often it takes being at the anti-inflamamtory for 1-2 weeks or even for some dogs more like a month before all the swelling is gone. When it is guessed the swelling in the spinal cord is all gone, then the vet will try to stop Previcox and see if there is pain. Rule of thumb is: pain = swelling = more time on Previcox needed. If there is no pain then no meds at all are needed any longer and it is just a matter of finishing out the rest of 8 weeks to let the disc itself heal. There is a good video and lot of terrific information you should take a look at to help you learn about caring, meds, how healing happens with a disc episode. Take a look here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htm |
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Post by maria76 on Aug 14, 2013 17:39:57 GMT -7
Hi Paula! Thank you so much for your answer and for the video! well, Kyra was a rescue, so I'm not exactly sure of what breeds she has in her, I'd say she looks like a Schnauzer / maltese (maybe?) mix, she weights 15 pounds. Unfortunately I'm not in the US  I live in Mexico CityHer limping comes and goes, she jumps a lot when she gets excited so I've noticed limping immediately after she's been jumping, right now she seems perfectly fine but I can see she has trouble going up and down the stairs, I have noticed pain which seems to get better on its own, I've also noticed arched back and her back legs a little more open than usual; other than that she seems to be fine, moving normally, playing with the cat, eating and going to the bathroom also normally. She took her first dose of previcox this morning; starting tomorrow I will give her the stomach protector, I asked the vet actually, said she didn't need it. It's clear for me now that I must change vets, I have two options, a neurologist a friend recommended and a "general vet" who has electric acupuncture and other "alternative" therapies. Do you think she needs more testing? |
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Post by jochs311 on Aug 14, 2013 17:56:05 GMT -7
Hi Maria. My name is Jen. When my vet told us we should admit our Tucker for observation I wasn't having it. If he is going to sit in a crate all day it certainly is not going to be in a stressful environment where he could ultimately get sick or depressed. We stuck with pain Meds and an antiinflamatory with crate rest at home. We also have been taking Tucker to accupuncture. It has helped so much! Tucker was paralyzed and lost his bladder control and we had to learn a new schedule for Tucker. It was all worth it after the 8 weeks of strict rest. Tucker is now wobbly walking and doing so well. We graduated rest last Friday and he is so happy. Healing prayers and positive thoughts sent your way!
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Aug 14, 2013 18:09:34 GMT -7
Our neurologist gave us just the opposite advice! He didn't want to keep her in the stressful hospital environment unless it was absolutely necessary. I know it's hard to argue with medical professionals, but you need to in this case. A new vet may be in order. Not all of them are comfortable treating IVDD.
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 14, 2013 18:35:04 GMT -7
Hi, Maria - I'm so sorry to hear about Kyra's difficulties. The only other tests they can do would be an MRI or CT Scan but those are usually only done prior to surgery so that the doctor can see exactly where the problem is and those tests are very expensive. The x-rays you had done are sufficient. It does sound like you're still seeing signs of pain. You said the pain seems to get better on its own. Could you explain at bit more about the signs of pain that you see? As Paula explained above, it's very important to get Kyra's pain completely under control. If Kyra is still in pain, you'll need to contact a vet to have a pain medication prescribed ASAP. You need to find a vet knowledgeable about IVDD. Here are some helpful questions that you can ask the vets you're considering: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/VetchkList.htm It's good that the general vet your friend recommended does acupuncture. That would be very helpful to Kyra's condition. Kyra sounds like she'd be a very good candidate for conservative care. But you have to commit to 100% strict crate rest as Paula described above. No more playing with kitty! Here are some helpful links that explain that and also explain how to set up a recovery suite for Kyra: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmwww.dodgerslist.com/literature/cratesupplies.htmI'm so glad that you didn't leave Kyra at that hospital. She'll do much better at home surrounded by her loved ones. Please keep us updated. |
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Post by maria76 on Aug 15, 2013 18:35:20 GMT -7
Thank you all so much for your answers and for sharing your experiences, it really helps and I've learned a lot, I'm so so glad that I didn't leave hr at the hospital! It's now clear to me that I made the right decision. We had an appointment with the new vet today, he recommended just what this forum says  8 week strict crate rest AT HOME, he wants to use steroids but because of Kyra's age some blood work need to be done first to check kidney function. Bad news is that she also has a problem in her knee... and the vet said she needs surgery, it will take her 6 months to recover from the surgery, so 8 week crate rest, then surgery, then 6 months of physical therapy. I don't even know if the surgery should be done, but I know we have a very long road ahead of us. I don't have a proper crate, I will get it tomorrow, the info in here has been really helpful! |
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Aug 15, 2013 18:41:04 GMT -7
Keep reading and learning. The more you know, the more confident you will be in advocating for your dog.
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Post by maria76 on Aug 15, 2013 19:50:04 GMT -7
Yes and I'm sure that I will learn so much more from all you guys than from the vets, it's hard to find a good doctor |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 15, 2013 21:25:36 GMT -7
Sounds like you have found a much more IVDD knowledgable vet. What is the name of the stomach protector she is on now…Pepcid AC (famotidine)? Your vet also has another consideration. Kyra's been started on one class of anti-inflammatory, Previcox. Vets who practice save medicine look for a 4-7 days washout before switching to the other class….steroids. It is a good idea with either class of anti-inflammatories to have blood work done to check the health of organs. This new vet might be one to recommend to others??? If yes, please add to our directory: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/10/guidelines-posting |
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I live in Mexico City
8 week strict crate rest AT HOME, he wants to use steroids but because of Kyra's age some blood work need to be done first to check kidney function. Bad news is that she also has a problem in her knee... and the vet said she needs surgery, it will take her 6 months to recover from the surgery, so 8 week crate rest, then surgery, then 6 months of physical therapy. I don't even know if the surgery should be done, but I know we have a very long road ahead of us. I don't have a proper crate, I will get it tomorrow, the info in here has been really helpful! 