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Post by aalstrom on Aug 18, 2013 9:54:52 GMT -7
My dog Penny is a 4 year old female dachshund who on may 16, 2013 suffered a disc herniation causing paralysis in the back legs. Luckily I knew a neuro surgeon in the area, DR. Anne Chauvet who performed surgery on her immediately. It was successful and she was able to walk again. She was doing very well, but on August 15, 12 weeks later she woke up shivering and not wanting to move. I knew immediately there was a problem and I could tell she couldn't move her head and was having spasms in her neck. This is a different area then where she had her surgery. I brought her back to DR. Chauvet who said she now was suffering from disc issues in the neck. We opted to try medical management, but I can tell she is not doing well still. Even with anti inflammatories and methacarbonal she is not wanting to move much, can't do her doggy shake, and is walking a little wobbly. I don't know what to do at this point. I'm very disappointed and heartbroken to see her in pain again. Is it common to see disc herniation in 2 separate places so soon after the first surgery? If I decide to have surgery again how will she recover after a second surgery, this time in the neck. She's so young, will she always have these disc issues? I have posted her progress on YouTube under Ashlee Alstrom.
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Sabrina
Helpful Member 
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471 
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Post by Sabrina on Aug 18, 2013 12:04:41 GMT -7
Hi Ashlee, I'm Sabrina. I'm so sorry to hear that Penny is having another disc episode. Would you answer a few questions to help the folks here get a better idea of Penny's circumstances? -- What was the date you saw the vet and started 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7? -- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? -- Do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted up? -- Eating and drinking OK? -- Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood? As Penny is still in pain, you'll need to work with whoever's on-call at your vet's to get her meds adjusted and/or more pain meds added. Is Penny on Tramadol? From what I read, cervical episodes are often even more painful than other disc episodes, so the on-call vet needs to know that there's still pain so s/he can get Penny out of pain. Pain Control: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpain.htmIs Penny on a stomach protector like pepcidAC? www.dodgerslist.com/literature/IVDDcourse/medications_used.htmlHave you done any reading yet on the Dodger's List main site? If not, read all you can - there is a wealth of info! Here are some links to get you started: Overview: Healing during a disc episode - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingpage.htmINDEX to Overview: Phases of healing - www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmCervical Disc Episode Tips - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmCrate Rest Recovery Process - www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htmIVDD is a life-long disease, and unfortunately many dogs have multiple episodes - but I don't know of a way to predict how many episodes a dog will have. I'm so sorry Penny is on her second episode. She's very lucky to have someone like you who will seek out answers for her and not "put up" with pain! Do post back with more info on Penny (oh, and include her weight, too.) ))Hugs!(( - Sabrina |
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Post by aalstrom on Aug 18, 2013 12:28:51 GMT -7
Penny went in on Aug. 15, 2013 3 months after her first surgery. She has been on crate rest since. I am very proactive in monitoring her and her behavior. Her first surgery was in her lower back, and she seemed significantly better. However, she is now showing signs of a herniation in the neck. She is still walking and wagging her tail, but I am seeing her legs cross over each other. She never really fully returned to normal after the first surgery. I'd say she came back 90%, which was great. Right now we are taking prednisone 2.5 mg twice a day and methocarbamol 125 mg every 12 hours. They did not prescribe any pain medicine She has only had a leak when being picked up with my mother, not with me. No wet bedding right now. She is eating and drinking ok. Her poop is a normal color. I will have to call and speak with them because she is not able to shake, she stops herself as though she is in pain. She has not cried out or anything though. I do have Penny on Pepcid AC, 5mg twice a day. This is the first time it was recommended to do this. I have done a lot of reading on Dodgers list especially after the first episode. I have even seen people mention my name in the forum as I have posted many of Penny's recovery videos on youtube which people found really helpful. My channel: www.youtube.com/user/beachypeachy723Penny weighs 15.7 lbs. She is an active dog, very friendly. She is not allowed to go up or down stairs or on the furniture. I did everything required by the doctor's after surgery and am truly surprised to see her with another issue after our first surgery. I am disappointed. I would do surgery again if needed. I have two dachshunds, Penny is the only one showing signs of back injury. She is an adopted dog, I adopted her at 2 years old from a rescue. My videos should be a great way to show how she has progressed and then come back into pain. I do not want my dog to lose her bladder control or her ability to walk and will do anything necessary to make sure this does not occur. I am supposed to try acupuncture on Tuesday. |
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Sabrina
Helpful Member
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471
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Post by Sabrina on Aug 18, 2013 12:43:22 GMT -7
Aw, Penny is so cute! I'm sorry to see she's in pain. IVDD stinks - because it's a disease you can do "everything right" and episodes can still happen.
I hope the vet can get her on pain meds today!
))Hugs!((
-Sabrina
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Sabrina
Helpful Member
My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
Posts: 471
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Post by Sabrina on Aug 18, 2013 13:33:28 GMT -7
So glad you have pepcidAC on board for her! I hope the acupuncture helps. I don't have experience with surgery, only with "conservative treatment" - but the doses of pred and methocarbamol seem low to me. I'd have a chat with your vet about this. My Charley is a little bit smaller than Penny, and his vet started him on 125mg methocarbamol 4x/day. Also, I was advised on this forum that an anti-inflammatory dose of prednisone is actually 5mg 2x/day. Here's Paula Milner's quote: "Often it takes being at the anti-inflamamtory dose of prednisone (5mg 2x/day) for 1-2 weeks or even for some dogs more like a month before all the swelling is gone." Read more: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/669/sabrinas-charley-7-17-conservative?page=1#ixzz2cLuDPIvAnyway, check with your vet - if Penny is under-medicated you won't have a clear picture as to if she'll respond to conservative treatment for this episode. But then again your vet will be able to tell you if there are specific medical reasons Penny shouldn't be on higher doses. ))Hugs!(( - Sabrina |
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 18, 2013 14:54:27 GMT -7
Ashlee, has prednisone recently been lowered in mg dose? Or is this the original dose prescribed? On the taper down from less than an anti-inflammatory dose is the time to monitor for pain. During the time on the anti-inflammatory the pain meds do need to be adjusted so that there is no pain surfacing dose to dose of pain relief medications. Pain deters healing. I believe she IS in pain…. relate the reluctance to move/shake her head and ask for a general pain reliever, tramadol. Methocarbamol deals with the pain stemming from muscle spasms so often accompanying a neck disc. Gettting pain relief often will take continued feedback until the vet can get meds adjusted just right for Penny. Often it takes being at the anti-inflamamtory dose of prednisone (5mg 2x/day) for 1-2 weeks or even for some dogs more like a month before all the swelling is gone and Pred can be tapered off. Rule of thumb is: pain = swelling = more time on Pred needed. If there is no pain on the taper then it goes to completion. Then no meds at all are needed any longer. To have a clear picture on a taper, pain meds are also stopped or back off too. With disc disease all of the discs are potentially subject to prematurely aging….this is what this disease is all about discs are getting old, less flexible earlier than for a dog without this disease. Some dogs born with IVDD have only one disc problem their entire life while others can have multiple disc episodes. This disease is just unpredictable. This page is important to help you monitor neuro function diminishment and report back to the vet on what you are observing: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingsurgery.htm |
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Post by janlynn on Aug 19, 2013 8:47:15 GMT -7
Hi Ashlee, I'm Janet. We are going through strict crate rest with our little Chopper. He is close to 12 pounds and they want him at 10. He's a mini.
He hurt his neck over two weeks ago and this past Saturday, Chopper saw a specialist for an acupuncture treatment. He is still on his meds and tapering off Prednisone. I can happily say that as of yesterday, he is acting like his normal self. Today, he is even moreso and really aggravated we have him crated. But we plan to continue the full 8 weeks of crate rest, just to make sure he is ok when his meds are done. We are carefully watching him for any signs of pain during this time. But his movement are incredibly promising.
We KNOW the acupuncture helped his neck tremendously. The Vet also gave him B-12 shots. He has one dosage but injected next to each disc, all the way down from his neck to his tail. He changed the needle before each shot. Chopper was great during the whole procedure. He was curious about what the Vet was doing with the acupuncture. We waited 25 minutes and after 10 minutes, Chopper was completely relaxed. His little butt was sore later that night - mostly because of the shots and acupuncture, but that's normal.
I am really excited for you all with your treatment. I am very sure that you will all see an improvement either the same day or following day. Another dachshund that went to our same Vet a week before, has already begun walking and I believe on his 3rd treatment.
We will most likely have 1 more treatment with Chopper and check into herbal prevention afterwards.
Everyone here is encouraging during these hard times. Hang in there and I really hope your baby is feeling better soon.
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