Welcome to Dodgerslist, Joyce. 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/Lucy must be immediately confined to a crate to protect her spine from further damage. She must not be allowed to drag herself around. If she cannot rest easily in a crate, then the vet may have to prescribe a mild sedative. In order for the damaged disc to heal, it is essential that there be very little movement of the spine. Too much movement of the spine and the disc can tear more, resulting in more pain and more nerve damage. No worries about muscle atrophy. Muscle tone can be built up gradually after the 8 weeks of strict crate rest is finished. The priority right now is to limit movement of the spine so the damaged disc can heal and to protect the spine from further damage.
Here is our webpage giving you all that you need to know on how to set up a recovery suite and tips on how to calm Lucy during crate rest. Click on the arrow to see all of the information on the page.
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/Is Lucy's spine hunched up as in this photo?
If so, that is a sign of pain.
If Lucy is still in pain, the Prednisone should not be tapering. Pain means there is still swelling pressing on the nerves of the spine and still a need for all original meds for a bit longer. It usually takes 7-30 days for the swelling to resolve but if strict crate rest has not been done, then all of the Prednisone has been given needlessly and has not be able to get the swelling down due to too much movement. If Lucy is still in pain, please speak to the vet ASAP this morning and advocate strongly for a return to the original dosage of Prednisone (5mg 2x/day) and also Gabapentin and Methocarbamol for another course of 7 or 14 days. Do know that both Gabapentin and Methocarbamol should never be given "as needed" but must be given consistently 3x/day to keep pain completely under control.
Do you see any of these other signs of pain?☐shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved ☐reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move ☐tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position ☐Arched back ☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight ☐head held high or nose to the ground ☐Not their normal perky selves? Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose. If not in control your vet needs to know asap to adjust meds.
Neuropathic pain is not common but you should be aware of it. This kind of pain is abnormal, phantom pain sensations with severe spinal cord damage. Signs are obsessive licking of paw, leg, genitals, tail. Escalates to biting, life-threatening chewing off parts. Immediately put on an e-collar (or lengthwise folded towel around neck and duct taped closed) to prevent access to lower body. Contact vet immediately for Gabapentin or stronger Lyrica (pregabalin) for neuropathic pain. More info:
dodgerslist.com/2020/06/10/neuropathy/?highlight=neuropathicPEPCID AC: Anytime a dog is taking an anti-inflammatory, 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.htmlThe 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.
STRICT means: ◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you ◼︎no chiro therapy whys:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/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.
How are you doing expressing Lucy's bladder? Do you find wet bedding or does she leak on you when picked up? Here's our page on expressing if you need any tips on that.
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/?highlight=expressingIf there is great pain or severe neuro diminishment, acupuncture or laser light therapy can be be started right away as an adjunct to pain meds and to kick start nerve cell energy production. Options: Acupuncture vet who does home visits to avoid back moving during transports. For transport to necessary visits, pad out the recovery suite extra space with a rolled up towel/blanket to prevent body shifts during braking or cornering.
CAUTIONS: ~~ Laser light therapy is contra-indicated with tumors which are detected via x-ray.
~~ During conservative treatment, anytime out of the recovery suite is a dangerous time for the healing disc. Movement of the back can increase a disc tear and escape of disc material into the spinal cord . For an animal with very mild neuro deficits, the risk of transporting to therapy has to be carefully weighed against what benefit is to be gained.
www.ahvma.org/find-a-holistic-veterinarian/~~ Why Chiropractic is not recommended for IVDD dogs:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic/?highlight=chiropracticKnowledge 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. Owner understanding ensures proper conservative treatment principals:
▶︎ 4 phases of healing, what it takes to heal each phase:
dodgerslist.com/in-the-right-place▶︎ Roadmap for your fridge so the whole family is on board. Stay the course, avoid dangerous detours for the healing disc:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf
If in fact Lucy is in pain and her back is hunched as in the photo, please let us know what the vet says after speaking to them this morning. We're here for you and Lucy and will help you through her recovery. Healing prayers for Lucy.
