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Post by mwdonnelly on Aug 19, 2013 10:15:53 GMT -7
Hi everyone, My name is Margaret, and I'm both a success story of Dodgers List as well as a 'returnee.'  Jasmine is my 9ish-year-old rescued mini dachshund. She had a bout of IVDD about 4.5 years ago, and we were able to get her back to health using conservative treatment (crate rest). Last Thursday, Jasmine was not feeling well. She was not herself. Normally, she'd be full of joy in the morning, wagging and running. She did neither, and slowly came out of her crate with barely a wag. I watched her all day, and when she did the same thing the next morning (Friday), I immediately called the vet and took her in. She had NO other symptoms other than lethargy except she did whimper once (more like an OOF) when I picked her up. Aside from the lethargy, she was fine. She was eating well. She wasn't limping. No dragging. No incontinence. No issues with toileting. She showed no 'tell-tale' signs of IVDD. When I took her in, the vet did a thorough exam and blood work, and noticed a SLIGHT tenderness when he examined her back. But she didn't whimper, etc, when her back was pressed. Given that there were no other symptoms (bloodwork was fine, no decrease in appetite, no obvious injuries, no fever), the vet prescribed an NSAID, thinking that there might be some pain and asked for me to report back on Monday after a few days on the pain meds. Well, Saturday morning, Jasmine was back to her old, happy self. So it was pain. After speaking with him again today, he wants her on two weeks of crate rest, with one more week on the NSAID. Med: Previcox, 14.25mg (1/4 of a 57mg pill) once daily Questions: 1. Should I be giving Jasmine some Prevacid as well? I did read that there are some potential stomach issues with Previcox 2. Should I think about extending that crate rest period? Is two weeks enough, given her 'light' symptoms? 3. I crate both my dogs (Juliet is another mini-dachshund) together at night. Should I separate them? Thanks! Margaret |
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Marjorie
Moderator~ 
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
Posts: 5,724 
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 19, 2013 10:59:12 GMT -7
Hi, Margaret. Sorry that Jasmine has had to return to Dodgerslist but it does sound like this is a mild episode and she should do well with conservative care. It's my understanding that 8 weeks of crate rest is required, whether the episode is mild or severe. The disc must have torn to have caused pain and it takes 8 weeks to heal a torn disc and allow scar tissue to form. As I'm sure you know from your prior experience, the crate acts as a cast and needs to be 24/7, only carried out to do potty or to the vet.
Yes, Previcox is a NSAID so you'll need to give Jasmine a stomach protectant. Dodgerslist is recommending Pepcid AC. Please get your vet's permission to give 5 mg of Pepcid AC (generic is famotidine) 30 minutes before each dose of the anti-inflammatory. Phrase the question to your vet in this particular way: "Is there any medical reason my dog may not take Pepcid AC?"
My suggestion would be to separate the dogs. You can put their crates or ex-pens right up to each other so they can be close to each other. Jasmine needs to rest that back as much as possible.
Please keep us updated. All the best to you.
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Post by mwdonnelly on Aug 19, 2013 16:23:27 GMT -7
I think that the crate rest is MUCH more traumatic for ME than for Jasmine!
While we aren't sure that the issues she has are, indeed, because of a recurrence, I want to make sure that she has the best outcome possible. I want my baby to be healthy as long as possible!!
Thanks for the insight Marjorie. I appreciate it!
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Post by mwdonnelly on Aug 21, 2013 4:51:59 GMT -7
I was awakened this morning to the lovely sound of Jasmine getting sick in her crate. There was no blood in the vomit, and her stool is still normal (usually, when she gets sick, the vomiting is followed immediately with diarrhea). I'm waiting for the vet's office to open so I can speak to the vet about it. I did give her the Famotidine last night, but perhaps it wasn't soon enough.
:-(
Margaret
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Post by mwdonnelly on Aug 21, 2013 8:59:44 GMT -7
Update: I called the vet's office. The vet is not in today, and the tech advised me to continue the Famotidine and to discontinue the NSAID until I can speak with him tomorrow.
I sincerely hope that Jasmine won't be in pain...that it was just a mild issue and that the pain meds from last week until today have taken her out of that zone and into healing quickly. She's taking the crate rest relatively well...that is, until this morning. I only gave her a tiny bit of chicken and rice instead of her regular food, and to do that, I had to cook it all. Needless to say, my little girl was NOT happy about a late breakfast!
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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 21, 2013 9:36:33 GMT -7
Sorry to hear of the GI upset. If you do see pain arising, then call the vet, they can prescribe a pain reliever such as Tramadol to help her. As always it is a good idea to read upon all meds your dog is on or may be on. This is a good page to bookmark: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.html |
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Post by mwdonnelly on Aug 22, 2013 18:12:29 GMT -7
Thanks Paula!
Jasmine is out of pain, is eating well and is her 'normal' spunky self. I spoke with the vet this morning. He doesn't believe that it's a serious injury, and he believes that two weeks of crate rest should be sufficient. He's not sure that it was a disc problem, but he wants to err on the conservative side. He asked me to keep her on the Prevacid for a couple more days and IF she shows any signs of pain to give her the Previcox again and to call him immediately.
I'm going to be a bit more conservative than he is...
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Post by Pauliana on Aug 22, 2013 19:24:00 GMT -7
Hi Margaret,
Very glad Jasmine is out of pain and her tummy has settled. As Paula said Tramadol is normally used for pain.. Previcox is an anti inflammatory and is used to get the swelling down.. it isn't a pain reliever. If Jasmine has pain ask for Tramadol. Hopefully she will stay pain free.
Healing wishes across the miles!
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member 
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Aug 23, 2013 12:48:58 GMT -7
Be very cautious about doing any less than the 8 weeks of strict crate rest - it is better to error on the side of caution, even though it is a real pain in the neck to do so. Keeping you in thought and prayer  |
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