Julie & Emmy
New Member
FEMALE - Shih Tzu Bichon mix
Posts: 2
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Post by Julie & Emmy on Jun 28, 2021 12:56:27 GMT -7
[Original subject line:Possible IVDD Diagnosis - how to be sure? ]
My sweet Emmy Lou who is a one year old Shichon was just seen by the emergency vet service and diagnosed with possible IVDD.
We see the regular vet today. Is there any guidance on how to actually receive a rock solid diagnosis? I am a bit in shock.....she is so young to have such a serious issue!
QUESTIONS
☆ 1 Is there still currently pain? No. She is on codeine (1/4 tablet every 8-12 hours)
☆ 2 10 pounds
A.. On prednisone (one tablet daily)
Gabapentin (1/2 ml every 8 -12 hours)
Codeine (1/4 tablet every 8 -12 hours)
Pepcid AC (1/4 tablet every morning) - 5 mg
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
10 lbs 1 y.o.
prednisone as of date?: ?mgs ?x/day for ? days, then a test taper for: _pain / _neuro
gabapentin ?mgs per 1 mL?: ?mgs (0.5mL dose) which?: every 8 OR 12 hrs
codeine ?mgs whole tab: ?mgs in 1/4 tab? which?: every 8 OR 12 hrs
Pepcid AC ?mgs whole tab?: ?mgs (1/4 tab) 1x/day]
☆ 3 -- On bland diet since Friday the 25th. [6/25] Diarrhea since then.
☆ 4 Shichon, Emmy Lou, my name is Julie
☆ 5 Vet Specialty - Emergency Vet services - diagnosis "rule out pulled muscle vs IVDD"
☆ 6 Seeing primary vet today.
Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
☆ 7 Going potty normally (#1) but #2 is runny, watery diarrhea.
☆ 8 Currently can your dog wobbly walk? move the legs at all? or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk? Dog can walk and wag tail.
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 28, 2021 14:07:24 GMT -7
Moderator Paula is reading your post and preparing a reply. Thank you for your patience. Please refresh your browser to see new replies. EMAIL ALERTS Timely communications are needed when helping your dog. How to register and set up for email alerts when you have received a reply: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/7353/register-bookmark-dogs-post-thread |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,540
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 28, 2021 14:24:57 GMT -7
Julie, sorry to hear young Emmy was diagnosed with a disc episode. My one y9ear old doxie had surgery for a disc episode. So yes, while not typical it can happen. Usually it is in the range of 4-7 years old before the first disc episode would happen if the dog was born with this disease. Most dogs do well with Pepcid AC alone when taking the steroid prednisone. Ask your vet to add in another stomach protector call SUCRALFATE along with Pepcid AC. Pepcid AC given TWICE a day works to suppress stomach acids that prednisone causes. Sucralfate works in a different way to bandaid the damaged area of the stomach lining causing the diarrhea. The addition of sucralfate allow the continuation of prednisone to do its work of getting rid of all the painful spinal cord swelling in a range of 7-30 days at the anti-inflammatory level. To get a grip on prednisone so you have the ability to discuss and understand, highly recommend this page for you: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/With pain only, Emmy is a good candidate for conservative treatment and its single most important component. Very STRICT rest for the disc inside of a recovery suite. Do make sure you are following the strict rest principals...lots of good tips to make the next 8 weeks go smoother. Highly recommended to read: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/Please do fill us in on the medication list so we will have a complete picture of Emmy's treatment: prednisone
started on what date?
?mgs dose ?x/day
for ? days, then a test taper for: _pain / _neuro gabapentin
formula: ?mgs per 1 mL?: ?mgs (0.5mL dose) which actually?: every 8 OR 12 hrscodeine ?mgs whole tab: ?mgs dose in 1/4 tab? which actually?: every 8 OR 12 hrsPepcid AC ?mgs whole tab?: ?mgs dose in 1/4 tab 1x/day
NOTE for a 10 lbs dog Pepcid AC would be given 2x/day at 5mgs for each dose Hope to hear soon sucralfate plus Pepcid AC will be properly protecting the stomach lining and diarrhea turning around. |
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Julie & Emmy
New Member
FEMALE - Shih Tzu Bichon mix
Posts: 2
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Post by Julie & Emmy on Jul 17, 2021 13:37:43 GMT -7
Thank you for the help and good info.
Sorry that I am just now seeing this message.
Emmy Lou was able to get a an appointment with the Univ of MO Vet Neuro team on Monday, July 19 so I hope to have more answers at that time.
She finished the prednisone and gabepentin. We have completed three weeks of crate/room rest. She had a rough week last week and was having diarrhea again so I took her in and they discovered a parasitic infection so she is now on ✙antibiotics.
[Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
10 lbs 1 y.o.
prednisone as of date?: ?mgs ?x/day for ? days, then a test taper for: _pain / _neuro STOPPED 7/17th ish?
codeine ?mgs whole tab: ?mgs in 1/4 tab? which?: every 8 OR 12 hrs
✙antibiotics]
I am still not 100% convinced she had an IVDD episode so I am so grateful the neuro team will be able to assess her and give us an official diagnosis/prognosis. She seems so young and I am heartbroken if this is going to diminish her ability to live the formerly active, speedy lifestyle she loved.
Am I in denial?
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Jul 17, 2021 13:53:50 GMT -7
If the neurologist determines she does have IVDD, after the 8 weeks of crate rest are over, she can still do most of the things that she did before. The introduction back to normal activities should be slow, but ultimately she will be able to run, although zig-zag running is to be avoided. She can play a gentle game of fetch. She can swim under supervision. What should be avoided forever is stairs, jumping up on furniture, standing up on her back legs. Essentially anything that puts pressure on the spine. We have some more information about back friendly activities here: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/AfterCrateRest.htm |
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