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Post by kmbarber on Aug 20, 2013 17:18:35 GMT -7
Hello all, my husband Eric and myself are so happy we were directed to this site by dachshund rescue. We were at a loss. It is very comforting to know we are not alone and that there is hope.
Cooper is a 6 year old mini dachshund. He weighs 10 pounds has always been healthy.
On Wednesday Aug 14th we noticed he wasn't wanting to jump and had a drunk walk. I crated him on Thursday while we were at work. When i got home and opened the crate he could hardly walk. Call the vet who stayed open untill I could get there. Dr Crow did an exam. Deep pain test was good. Cooper also had tail control. Told us options. Recommended crate rest 24/7 for a week. He received a huge steriod shot and shot of pain med. Started Cooper on robaxin for pain 1/4 tablet twice a day and prednisone 5 mg twice a day for three days then once a day.
Cooper is now on pepcid ac 5mg 30 min before steroid. Prednisone 5 mg once a day and Tramadol 50 mg tablet cut in 4th twice a day. I give at 6 am and 6 pm. Dr said i can give up ti 4 a day but thought we should start slow.
Cooper can not use or move his legs. He does not move his tail.
Potty- he held it for two days. We went back to vet sat for him to teach us how to express bladder and brought home enema just in case. Sat night he pooped and peed in his crate. I have gotten pretty good at expressing him annd he has pooped each day. Today he pooped on his pee pad while i held his hind end up. He isntvgoing on his own because he can't get in his squat.
Eating and drinking fine but i only offer water every 4 hours and have switched to can food to help him poop and have added pumpkin.
Today he got a small wire crate and we have moved him into the living room. He seems to be ok with it as much as he can be. I take him out of the crate every 4 hours to kiss, express and offer water.
I have so many questions but i will this for now. Looking forward to meeting everyone
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,935
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 20, 2013 17:59:05 GMT -7
Kim, welcome to Dodgerslist. We are happy you have joined us. Here you will get a chance to get up to speed on the disease Cooper was born with to not just care for him now but to live with this disease for the rest of his life. We hope he is one who only has one disc episode his entire life! So do start your reading journey here so you are a well informed owner who can talk and discuss everything with the vet: www.dodgerslist.com/healingindex.htmOn the taper of Pred is the time to be very observant for any hint of pain. Pain indicates there is still swelling going on in the spinal cord. The vet would need to know so Pred can go back to the original dose, the anti-inflammtory dose. Do you see any shivering, yelping, tight tense tummy, not his usuall perky self, reluctant to move?Does Cooper now stay dry in between expressing sessions? While on pred you might have to express every 2-3 hours…how often do you express? Please avoid an enema with his disc condition, it is a danger to the early healing disc and the spinal cord as it would very likely cause too much movement. The focus with conservative treatment is 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 only out at potty times for 8 weeks. No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc. The crate is the only surface that is firm, supportive for the spine, not inclining, always horizontal and keeps a dog from darting off at a TV doorbell and safe from other pets and kids from bothering them. The rest of the details of doing crate rest to ensure the best recovery in this excellent document: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CrateRRP.htm The purpose of crate rest is to act as a cast of sorts to let the disc heal… only limited movement of STRICT crate rest allows that to happen…there are no meds to heal a disc. Immediate neuro improvement may or may not come during the 8 weeks of crate rest… as nerves may take more than 8 weeks to heal. Water needs to be inside his crate at all times, as pred makes them thirsty. Attach food and water bowls at head height. Use plastic containers, punch holes to run a tie wrap though and around the wires. |
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Post by kmbarber on Aug 20, 2013 19:52:13 GMT -7
Hi Paula! Vet said i could keep Cooper on pred one a day for two weeks instead of dropping down to every other day.
Sonetimes he is dry in between and sometimes not. I take him out to express every 4 hours. He did really well today and only had one pee inside his crate.
Cooper has never had a flat back. He has always been hunched up in the middle. I worry that when i move him im causing damage. I place a hand under his chest and one under his but since this is the only way i can get him out of his crate. He also still is laying and sleeping curled up in his crate he won't lay straight. Is this going to inhibit healing? He also still likes to burrow.
Also he still shivers, but isnt crying anymore. I think the crying was from being in a crate and he is getting used to it. He seems to like his new wire crate better.
He is a bit smelly from his accidents and from my aim while expressing. I have wiped him down with baby wipes any other suggestions?
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caringpea
New Member
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Post by caringpea on Aug 20, 2013 20:19:03 GMT -7
That's so creative [attached bowl tip]. Never would have thought of it.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,935
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 20, 2013 21:04:41 GMT -7
Shivering IS a sign of pain. You need to tell the vet of your observations and ask that the pred go back to the original anti-inflammatory dose (5mg of pred 2x a day). 5mg of pred 1x a day is not the anti-inflammatory dose it is a lower dose. Also tramadol given 2x a day is not likely to control pain. Tramadol has a very short half life of 1.7 hours and usually needs to be given at minimum every 8 hours to control pain. Please discuss the dose in mg and the frequency of tramadrol so he can get pain control just right for Cooper. True healing does not get started until pain is fully under control dose to dose of the pain med(s)
Overflowing urine in the crate is not a good thing for two reasons. So I would recommend you express more often every 2-3 hours so that he does stay dry.
1. To overflow the bladder needs to be stretched to the fill point. Stretching will ruin bladder tone so that when nerves again connect the bladder won't function correctly.
2. Overflowing urine means reflexes can't get all the urine released and the part that remains, quickly becomes a breeding ground for bacteria…. urinary tract infection (UTI)
We use the non-scented baby wipes also. You can wring out a washcloth and clean up urine on his skin/fur that way too.
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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 20, 2013 21:04:48 GMT -7
Here is a link to a video on how to lift and carry him Don't worry about him sleeping curled up - he won't do it if it hurts and is a sign that he is more comfortable  One member swears by green tea - make a pot, let it cool and wipe him down with that, Neutralizes the odour Shivering can be a sign of pain, are there any others like hard tummy, panting, reluctance to eat or drink?? Please keep us posted - keeping you on thought and prayer. |
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Post by kmbarber on Aug 21, 2013 5:59:56 GMT -7
He does pant sometimes but again i thought it was a side effect of pain meds. I will raise pain meds to three a day and will put him back up to two preds a day. I so wish he could talk to me.
I will try to express more often. I was just trying to move him as little as possible. He stayed dry last night and i expressed him this morning. And he pooped while i had him out. I think he is happier in this crate so i hope that helps with everything
I have seen the video. Its just that he isnt standing and he is in the crate so i cant get above him. I lift him as carefully as possible.
Thank u for the green tea tip. I will have to try that.
Thank you too all of you!,
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,935
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 21, 2013 9:30:12 GMT -7
KIm, what great news that Cooper stayed dry overnight. You must have done a good job of expressing his bladder to be very empty and thus the bladder was able to last the night…. good job!!! To get Cooper out of the crate, you can try putting another fleece bed sheet not tucked it but loose. That way you can tug on the fleece sheet moving Cooper close to the crate door and a bit outside of the door where you will be able to lift him better. Dr. Isaacs just discussed with us on what panting means when on meds. Please check out our Neuro Corner: www.dodgerslist.com/neurocorner2/panting.htmIt is not a good idea to make changes to dose and frequency of meds without the supervision of a vet…. Give your vet a call this am and let us know what he said. |
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Post by kmbarber on Aug 22, 2013 17:10:52 GMT -7
Spoke to vet yesterday and put cooper back on two ▲preds a day. Upped tram to 3 a day, every 8 hours.
He is doing really well today. Ears are perked up and he even tried to walk while he was out of crate to go potty.
Now potty. I'm going crazy with the expressing. Sometimes i can make it happen like a champ. Today before work it happened. I emptied his bladder. Come home crate is dry. Try to express and nothing. Wait about 30 min and try again and nothing. Leave to get hubby from work gone about 30 min and come home to wet crate! I'm gonna loose my mind. I think he is holding it in on pupose lol.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,935
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 22, 2013 20:17:37 GMT -7
When you do some happy talk, have you seen him wag his tail?
IF there is bladder control returning in some degree, he may not like you expressing so you would be finding it more difficult to press and express. The only way for us humans to know if there is bladder control is with the sniff and pee test. Carry outdoors, set on an old pee spot to sniff it. See if urine is then released. Make sure the sling or your hands are not on the tummy area as that can press on the bladder. If urine comes out after sniffing, bladder control is returning. You should do a quick express check to verify there is full voiding until you are certain it is consistently happening. Let us know what you observe.
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Post by kmbarber on Aug 24, 2013 16:36:27 GMT -7
We have turned a corner. The wagging tail is back! Cooper is using his back legs more and we have gone potty outside twice. I carry him outside and pur him down, he will take few sreps and his business then come back to me so i can puck him back up. He is still doing crate rest, only out for potty and still on pian meds one evert eight hous and 2 preds a day.
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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 25, 2013 18:16:13 GMT -7
Wonderful news! |
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Post by kmbarber on Aug 26, 2013 16:29:02 GMT -7
We are schedualed to talk to the vet later on in the week but i would like to get your oppinions on how long we should keep cooper on pred and tram? He has two more days on two a day preds then he is going down to one a day. I just dont want to do anything to set him back. Does everyone keep their dogs on meds for the whole eight weeks?
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,935
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 26, 2013 16:52:01 GMT -7
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. The vet will guess when all swelling might be gone and then tests the waters with a taper On the taper the dose is lowered to less than the anti-flammatory dose and then it is your job to assess just how well reduction of swelling is going by observing for pain.
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.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Aug 26, 2013 17:01:42 GMT -7
There are too many side effects from the medications, Kim, to leave Cooper on them for the whole eight weeks. And there's no reason to do that. Once the Prednisone gets the swelling down, the pain will stop and you can tell that from the tapering of the Prednisone. You should also be stopping the Tramadol or at least tapering it off when the Prednisone is tapered. So taper off the Pred as your vet has instructed and observe for pain. If you see any signs of pain during the taper, immediately contact your vet and he'll probably tell you to go back to the original dosage.
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Post by kmbarber on Sept 28, 2013 19:38:14 GMT -7
Just a quick update. Cooper has two weeks left. Seems like it has been forever but he is doing great. He is off all meds. We are ready to have him back out with us.
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Post by Nancy & Polly on Sept 28, 2013 21:11:54 GMT -7
Good news! You'll make it. The end is in sight!
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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 Sept 29, 2013 10:50:50 GMT -7
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 29, 2013 10:55:27 GMT -7
This gives me such hope!
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