Sam, welcome to the Forum! We are glad you have joined us all and are ready to learn about your dog's disease. Your education will make it possible for you to commit to the STRICT rest of conservative treatment. You mind can be at peace with understanding how the meds work, what is takes for for each of the 4 phases of healing. Conservative treatment is not rocket science once you "get" how it works.
Thanks for all the excellent details you provided. We read and study every single word you write as we build the chain of events and come to some useful comments for helping Muka.
Muka has a very excellent chance to heal his disc under conservative treatment! The key is if you can incorporate the principals of conservative treatment. What do you say, let's get that started today for Muka!
The single most important care is the 100% STRICT rest of the spine. Each time the vertebra move that puts pressure on all discs including the prematurely aged disc causing the pain. You will want to see where to put it and how to set up Muka's recovery suite and all the tips for making rest go smoother. Here's the link:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/Owner IVDD knowledge is the key to fighting the IVDD enemy and winning! You can master the basics very quickly. These are the things that make conservative treatment work for many disc episodes:
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10 mins to get a great overview of IVDD for the now and for living many happy years ahead with Muka:
➤ 💊
Medications used during a disc episode:
1. How prednisone (anti-inflammatory drug) works during a disc episode. What your job is on the prednisone taper:
dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/ 2. Why a stomach protector during the use of Prednisone is a must:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protection Let us know when Pepcid AC 10mgs 2x/day can be on board as long as Muke has none of the listed health issues.
3. Learn about the role of pain meds: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/30/pain-medications ➤ 💡
What to expect for each phase of healing:
dodgerslist.com/in-the-right-place➤
D/L these and tape to your fridge for easy reference:
- Avoid dangerous detours with the
Conservative Roadmap for your fridge.
VIEW, DOWNLOAD and print:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf - The
medication chart is useful to see patterns, have dates and specific facts handy as you discuss things with the vet. D/l a sample and a blank form to use with your dog's meds
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/02/med-chart-printable.pdfStart today giving your dog every chance possible to heal.
-- Commit to recovery suite use. That makes today another day of disc healing going on!
-- Weigh the risks vs. benefit.
Anytime outside of the recovery suite... would be a day for risk of potential pain, nerve damage, more vet bills, a costly surgery.
Benefit examples... Potty time and the most urgent of vet visits outweighs potential risks.
DIAGNOSIS
Most disc episode are diagnosed by the history of the dog, the breeds prone to being born with IVDD, the hand's on exam. Very likely Muka does have a current disc episode. Problem is true conservative treatment STRICT has not been employed and the disc keeps getting disrupted in forming scar tissue. Each disruption causes pain and could even have the potential to cause Muka to loose neuro functions such as rear wobbly legs on 4/17.
VET VISITS
Trips to vets must be very carefully weighed for the benefit vs what things like updates, med adjustments that can be handled over the phone. What benefit will be achieved with a vet visit tomorrow? A $1500+ MRI requires anesthesia that puts the muscles supporting the vertebrae to sleep. Will that be a risk to the disc trying to heal? Would instituting proper conservative treatment at home be a benefit reduce risk to the healing disc.
If when there is a very urgent need to visit a vet, secure the crate in your vehicle. Transport carefully using a crate padded out with rolled up towels on either side of the dog to prevent movement or jarring the spine when braking or turning corners.
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While pain level is very disconcerting to see, we are helped more by giving us your observations on what the pain looks like. Could you fill us in on a few more things so we know best how to comment further.
QUESTIONS:
★1 Is there still currently pain,
let us know which you observe? There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. Tell your vet about any of these observations asap to get meds adjusted.
⚙︎ shivering-trembling ⚙︎ yelping when picked up or moved
⚙︎ tight tense tummy ⚙︎ arched back, ears pinned back
⚙︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
⚙︎ slow or reluctant to move in suite such as shift positions
⚙︎ not their normal perky interested in life selves
➕if a neck disc:
◻︎ head held high/ nose to the ground
◻︎ looks up with just eyes and does not move head and neck easily.
◻︎ not eating due to painful chewing or in too much overall pain
◻︎ holds front or back leg up flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
★2 PREDNISONE
What is the formula for prednisone? How many mgs of prednisone are in one mL of liquid? That info should be printed on the bottle.
For how many days is Muka to stay on the 5/11 Rx'd 1.5mL dose 2x/day?
GABAPENTIN
What is the formula for gabapentin? How many mgs of gabapentin are in on Ml of liquid?
★3 If your dog moves around too much, the disc cannot heal. With pain medications to mask pain, dogs will not be in pain and want to be more active. So it is up to you to restrict your dog’s activity for them.
Let us know you are on the same page about STRICT rest: STRICT means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no chiro therapy - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
- When possible limit transports to only the most urgent. Give updates and med adjustments via the phone.
POTTY TIMES
Carry to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very few limited footsteps.
Using a sling (long winter scarf, ace bandage, belt) will save your back and help to keep a wobbly dog's back aligned and butt from tipping over.
A harness and 6 foot leash is to control speed and keep footsteps to minimum as you stand in one spot.
An ex-pen in the grass is an excellent alternative to minimizing footsteps with the physical and visual to indicate there will be no sniff festing going on!
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★4 List any red flag signs of stomach damage you are currently observing:
Not eating, vomit, loose stool, bleeding ulcers, red or black blood in diarrhea?
★5 List the current details of any neuro diminishment Muka has.
Nerves heal in a typical order:
1. _
yes_ Deep Pain Sensation: the first neuro function to return. DPS is the critical indicator for nerves to be able to self heal after surgery or with conservative treatment. Trust only the word of a neuro (ACVIM) or ortho (ACVS) surgeon about this very tricky to correctly idenfiy neuro function.
2. _yes_Tail wagging with joy at seeing you or getting a treat or meal.
3. _yes_Weak Leg Movement, and then
_yes_ability to move up into a standing position, and then
_yes_wobbly walking on 4/17
5. _?_ Being able to walk with more steadiness and
_ ?_ properly place the one knuckled under paw.
6. ___ Ability to walk unassisted and perhaps even run.
LEARN MORE:
dodgerslist.com/2021/02/06/nerve-healing-after-disc-episode/Knuckling:
thumb.ibb.co/k3dqRS/Knuckling.jpg