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Post by Gina & Truman on Jun 15, 2022 10:50:47 GMT -7
1 currently pain? x tight tense tummy
2 10.7 pounds, 4 years old
Prednisone 10 mg 1 per day for 4 days starting 06/06/2022, then 1 every other day for 6 pills, then 1/2 a pill every other days for 10 days
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
10.7 lbs 4 y.o.
prednisone as of 6/6: 10mgs 1x/day for 4 days, then 6/10 test taper for: √6/15 pain / _neuro
⚠️No Pepcid AC has been on board during prednisone ]
☆ 3 -- List any red flag signs of stomach damage.
☆ 4 Dachshund, Truman; Gina
☆ 5 Was the diagnosis IVDD?-- Is the vet a general DVM? yes
☆ 6 CONSERVATIVE treatment? 06/06/2022
☆ 7 have been expressing urine, he has no bladder or bowel control
☆ 8 back legs are tucked under, he can drag himself, but we are not letting him
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Jun 15, 2022 13:31:28 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist, Gina. We are glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve learned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! Learn 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:
A critical part of the conservative treatment for IVDD is the Strict crate rest part. Damaged discs take about 8 weeks to heal and form secure scar tissue during conservative treatment. There are no medications that help this along—only time and limited movement of the back and neck with STRICT crate rest. When a dog walks and moves, the vertebrae move, tearing down the important scar tissue that is forming to stabilize the disc rupture.
Has Truman been on Strict crate rest since June 6? You are right not to let him drag himself around at this point in his recovery.
At the pages below, you will find some basics of conservative treatment. ➤ At home nursing care tips: Useful supplies Tried and true tested ideas for strict rest: www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-proc ➤ Medications used during a disc episode: www.dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode/
➤ What to expect for each phase of healing: www.dodgerslist.com/in-the-right-placeYou did not mention any pain meds. IVDD is typically painful. Is a tight, tense tummy the only sign of pain you are seeing? Sometimes when we are not sure if our dogs are in pain, we look for a second confirming signs of pain. If you feel that Truman is in pain, let the vet know what you are seeing as soon as possible and discuss adding pain meds. There is no reason for him to be in pain. Vets have many ways to treat pain. Pain sometimes becomes obvious during a pred taper.
Is Truman staying dry between expressing sessions? Expressing can sometimes be tricky to learn. Besides expressing the bladder, the bowel can also be expressed. This will eliminate Truman's anxiety of finding poop in his bed and make clean up easier for you.
I am not sure if you have had a chance to look at the information here:
It is very scary when our dogs have IVDD. It becomes less so when we learn all we can about the disease. We have a lot of information at our main website: www.dodgerslist.comUse the search bar at the top of the page for specific topics. |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 16, 2022 8:18:34 GMT -7
Gina, consider this idea: the prednisone taper started on Fri June 10. The taper is a time to assess for pain. Pain would indicate prednisone had not YET been able to resolve painful inflammation/swelling around the spinal cord. 1) Understand ALL the details about the use of prednisone during a disc episode: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/ 2) Be aware of what can cause GI tract damage: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protectionRULE OF THUMB on PRED TAPERPain= time to get another course of anti-inflammatory level of Prednisone + pain meds + Pepcid AC Prednisone tablet: How many mgs is one whole pred tablet?CORRECTLY ID PAIN SIGNSThe tight tense belly could be painful tissue around the cord, could be stomach damage from prednisone, stress, and loss of body's way to protect stomach OR it could be a very full bladder. Don't hesitate to discuss your observations with your vet to assist in determining what should be the treatment: - pain of inflamed tissue - GI damage causing tight belly pain - full bladder Please double check to determine if spinal cord related pain (requiring another course of prednisone). If you see two or more signs of pain, that helps to confirm pain of swelling around spinal cord.
SIGNS OF PAIN: ⚙︎ shivering-trembling ⚙︎ yelping when picked up or moved ⚙︎ tight tense tummy ⚙︎ arched back, ears pinned bac ⚙︎ 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 |
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Post by Gina & Truman on Jun 20, 2022 14:11:42 GMT -7
We started him on ✙gabapentin on june 15, what dose of Pepcid should I give him? I will look at the info you gave. It is probably in there.
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
10.7 lbs 4 y.o.
prednisone as of 6/6: 10mgs 1x/day for 4 days, then 6/10 test taper for: √6/15 pain / _neuro
✙gabapentin started 6/15 ?mg ?x/day
⚠️No Pepcid AC has been on board during prednisone ]
He used to have a dry bed and wait for us to take him outside to pee, but the last 4 days he pees in bed and pees when we pick him up and won’t pee for us when we try and express his bladder.
We have had him in his crate at all times besides carrying him out to potty.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jun 20, 2022 21:25:04 GMT -7
Gina, some information seems to be missing in your report. So we don't understand what is going on. RULE OF THUMB on PRED TAPER Pain or new neuro loss= time to get another course of anti-inflammatory level of Prednisone + pain meds + Pepcid AC
Can you provide details to help us: On the taper of prednisone on 6/10 you observed pain (tense belly). 1) What did the vet Rx regarding going back up to the original pred dose (10mgs 1x/day): ? mgs and how often given?
How many mgs in one whole Pred tablet?
2) What are the gabapentin details? ?mg ?x/day
What is the thinking behind the gabapentin? UTI pain, nerve pain, etc?
3) What did the vet say about tense belly? -- Was it pain from taper of pred -- a possible UTI? Dogs who have a UTI may leak in bedding.
4) How often are you expressing the bladder? -- possibly needing another expressing lesson to fine tune your technique?
Or are you saying he now has lost bladder control, it is a new nerve loss than happen on the pred taper testing for pain and new neuro diminishment?
EXPRESSING Leaking on you when lifted and finding wet bedding can mean you need more practice in honing your expressing technique. While on pred you should be expressing every 2-3 hours to keep him dry. As you improve in skill that keeps him dry move up to every 3-4, then 4-6 hours.
Tips and video on expressing the bladder:
Do you feel the bladder each time you express? Do you keep pressing until the bladder feels almost flat, like your fingers are almost touching? If the bladder has slipped away, you'll need to find it again and keep expressing until it's completely empty. It often slips back by the pelvic area. When the bladder is completely full, you won't really feel it as it fills the whole abdominal cavity but as it empties and gets smaller, you should be able to feel it.
Here's the full details and an expressing video at the Dodgerslist page
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/
Textbook order of nerve healing: 1. 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. ? Tail wagging with joy at seeing you or getting a treat or meal.3. ? Bladder control verified with the "sniff and pee" test.4. ? Weak leg movement to reposition in the recovery suite and then ? ability to move up into a standing position, and then ? wobbly walking.5. ? Being able to walk with more steadiness and properly place the paw in an unknuckled position.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 |
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