Jenna, welcome to the Forum. Call the vet and alert them to the signs of pain you are observing (trembling and panting). Because there is much missing information still to find out from you, the comments are of a general nature to help you alert the vet about the pain.
-- Pain meds used with IVDD last effectively for about 8 hrs. Discuss using 3x/day if had not been Rx'd for every 8 hrs.
-- With carprofen having been stopped it would be a natural expectation for the need to up the pain meds to an aggressive dose in how often and a mg dose to compensate for carprofen leaving the body and no longer working on painful swelling.
-- Discuss if this is an emergency to prevent further neuro loss with a switch to Prednisone. IF it is an emergency, many vets double protect the stomach with not just normal use of
Pepcid AC (famotidine) when any anti-inflammatory is in use, but IN ADDITION add an Rx item
SUCRALFATE.
Pepcid AC (famotidine) works to suppress the acids carprofen or prednisone cause.
Sucralfate works in a different way to bandaid any damage areas of the stomach lining when a 5-7 day washout can not be done due to an emergency to save loss of neuro functions.
Bone up on the 3 reasons for stomach protection so you are best able to advocate for your dog:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protection/When your dog is comfortable and out of pain dose to dose AND round the clock of the adjusted doses in mgs and how often you give, do fill us in more so we best understand your dog's situation to give good/helpful comments.
QUESTIONS
☆ 1 Is there still currently any of the pain signs with the addition of traMADol and muscle remaster to Gabapentin?
☐ reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow, ginger movements
☐ shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved
☐ tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position, restless
☐ Arched back ☐head held high or nose to the ground
☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight
☐ Not their normal perky selves? Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose. If not in control your vet needs to know again asap to adjust meds.
☆ 2 Your dog's weight? How old?
Fill in the
missing or any incorrect info about your dog's med list
carprofen as of 9/25:
for ? days;
stopped 9/15?]
prednisone as of ? date:
?mgs ?x/day for ? days, then a test taper for: _pain / _neuro
gabapentin ?mg ?x/day name of muscle relaxer ?mg ?x/day traMADol ?mg ?x/day C..
PEPCID AC (famotidine): Phrase a simple question that you expect a simple "yes "or "no" to it. Does my dog have any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn't need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a "no health" issues answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
(NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html )
thumb.ibb.co/mEGRuy/91x_Aj_s00z_L_SY355.jpg **
☆ 3 -- Eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit?
-- Poops OK - normal firmness & color. No loose stool or diarhea?
-- no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers?
☆ 4 What breed? What is your dog’s name? Your name, too?
☆ 5 Was the diagnosis IVDD, aka: a disc problem, a disc herniation, a bulging disc, slipped disc?
-- Is the vet a general DVM or a specialist surgeon: ACVIM neurology or ACVS ortho?
☆ 6 CONSERVATIVE TREATMENT
- Date of vet exam and Rx for conservative treament?
- Date STRICT rest started?
- Avoid dangerous detours in your dog's care during CONSERVATIVE treatment. Easy to follow "Roadmap." Tape it to your fridge. D/L and print out:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more!
This is tiimely reading now for the best recovery suite to aid your dog:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/ Let us know you have and are on board with STRICT rest of limited movement of the spine since the initial vet visit and continued todate:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no dragging or meandering at potty times.
- no PT unless post-op surgeon directed
- no chiro therapy:
☆ 7
Can your dog specifically sniff and squat and then release urine which is bladder control
- OR- do you find wet bedding or leaks on you when lifted which are indication of an overflowing bladder and loss of bladder control?
Overflowing bladders need to be expressed to avoid UTIs. Review video then get a hands-on-top-of-your-hands expressing lesson.
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/DOGs with BLADDER 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!
**
How to safely lift your dog:
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/20/back-support/☆ 8
1) Currently today can your dog wobbly walk?
2) Move the legs at all (such as attempt to scratch an ear, or to reposition his body in the suite)?
3) Or wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?
4) Correct a knuckled under paw even if it takes time to do so.
When possible do register and login to post. This really helps us out. And it benefits you, too! Registering means you can receive an email alert whenever a post is waiting for you to read.
▼ Thank you in advance for registering ▼
