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Post by Sarah & Kona on Nov 13, 2022 14:39:26 GMT -7
[Previous Guest thread Sarah's KONA 7/1 conservative - Lhasa/poo; GRAD 8/ 26/22 dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/8735/sarahs-kona-conservative-lhasa-grad]I believe my Kona is having a flare-up. He is a 5 year old LhasaApso Poodle mix that weighs around 13 pounds . He had surgery for stage 5 IVDD in March 2022. Signs that I am seeing that he may be having a flare-up is he is wobbly, criss-crossing more, and trembling. [MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
13 lbs 5 y.o.
gabapentin ?mg ?x/day ] My plan is to take him to our normal vet tomorrow because we don’t have an Emergency vet near us. He is not on any current meds, but I do have some left over gabapentin and trazadone from last time. What is the recommendation regarding time length for crate-rest and what medications should I ask for from a vet that is unfamiliar with IVDD? Thanks in advance.
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 13, 2022 15:53:32 GMT -7
Sarah, sorry to hear another possible disc episode for Kona. First thing to know when there is neuro diminishment of being a new or increased wobbliness and crisscrossing, it is getting the anti-inflammatory steroid (prednisone) or a non-steroid (NSAID) that gets to work on stopping increase neuro loss. Hours matter...is it possible to get to an ER vet now, tonight (Sun 11/13)?Trembling is pain. Pain meds (gabapentin for nerve pain) only blocks one kind of pain. TraZODone reduces anxiety. Typically with a disc episode there are 3 kinds of pain each needing the proper med. Pain meds are effective for about 8 hrs. traMADol as the over all analgesic methocarbamol for muscle contraction pain. Quickly bone up on anti-inflammatory drugs so you will be able to discuss things with the vet tonight. 1) Steroids and non-steroids: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/ 2) Why Pepcid AC (famotidine) for duration of an anti-inflammatory dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protection/Limited movement of the back and neck is key for the disc to be able to heal in 8 weeks. STRICT rest at home for conservative treatment is different than for a post-op dog where disc material where it was not supposed to be had been removed. Be very careful during a transport to keep back and neck with as minimal limited movement as possible. Use rolled up blanket or towels snug around Kona's body. This prevents undo movement when the car takes a corner or comes to a stop. i.postimg.cc/N0YM7022/Crate-transport-vet-diagnosis-CHUNK.jpgLet us know all the detail of the vet visit- diagnosis, name of the disease- name of each med. ?mg each dose and how often to be given- with any anti-inflammatory an acid suppressor should be on board for the duration of the anti-inflammatory.
Dogs don't speak up at first signs of trouble like a person would. By the time we notice black or red blood in the stools, things can quickly go from bleeding ulcers to a life threatening perforated stomach.
Ask if your dog has 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).
The usual dose during a disc episode is Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours.
Give the anti-inflammatory with a meal as added protection. www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html **
Until you get to the vet (hopefully tonight) make sure Kona is inside of a recovery suite that protects the disc with limited movement. STRICT rest is the single most important care.
Carry him to and from the potty place. Allow a very few minimal footsteps to take care of business. Use a leash/harness to control speed and limit footsteps. A sling to prevent wobbliness causing a him to fall and twist the back or neck.
Will be watching for your update and that Kona is out of pain and has meds on board that match the diagnosis of a likely disc episode.
P.S. Thank you very much for registering. It helps us to best track Kona. Better yet for you, it means you can receive an automatic email alert whenever you have a reply waiting to be read.
➡️ EMAIL ALERTS You can receive email alerts when someone has posted. Timely interaction/communications is needed when helping your dog. Bookmark your dog's thread to receive an email alert when someone has replied.
1. Look for your dog's thread and checkmark it. 2. Look for the white ACTIONS button towards top. 3. Select “Notification Options" from the pull down menu — check mark “NEW POST” change from never to INSTANT email — press the SAVE button. Click the “x” to close the window 4. Next choose the “Bookmark” See the tiny book symbol now!
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