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Post by Lynn 611 on Dec 16, 2022 6:34:07 GMT -7
[Original subject line: Shoogie *conservative*] i.postimg.cc/mgzt32Jy/conserv_back_leg_paralysis.png  Hi all, my name is Lynn. My little one’s name is Shoogie. She’s a very active 8 year old cocker spaniel and my family especially my 2 kids who are 22 and 15 are not ready to say goodbye to her. She is a very sweet dog but doesn’t like cats and squirrels. She’s very smart, she understands what we want her to do but will only do so if there’s some kind of treat involved.
She was playing with a visitor’s dog, a 5-lb spirited Havanese Tuesday night. It got a little rowdy, but we didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary. The following morning, Wednesday, she was limping just a little as she went up and down a few steps to go potty. In the afternoon she seems off but walked to her food bowl, a little wobbly. We didn’t know about IVDD so we said wait it out until tomorrow to go to the vet. We will do the conservative treatment Help please, it’s so hard to see a beloved member of our family in pain. Thank you for reading my thread. I appreciate all the help and support☆ 1 NO, she’s very restless and agitated, I think she’s confused as to why she can’t go to where she wants to☐ NO, but she’s panting mostly and whining some☐ tight tense tummy YES☐can’t find a comfortable position, appears restless YES, very much soAt first she held her head high, during the night before we went to the vet, but now just sometimesNO, she can’t use her hind legs at all☐She’s definitely not her normal self, but she’s still so headstrong as usual☆ 2 25 pounds Age 8Vet gave her yesterday [12/15] Dexamethazone injection 4mg/ml (1.4 quantity) and Bupe pain injectionPrednisone 5 mg 2x a day for 7 days, then 1x a day for 7 days, then 1x a day every other dayGabapentine 100 mg 1-2 capsules 2x a day (I gave 2)Vet did not prescribe Pepcid but I will buy today
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
25 lbs 8 y.o.
12/15 back leg paralysis
Dex injection 12/15
prednisone as of 12/16?: 5mgs 2x/day for 7 days, then 12/23? test taper for: _pain / _neuro as of
gabapentin 200mgs 2x/day
Pepcid AC as of 12/16: ?mg ?x/day ] ☆ 3 None currently, she just started meds yesterday. She still has her appetite, and I don’t have a problem giving her the meds with cream cheese
☆ 4 American Cocker Spaniel
Shoogie (like sugar but daughter wanted to end with y/ie sound) Your name? Lynn
☆ 5 diagnosis IVDD Yes
-- Is the vet a general DVM? Yes
☆ 6 saw the vet Yesterday December 15
☆ 7 I sat on the bottom stair outside, with her across my lap, she released urine when I told her to go potty. We spent a few more minutes like that waiting for #2, but she didn’t
☆ 8 She has stage 4/5, some deep pain sensation, no use of back legs at all, no wagging tail (sniff), but she’s so strong she keeps getting up with front legs and drag herself some, and moves around her crate so much. We’ve been trying to keep her still
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 16, 2022 9:24:45 GMT -7
Lynn, welcome to the Forum. We are glad you are here. Since you are reporting pain, clearly the pain meds are not yet right. Please call and have the meds adjusted over the phone to avoid a risk of too much movement for the back during a vehicle transport. Vets who know IVDD understand the need for STRICT limited movement rest to protect the bad disc from further damage to the spinal cord. Resolution of spinal cord inflammation/swelling provides the relief from pain. It can take an anti-inflammatory (steroid or a non-steriodal NSAID) a range of 7 to 30 days before all swelling is gone.
Alert vet asap this morning 12/16:
1) DESCRIBE what you see to your vet (tight tummy, can find comy position, panting, head held high).
2)WHEN: nearing next dose of the one pain med; when having to move such as potty time or repositioning in recovery suite.
The best pain medications control is using more than one approach to address pain from multiple fronts: (traMADol-general analgesic, methocarbamol- muscle spasm pain, gabapentin-nerve pain).
Advocate for all three pain meds to be prescribed three times a day (every 8 hrs) because that is how long pain meds are effective for.
When the pain meds are correctly Rx'd, expect 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. Look for your dog to be acting their normal, perky self when pain is fully under control round the clock.
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
-- Learn about Prednisone. An informed owner is a dog's best defense when taking an anti-inflammatory. What your job is, how to arrange for a Plan B with your vet. VERIFY BLADDER CONTROL for us
Use a sling at potty time. Carry her to and from the potty place. Allow her to SNIF an old pee spot.
° If she sniffs and then releases urine, that indicates bladder control
° If you find urine leaks in bedding or she leaks on you when lifted, she will need to be manually expressed. You will need to transport her into the vet to get a hands on top of your hands expressing lesson. 1st review to get more out of this important lesson to prevent UTIs (bladder infection): dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/ ° It is not clear if she has bladder control. Lying across your lap can put pressure on the bladder to cause urine to come out (sorta like manually expressing her). So please clarify this important health question of bladder control or no bladder control.MEDSThe important part of prednisone is the part before it tapers to a lower dose. Did the vet say the bad disc was in the back or the neck?
What date did you give the first anti-inflammatory level pred dose?
PEPCID AC (famotidine) how many mgs and how often are you giving?
For a 25 lbs dog: 25lbs X 0.44mg famotidine = 11mgs. Round down to tablet size: 10 mgs 2x/day for duration of prednisoneWe will be watching and waiting to hear the details of Shoogie's pain meds to provide full comfort round the clock freedom from pain he deserves while prednisone takes 7-30 days to finally get all the painful swelling resolved.
p.s. When you can, please register so me may better help Shoogie. You will then be able to get automated email when a new reply to you has posted. If you need more info on registering..... L👀K below and follow the link ▼ |
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Post by Lynn & Shoogie on Dec 16, 2022 13:20:27 GMT -7
Thank you Paula, I called the vet this morning and she prescribed ✙ Tramadol 50 mg 2 tablets 2x/day. I picked it up and gave to her around 2 PM. I will give her some pumpkin purée. At the vet yesterday she said it’s disc 5-6. Not the neck as she can use her front legs and has no trouble eating and drinking. She eats the refrigerated Freshpet, and I added water to moisten it.You are correct on the bladder control, she probably leaked and did not have control. The vet tech did teach us how to express the bladder
The Dexamethazone injection was given at the clinic 12/15. I gave the 1st prednisone tablet today 12/16 at 6 AM
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
25 lbs 8 y.o.
12/15 back leg paralysis
Dex injection 12/15
prednisone as of 12/16: 5mgs 2x/day for 7 days, then 12/23 test taper for: _pain/_neuro
gabapentin 200mgs 2x/day
✙ tramadol 100mg 2x/day
Pepcid AC as of 12/16: ?mg ?x/day ]
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Dec 16, 2022 15:43:27 GMT -7
I hope that the tramadol 2x a day will keep Shoogie pain free. If not, let the vet know as soon as you can. Sometimes the meds must be taken 3x a day to provide full relief.
The discs are numbered according to the part of the back they are located in. Did the vet say something like L5-6 or T5-6? The L would be for the lumbar spine and the T for the thoracic spine. That way, we would know the part of the back having the problem.
Having the vet or vet tech demonstrate how to express is the best way to start learning. However, expressing must be practiced in order to be learned. Do not be very concerned if, at first, you have trouble getting urine. Just keep practicing and you will become proficient.
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