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Post by Jennifer & Thor on Dec 21, 2022 16:46:03 GMT -7
[Post has been marked by moderator. Make a new post if there are any additions or corrections. thank you]
★1 14.3lbs
Gabapentin 50mg/ml, 2ml 3x/day
Prednisone 2.5mg 2x/day. Start taper on December 26 - go to 2.5mg 1x/day
Methocarbomol 125mg 3x/day
Trazadone 25mg 3x/day
★2 What breed? Pomchi, 7 years old, Thor. Jennifer
★3 Yes - bulging disc diagnosed with x-rays
No - Emergency Vet
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
weight? 7 y.o
12/21/22 relapsed disc with jump from lap
prednisone anti-inflammatory dose as of date?: ?mgs ?x/day for ? days; test taper for: _pain / _neuro
Methocarbomol 125mg 3x/day
Gabapentin 50mg/ml, 2ml 3x/day
Trazadone 25mg 3x/day
Thor needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board for duration of prednisone! ]
★4 saw the vet for conservative treatment Late December 19, 2022
Initial injury [date 12/19/2022?]: Thor was trying to jump up and slipped then let out a terrible yelp and couldn't stand on hind legs at all. Was kind of dragging them behind him. Then within about 5-10 minutes he was able to stand but very wobbly, especially on his left back leg. We took to urgent care immediately. While waiting for the vet he was improving - less wobbly.
Unfortunately the vet did not give us the same strict guidelines I discovered here. We were told crate rest for 2 weeks, but that we could hold on our laps while sitting on the couch. He did terribly in the crate as he has never been crated with us before, and would get very upset and scratch and claw at the cage in a panic. He would growl and freak out if our other dog walked by. I was worried he would hurt himself so we would take turns sitting not he couch with him so he would stay calm.
★5 Was doing much better this morning [12/21/22], less wobbly and no longer arching back.
But he was sitting with my mom and jumped off the couch before she could catch him. Now he is hunched again and is now wobbling on RIGHT back leg. He even then went into the crate on his own and has been laying there calmly napping on and off since. I'm terribly worried he made it worse but don't know if we should go back to vet or just do the very strict crate rest now. I'm concerned the car ride for 40 minutes back to the vet could make it worse as well.
★6 Drinking - yes. Eating - no. He will only eat boiled chicken or cheese (his high value foods). Will not touch his normal dog food.
Unknown - he has not pooped since the initial incident.[date?]
★7 Yes - once he gets his legs under him he can wobbly walk around. It's a bit worse now since he jumped off couch this afternoon but can still take a few wobbly steps.
★8 Yes - he will squat to urinate rather than lift his leg. Have not had any accidents yet.
I am very concerned about the jump today and whether or not he has made things significantly worse. Do I risk transporting him in the car again?
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 21, 2022 17:30:19 GMT -7
Phone the vet now asap to get the prednisone started on an anti-inflammatory level dose. Typical for a 14.3 pound dog would be 4.29 mgs prednisone twice a day. Often a vet would round up to an even one 5mg pred tablet twice a day. Hrs matter with nerve damage to get pred on board for the swelling. You may need to get to ER to get meds started. An unfortunate risk as then ER WILL require a trip in for an exam since they have not seen him before. Fit rolled up blanket or towels snug around his body to avoid any shifting of the back (spine) during braking, cornering.  What is your city/state?
Everything starts at square one. Early healing disc has been damaged. Impacted the spinal cord. Crate rest starts with day one today. All prior prednisone is for naught Today he starts on the anti-inflammatory level of prednisone Pain meds ( methocarbamol and gabapentin) should be restarted to give full relief from pain 3x/day Check with your vet about Pepcid AC (famotdiine) from grocery store started for the duration of prednisone. It suppresses the acids prednisone, pain, nerve damage, and change in routine, stress all cause. The usual dose of Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound, 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours for as long as your dog is on the anti-inflammatory. 14.3 lbs X 0.44mg famotidine = 10.58mgs (Vets will down to whole size 10mgs Pepcid AC tablet given every 12 hours (2x/day). Please keep us updated so we know Thor has been given the treatment he requires with this re-damage of the early healing disc. Nerves can heal. Again hours matter in getting pred back on board to deal with the painful inflammation around the spinal cord.
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Post by Jennifer & Thor on Dec 21, 2022 18:22:31 GMT -7
In reply to questions listed above:
We live in Burbank, CA but are currently in Murrieta, CA for the holidays.
Thor's initial injury was late on 12/19 and we saw emergency vet within 2 hours of injury.
Prednisone was started morning of 12/20 at 2.5mg 2x per day. Still on that dosage.
He has not pooped since 12/19.
We normally use Banfield in Pasadena for our regular vet, and I have called the local Banfield here and they will see Thor [12/23] tomorrow afternoon. The emergency doctor who saw Thor on Monday will be back in the clinic at 7pm so I will try to call her then and see if we can increase the dose of the prednisone for him. I really don't want to take him back in the car as the emergency vet was a 35 minute drive and we do not have a travel crate or anything small to keep him steady and I don't want to risk more damage to his back with all the movement of the car.
In the meantime I am trying to get an online vet to ask about increasing the prednisone and also to ask about the Pepsid.
His balance already has improved since his jump this morning and he seems less hunched then he was right after. He is resting well in his crate.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,528
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Post by PaulaM on Dec 22, 2022 9:47:47 GMT -7
Is it possible speak with the Banfield vet to avoid a car transport. Banfield had seen Thor for this current disc episode, they should then be able to prescribe over the phone.
Let us know as of from the date of the disc relapse from jumping down 12/21:
-- Prednisone: ?mgs ?x/day day AND for how many days will be the prednisone course, then a taper.
Less hunched, less pain is not good enough. Thor should have full comfort from pain when repositioning in this suite, when have ing to move for potty time and from pain surfacing nearing the next dose of the two pain meds.
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