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Post by Jaconia & Petunia on Jan 4, 2023 22:18:49 GMT -7
Hi, My Petunia is a 5 1/2 year old ~ 64lb mostly doberdoodle mix. We took her to an ER yesterday, 1/3, and were told it was most likely neck IVDD and we decided on conservative treatment. We were told strict crate rest and meds for 4- 8 weeks and to see our regular vet weekly to follow up. Since we started the meds last night she is already more 'normal' today and seems like she is in less pain, but still hunched and won't lift her head and moving slowly, but she can wag when we hang out with her. She has urinated and defecated and can move on her own. We have two small steps to get outside that she can make it down, she yelps if we try to help so we let her walk until we get a ramp tomorrow (1/5) since we didn't want to make it worse. History: For about 2 months she has been limping, her front right leg, we had x-rays and our normal vet couldn't find a cause but though it was shoulder related. She suggested a surgical consult to see what it could be. It was getting better very slowly so we figured it wasn't a pulled or torn muscle. Yesterday, 1/3, she was hunched and lethargic and walked sort of wobbly. I feared a neurological issue as she does have epilepsy, that is controlled with phenobarbitol, so we took her to the ER instead of our regular vet. They suggested IVDD. We were given the option to do an MRI/neuro surgical consult that would def lead to surgery or conservative home treatment with meds. We were told the MRI and neuro consult was basically useless if we couldn't afford surgery. Even the MRI here, Bay Area, is $5k and we couldn't afford that so we went with conservative option. The ER doctor: DVM MS CCRT CVAT Meds: -68.5mg phenobarbitol (every 12hrs) (Pre-ER med) -20mg Prednisone (1/2 every 12hrs for 5 days, then 1/2 every 24hrs for 5 days, then 1/2 every other day til gone) -300mg Gabapentin (1 every 8hrs) [MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
~64lb 5 1/2 year old
prednisone as of 1/3: 10mgs 2x/day for 5 days, Sun 1/8 a test taper for: _pain / _neuro
gabapentin 300mgs 3x/day
Petunia needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board for duration of prednisone! ]  |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 4, 2023 22:31:05 GMT -7
Moderator Paula is reading your post and preparing a reply. It can take 20-40 minutes or longer dependent on the complexity. Thank you for your patience. 👀 Please refresh your browser to see new replies. In the meantime if you see you need to add some information to provide a fuller picture, do so in a new post. Your info is what we base our comments on specific to your dog's needs. Assuming things could cause the discussion to go off in the wrong direction harmfully delaying help. Thank you for registering!! ➡️ EMAIL ALERTS Once I've moved Petunia over to the Conservative Baords you will receive notice of the new link. Then you set up to 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. After you see the notice Petunia has been moved, follow this link to the CONSERVATIVE board: dodgerslist.boards.net/board/6/conservative 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! i.postimg.cc/GhKYTNg7/Bookmarking.jpg ** |
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Jan 4, 2023 23:10:23 GMT -7
Welcome, let us know your first name. Mine is Paula. Thank you for registering as it helps us and it is of benefit for you to get automated email when a reply is waiting for you. First thing is to call the ER vet clinic where any vet on duty can read Petunia's file and RX and adjustment to the meds. Neck discs are just often more painful due the head having to move when any other part of the body moves. Very typical is a 3-way combo of pain meds. Due to epilepsy, the usual synthetic opiate traMADol may not be an option?? Very typical is muscle contraction pain for neck discs. Pain hinders healing. Pain control must be round the clock, dose to dose. Less pain is not good enough. Advocate for: 1) methocarmol for muscle spasm pain also every 8 hrs (3x/day) 2) Gabapentin is used not only for seizures but is a nerve pain med too. 3) The stomach needs protection for the duration of prednisone asap tomorrow. Understand why Pepcid AC or another acid suppressor, where to buy it, be able to ask the right questions of your vet and confirm the dose for twice a day: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protection/Expect that the very short 5-day course of prednisone may not be long enough to get all the painful swelling down. -- The taper is set for Sun 1/8. Usually pain meds are stopped and in Petunia's case with epilepsy gabapentin may also need to be tapered rather than full stopped. --- The stop or backing of pain meds 1/8 is that you can very quickly find out if pred has done its job. Pain on the taper = another course of pred for maybe 7 or even a 14-day course. Then another taper. All pain meds back on board No pain on the pred taper = finish the pred taper to the conclusion. Finishe the 8 weeks of rest to heal the disc. Limited movement of the neck and back is how the disc heal. With a large dog you can't carry as we do with our little doggies, you will need to find a way to make sure Petunia is not walking but only taking a very few limited footsteps to take care of business at potty time. It could be something like set up a potty spot on the deck right outside the sliding door if that is your house layout. Anyway, lots of member tips in specifically providing at home care for the large breed dog is here: dodgerslist.com/2022/02/10/large-dog-care-tips-ivdd/Do let us know how you will be handling potty time limited footsteps. What kind of sling you use, etc. You are our eyes and ears to know important details. Also, you may find valuable tips for setting up the recovery suite, helping your dog relax and more: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/I'll be watching for your post tomorrow 1/5 and hoping you get get to a 24hr pharmacy if the ER vet Rx'd some pain meds adjustment tonight 1/4. Thank you SO MUCH also for using dates, really helps us out. |
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