Tracey's Buddy 1/13? conserv - BREED?

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Tracey Mallon
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Tracey's Buddy 1/13? conserv - BREED? Jan 22, 2023 1:02:12 GMT -7 via mobile

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Post by Tracey Mallon on Jan 22, 2023 1:02:12 GMT -7

[Original subject line: Sever episode questions]

i.postimg.cc/D0DdSK45/Conserv-Paralzed-rear.png

Buddy is 5.5 years old. First mild ivdd symptoms 14 months ago, rested, stopped any stairs and he improved until June 22 when he had a major episode where he had weak back legs but off front legs. Vet suggested a neck vertebrae. After 2 weeks crate rest he was back on feet and with continued rest he regained full use. He never lost bladder or bowel control and always had a wagging tail. He continued to improve and was the best he’s been over Christmas 22, but then

January [2023] began showing pain and humped walk. We crated and watched giving pain relief, he seemed in less pain about [1/13] 10 days ago but was dragging his back legs mostly left but right too.

[Fri 1/13?] Went to vets to get him seen and more meds and he was stressed and since then has lost any control of back legs, no tail wagging and complete loss of bladder and bowel control. He currently also has nasty diarrhoea. Seemed swollen for a few days and pain and now the flood gates have opened. Which meds will be causing this and what can I do? His bladder just seems to leak out continuously. We have tried expressing after watching video but nothing seems to come out it’s like it’s constantly flowing and this is the same with poo. He’s been at least 5 times over night and seems to be aware it may happen by staring hard at us just before. Any advice greatly appreciated.

Last Edit: Jan 22, 2023 10:33:25 GMT -7 by PaulaM

PaulaM
Moderator.

Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA

Posts: 19,548

Tracey's Buddy 1/13? conserv - BREED? Jan 22, 2023 10:29:04 GMT -7

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Post by PaulaM on Jan 22, 2023 10:29:04 GMT -7

Welcome Tracey! It is difficult to comment specifically for Buddy without details. See questions at end to fill us in. Details ought to include: using exact date, give mgs and frequency for each med.

In general
--- "seemed in less pain " if this points to currently not seeing full dose to dose round the clock pain relief, then the pain meds are not right. It normally takes 3 different pain meds to work on each kind of pain. Pain meds last for about 8 hrs. So they often are Rx'd for every 8hrs (3x/day).
traMADol 3x/day as the general overall analgesic
methocarbamol 3x/day for muscle contraction pain
gabapentin 3x/day for nerve pain.

-- Bladder infection. Very likely now a few days after loosing bladder control and not being expressed fully, he may have a UTI. UTI's need an antibiotic.

-- Diarrhea while on any anti-inflammatory (a non-steroidal NSAID or a steroid such as prednisone) is highly suspicious of stomach damage due to increased stomach acids. Understand about choices of acid suppressors: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protection/
Dependent on how severe the stomach damages, not only will Pepcid AC also sucralfate may need to be on board. Read about sucralfate so you know what you are advocating for and what the timing is with food and with Pepcid AC: marvistavet.com/sucralfate.pml
Let us know when you have Pepcid AC on board (mgs and x/day)

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.
--The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease.
-- It may be prudent with heart murmurs to choose another class of acid reducer.

thumb.ibb.co/mEGRuy/91x_Aj_s00z_L_SY355.jpg

-- STRICT rest inside of a recovery suite is key to avoiding setbacks of neuro decline. Strict rest is how the disc heals. A damaged disc will badly affect the nerve cells such as loosing back leg use, bladder control, happy tail wags.. Learn the details of correct care during a disc episode (includes tips on skin cleaning/care, mattress set up for you): dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
-- With loss of bladder control Buddy will needs expressing every 2-3 hours when first learning. Then as he stays dry you can move up to eery 3-4, then 6-8hrs expressing schedule.
YOU NEED a HANDS on top of your hands lesson from the vet/vet tech so you understand the amt of pressure to apply. Watch this video ahead of time of seeing the vet today, 1/22, so you get more out of the bladder lesson: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/bladder-bowel-care/ NOTE: It is so easy, you don't need a vet lesson on expressing for poop. At above link is a video and tips for poop expressing.

-- Trips to vet must always be weighed for risk vs. benefit. Too much movement of the spine can cause damage to the disc and the spinal cord. In the case of urgent learning to express, the health benefit overrides potential for risky transport.

i.postimg.cc/vmYQVvpz/Transport-CHUNK450.jpg **

With urgent vet visits, secure the crate in your vehicle. Transport carefully using a crate padded out with rolled up towels on either side of the dog to prevent movement or jarring the spine when braking or turning corners.

See next post for the questions which will give us the full details about Buddy.

Also, please register and login for the Benefit of Buddy, your ability to get automated emails when a reply is waiting for you. Registering also immensely helps us in better tracking Buddy.

See 👁 below for registering details if you need 'em ▼

Hi there Guests❗️ REGISTERING would help us to help you and your dog best: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/7353/register-bookmark-dogs-post-thread

PaulaM
Moderator.

Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA

Posts: 19,548

Tracey's Buddy 1/13? conserv - BREED? Jan 22, 2023 10:46:41 GMT -7

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Post by PaulaM on Jan 22, 2023 10:46:41 GMT -7

Tracey, be sure to notice my post above with things you NEED to take care of today 1/22.

You can master the basics of IVDD care. The things that make conservative treatment work for many disc episodes.
    ➤ 🏠At home nursing care tips:
        -- Tried and true tested ideas: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
    ➤ 💊Medications used during a disc episode: dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode/
    ➤ 💡What to expect for each phase of healing: dodgerslist.com/in-the-right-place

Know in your heart, the body does have an impressive ability to self-heal a disc and to self-heal nerve damage. dodgerslist.com/2021/02/06/nerve-healing-after-disc-episode/

i.postimg.cc/CL4Nt7t5/not-Death-sentence350.jpg

QUESTIONS:
With your details such as event dates, etc., we'd know best how to help. We'd feel awfully bad to mistakenly assume anything ... delaying help for your dog.
      The Forum takes the approach to provide comments that match each dog's very specific needs. IVDD vet visits can be stressful. The mind can find it hard to absorb all the vet communicates and translate correctly into at-home care. Small things missed could easily change the healing potential for the dog.

★1 Is there still currently pain? List ONLY the signs you observe.
    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. Phone your vet and report any of observations asap to get meds adjusted.
    ⚙︎ shivering-trembling ⚙︎ yelping when picked up or moved
    ⚙︎ tight tense tummy ⚙︎ arched back, ears pinned back
    ⚙︎ 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

★2 How much does your dog weigh?
What is the list of meds your dog is taking?
         -- Exact names for each med, their doses in mg’s and times per day given?
         -- PLUS: IF on a non-steroid (NSAID) for how many days?
         -- or....PLUS: If on a steroid....
                 what was the start date & dose?
                Date of steroid 1st taper
         -- Please include the "all important" stomach protector. Pepcid AC (famotidine).
        -- If really bad diarrhea, would be prudent for Rx to SUCRALFATE in order to start repairing stomach lining damage before it worsens to bleeding ulcers!

★3 List any red flag signs of stomach damage you are currently observing:
_Not eating, _vomit, √loose stool, √diarrhea, _bleeding ulcers, _red or black blood in diarrhea?
★4 What breed?
★5 -- Would surgery be a consideration for your budget if at some point indicated?
★6 -- What was the date in January you saw the vet for conservative treatment where you started STRICT REST?
      If your dog moves around too much, the disc cannot heal. With pain medications to mask pain, dogs will not be in pain and want to be more active. So it is up to you to restrict your dog’s activity for them.
       i.postimg.cc/3rLH7g7X/320still-healing-disc.jpg **
     STRICT rest means:
    - no laps                    - no couches
   - no baths                  - no sleeping with you
   - no chiro therapy     - no dragging or meandering at potty times.

POTTY TIMES for dogs who can still sniff and pee
      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!
      dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/Potty-leash-harness400-19kb.jpg

★8 Describe what you observe currently about neuro functions. Can your dog....
       -- Move the legs at all when lying down. Such as to reposition in the crate? or attempt to scratch an ear?
       -- Wag the tail when you specifically do some happy talk?

On a Mobile device?
    The Forum is best viewed on a mobile phone via the "desk top view" As shown in picture below, you would scroll down to the bottom of the screen to click on "Desktop".
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Best to reply to a post by scrolling to bottom of page to "Quick reply" typing area. Avoid clicking on the "Reply" link.

Quick reply allows you to scroll up read a previous post and then scroll down to the "Quick Reply" typing area to continue your own post.

Last Edit: Jan 22, 2023 10:49:39 GMT -7 by PaulaM

Hi there Guests❗️ REGISTERING would help us to help you and your dog best: dodgerslist.boards.net/thread/7353/register-bookmark-dogs-post-thread

Disclaimer:
This information is presented for educational purposes and as a resource for the IVD dog community. The coordinators are not veterinarians or health care professionals. Nothing herein should be interpreted as medical advice and all should contact their pet care professionals for advice. The coordinators are not responsible for the substance and content contained herein and do not advocate any particular product, item or position contained herein.

✔︎ HELP your dog FASTEST. Click link below to answer questions about your dog

Tracey's Buddy 1/13? conserv - BREED?

Post by Tracey Mallon on Jan 22, 2023 1:02:12 GMT -7

Post by PaulaM on Jan 22, 2023 10:29:04 GMT -7

Post by PaulaM on Jan 22, 2023 10:46:41 GMT -7