Welcome to the Forum. You are in the right spot to learn how to advocate and protect Chance
right way. My name is Paula, what is yours?
The best thing you can do is gain an understanding of the meds used with IVDD and the at home care. Watch for the articles pointed out to you to get you fully up to speed as quickly as possible today.
Due to time zones, please always use dates and the time in the Netherlands.
(Netherland's
TODAY is 8/2 ASAP) make sure a stomach protector is on board with the change from steroid Solu-Medrol to non-steroid Novacam!! By all rights with even solu-Medrol there should have been Pepcid AC (famotidine) on board on 8/1 with the injection of Solu-Medrol. Now, if the switch has indeed already taken place, then for sure both PEPCID AC + another stomach protector in addition called SUCRALFATE need to be in use.
READ these 4 articles to be able to speak up for and advocate for Chance today: 1) PEPCID AC STOMACH PROTECTION
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.
Since both the stress of changes in routine and Prednisone will cause extra stomach acids, we follow the proactive vets who use Pepcid AC (famotidine) when any anti-inflammatory is in use.
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 2) SUCRALFATE ==>
marvistavet.com/sucralfate.pml3) Three reasons why to protect the stomach with use of any anti-inflammatory drug: 3 stresses +Pepcid AC! ==>
dodgerslist.com/2020/05/06/stomach-protection4) How anti-inflammatory
drugs are used during a disc episode: ==> dodgerslist.com/2020/04/18/steroids-vs-nsaids/
Typicaly a disc episode is painful. Thus why the the typcial use of pain meds while it takes any anti-inflammatory somewhere in the range of 7-30 days to get all swelling down around the spinal cord.
Buprenorph varies. It can be effective for 24- 72 hours of pain relief. It is FAR BETTER to have an Rx for pain meds you give at home round the clock to make sure Chance is not open to suffering any "was screaming in pain, it was horrible"
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). All three pain meds need to be prescribed three times a day (every 8 hrs).
Adjusting meds by phone avoids a risky-to-the-early-healing-disc car transport. Describe the pain that you're seeing. Vets who know their IVDD, understand the need for STRICT rest and will take updates and do adjustments for meds over the phone.
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.
Please keep us posted on the dangerous switch to Novacam with no mention of stomach protection.
Verify Chance is not suffering with any pain.
Chance has mild symptoms with this disc episode. Keeping to STRICT rest for 8 weeks can allow that disc to heal. And with time he has an excellent chance to improve the back leg neuro damage to self repair and improve his gait.
