Erin's Lab 8/31ish? neck diagnosis?- Pine River, MN

Erin?
Hi my name is Paula what is your dog's name?

Just for clarification, could you confirm what the two diagnoses (on date?) were... each by name?
    Neck issue name?
    Spondylosis located where on the spine?
        Did you see his X-ray showing the natural aging bone spurs (osteophyte) formations?

Pain meds last for 8 hrs. And the reason very likely pain surfaces before next doses as Romy explained.

Also the treatment, if solely one disease "spondylosis," would be the opposite of the STRICT rest a disc episode needs (which is the focus of this Forum.)  
    We know a lot about caring for a dog with an intervertebral (between the vertebrae) DISC problem.
        1) Critical care points during a DISC episode: ==> www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
        2) Tips for NECK disc care which could also be helpful with spondylosis==> www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/cervical-care-tips/


Spondylosis 
Did your vet prescribe things in addition to meds that could help if the root cause of pain is singularly spondylosis? Acupuncture, PT? This veterinarian's page is a good jumping off place for further research and best understanding of spondylosis. toegrips.com/spondylosis-in-dogs/

Work with your vet to alert about pain and to achieve a place of comfort for him to again enjoy life.

Please keep us posted that pain meds (gabapentin, methocarbamol) were adjusted to provide round the clock freedom from pain.

Confirm whether your dog has both an intervertebral disc problem and spondylosis.

Erin, we need to know from you has your dog (what's his name?) been diagnosed with a neck issue and what exactly is the name of the issue.

If the neck issue happens to be a disc problem and NOT a boney spur on the vertebrae, then there should be no going on walks! Too much movement of the neck vertebrae could cause more serious injury to a neck disc and damage to front leg or even back leg function. 

There is no shame, no insult to a vet when an owner goes for an appointment with a 2nd opinion vet. People do this all the time for their own problems. It makes sense.

TODAY, Can you drive to another town to get a firm diagnosis of what disease you are dealing with in the neck?

And maybe the 2nd opinion vet has a different take on not allowing pain to surface with a more aggressive mediacation approach to cover pain every 8 hrs, maybe a different combo of meds, etc. Medicine is an art, It depends on each vet's training, experiences with different diseases on how well they are able to treat.

One thing, is to not have any patience with pain as it deters healing and is a torture to an animal. Dr. Petty explains more.....

Dr. Petty, DVM, CVPP, CVMA, CAAPM, CCRT is a past president of the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management and is a frequent lecturer at local, state and national conventions.
"If pain is not controlled, it poses a huge threat to the well-being of a dog, as excessive pain often interferes with normal life functions. Even the most basic life requirement of eating, drinking and elimination can becomes difficult or impossible to perform... There is a pain medication or modality (procedure) for every dog, no matter what the health issues. Even severely debilitated dogs with major organ failure have pain relief options. Drugs are metabolized and excreted by different organs, and the knowledgable veterinarian can tailor a pain-control program based on each dog's needs and condition.
    After a lifetime of observing them, I have come to believe that most dogs look ahead only as far a the next event in their lives—when their owner comes home, when the next meal might be...." Dr. Petty goes on say that people understand there is hope in getting pain control and will seek 2nd and 3rd opinions to get help. Without dogs being able to understand there is hope the pain will stop..."Does it make them feel, sad desperate...Does it make every day a another round of hell they have to bear?....This is why I agree dogs don't feel pain like us—for them, it is much, much worse."  Petty, DVM, Michael. Dr. Petty's pain relief for dogs: the complete medical and integrative guide to treatment pain. The Countryman Press, 2016.
pp 11-14 www.amazon.com/Dr-Pettys-Pain-Relief-Dogs/dp/158157309X.

What is your city/state?

Erin, you observed on the xray bone spurs in the neck area?

Erin, since the vet did not point out any bone spures in the neck area on the x-ray, then you do not know what the disease is causing pain in the neck.

We can not diagnose, you NEED a 2nd opinion vet to see about getting the neck pain diagnosed. What you have reported about pain can be from various diseases. These pain signs happen to also be those of a neck disc episode. AGAIN we can't diagnose. We depend on a vet's diagnosis for intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) and then we have lots of information to help you care for Briggs at home.

In the meantime, it would seem prudent to act as if this might be a disc episode in the neck. Meaning you restrict movement of the neck and back to avoid further damage to what MIGHT be a damaged neck disc. Again I am NOT saying it is a neck disc as the Forum simply can not diagnose anything. You need a 2nd opinion from another DVM in your/another town or a specialist (DVM, Neuro or DVM Ortho).

So to act (until you have a diagnosis for a different disease) as if this MIGHT be a neck disc episode causing
    --  great pain of lowering the head
    --  arched back
    --  unknown detail about trouble walking.

You would immediately stick to STRICT rest principals to prevent further neck disc damage. Damage that could increase to nerve function diminishment for front and/or back legs unable to move, loss of bladder control.
    STRICT rest means: 
   - no laps                    - no couches
   - no baths                  - no sleeping with you
   - no chiro therapy      - no dragging or meandering at potty times.
   - eats and drinks inside the recovery suite
   - Briggs is too heavy to safely carry to and from the potty place.  He is allowed only a very minimal number of footsteps to take care of business. Here are the "HOW TO"  tips for caring for a large size dog at potty time to keep a suspected disc safe from further damage ==>  www.dodgerslist.com/2022/02/10/large-dog-care-tips-ivdd/
   - Make sure you are including these extra tips for neck discs to help give Briggs comfort from pain:  ==> www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/cervical-care-tips/

DO you see any other signs of pain?
There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. When having to move for potty time. Have no patience with pain as it does hinder healing. Phone your vet and report any of observations asap to get meds adjusted. Have no patience with pain. IF the pain meds are correct, pain is in control within the hour and stays that way dose to dose, night and day. Pain meds (methocarbamol and gabapentin) last for 8 hrs, thus the reason they are Rx'd 3x/day (every 8 hrs).
    ⚙︎ __shivering-trembling
    ⚙︎ __yelping when picked up or moved
    ⚙︎ __tight tense tummy
    ⚙︎ yes 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
➕if a neck disc:
  ◻︎ head held high/ yes 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

Tell us more about exactly what "trouble walking" means:
     Front or back legs wobbly?
     Front or back paws knuckle under or are slow to right themselves?