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Post by Eve & Tempe on Aug 31, 2023 9:49:23 GMT -7
[Original Subject Newly diagnosed mini-dachshund]
QUESTIONS ☆ 1 pain? Yes, occasionally she still experiences the following :☐ shivering, trembling ☐ yelping when picked up or moved ☐ tight tense tummy ☐ can’t find a comfortable position, appears restless ☐ Not their normal perky selves? No
★2 15 lbs 12 years, 3 monthsGabapentin - 100 mg capsule every 8-12 hours...generally we're giving it every 12 hours unless she appears uncomfortable Prednisone - 2.5 mg every 12 hours for 5 days started on August 16th, then 5 mg every 24 hours, then every other day (we have 3 more doses left)
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
15 lbs 12 y.o.
ER 8/16, wobbly
8/25 Tempe's DVM vet visit
prednisone as of 8/16: 2.5mgs 2x/day for 5 days, 8/21 a test taper for: 8/31pain / _neuro
Gabapentin 100mgs 2x/day
Tempe needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board for duration of Prednisone! ]
(NOTE: Pepcid AC (famotidine) for dogs is 0.44mg per pound 30 mins before the anti-inflammatory and thereafter every 12 hours. www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html ) ------
No PEPCID
☆ 3 -- stomach damage? No☆ 4 Mini-Dachshund,Tempe. Eve
☆ 5 🔘 Yes, IVDD affecting her neck mostly, but also a few vertebrae in her back
🔘 -- Initial diagnosis done by emergency vet, her regular vet is a general DVM ☆ 6 🔘 date you saw the vet for CONSERVATIVE treatment? August 25th Super tried and true tips for setting up the recovery suite, the mattress and more! —> dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
STRICT means:
- no laps - no couches
- no baths - no sleeping with you
- no dragging or meandering at potty times.
- no PT - no chiro therapy
Why Chiropractic is not recommended for pain for an IVDD dog: dodgerslist.com/2020/04/22/chiropractic☆ 7 🔘 specifically sniff and squat and then release urinel? YesDOGs with BLADDER 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!
☆8 Yes, she can walk but it is somewhat wobbly and she does wag her tail occasionally, but not as much as normal.
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Aug 31, 2023 13:35:03 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist, Eve. We are glad you’ve joined us all. We’ve got valuable information we’ve learned from the vets Dodgerslist consults with and our own experiences with IVDD since 2002 to share with you! Learn more about us and how we team up with veterinarians:
The most important thing you can do for Tempe right now is Strict crate rest. The crate rest must be Very strict since immobility is what allows the disc to heal. You can think of this as an analogy to a broken arm. A broken arm is immobilized in a cast to allow the bone time to heal. We can't put a cast on a dog's spine, so we use the crate to strictly limit movement of the spine. It takes 8 weeks of 24/7 strict crate rest for good strong scar tissue to form.
I am not sure if you have had a chance to look at the link below, which describes how crate rest works: www.dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-proc
Tempe is still showing signs of pain. Pain is an indication that there is still swelling of the spinal cord. Only the full dose of pred, can work on this inflammation, Tempe is now on a taper dose of pred. Since there is still inflammation of the spinal cord, which we know because she has pain, more time on the full dose of pred is needed.
Her original dose of pred at 2.5mgs twice a day is lower than we usually see prescribed for a 15 lb dog.
Gabapentin works well against nerve pain, but it doesn't last long in the body. It often needs to be given 3x a day to provide full relief.
We have some information about commonly used meds here:
We are not vets and do not know the specifics of each dog's health. We are making this suggestion based on what we've seen qualified vets prescribe in the past and only as a basis for discussion with your vet.
Dogs with IVDD often have excess stomach acid. This is because of the stress of a change of routine and any pain that the dog may feel. Anti-inflammatories contribute to this excess stomach acid. The excess acid can cause serious stomach damage. To prevent this damage, a stomach protector like Pepcid AC is used. Ask the vet if Tempe has any health issues to prevent use of Pepcid AC (famotidine)? (doesn’t need it, we wait til there is problem…are NOT answers to your question!) If you get a “no health” issues answer, then go to the grocery store to purchase over the counter Pepcid AC containing one single active ingredient (famotidine).
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.
A disc problem in the neck can be more painful and may take longer to resolve because a dog moves its head with almost all actions and when any part of the body moves. That constant movement means that healing can take longer because the neck doesn't get the rest to allow the disc uninterrupted healing. We have some tips for a neck disk issue at the link below: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/05/cervical-care-tips
It is very scary when our dogs have IVDD. It becomes less so when we learn all we can about the disease. There is a lot of good information at our main website: www.dodgerslist.com
You can use the search bar at the top of the page to locate specific topics. |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,928
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 31, 2023 18:25:45 GMT -7
Hey, welcome Eve! Good info Romy above presented to you. Especially seeing pain on the taper, meaning Prednisone still has work to do...a 5-day course was not long enough. Taper day doses are too low to work on the painful swelling. Call in to get the meds adjusted. In short, let us know what the vet Rx's asap in the AM on Sat 9/1 for prednisone, gabapentin (for nerve pain) at every 8 hrs (3x/day). And likely methocarbamol for muscle contraction pain, and traMADol as the overall analgesic. Here are the full details on why a combo of pain meds is the usual approach with a neck disc. Pertinent reading for you in speaking up for Tempe: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/30/pain-medications.
Gotta few extra questions that would help us zero in better re: Tempe's situation. - Did the ER vet and did your vet think the disc as in the neck or the back
- Which legs are wobbly? front or rear?A bit confused about reporting a NECK disc for Tempe. In addition to the pain you reported, these are the signs of pain also typical with a neck disc. Have you observed any of these? ➕if a neck disc:
◻︎ head held high/ 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 On what dates/times does she show these signs of "occassional" pain? --- nearing next dose of meds --- when having to move? --- other____? - What was the reason for seeing your vet on 8/25? - Were meds adjusted or changed...details, please? |
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