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Post by Jenny S on Apr 16, 2024 6:42:20 GMT -7
[IVDD diagnosis confusion: date of diagnosis?]
Hi everyone,
I'm feeling a little confused after a tentative IVDD diagnosis and looking for a little guidance. My 4-year-old miniature dachshund has had these little half-day spells for over year where his stomach gets incredibly loud and gurgly, and he doesn't want to eat. He acts vaguely uncomfortable, but is able to move fine, and it has always gone away within hours. He poops normally and never vomits, so I've never needed to take him to the vet.
These spells are generally months apart, but recently [date?] it happened three times within a couple weeks, so I called the vet to get their opinion. When I took him in, the vet immediately started evaluating his back and suggested that sometimes IVDD shows up as GI issues because they're in so much pain.
She sent me home with antiinflammatories and pain meds, and told me to keep him restricted.
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
weight? 4 y.o.
name of anti-inflammatory? ?mg ?x/day
name of each pain med; ?mg ?x/day
Needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board for duration of anti-inflammatory ! ]
I've been giving him the anti-inflammatory, but he's always been a picky eater and I haven't been able to get the pain med into him no matter what I mix it with. However, he really hasn't been acting like he's in any pain, so it hasn't seemed like he needed it.
By the morning after the vet, he was acting normally, eating, drinking, moving fine, and wanting to play.
As a precaution, I've been keeping him off stairs and furniture, and crating him when I can't supervise. He had a great 3 days with no symptoms whatsoever. Then, in the middle of the night, I once again woke up because of his loud, gurgling stomach and he's refusing all treats and food again. A part of me feels like his GI issues are stress-related, because they've always happened after our routine is disrupted in some way, but when I told the vet this, she still felt like it was his back.
I guess I'm torn about what to do next. The crate and restrictions are stressing him out, so if that's the case, I sort of feel like it's making it worse. I'm continuing it for now, but has anyone heard of a case like this? Where the symptoms are mainly GI and their movement is totally fine? Does this sound like it's IVDD? I feel like the treatment for one thing is the opposite of what he needs for the other thing, and I just don't know which instincts to follow right now. Thanks for any help or opinions you can give!
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Post by Romy & Frankie on Apr 16, 2024 13:45:12 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist. 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: dodgerslist.com/about-team-dodgerslist/IVDD does not typically cause loud and gurgling stomach noises. But reluctance to eat could be caused by pain. If the stomach issues were pain related, there would almost certainly be other signs of pain. These are the signs of pain we look for; ☐shivering, trembling ☐yelping when picked up or moved ☐reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions or slow to move ☐tight tense tummy ☐can’t find a comfortable position ☐Arched back ☐ Holding front or back leg flamingo style not wanting to bear weight ☐head held high or nose to the ground or generally not perky or interested in life. If you are seeing another sign of pain, especially two or more signs than, your dog is likely in pain.
All anti-inflammatories cause excess stomach acid which can sometimes cause serious stomach damage. To help prevent this, a stomach protector like Pepcid AC is used. Ask the vet if your dog 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. The dose of famotidine may require reduction in patients with liver or kidney disease, as these diseases tend to prolong drug activities.
Since your dog is already having stomach problems, talk to your vet about this as soon as you can.
Can you give us the dose and frequency of the meds he is taking?
How much does he weigh?
Information on medicines commonly prescribed are here: www.dodgerslist.com/meds-used-during-disc-episode/
As long as there is a suspicion of a disc involved then the dog should be crated and on 100% STRICT rest 24/7 for the full 8 weeks, only out for a very, very few footsteps at potty time. The limited movement is how a disc heals to form secure scar tissue. If it is a disc issue and your dog is not crated the condition may worsen. We have some information about crate rest here: dodgerslist.com/2020/05/14/strict-rest-recovery-process/
Consider asking your vet what signs, other than the stomach noises and reluctance to eat, he is seeing that indicate IVDD. Most disc episodes are diagnosed by a hands on exam, the breed often prone to disc disease and how the dog appears at the vet visit. It is important to understand what you are dealing with so you can start the proper treatment.
Since right now your dog is not eating, you cannot hide the pill in food. This video below shows a way to give medicine, both pills and liquid to your dog.
If he starts eating again, the tip below may help:
Prepare three treats, one will have the pill inside. Give the first plain treat with #2 pill treat in view. The idea is a greedy gulp to get the next. With #2 in the mouth have #3 plain treat in view.
Most dogs like sweet banana. The pill will stick inside a little ball. If need be wrap with a thin piece of deli meat to make even more yummy.
The small size marshmallows also make a good pill pocket as the stickiness keeps the pill from falling out.
You mention that your dog is feeling stressed. We have some tips that may help him relax on the page below: dodgerslist.com/2020/02/24/tips-to-help-with-recovery-suite/
We encourage you to register and become a member of the Forum. That way it will be easier for you to reply and make it easier for us to track your dog and give the best of comments and support. Tips on registering: www.dodgerslist.com/forumads/RegisterFORUM/register.htm |
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