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Post by Drew & Scamp on Aug 5, 2024 14:29:27 GMT -7
[Drew's Scamp 8/5 conserv(?) DoxMix; GRAD? 9/30 ]
Hello All,
[Graduation day was 7/1/2024]
First, I want to thank everyone for all the support throughout Scamps recovery. We committed to the 8 weeks crate rest, slowly ramping up walks from a few feet, to 5 minutes, and now closer to 10-12 minutes. All seemed to be going very well!
We went to a wedding this weekend and my parent watched him. They did not indicate any issues or share situations (we don’t allow walks, everything gated off, etc). Relaxing and bathroom is all we allow in our absence. We returned yesterday and behavior was perfectly ok (besides very excited when we got home).
[MED LIST/HISTORY- Moderator's Note. Please do not edit
19lbs 12 y.o.
8/5 painful: excessive reluctance to move
Rimadyl as of 8/5 19mg ?x/day
Scamp needs GI tract protector, Pepcid AC, on board for duration of Rimydyl! ]
Unfortunately, today [8/5], Scamp seemed unlike himself. He didn’t move once while on the couch (6 hours), wouldn’t roll for typical belly rubs, no tail wags for things that get him excited, and didn’t close his eyes once throughout the day. It clearly seemed like he went into self-restriction like we saw him do 5 years ago and a few months ago.
We gave him one 19MG Rimydl (1/4 75 MG tablet), and he is now wanting to act more like himself again (head up, alert, adjusting on couch, tail wag). However, we don’t want a pain medication to mask a potential problem and make it worse.
So far Scamp hasn’t made noise indicating pain, went to the bathroom, and walked into the house without displaying neurological issues. That said, it was evident he clearly was not right today.
I suppose my question is, what defines a “flare up”, when do we need to be concerned (vs overreacting), when do you need to consider 8 weeks of crate rest?
The Prednisolone from a few months back wrecked havoc on his GI. Extreme diarrhea, which we finally got under control with Pepcid / forti flora — but now has a very sensitive stomach now. We want to avoid all the meds as much as possible.
All that to say, any thoughts on actions to take? I’m sure we could get a new script and start the cycle, but just trying to determine if that is needed. I REALLY want an MRI for definitive answers because this constant struggle with the unknown is so challenging.
Any advice / guidance would be very apprecisted!! Thank you all again!!
Drew
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Post by Sara & Maylee on Aug 5, 2024 15:19:37 GMT -7
I would love some advice on this topic as well - Maylee is doing great, but when to know the difference of overexertion vs flare up or another episode.
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,884
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Post by PaulaM on Aug 6, 2024 10:51:26 GMT -7
Drew, so sorry to hear of painful reluctance to move signs that could be evidence of a new disc episode. Here is how any suspicion of a disc problem is handled. 1) Immediately crate and institute STRICT rest of the back. This is to avoid worsening damage to the spinal cord 2) If excessive pain as you described of not wanting to move, etc, AND if not possible to immediately get to the vet, you could provide a PAIN med. Pain meds last for 8 hours and by time you could then get to the vet, the vet can see for himself all off Scamps symptoms in making the correct diagnosis. Anti-inflammatory drugs like prednisone and Rimadyl take 4-7 days to leave the body, denying the vet of being able to make a correct diagnosis. 🚩Understand anti-inflammatory such as Rimadyl and Why the reason to protect the GI tract: dodgerslist.com/stomach-protection/If known there could have been too much exercise (with signs of confusing which....muscle or disc caused pain?), CRATE at once! Monitor for a day or two to see if reluctance to move was due to overdoing exercise where muscles pain subsides in 1-2 days OR vet help is needed with a higher suspicion of disc related. It is the vet who needs to make the diagnosis, not the pet owner. Xrays do not proove a disc episode. This kind of imaging shows only hard tissue. MRI's can show soft tissue of spine and the disc. If there is not a VERY HIGH suspicion by the vet that something other than a disc episode is going on, then why subject Scamp to an MRI. A mild case of a new disc episode can easily be care for with conservative treatment. It matters not which disc as all discs recieve the same care....STRICT REST. We are sorry we lost contact with you since May and did not get to join in his graduation to provide you information on how to slowly and safely transition Scamp back to family life plus more on his graduation day July 1, 2024. Please do stay in touch, what is the vet's diagnosis if it is a disc episode. What are the med details: name, mgs, ?x/day for how many days of anti-inflammatory What pain meds: name, ?mg ?x/day |
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