Mylynn, thanks for the update.
We'd like to follow along and be able to offer comments to you as Missy begins her journey of disc healing. With mild neuro deficits and your quick attention to starting crate rest at once, Missy will be a good candidate for conservative treatment!
Please fill us in.....
❖1 Is there still currently pain with now on gabapentin?
◻︎ shivering-trembling ◻︎ slow to move ◻︎ tight tense tummy
◻︎ arched back, ears pinned back ◻︎ head held high or nose to the ground
◻︎ yelping when picked up or moved ◻︎ restless, can't find a comfortable position
◻︎ slow or reluctant to move much in crate such as shift positions
◻︎ not their normal perky interested in life selves
Full pain relief is expected in 1 hour and stays that way dose to dose.
If the pain meds are not yet right, as the eyes and ears for your vet, please call your vet ASAP to report your observations so meds can be adjusted. Advocate for any of the pain meds be given 3x/day (every 8 hours) for round the clock coverage, dose to dose coverage.
— Methocarbamol works on the pain of muscle spasms.
— traMADol is the general pain reliever.
— Gabapentin works on nerve pain.
❖2 MED LIST
1) How much does your dog weigh? How old is she?
2) How many times a day do you actually give gabapentin 200mgs... 2x or 3x per day?
3)For how many days is Missy to take Predniosne 10mgs once a day?
4) 🚩Understand how the steroid hormone drug, prednisolone, is used during conservative treatment. ==>
dodgerslist.com/steroids-vs-nsaids/… C PEPCID AC: Ask 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). Why Pepcid AC:
dodgerslist.com/stomach-protection/ NOTE: 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.
www.1800petmeds.com/Famotidine-prod11171.html❖3 GI Tract problems due to stress, nerve damage, prednisone?
—Eating and drinking OK? No nausea/not eating, no vomit?
— Poops OK? Normal firmness & color -no dark black or bright red blood indicating bleeding ulcers? No diarrhea?
❖4 Please let us know that you're on the same page about strict crate rest during conservative treatment.
With little blood supply, discs are much slower to form good scar tissue than it takes a blood-rich broken bone to heal. Those weeks of a cast for a broken arm to heal is similar to the recovery suite being a kind of cast for the disc.
The body does have the ability to self heal a disc. The very STRICT rest part of conservative treatment is key to avoiding a disc relapse and potential for severe nerve damage. It is far easier to meet your dog's care needs if you understand things.
🚩Learn and scoop up all the good tips and ideas for doing conservative treatment here. Ideas to deliver effective STRICT rest recovery during Conservative Medical treatment. Recovery suite tips, how to set up the suite and more:
dodgerslist.com/strict-rest-recovery-process/STRICT means:
◼︎No laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎ Eats and drinks in suite
◼︎No meandering at potty times.
◼︎No PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc
◼︎At home laser or acupuncture via a mobile if desired.
◼︎No chiro therapy:
dodgerslist.com/chiropractic/◼︎ Transports are always a risk to the disc of too much movement. Vet visits must be weighed risk vs. benefit for dogs with little to mild neuro diminishment.
◼︎ Avoid dangerous detours during conservative treatment. Follow the "Roadmap." Tape it to your fridge. D/L and print out:
dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/07/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf🚩Ways to safely LIFT and CARRY (support both ends, back horizontal to the ground)
dodgerslist.com/back-support/DOGs with BLADDER CONTROL:
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 a 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 Did the surgeon suspicion the disc to be in the back or the neck?
Very much looking forward to your answers and learning more about Missy.
