Welcome Andrea. We are glad you have joined us.
First thing is the pain must be addressed. Pain hinders healing and not fair to be in discomfort when meds can easily be adjusted to cover all three of the typical sources of pain. You are your vet's eyes and ears at home. So phone him to alert about the signs of reluctance to move and yelping.
PAIN MEDS
Resolution of spinal cord inflammation/swelling provides the relief from pain. It can take an anti-inflammatory (carprofen) a range of 7 to 30 days before all swelling is gone. In the meantime pain meds are to provide full comfort while healing.
Pain Is Inevitable with a disc episode, Suffering Is Optional.
The best pain medications control is using more than one approach to address pain from multiple fronts
__ traMADol-general analgesic
__ methocarbamol- muscle spasm pain
√ gabapentin-nerve pain.
All three pain meds are typically prescribed three times a day as each of them are effective for about 8 hrs.
Adjusting meds by phone avoids a risky-to-the disc car transport. Describe the pain that you're seeing via a phone call to your vet.
Rosie needs a stomach protector such as Pepcid AC (Famotidine) to suppress stomach acids caused by change in routines stress and the carprofen. Be in the know about stomach protection so you can be a good advocator for Rosie:
dodgerslist.com/stomach-protection/
Let us know what the vet Rx's to adjust her pain meds. Expect within the hour when meds are corrected for Rosie's needs, that all pain and discomfort will be gone.
There should be no sign of pain from one dose of meds to the next. Have no patience with pain. Look for your dog to be acting their normal, interested in life selves when pain is fully under control round the clock.
SIGNS OF PAIN:
⚙︎ shivering-trembling ⚙︎ yelping when picked up or moved
⚙︎ tight tense tummy ⚙︎ arched back, ears pinned bac
⚙︎ 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/ 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
-- Learn about Carprofen. An informed owner is a dog's best defense when taking an anti-inflammatory. Know what your job is when carprofen stops, know how arranged for a Plan B with your vet.
Are you on the same page as we are about STRICT rest?STRICT rest means:
◼︎no laps ◼︎no couches ◼︎no baths ◼︎no sleeping with you
◼︎no chiro therapy WHYs: dodgerslist.com/chiropractic/
◼︎no walking around, meandering at potty times.
◼︎no PT for conservative dogs during 8 weeks to heal disc
◼︎Attach water/food bowls inside recovery suite.
◼︎How to set up mattress system for the suite plus many other tips in carrying out STRICT REST:
🚩 dodgerslist.com/strict-rest-recovery-process/
◼︎ Avoid dangerous detours. Follow the "Roadmap." Tape it to your fridge. D/L and print out:
🚩 dodgerslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/Roadmap-for-Fridge.pdf
◼︎ 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. Vets who know IVDD often take phone updates & adjust meds via a phone call.
POTTY TIME strictness
Carry your dog to and from the recovery suite to the potty place and then allow a very, 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.
Did the vet say where the disc was... in the neck or the back?
For how many days will Rosie take 25mgs twice a day?
