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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 24, 2013 13:12:38 GMT -7
Hi! My dog is Mimi, a 5.5 year old mini-daschund. Sunday afternoon she started acting weird (not her usual happy self) and had a bout of diarrhea. She was shivering a lot (which she tends to do as the weather cools) so we wrapped her in blankets and kept her calm. THe next morning she was having trouble walking so we took her to vet. Vet diagnosed by knuckle test and thorough physical exam and prescribed crate rest with Tramadol and Dexamethasone. He said she is not a candidate for surgery and wants to see her back in 10 days. He said crate rest for at least 3 weeks, but I think I will do longer - especially after what I have read here.
At this point, her walk is wobbly upon first waking up in the morning with only a slight wobble on one rear leg after that. I guess this is progress since she has only been on meds for just 24 hours. She is peeing fine on her own and has total bladder control. She can also wag her tail as well. At this point, she isn't showing signs of pain. Even this morning when she came in shivering after being out in the cold (again this is somewhat normal for her - she has shivered since she was a puppy when the temp drops below 65), she stopped shivering after about 5 minutes. When she sees us she will not lay down. She will sit up or stand (again in her crate area). Then once she sees us for a bit she will lay down.
My only concern right now is pooping. She has not pooped since Sunday evening and is not even showing signs of positioning to go. Granted she is not eating at her normal levels (didn't eat from Sunday evening until last night). But is it possible that she has lost bowel sensitivity while still being able to walk, wag her tail and control bladder?
Happy to be here.
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Post by Pauliana on Sept 24, 2013 19:25:38 GMT -7
Welcome to Dodgerslist Jean! It sounds like Mimi is beginning to heal and Tramadol is controlling her pain and the Dexmethasone is working on her swelling. We do need to know the dosages and well as the frequencies given, please. Shivering is a sign of pain, along with tight hard tummy, reluctance to move, yelping, panting.. Since you said she shivers due to cold, it may not be a sign of pain in her case. Do keep your detective hat on and be observant for other signs of pain and if you do feel she is in pain at any point contact your vet ASAP to discuss adjusting her medications. One thing to be very concerned about is her lack of appetite which is a signal that she is having GI distress from the Dexmethasone. Very important to ask your vet about putting her on Pepcid AC.. Ask him this way: "Is there any medical reason why Mimi can't take Pepcid AC?" (Generic is Famotidine) If there is no reason, you can buy it at the grocery or drug store. Be sure to buy the 10mg dose. We give 5mg or half a tablet to small dogs under 15 lbs every 12 hours, 30 minutes prior to Dex. Also ask the Vet for Sucralfate to heal the GI tract.. It is given on an empty stomach 1 hour prior to Breakfast and her Dexamethasone. Pepcid AC can be given 30 minutes after the Sucralfate. Be sure to always give Dex with food. We ask that all members read about each med their dog is on or may take as a safety measure. This directory is in alpha order: www.marvistavet.com/html/pharmacy_center.htmlNot to worry about pooping. It is very common for the medications to cause constipation. Pumpkin is a magical fruit - its high fiber can firm up stools and help with diarrhea or loosen the stool to help with constipation. The amount of water in the diet makes all the difference. To loosen the stool, add equal parts water to each kibble meal along with a teaspoon of plain canned pureed pumpkin 1x a day. To firm up the stool add 1 teaspoon pumpkin to kibble and no extra water 1x a day. Glad you are with us and keep us posted on how Mimi is doing!
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 25, 2013 5:52:52 GMT -7
So glad to be here Around 3 am I heard a sound I had not heard in a few days...the inevitable dog shake (complete with flapping ears). Is this dangerous for her to do? There was no way I could no or stop her. Also My husband said she was not as wobbly as she has been the past few mornings upon her first potty break. She also gave me her belly to rub (this is the queen of the belly rubs, there were morning where she would want us to rub her belly for like 20 minutes) which she hasn't done since Sunday. Even though I see progress, which is good, I know that this is the medication and the very beginning and that crating is a must for the next 7.5 weeks. She also is eating better, both last nite and this morning, actively asking for food and treats and finishing her kibble - which I added some water to.
Best I can tell on her medication doses (we have to cut each pill up so here is what I found with my math)...
Dexamethosone: .125 mg 3x a day (she is on day 3), then down to 2x a day for three days, then down to 1x a day for three days
Tramadol: .25 mg 3x per day
She also pooped last night (yay) and seems much happier in her new crate which sits in our living room and is moved to our bedroom each night. She is on blankets on the floor right now, I am waiting for her mattress to arrive.
I will keep checking in here. Right now I am making sure her recovery suite is correct and reading up on tips of how to make sure she is safe after she heals.
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Post by natureluva on Sept 25, 2013 6:07:44 GMT -7
Hi Jean, there's not much you can do about those body shakes. The good news is - a dog that can do a body shake is definitely feeling better as far as pain goes. You are very smart in your assessment that Mimi's improvement in neurological function is due to the meds and NOT because the disc has healed. This is why you should continue to practice strict crate rest - limit those steps on potty breaks to just a few. Be sure to add that Pepcid AC - normal does is 5 mg for a dog up to 15 pounds, given 30 minutes before each dose of Dex. Please get your vet's permission - shouldn't be a problem as Pepcid AC is quite safe. When Mimi is on the blankets on the floor, is she not in a crate? This makes me nervous, only because I learned the hard way! I had my dog in the same position, and the UPS man knocked at the door. My dog took off - not good. Consider putting an ex-pen around those blankets so you don't have to worry about her taking off suddenly. Also, a pet stroller is a Godsend during and after crate rest. Read about them here: dodgerslist.com/literature/strollers.htm Acupuncture and laser light therapy are excellent complementary treatments for IVDD. They both stimulate the nerves to heal and reduce pain and inflammation, and acupuncture has the additional bonus of inducing a state of well-being. These treatments can begin asap, as long as you can safely transport your dog to and from the appointments (crated). You can ask your vet for a referral to a holistic vet that does acupuncture and laser light therapy, or you can search for one in your area here: www.holisticvetlist.com/ The best way for you to help Mimi is by learning about her disease. Here is a brief tutorial on IVDD: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/IVDDcourse/index.html . If a dvd is more your style, we have an excellent one available for only $3 including shipping. It's great to have on hand to show to family/friends/petsitters so they will know what they can and cannot do with your dog and how they can help: www.dodgerslist.com/store/DVDorder.htm We look forward to hearing how Mimi does throughout crate rest. You're doing a great job with her. Best wishes, ~Lisa
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 25, 2013 8:21:12 GMT -7
No no no, i have her crated at all times. I just don't have a mattress yet (it is on its way). Calling my vet about the pepcid today. My husband said she even pooped again today so it seems we are on the right path. Love this site!
I have one quick question. Is it ok for me to pet my dog while she is in the crate? It seems to comfort her. She doesn't get excited where she jumps around or anything, but it soothes her and she will like my hand. I try to stick with her head (sides of her jaw) and her face, avoiding her back (however I did have to rub the belly when she was begging this am). Is that ok? I don't want her to feel like a pariah. She seems to be tolerating the crate.
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Post by natureluva on Sept 25, 2013 10:26:04 GMT -7
Hi, patting her is just fine, so long as she can't escape, lol. This is where I found the ex-pen and the pet stroller SO handy. It's much easier to pat a dog who is at your sitting height (in a stroller). I would roll my pet stroller next to the couch and pat my dog in there while we watched tv. Plus, when your dog is off all meds, you can take her for strolls outside on smooth surfaces in quiet areas. Dogs get so much mental stimulation out of stroller rides! When you set up an ex-pen on the floor, you can actually climb in there with her and spend time with her, so long as there is no extra room for walking/crawling/climbing.
Best of luck with crate rest! ~Lisa
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 26, 2013 7:38:38 GMT -7
Sorry to ask a million questions, but I want to do the right thing by Mimi.
My vet did not take any x-rays. He did a full blood work up on her (which all came in fine) and a throrough exam with a "knuckle test". Her left rear leg failed, but everything else was fine, including the way she was holding her head and shoulders etc. He did not probe her for deep pain. However, he did diagnose IVDD. Should I request x-rays from my vet? If they are really necessary I will, but it seems I would follow the same conservative crate treatment regardless of the results of the x-ray.
Also, we have seen slight neurological improvement. On Monday (pre-vet) and Tuesday ( after 1 full day of crating), she was super wobbly first thing in the am and would take a step and kind of fall/sit to the left. She now does not fall/sit, but is just wobbly. At what point will we see more improvement? Personally, as long as she is healthy and happy and heals from the pain/trauma after 8 weeks, I don't care if she wobbles. But, hoping that she does heal, is it too soon to expect her neuro symptoms to go away at this point?
Happy to report that day 4, even though still wobbly leg, everything else seems fine (again not taking her out of crating, just kind of happy to have "my dog" back). She is pretty good in the crate, although she keeps trying to use the slats to balance her self up on them. I tell her "down", make sure she is down (or at least sitting), then walk away. When she is laying down I give her tons of praise and "good girls" and a treat so she knows she is doing the right thing. We are quickly learning that she won't try this if she doesn't feel left alone. We have coordinated her potty breaks to match when we move her crate from living room to bedroom (it is not on wheels but is an ex-pen) and back to the living room. We were a little late this am and she voiced her displeasure - lol. All in all, it's ok. God I miss her and feel like she is handling this better than I am.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 26, 2013 9:08:00 GMT -7
All good questions, Jean! The very best thing you can do is to take advantage of our treasure trove of information on the main Dodgerslist webpage www.dodgerslist.com/literature.htmLet me point you to the articles that pertain to your questions right away . What xrays can show: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/CalcifiedDiscs.htm Xrays best show hard tissue of bones and mineralized discs, but not the actual disc nor the spinal cord. If your dog can wobbly walk then necessarily Mimi would have to have deep pain sensation…. thus your vet did the right thing by not putting Mimi through the deep pain sensation test. More on neuro functions and how long they could take to repair: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingnerves.htm Most excellent news you are already seeing nerve improvement! There are several phases of healing with a disc episode and each will take different times to achieve. Crate rest is for the healing of the disc not nerves. This article will give you more information on disc healing expectations: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/healingdisc.htmHow is the pain phase…still full pain control dose to dose as Dex is being reduced? The normal way vets test the waters on a taper is to also taper or back off the pain meds to give a very clear picture of pain. Rule of thumb: pain = swelling = more time back at the original dose of Dex. Something to discuss with your vet so you know the thinking behind what he is prescribing and ask questions if something doesn't seem to jive in your mind. Sounds like things are going very well at your house and you ARE giving Mimi the kind of conditions to give her the very best opportunity for all the phases of healing. Keep up the good work!
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Sept 26, 2013 10:29:56 GMT -7
Hi my name is Maureen. Just wanted to let you know that I think that you are doing a WONDERFUL job!!
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 26, 2013 11:38:17 GMT -7
Thank you all so much! As for pain, we don't know yet. Today is day one with reduced steroids so she had her morning dose as usual, but will skip the afternoon dose and have an evening dose. So I will be watching as the afternoon progresses to see how she is feeling. Her dosage of dexamethosone seemed pretty low compared to others here, les than 5 mg per day so I am curious how she is. I will not giver her the Tramadol this afternoon so we should get a sense of things by this evening. I have to confess I am really nervous about this part. She has been doing great since Monday and I do not want to see her regress.
I will keep you posted on how things are this afternoon.
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Sabrina
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My Charley-dog, a Dodger'sList grad enjoying life!
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Post by Sabrina on Sept 26, 2013 12:39:02 GMT -7
Hi Jean! I'm Sabrina. Your Mimi is adorable! She is so lucky to have you looking out for her.
I know how nerve-wracking an IVDD episode is! Keep a watchful eye on Mimi, but do try not to worry about the taper too much (easier said than done, boy do I know!). The steroid taper is the way to "test" and see if the swelling and inflammation is controlled. My Charley-dog's pain returned the first time we tried to taper, and so we had to go back to his original dose until it was time to try another taper - the second one was successful. Every dog is different, so don't be discouraged if the pain returns - just get on the phone to the clinic so that the vet can ok returning to the original dose.
))Hugs!(( - Sabrina
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 26, 2013 13:44:33 GMT -7
Thank you all so much! Just being here makes me know I am doing the right thing by her. Will keep you posted.
I know that Mimi is going to be fine. You know how I know? Her 8 weeks of crating finishes on my birthday. I will be able to hold and cuddle my dog...that's the perfect present!
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 27, 2013 15:09:00 GMT -7
So, we are backsliding. Today was day two on reduction of dexamethosone and this evening I can see she is no longer trying to stand as much when she pees and she is shaking. Of course the vets have left for the day but they are open again at 8:00 am. I quickly gave her a dose of tramadol (6:00 pm) and will give her another before she goes to bed (9:30 pm). What else can I do? I am going to ask the vet tomorrow about her dosage of dex (.125 3x per day seems really minimal) and see if we can go back to the three times a day.
I am feeling very discouraged. Perhaps it was too soon to wean her down? Based on everything I've read here it seems like 3 days is short period, but I don't know.
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 27, 2013 16:50:02 GMT -7
OK now you clearly know it is not time to continue the taper, the vet needs to know this information also asap. Often it does take 1-2 weeks at the original level anti-inflammatory dose before all the swelling can be resolved. Some dogs have even been on the steroid for more like a month in total at the anti-inflammatory level (during that time the vet may have tried to taper but had to go back up to the original level if pain showed on the taper. Each dog is individual. This is why the test, the taper, to see how it is going with your dog.
If you have enough Dex pills, I would give her the original level as initially prescribed and get with the vet in the morning to discuss extending steroid treatment. Hopefully back at original Dex level and given Tramadol will have her out of pain and her leg weakness i.e. nerve damage starting to have reversed by morning.
Dexamethosone: .125 mg 3x a day (she is on day 3), 9/26 down to 2x a day for three days, then down to 1x a day for three days
Tramadol: .25 mg 3x per day Jean, can you clarify what the dose of Tramadol is. Is it 1/4 of a 50 mg tablet = 12.5 mgs OR is she taking 25 mgs of Tramadol 3x a day?
Let us know what was decided in the morning after speaking with the vet.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 27, 2013 17:22:03 GMT -7
She is on 25 mg of tramadol 3x per day. I did the taper of tramadol with the dex. I gave her tonights dose of dex early to get her back. I have enough dex to give her three for a few days. I tried the vet as soonas I saw her but they were gone and open at 8 am tomorrow so I will call right away. And get more dex and tramadol to keep her on.
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Post by Pauliana on Sept 27, 2013 19:28:16 GMT -7
Hi Jean,
Glad you re started the Dex and Tramadol and I hope Mimi is feeling better.. It's not unusual at all to have to taper more than once. Let us know what the vet has to say when you get a chance..
Sending comforting and healing thoughts to you and Mimi.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 28, 2013 3:34:37 GMT -7
9/28 update
It's about 6:15 an and I didn't sleep vey well. Thankfully Mimi seemed to rest. However she has not urinated since yesterday afternoon or pooped since yesterday morning.. She can no longer walk at all or maintain any weight on her hind legs. Last night she still had some tail wag but haven't seen any this am. Just gave her the pepcid so i can give her the tramadol and dex. She eats treats and cheese but nothing else and she isn't drinking. My husband asks how long are we going to let her suffer?
Right now I am so scared. Scared she will never regain bladder control or control of her bowel. Scared I won't be able to learn how to express her (tried to just feel her belly this am to see if I could even feel her bladder and I didn't). Surgery is financially not an option. Feel like I have failed her.
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Marjorie
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Post by Marjorie on Sept 28, 2013 6:11:31 GMT -7
Dear Jean,
You have not failed your Mimi in any way. This is just a bump in the road that you will get past. Hopefully, now that she's back on the initial dose of Dex, the neurological deficits that you're seeing will reverse.
I hope you've contacted the vet by now and let them know of this development. You should discuss with them adding Sucralfate since Mimi is not eating. That may be the start of a GI problem. Sucralfate is very good at healing ulcers. It's very important that you discuss this with your vet. You'll also need to have them give you a hands on your hands demonstration of expressing the bladder if she has indeed lost bladder control. Don't worry about the poop - reflex will take care of that. I, too, was afraid of not learning how to express my Jeremy. It did take practice and some time of adjustment but now it's just a routine part of our day and we don't even think about it. The Tramadol has her pain completely under control now? No more shaking? You're not letting her suffer - you're treating her properly and giving her a chance to heal.
I know how frightening this is and how bleak the future can look. But please hang in there. Remember how frightened you were on Sunday but then she did better. She can do better again. Please let us know what the vet says after speaking to them.
Prayers for you and Mimi.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 28, 2013 8:16:06 GMT -7
I just returned from the vet. She is back up to 3x per day on the same dose of Dex and Tramadol. He is also adding in Gabapentin, which I have to pick up from the pharmacy after 4:00 today. The script says 40mg on it but I will need to see the bottle. He did tell me she will get it twice a day. He felt that the Gabapentin will help her to heal as well.
Regarding expressing, he showed me how to do it. But she also peed as he tried to gently lay her on her side to check her reflex in her back leg. He said that was a really good thing, that she will be very easy to express. He said not to worry about the poop, that will just come out (and it did in her travel crate when I took her to the vet). He didn't say outright but I got the feeling that he things she will regain bladder control.
As for eating, I need to rephrase what I said. She doesn't have a lot of interest in her dog food, however she has a ton of interest in anything we are eating and in getting treats. So I think her stomach is ok. I may make her some chicken later because I think she will gobble that up. She is also drinking because I think the pain is gone.
Fingers crossed for the rest of today. I will attempt to express her in a little while.
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PaulaM
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Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 28, 2013 9:27:52 GMT -7
Jean, you can do expressing, no doubt about that. It may take some tries as you are learning a new skill…so give yourself a break and time to learn. Don't hesitate to go back and express in the clinic where the vet tech can check your work and give you additional pointers. This article with lots of tips and video is good to review more than once, it also shows you how to express for poop! www.dodgerslist.com/literature/Expressing.htm I read back through your posts, and do not find that you are giving Pepcid AC. This is a must, can you give your vet call today re: Pepcid AC (famotindine) 5mg 30 mins before the Dex and thereafter every 12 hours. Dex should be given with a meal or a snack for a bit more protection. Let us know if this list reflects the current meds: Tramadol 25 mg 3x per day Dexamethosone: .125 mg 3x a day Gabapentin 40mg 2x a day Pepcid AC ? Getting her to eat her kibble is important as it is balanced nutrition that chicken alone is not. Her body has a lot of repair jobs to tackle and as always nutrition is important. Try soaking her kibble in no fat/lo salt meat broth, top with 1-2 teaspoons of chicken or other food to encourage her to eat.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 28, 2013 9:51:36 GMT -7
Sorry, I am giving Pepcid. Vet said 1x per day but I increased to 2 x per day (when she was getting dex 2x per day). So that should be included in her meds list.[. Dio I give before each dex or just every 12 hrs? Her meds are basically 7 am, 3 pm and 10 pm. br] One quick quesrtion, I have been giving the tramadol and dex at the same time to keep them cycled with each other. Do I have to give rhe gabapentin at a different time or can I give with first and last soses of the other meds each day?
She did her submissive pee when hubs came home so I am hopeful that maybe her bladder function will come back. Good ideas about the kibble. I will try some broth on it.
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Marjorie
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Post by Marjorie on Sept 28, 2013 18:13:48 GMT -7
I hope you're feeling more at ease about Mimi, Jean, and that your fears have lifted some. You should give 5 mg of Pepcid AC 30 minutes before each dose of Dexamethosone. So that would be three doses of Pepcid AC each day. I believe you can give the Gabapentin with the other meds. Just a note for future reference on Gabapentin - it shouldn't be stopped abruptly and should be discontinued over a course of two to three weeks.
I hope this course of meds gets Mimi back to a good place. You've done a great job in working with your vet on all of this.
Prayers for healing for Mimi and peace in your heart for you.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 28, 2013 18:31:11 GMT -7
An evening update and a question. Just to confirm the pepcid...if she gets 3 doses of dex a day she should get 3 doses of pepcid, each 30 minutes before the dex correct?
So this evening...she is trying to stand and manages to do so and even take a few sloppy steps in her crate. She is a submissive pee'r and peed when she was happy to see us after we came home from a friends this evening (which is normal for her). Then hubs took her out and just put her legs into position and she was able to pee on her own some more. So progress. She had her first dose of gabapentin tonite. I have a 30 day supply. My vet didnt say how long for her to take it but I will speak to him on particulars later in the week. Have a good evening everyone.
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Marjorie
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Post by Marjorie on Sept 28, 2013 18:39:58 GMT -7
What a wonderful update, Jean! I'm absolute delighted at the progress she's made so quickly. You've made my day. And yes, 3 does of Pepcid AC, each 30 minutes before each dose of Dex. I have a feeling you'll sleep much better tonight. Please keep us updated.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
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Post by StevieLuv on Sept 28, 2013 18:54:30 GMT -7
You have managed this last crisis beautifully! I am so incredibly proud of you - you got in there and did what needed to be done and got your Vet to get Mimi the help she needed - I wish I could give a big hug! Hang in there - you can get through the upcoming weeks. Marjorie is amazing and has lots of experience with IVDD and it ups and downs Keeping you in thought and prayer
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 29, 2013 8:47:50 GMT -7
Good morning. Sorry I am updating so much but even if I get no responses, I am keeping this as a diary of her progress.
So today, up this am and pooped when I took her out for the morning, but no pee. However, this was before she had her morning meds. (note she was not exhibiting any signs of pain - only shivering when in the cool air outside - but otherwise totally content and wanting attention) So I proceeded with our pepcid, then trio cocktail (tramadol, dex, and gabapentin). I went to the grocery store early and had hubs place her in her kitchen crate right before I came home (we have a kitchen crate for day when we aren't home because she pees submissively - easier to clean up kitchen floor). I greeted her and she submissive peed (yay) and then assumed a position to finish peeing. She seems to like peeing inside better than peeing outside (she doesn't like cooler weather). She barked and whined for bacon (after eating her own food) so I gave her a few tiny pieces as reward.
Hubs just took her out again and she was able to take a few wobbly sloppy steps and pooped. She is now happily resting in her crate. I will speak to the vet in a few days to talk about how we proceed from here.
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PaulaM
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 29, 2013 9:46:40 GMT -7
Jean, so glad to hear the addition of gabapentin is helping with pain and that with legs in position she did choose to release urine!! I would still do a quick express check to verify that she can fully void the bladder herself. When bladder control returns sometimes they can start a stream but not fully void yet. Regarding your question, giving a steroid 3x a day does not follow the usual vet prescriptions we see day in and day out of 2x a day at the anti-inflammatory dose level. I just googled and found with a bit of effort Dr. Ruben's information to be the same on several other sites as well: Dr. Dawn Ruben, DVM: --Anti-inflammatory doses range from 0.1 to 0.3 mg per pound (0.2 to 0.5 mg/kg) up to twice daily. --Immunosuppressive doses range from 1 to 3 mg per pound (2 to 6 mg/kg) up to three times daily. www.petplace.com/drug-library/dexamethasone/page1.aspx It is always a good idea with your prominent roll of "healthcare team captain" to do your own research/reading so you can discuss to learn the thinking behind your vet's treatments. As Thomas Jefferson said… question with boldness…as that is how you learn, protect and care for your dog. We do know that while Pepcid AC has few side effects and that is why it went to over-the-counter (no Rx needed) it would be good to double check about the dose and your giving it 3x a day. We have never seen Pepcid prescribed 3x a day. Pepcid AC goes by the weight of the dog in how many mgs to give. We follow the vets who prescribe every 12 hours because that is the more conservative end of the 12-24hrs range to give better protection against anti-inflamamtories. Do double check with your vet if 5mg of Pepcid AC given every 12 hours is correct for Mimi. Make sure to give Dex with a meal/snack as added protection. Dr. Primovic, DVM, discusses Pepcid AC here: www.petplace.com/drug-library/famotidine-pepcid/page1.aspx--------- Just read your post on definate confirmation of bladder control coming back (assumed position and released urine) The wobbly steps are very good continued news of nerve healing going on. Hopefully this round of Dex will be the key to getting all the swelling down. How much does Mimi weigh?
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 29, 2013 10:13:38 GMT -7
I believe the reason why she is getting the dex 3x per day is because of the very minimal dosage she receives each time (.125mg). This dosing seems to work well for her and is what she was using when we saw her initial progress (before dropping dosage too early). The second vet (at the same practice) that I spoke with on Saturday saw no strangeness in the dosing of the dex. I believe the two of them will speak probably tomorrow or Tuesday so I will follow up with them then. I guess my question is is there any reason NOT to give it 3x per day in smaller doses vs. 2x in a larger dose? Perhaps he gives it in the smaller doses to reduce the risk of upset to the digestive tract. I don't know.
I will give the pepcid just 2x per day (essentially before the morning and evening doses. I never got to the point of giving her 3 doses so I think I am fine. My vet recommended just pepcid 1 x per day but I moved to the 2x given the information here.
Yes, she submissive peed while laying on her side. then got up and wobbled a bit as I kept petting her. Then she assumed the pee position.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,565
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Post by PaulaM on Sept 29, 2013 10:45:52 GMT -7
Jean, we, too, welcome learning about the thinking behind dex 3x a day. As we observed most often prednisone is used because is does not carry the notoriety of stomach issues as dex does. When dex is observed on this forum it is normally used at the anti-inflammatory level 2x a day. Drugs.com has an interesting note about the adrenal activity and corticosteroids such as Dex. The maximal activity of the adrenal cortex is between 2 am and 8 am, and it is minimal between 4 pm and midnight. Exogenous corticosteroids suppress adrenocorticoid activity the least when given at the time of maximal activity (am) for single dose administration. Therefore, it is recommended that Prednisone be administered in the morning prior to 9 am and when large doses are given, administration of antacids between meals to help prevent peptic ulcers. Multiple dose therapy should be evenly distributed in evenly spaced intervals throughout the day. www.drugs.com/pro/prednisone.html
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Sept 29, 2013 10:54:20 GMT -7
Now I just feel kind if stressed out about her medication. Is the low dosage 3 x per day going to screw her up? I feel like I am going a little bit crazy. I feel like I have called the vet almost every day (although to be fair they called themselves twice last week to check up on her). If I am seeing good things do I need to question the dosing? I don't know what to do.
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