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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 4, 2013 11:08:03 GMT -7
You definitely have my sympathies on the continued crate rest!!! Hopefully we can all stay calm & sane while our pups go through these next few weeks!
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Post by Samantha & Shorty on Nov 4, 2013 17:23:25 GMT -7
Apparently great minds think alike!! Shorty will still be on his taper as well when his 8 weeks are up. We also had to increase him back up after the first taper and it delayed the taper from starting . He should hopefully be on a 2.5mg dose of prednisone by the time we can let him out but will then decrease to an every other day taper like you for two more weeks after that. Glad to hear she is doing so well! I am also very Interested to hear what the moderators say about letting them sleep in bed with us again or having to support their back ends during potty... I am nervous to let him just go on his own. Shorty and I send our prayers that the taper continues to go well and that there is no more pain or swelling!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,565
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 4, 2013 20:22:15 GMT -7
Do discuss if the taper can be speeded up to get to the every other day taper and that all pain meds have been stopped. You do not want a dog on a steroid with pain meds and out of the crate…they will feel too good with meds masking pain. Before they are out of crate rest you want to know with certainty that all pain is gone (all swelling in the spinal cord is gone).
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 5, 2013 10:01:51 GMT -7
Does anyone have any suggestions as to how to do the next taper for the pain meds? Next Monday I will start the second taper of the dex and it's a simple edit - from .25 in the am to .125 in the am. She will still get the .125 at night too. But she currently is also getting 25 mg of tramadol morning and night, as well as the Gabapentin 40ml morning and night. I guess I want to be educated when I speak to my vet about those pain medication tapers. I will also speak with her about perhaps speeding up the tapers (assuming the next one goes well). But I am feeling positive for now.
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Marjorie
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Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 5, 2013 11:24:04 GMT -7
Usually when the anti-inflammatory is tapered, the pain meds are also tapered or even stopped so an accurate test can be made to see if there is still pain. When you speak to the vet about speeding up the taper of the dex, also ask whether they want the pain meds tapered or stopped.
Hope the taper all goes well this time. My prayers are with Mimi.
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 5, 2013 11:33:33 GMT -7
Glad you are feeling positive! Dobby's medication combo was different, so I don't really know. In his case, the Tramadol is the last to go.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 5, 2013 12:54:57 GMT -7
Ok, so I will call the "good vet" on Thursday (next time she is in the office) to speak with her about speeding up the taper a bit. If we can do 10 days at a time for each taper, instead of 14 days, then that would only add about 10 more days of crate time instead of 3 more weeks. I will also ask how to best taper the pain meds. Again I am going to talk about it, but I know my dog is sensitive to tapers so I want to be conscious of that and not do anything to damage her or cause a setback. So if the vet wants to do slow then so be it. Also, the vet said she may be stiff in the mornings from all of this, even after successful treatment. So we may look at something to help her with that in the morning. Note she is stiff and does grunt a bit, but she also is doing the full body flap and wanting to take a stroll during am potty times so I am NOT worrying that this is pain...more like we all feel in the morning - a bit stiff
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 7, 2013 10:50:12 GMT -7
Sucralfate question....
When can I stop giving her that medication? She was put on sucralfate when we increased her dexamethosone to 1/2 tab (.25 mg) in the am, and was on .125 afternoon and pm.
Starting with the next taper, she will only get .125mg in the am and .125mg in the pm. This will be less than she was getting even at her initial dosing (.125mg am, afternoon and pm) when we were just giving her pepcid.
Can I drop the sucralfate once the next taper starts and just continue with the pepcid? Thoughts? I want to protect her stomach but she really hates the Sucralfate and fights me all the time with it. Would be nice not to have to fight about that.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Nov 7, 2013 20:16:03 GMT -7
Your best bet would be to check withyour Vet about discontinuing the Sulcralfate. You need to be vigilant about watching for tummy upset if you do, but it sure would be nice for you both to not have to fight to get that medication into her
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 8, 2013 11:11:25 GMT -7
Are you giving the sucralfate in liquid or pill form? Just curious.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 8, 2013 13:22:48 GMT -7
We are using the pills...she gets half in the am and half in the pm. Only one she gives us a hard time with. I know we will taper her off these soon so I'm not going to sweat it. Will call the vet next week.
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 8, 2013 17:22:56 GMT -7
Dobby did not have a problem with the sucralfate pills. I had to use the liquid with another dog for a different condition and that was a battle. Hope Mimi continues to do well with the taper however long it takes!
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 12, 2013 10:05:55 GMT -7
Brief update for today....
Today we begin her second taper. After speaking with my vet, because of how strongly Mimi reacted on previous tapers and because of the length of time that she was on the increased dose of dexamethosone, we have to have longer tapers. Beginning today her doses are as follows:
▼Dexamethosone: .125 2x per day (down from .25 am and .125 pm) Tramadol: 25 mg 2x per day (this will be tapered down next week to .125 2x per day, then tapered again to take her off) Gabapentin: 40mg 2x per day (will discuss how to taper that later) Pepcid: 5mg 2x per day Sucralfate: 2x per day (will also discuss this taper later this week)
I have a question. Mimi so far is not in any pain (trust me this dog wants to go!). But I have noticed she no longer sleeps in a curled ball like she used to (pre-IVDD episode), just in a half-c shape sometimes. Does that mean she's in pain? Or is it just that position isn't comfy for her anymore? Should I be worried about that or just kind of go with it? Again, she moves around, she flaps, she stands, she wags her tail, rolls onto her back for belly rubs all the time etc. Let me know your thoughts.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Nov 12, 2013 10:10:00 GMT -7
She is picking the position that is comfy for her for now She sounds like she is doing really well
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 13, 2013 20:21:31 GMT -7
Thanks for your support and well-wishes! And thank you for all of the questions you've asked. Seeing both the questions and the answers has helped me a lot. a Hope Mimi continues to do well with this taper!
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 18, 2013 9:24:52 GMT -7
Very brief update...tomorrow we taper Tramadol to 1/4 50 mg tab morning and night, instead of a 1/2 50 mg tab.
So question about the Sucralfate and Pepcid...do either of those drugs have to be tapered on their own or can they go with the taper of the dexamethosone? Vet gave me script and refill for sucralfate so my belief is that as I continue to taper the dex, the pepcid and sucralfate get tapered along with it? For example, right now, dex is given 2x per day, so she gets sucralfate and pepcid 2x per day (1 hr before and 1/2 hour before dex as indicated). Next week, when the dex is dropped to 1x per day, she will just get the sucralfate and pepcid 1x per day right?
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 18, 2013 11:22:09 GMT -7
That would be my understanding, but best to hear from experts. Hope all is going well with this taper!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,565
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Post by PaulaM on Nov 18, 2013 15:23:34 GMT -7
Jean each med goes by how long it stays in the system. -- Pepcid AC lasts about 12 hours…so therefore it is given 2x a day. -- Sucralfate should also stay with the orginal dose and frequency to make sure the GI tract is protected all day. -- Dex is a long lasting med and stays in the system for days.
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 19, 2013 6:58:42 GMT -7
Is your graduation date changed since you are doing the second & extended taper? From reading various stories, I'm not clear on when graduation date is changed. In any case, hope Mimi is doing well.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 19, 2013 9:22:44 GMT -7
Yes our grad date is changed. At least another two weeks. Today we tapered her Tramadol down to 1/4 of a a 50 mg tab 2x per day.
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Post by Samantha & Shorty on Nov 19, 2013 12:51:26 GMT -7
Our twins seem to be following the same pace. We also have extended our graduation date... For us probably another 10 days or so. Praying for good success with the Tramadol taper!
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 23, 2013 6:53:30 GMT -7
Thinking of you and continuing to cheer for Mimi!
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 26, 2013 6:45:06 GMT -7
Very brief update. Last phase of the taper. Mimi is off pain medications and now is only getting Dexamethosone .125mg 1x per day (along with pepcid am and pm).
She wants out of the ex-pen. She is done and has had it. The yelping, whining and crying daily is so pathetic. I basically sit next to her ex-pen every night now with the door open so I can reach in and pet her. I don't blame her one bit - she is now starting week 10. My husband is complaining that it feels more like we have a bird then a dog (because she is in an ex-pen.
Her personality is totally where it was pre-IVDD. I am very pleased with our vet and her guidance. She listens very attentively to me and we have worked together to formulate her taper plan and her resuming of activity. She doesn't insist that we bring Mimi in to see her, instead we have had weekly calls to monitor her progress (she knows Mimi is not a fan of the vet and doesn't want to stress her our). She also does this to save us some $$. So one more week and then we can start to rebuild her muscles in her legs.
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Marjorie
Moderator~
Member since 2011. Surgery & Conservative
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Post by Marjorie on Nov 26, 2013 8:00:33 GMT -7
Great update, Jean! Very happy for Mimi and for you.
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StevieLuv
Helpful Member
Conservative Treatment 3x. It really does work!
Posts: 1,335
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Post by StevieLuv on Nov 26, 2013 11:49:04 GMT -7
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 26, 2013 12:43:57 GMT -7
Isn't it amazing what sounds a doxie can make when s/he is not getting what they want!!!! I am glad to hear Mimi is continuing to do well on this taper. Let the post-crate challenges begin soon!
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Post by tugandbucket on Nov 26, 2013 17:42:07 GMT -7
Hello Jean... It brings a smile to my face that little Mimi is coming right along with her healing. I'd told little man Rusty all about the little girl who was in the same boat as he. Of course, we never really know what they are thinking, but he seemed to listen and understand about her. I'm sure he'd be quite proud of her.
Here's to continued healing for little Miss Mimi.
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Post by Jean & Mimi on Nov 27, 2013 6:55:05 GMT -7
Thank you so very much for even stopping in to comment. I know Rusty is proud of her and is sending doggie love from above. On another note today, Mimi did something that I haven't seen her do in over 9 weeks... the downward dog stretch in her crate!!!! She hasn't been able to do that I saw her do it twice (althought not with the end rear leg stretch and not quite as full as it used to be) so I know it wasn't my imagination. To say I got a little excited is an overstatement (ok and she may have gotten carefully, fully back supported, picked up and hugged to but I am not saying )
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Post by Pauliana on Nov 27, 2013 11:45:13 GMT -7
Such wonderful news about Mimi doing that stretch.. Excellent sign! It won't be long now.. : )
Certainly added a smile to my day!
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Post by Pam & Dobby on Nov 27, 2013 12:03:29 GMT -7
Hooray for Mimi!!! Happy Thanksgiving!
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