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Post by tandysmom on Oct 6, 2013 8:40:55 GMT -7
Hi all,
Does anyone know where I can find information about what happens with dogs with IVDD years down the road?
Tandy is turning 7 years old this month. Right now, she is in her crate, with some apparent relief from the pain meds, so I now have time to regroup and look for some help. Her story so far is this:
At 3 years old, the episodes began. We were at the vet often (I think our pet health insurance is sorry they ever heard my name). But we managed her episodic pain with crate rest and meds, and we were still blissfully ignorant about all things IVDD. After a few episodes, she had a particularly bad one, and we took her to a neurologist for an MRI, after which they took her straight to surgery. Since the surgery, she has been unable to walk without wheels, and she cannot control her bladder or bowels. Also, the MRI showed that most of her discs were already narrowing. However, since the surgery 2010, she has been pain free, and for that, we are profoundly grateful. Thanks to this site, I learned how to manage the new normal. This weekend, though, Tandy has now presented with that awful pain again. We brought her to the emergency room, and the doc there (who was new, knowledgeable, and amazing with Tandy) said that the pain seems to be coming from her neck - probably one of the discs there. I know what to do for the immediate situation, although it is much more challenging than before because expressing bladder and bowel is next to impossible without her neck moving. But my question is this: where do we go from here? Is this just going to be her life? - disc after disc going, more and more pain and less and less mobility? I have seen many inspiring stories of dogs getting better and living (mostly) normal lives. Does anyone have experience with what happens as the dog ages if more discs go? I am sorry for being a downer on this inspirational site, but I don't know where else to turn.
As a remarkable and ironic aside, when the new doc tested Tandy's back feet, she was able to see DPS! Does that mean that her spine is still healing three years later? The doc said that nerves do continue to heal, but that she has never seen a dog recover mobility or bladder/bowel control after so many years, but that she is a new doc and not a specialist, so she didn't know if it is possible. Has anyone here heard of recovery after years of paralysis?
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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 Oct 6, 2013 9:46:06 GMT -7
Hi my name is Maureen. Welcome to Dodgers List. Please don't worry about being a downer - when this happens we all need a shoulder to lean on. Nerves to contuinue to heal, very slowly, there are members here who have had wheelchair bound dogs suddenly stand and take steps  You can periodically check for bladder control with the sniff and pee test. Take her to an old pee spot and let her sniff around to see if she will release urine - obviously a test for when she is feeling better. Neck discs are more challenging and the pain can be harder to control, but it can be done, and it sounds like you have a good Vet and a great handle on IVDD. She can recover with conservative treatment. As far as the future, no one really knows. Many dogs have only one episode in their life, and others (like my Stevie- 9 years old) have more than one. Here are some links to help you out a bit: neck discs www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htmquality of life www.dodgerslist.com/index/SDUNCANquality.htmTry not to despair - you want to present a positve outlook to Tandy. Please keep us posted - we are all here to help! |
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PaulaM
Moderator. 
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 6, 2013 11:45:36 GMT -7
Let me add my welcome to Dodgerslist too. We are all on first name basis here… mine is Paula, what is yours? What breed is Tandy? The very first phases of healing with this most recent disc episode is the pain control phase. You simply can't care for her at potty times if there is pain. Also pain will deter the whole healing process. Your vet needs your feedback on pain so he knows further tweaking of the pain meds are needed. -- Rest with conservative treatment is more strict than for post-op dogs. Can you tell us you are 100% STRICT crate rest 24/7 No laps, no couch, no sleeping in bed with you, no meandering, scooting or dragging around during potty times. No baths, no chiro (aka VOM). In other words do everything you can to limit the vertebrae in the back from moving and putting pressure on the bad disc. The link StevieLuv gave on the extra things you can do for cervical disc can really help: www.dodgerslist.com/literature/cervical.htm-- Is there still currently pain - shivering, trembling, yelping when picked up or moved, reluctant/slow to move head or body, tight hard tummy, holding head in unusual posistion, not wanting to bear weigh on front paw(s)? -- What are the exact names of meds currently given, their doses in mgs and frequencies? -- Eating and drinking OK? -- Poops OK - normal color no dark or bright red blood? |
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Post by tandysmom on Oct 6, 2013 17:40:01 GMT -7
Thank you so much, Maureen, for the support and information!
Thank you Paula. My name is jill, and Tandy is a mini short haired dachshund. She is on strict crate rest. I am way on top of that as I unfortunately know the drill all too well. Her meds are ok, although we are tweaking them a bit as she is having some break through pain. Her eating and drinking are ok, not great. Her pooping is ok, but it is obviously much more challenging to express her mow.
i feel like I have this stage under control. I just am so worried about where she is headed - I.e., if all of her discs are affected, are they just going to go one after another, with episode after episode of pain and crate rest? I was writing because I wanted to see if anyone on this board has experience with multiple affected discs, and how they handled it. As Maureen said, though, I'm going to try to stay positive.
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 6, 2013 19:24:26 GMT -7
Jill, both of my dogs had multiple episodes, this is not unusual when dealing with disease that is a progressive one. We learn to live with this disease whether it be one episode their entire life time or multiple disc episodes during their lifetime.
We all learn a great deal from the histories of each dog. Can you tell us the specifics on his meds? The exact names, the does in mgs and how often you are to give them? Pain control should be in control within the first one hour of prescribing meds and thereafter dose to dose. Let us know the details on her meds, we may be able to offer some help. It is difficulty to properly take care of her needs when there is still pain.
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Post by tandysmom on Oct 15, 2013 8:16:33 GMT -7
Ok, now that my baby's pain seems to be under control, I can focus and post the details. Tandy is now on:
2.5 mg of prednisone
5mg of pepcid about 1/2 hour prior) twice/day;
100mg gabapentin twice/day.
She had initially been given metacam, codeine (because she does not do well with tramadol) and gabapentin, but that was not touching the pain. We stopped the metacam but had to wait the washout period before adding prednisone, so we had increased the other two quite a bit, which also had little effect. It seems to be the prednisone that is making the biggest difference (although it is now over a week of crate rest, so I suppose the relief of pain may be due to healing as well). The codeine was making her constipated - the pumpkin helped a little, when I could get her to eat it, but not enough, so I tried stopping it, and that seems to have worked fine.
As an aside, can anyone on this board tell me if you have had the experience of your dog acting pain free for the doctor, but painful at home? Tandy is so stoic at the vet that we even disagree as to whether she has DPS.
In any event, the good news is that she is out of pain for now, and the meds and crate rest seem to be working well. Fingers crossed that her recovery continues. Thank you all so much for the support!
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PaulaM
Moderator.
Member since 2007: surgery, conservative . Montana, USA
Posts: 19,598
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Post by PaulaM on Oct 15, 2013 11:50:07 GMT -7
Good news that pain IS under control. Do know there is methocarbamol for the pain so often associated with a neck disc that is still an option for your vet.
Has the dose of Pred recently been reduced or is 2.5mg the start dose?
is this being given 2x or 1x a day? How much does your dog weigh?
What date did the Pred start…. Oct 5?
Many dogs are stoic at the vet. That is why the vet needs to hear of the owner's observations at home.
We look forward to hearing no pain from this point on!
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Post by tandysmom on Oct 15, 2013 15:31:59 GMT -7
We just started the pred last night because we started on a NSAID (metacam, i think), and it wssnt working, so we had to wait the washout period. The starting [pred] dose is 2.5 mg twice a day. Tandy weighs about 1 4 pounds. Fingers crossed;?it was a good day today! Oh! I forgot, we also started acupuncture on Friday, so that may have helped too, but she was still in a lot of pain until today, so I think it is mainly the pred that is making the difference. |
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You can periodically check for bladder control with the sniff and pee test. Take her to an old pee spot and let her sniff around to see if she will release urine - obviously a test for when she is feeling better. 
