I've been reading your updates about her and hoping she'd be feeling better than she has. Gretchen had an episode with her back in Jan (she's already been through surgery). She started just like Casja - something just not right. She got a little worse so our vet put her on prednisone and rymadil. Two days later she was absolutely screaming in pain! It was horrible. We took her to the emergency vet and he gave her a shot of Toradol. It's a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug. It worked wonders for her. She slept very soundly - to the point of us checking to see if she was breathing - for about 6 hours. When she woke up, she got a little better as time went by. I know Casja has a history of tummy problems and this drug can cause tummy problems as a side effect. I just thought I would throw this in as an option you might want to talk with your vet about if she's still hurting. One more thing - the vet called this drug something else - probably it's generic name - one of the nurses I work with told me it was Toradol. I can't remember what the vet called it. I hope she's feeling better now and you don't need this info.
I spoke with April on the phone last night. I'm pretty sure she was going to get Cajsa back into the vet today for another evaluation and hopefully some different meds.
We've been praying and sending rays!
Thanks for the update, Krista. Hopefully she's doing better by now.
Sorry! I HAD to get caught up on my schoolwork this weekend. Cajsa was in a lap or in her crate every moment of the weekend. I took her back to the vet on Saturday morning and talked to them. They checked her out and she was having muscle spasms just past her rib cage so tey gave her a dose of toradol and something else I can't remember the name of right now. They were given through an IV so it'd get directly into her system and take effect. Within minutes she was feeling perkier and seemed to be better than she had been in a few days. That was good since she'd been shaking and crying within a few hours of taking the Rimadyl. It just wasn't working and Cajsa needed something else, which she got.
I'm going to be taking her in for another followup this afternoon to make sure the meds are working and she's not having any adverse affects from them. She scared me this morning because she slipped out of my grasp as I was picking her up and ran down the stairs. I wasn't happy about it at all. I locked her in the kitchen after that so she wouldn't be able to get to any stairs or furniture.
Major Rays coming your way from San Diego!
April,
Is Casja in a crate while you are at work or are you keeping her confined in the kitchen? If you are leaving her in the kitchen I urge you to keep her in a crate downstairs at all times (except for potty breaks) all it would take is a turn or step in the wrong direction to cause what is probably a leaking disk to completely rupture... i don't want to scare you but as i am sure know this situation is serious and if it were my dog there is no way she would be allowed to be free in any part of the house. I know it seems i harp on the crate issue a lot but trust me it is only because i do care and don't want to see your dog further injured.
Hope she continues to improve :xfinger:
Jen
Jen, She is confined to a very small area with her bed, some water and her potty area. Truthfully I think she sleeps and lays in her bed all day anyway, but I have restricted her movement more than usual.
I will let everyone know what the vet says tomorrow morning since it'll be late when I get out of the office tonight.
Date Posted: April 10, 2006, 01:44:12 pm
Update on Cajsa.
Last night was the first night that she couldn't snuggle up and sleep with her papa and be carried by her papa to the pottybox and such at a whimper. She slept pretty steadily against me all night. I did have to get up twice to take her potty but whatever works right?
The vet checked her over yesterday evening and she is still having mild back spasms even on the meds. They don't seem to be bothering her though and she is able to walk short distances (all I let her) without trouble. She will be on tramadol and ribaxin (Is that it? it's a muscle relaxer) the rest of the week. Then she will try the rimadyl again for a few more days. If she is still uncomfortable and the rimadyl isn't working then I can call and get different meds. I asked about steroids and was told they weren't always the best option if there was a history of GI problems since they could cause them if used too often. So for now anyway we are using NSAIDS for pain management. She is on strict rest for another three weeks at least possibly more. She is not the happiest camper. Poor girl!
Bless her little heart.......Sending rays that the spasms ease up...... Please keep us posted