:ambulance:
We are having problems with Kirby (4 yr old mini, 8lbs) and his back. This just started about two weeks ago, before that we had no signs anything was up. He walks fine, but yelps every so often when I pick him up - or if he has to move to a position thats uncomfortable. Thankfullly I am in a positionKirby where I can watch the little guy 24/7 and this is the second week he's spent either in his kennel or on my lap.
This started on Friday July 1. He just wasn't himself. His tail goes non-stop (usually) and he kisses everyone. Now remember we've had back surgery with Sol so we have ramps EVERYWHERE. Kirby still, will only use them if the mood strikes. Even in pain, sometimed the mood is not there. :idiot:
The vet gave me Predisone and Methocarbomal for a week. Kirby seemed better after the 3rd day, then on the 5th day he went back down hill. So monday (my birthday :doah:) we went back to the vet. The Dr. has pinpointed two vertebre in Kirby's back that he said are giving him grief. The suggestion this time is a longer dose of the same meds, with the addition of Tramadol. He will be on these for a week, and then weaned off of them for a week. We have not done x-rays yet because the vet said he will have to put him under for that, and he is hoping the meds help.
OK BUT NOW ITS THURSDAY MORNING and the only change I see is that Kirby doesn't yelp quite as much, and he sleeps alot, I'm not sure the meds are strong enough or the right kind.
ANY INPUT WOULD BE GREATLY APPRECIATED!!
That Methacarbonal is BIG medicine. They actually use it on elephants.
Our recent experience leads me to suggest that it may be masking a problem. We had Loki on this med for about a week before her surgery. AT that time we had had her x-rayed in the lumbar region as that is where her previous calcification had been. Since the x-ray showed another calcification, vet thought that might be causing the problem.
Anyhoo, the methacarbobal made her drunk and as a result we were not able to pick up the nuero signs of her neck disc rupture until she was really incapcitated--now, we dunno if the thing was a "slow leak" or a catastrophic rupture, but we feel that the sedative effects and pain relief was just enough to mask a real problem. She never yelped in pain until the night before the surgery when it then becaume immediatly clear to us it was her neck region and it was SERIOUS.
Most critters will hide pain, it's a survival thing, but in Loki's case, it also masked significant nuero symptoms.
So...my suggestion is to have the x-ray done. Have vet look at the WHOLE spine. Don't want to scare ya, and I think the vet did go with his best educated guess, so I have no doubts there, but a diagnostic procedure may answer some questions. He shouldn't be yelping on this level of pain med unless there is something significant happening.
Good luck and let us know how stinky baby dawg is doing.
Oh, and the ramp thing. Good grief, I put the ramp up to the sofa but then had to make a cage around the rest of the sofa so that Loki would use it and not leap off I watched tv last night in a crib, fer cryin' out loud.
Thanks Leslie, I never thought of the "masking a larger problem" theory. Just called the vet - he will get an x-ray tomorrow morning. :pray:
I think I'm on board with Leslie too. Been there done that with Penny about a year and a 1/2 ago...when she had just turned 5. Please let us know how it goes tomorrow. Soft belly rubs to Kirby :pray:
Ok, honestly - does anyone thing there could be a way out of this without surgery?? Poor little guy. The vet inially said it was a "flair up" and we could control it. Going on two weeks and he is just not himself. :confused:
hey, I'm not sayin' he needs surgery. I'm saying you need to get some diagnostic testing done to see what's going on.
I have not had any experience with back issues so I can't give much advice on it. I just wanted to let you know we are sending MEGA rays to you and Kirby. I really hope the vet can figure out what is wrong quickly and help Kirby not be in so much pain. :comfort:
Sol! KiRby! Watch out for those ghosts in the background!
hee hee what IS that?
The surgeon who performed Clifford's 3 surgeries would not use methcarbomol. He said it did nothing to releave or heal the problem. Rays coming for SBD.
Mike, do you remember what they used instead for Clifford?
OMG - those 2 cute little faces.....
I have heard several times that back problems manifest itself around 4-5 yrs old, if they are prone. I agree, I think an x-ray is in order, even if just for a benchmark.
With Rudy's episodes, the very minimun crate rest has been 3 weeks, and then very slowly coming back. A week just doesn't seem long enough. Keeping fingers and paws crossed here that Kirby can heal WITHOUT surgery.
Knocking wood here - but Rudy has not had an episode for several years - I am racking my brain trying to remember what he was given. I know prednisone, and a muscle relaxer - but don't remember what. And then very strict rest. NO jumping, or even going up ramps.
Sending rays and prayers in full force to the Kirblette - please keep us posted !
I have heard there is a website called www.dodgers.list.com. It is about dogs and their back problems. You might want to check there and see what they say. Good luck with your pupper. I hope all goes well.
Darcel
Oh crap I always hate to hear when yet another one of our precious doxies are victim to this nasty evil thing. I have been using tramadol and pred, but you will get a different answer from every vet/neuro/etc and can drive yourself batty. I even get different answers from my vet and her husband! (also a vet). I am glad Kirby is going in tomorrow, you really can't know more until then because everything will just be a guess so this will hopefully at least point you closer to what is happening in there. It's good his neuro functions are fine, does the pain seem more in the neck or lumbar? Let us know tomorrow what the vet says many :pray: coming your way.
Oh, no! I'm glad you went with Leslie's advice and getting an x-ray in the morning. They say back problems will raise their ugly heads between 4 and 7 years, but from what I've seen, it seems to be closer to 4.
I don't know anything about methcarbomol. Gretchen had back surgery around age 4 and has had 2 or 3 flair-ups since (she's 9 now). For the flair-ups, she gets crate rest and Rimady (non-steroidal antiinflamatory) and Robaxin (muscle relaxer). Looking back, I really wonder if we couldn't have avoided the surgery if we'd been better at crating her. I know it's a pain in the backside, but PLEASE have him on strict crate rest so you're not left wondering (like me). We watch Gretchen's every move and as soon as we see her 'off,' she gets crated and Rimadyl and Robaxin. So far, we've been able to avoid surgery again. Sending rays from Texas that meds and crating will do the trick.
I hope you can avoid the surgery with Kirby dog. He has got the cutest face!!! One doxie having surgery in the family is plenty. Hopefully the xray will give you the info needed to know the best treatment at this time.
Schatzi turned 4 in November and lately I've been paranoid over her every move. If she is moving the least bit slow, I worry. Randy finally reminded me that he has been walking her about a mile and a half each day and he should look tired in the evenings. She has no problem moving around when there is something or someone to bark at! Because Kendall-angel had back trouble when she was 5, I know this is the time to really start watching for any signs.
You guys are the BEST! Thank you for all your input and well wishes. Kirby has been fine since I came home from work at 2 - no yelps at all. He still walks cautiously and we lift him up and down on the couch, but he has been wagging his tail and giving out kisses. I hope that crate rest is all it takes!!
We are bringing him to the vet at 8 am, and he will have to be put under to get xrays. They are telling me it might be 4 pm before I can pick him up, but we'll see about THAT. LOL.
Thanks again....love you all - and I will post tomorrow.
Rays are coming from Washington for the Kirby-doodle "AKA" Stinky Baby Dog! Belly rubs to the boys! Dee, Dave, Sarge & Duggie
Know MRI's are more expensive but if they have to put the dog out for an x-ray seems to me like they would skip the x-rays and just do an MRI to begin with then they would know for sure what was going on in the back. The way they do it now do x-rays first then the MRI all vets know Dachshunds are prone to back problems in the first place so stands to reason if a Dachshund yelps in pain they would want to track the problem down right away??? It makes sense about the pain medicine masking problem also I would think the dog might feel better and do more damage to themselves in the long run.
Papbouv
Quote from: SNKSMOMSUE on July 24, 2008, 12:50:15 PM
Mike, do you remember what they used instead for Clifford?
Not really. This was 8 years ago. I checked the cupboard and I still have some Torbutrol, but I think that was to be used as a pain suppressant after his 1st surgery. I know prednisone was 1 of the 2 drugs and possibly dexamethasone. I have kept both of those on hand for flare ups the past few years.
Oh, I hate to read these kind of posts. Darn back problems. Don't have advice but I have loads of dachsie rays to send to SBD Kirby. Doggone it. I hope we hear good news about our Kirbster.
Well, as my luck would have it, Kirby woke up prancing around and wagging his butt. I took him to the vet anyway, and he said to just let it rest for another week. He said some dogs take longer to heal. I am glad because I didn't want to put him to sleep to do x-rays. So, for now we will cross our fingers and keep him on I.R.
The vet did mention acupuncture as a possibility down the road. I will keep you guys posted, thanks for the rays - I think thats what helped!!
Kirby is sleeping on his bed on the windowsill next to my desk at work. And Sol, well - he's starting to act out, I think he's jealous from the attention.
That's great news about Kirby! As for Sol, he is supposed to be jealous of the Stinky Baby Dog. He is good at it, so why not show you his winning ways. I guess if you give him a Greenie or two he may forgive you, at least for today.
It's been great to have you back on here again. I hate that this thread had to be about Kirby and his back, but it was still great to have you on again.
Yup, crate rest that pupper and we will be praying that will take care of it ! Please keep us posted !!!! Smoochies to those 2 boys !
Keep up the tail wagging Kirby! Rays are coming your way.
Rays for Kirbydoodle to continue improving! My Gretl-Angel didn't manifest her IVDD until 2 months before her 10th birthday - sigh! BTW, she and Rebecca's Frida (mrsmartinez) had the same surgeon down south.