HELP!Should Dachsie w/Bulging Disc on Bedrest Be this Sick?!

[speterson0618]

Help! On Sunday, my son noticed his dachsie wasn't feeling well. He took him to the vet on Tuesday. She took 2 x-rays and said it appeared to be a bulging disc (upper thoracic slightly below shoulders). She gave the dog Tramadol and Rimadyl and sent him home for bedrest.

2 days later, the dog was extremely sick, so my son called a vet neurologist. From there it would go to the MRI ($2500) and probably surgery ($5,000). My son didn't take him in, 'cause we can flat out not afford that.

Otto is not paralyzed, but is very very weak, and wobbly on his feet.

My husband and I haven taken the dog, and are watching him 24/7.
What I have found alarming is:
* I thought bedrest dogs had to be "subdued" to keep them from hurting themselves--Otto just lays on the bed
* He pooped (outdoors) last night, and peed his bed twice during the night (bright yellow).
* He twisted twice in the crate last night (rolled on his side and struggled to right himself)
* This morning, he was shaking in pain, and couldn't stand on his feet, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink
* Later this afternoon we got him to eat and drink, He did walk a few feet on the back porch, but then drooped face first to the ground.
* He has not pooped since last night--I even tried the Poop on Demand trick w/ice and w/a Q-Tip & Vaseline. He snapped when I did this.

* I'm trying to feel his bladder to express it, but it just seems flat back there.but he still hasn't pooped since last night.

Is he severely dehydrated?
Is there some kind of harness device like a brace that could better stabilize him and keep him from twisting?
Is this sometimes how sick a dachsie on bedrest can be?
Could his wobbliness be from the meds making him tired?

Please help!! I know this post is long enough, but I am at my wit's end worrying about this little guy. How do I do him justice?


Susan Peterson

[CarolC]

:? Help! On Sunday, my son noticed his dachsie wasn't feeling well. He took him to the vet on Tuesday. She took 2 x-rays and said it appeared to be a bulging disc (upper thoracic slightly below shoulders). She gave the dog Tramadol and Rimadyl and sent him home for bedrest.

Hi, you give a lot of good information. Often an x-ray is not enough to diagnose a bulging disk, you may need the (expensive) MRI or a myelogram (works as well, costs less, carries some risk) to really see what is going on. Possibly it is more than one disk. Your vet did the best she could with the imaging she had. Tramadol is a very good pain medication and it is commonly given to dachshunds for back problems, however from your description the pain control is not adequate, he needs something stronger. He is also on Rimadyl which is an anti-inflammatory that is sometimes used. I would prefer prednisone. If you can get the swelling down that would help.

2 days later, the dog was extremely sick, so my son called a vet neurologist. From there it would go to the MRI ($2500) and probably surgery ($5,000). My son didn't take him in, 'cause we can flat out not afford that.

If he really can't afford it, then crate rest is your only alternative. Some people have had success with acupuncture, but this really sounds like a case where surgery is needed, but I'm not a vet. Your son could apply for Care Credit, http://www.carecredit.com. They give loans for emergency veterinary care and the terms are excellent. They let you know right away if you are accepted. Most vet hospitals will accept Care Credit.

Otto is not paralyzed, but is very very weak, and wobbly on his feet.

My husband and I haven taken the dog, and are watching him 24/7.
What I have found alarming is:
* I thought bedrest dogs had to be "subdued" to keep them from hurting themselves--Otto just lays on the bed
* He pooped (outdoors) last night, and peed his bed twice during the night (bright yellow).
* He twisted twice in the crate last night (rolled on his side and struggled to right himself) He can't help it, you just have to check on him and correct it, my dog kept lying on her tail, she didn't know she was doing it.
* This morning, he was shaking in pain, and couldn't stand on his feet, wouldn't eat, wouldn't drink (Honestly, he needs better pain medication but I think he needs surgery.)
* Later this afternoon we got him to eat and drink, He did walk a few feet on the back porch, but then drooped face first to the ground. If his front legs are going out, it sounds like a neck problem (maybe in addition to the upper thoracic problem). A neck problem would also explain the extreme pain.
* He has not pooped since last night--I even tried the Poop on Demand trick w/ice and w/a Q-Tip & Vaseline. He snapped when I did this. I would not worry about pooping too much right now. It would be nice if he could empty his bowel but it isn't a big thing right now. It will come in its own time.
* I'm trying to feel his bladder to express it, but it just seems flat back there.but he still hasn't pooped since last night. Most likely, and I say this from experience because it happened to me, you are not feeling the bladder because it is so full it is filling the abdomen. You cannot feel the outline of the bladder when it is like that. I think he needs to be carried to the vet so they can express him. I imagine you saw the expressing info--here is the link and there are videos at the bottom. I have to go to work, wish I could write more.
http://www.handicappedpets.com/mediawik ... dog_or_cat


Is he severely dehydrated?
Is there some kind of harness device like a brace that could better stabilize him and keep him from twisting?
Is this sometimes how sick a dachsie on bedrest can be?
Could his wobbliness be from the meds making him tired?

Please help!! I know this post is long enough, but I am at my wit's end worrying about this little guy. How do I do him justice?

Bless you, I know you said it's all your son can afford, but you may have to assess whether the dog is making any progress...sometimes surgery is the better choice and sometimes crate rest unfortunately will not be enough....

EDIT: You could also go to www.dodgerslist.com, they have an email list with hundreds of people dealing with doxies with spinal issues.

Susan Peterson

[speterson0618]

Thanks Carol, I really appreciate the time you've taken to answer my questions.

Update: Last night, I bundled Otto up in a blanket, and put in in a big, soft, round, deep dog bed. I slept next to him on the floor. He got a good night's sleep, and even repositioned himself twice during the night.

This morning, I fed him some yogurt from a spoon, and continued with the water/eyedropper thing. He accepts the water with no trouble. He's eaten 4 small dog biscuits on his own. He's eaten tiny pieces of bread. He'll have something in his stomach when he gets his Rimadyl.

On his own, he wanted to get up and walk, so we let him. He began to get his "sea legs." I could tell he needed to poop, so I took him out on the back porch and he pooped (thank goodness).

We're now in the mode where he frequently wants to get up. However, I've just given him his Tramadol so I don't think that'll be happening.

Anyway, things are looking up. Per your suggestion, I'll be calling my son's vet today to see if he needs a change or adjustment to the meds. She's been great. It was she who had referred my son to the neurologist.

Thanks again for your time and kindness--I'll keep you posted.

Susan

[Christine]

I just want to welcome you and send the best with this little one. Bless you for sleeping next to him ...that's what we do. Looking forward to more good news.

[speterson0618]

Update: He poops, and appears to be in no pain. Except for brief outdoor sessions, He is completely confined to his crate w/rolled up towels around him so he doesn't roll over too far and hurt himself trying to twist.

I still have one major concern...although he is not paralyzed, and poops, I have not seen him voluntarily urinate in the yard. I have seen pee in the morning bedding. I'm trying to find his bladder, but that whole area seems flat.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Susan

[speterson0618]

We have pee ! Otto went outside and took a very long pee! So things are looking good. We now need to keep the inflammation down, pain controlled, and continue on our 8-wk crate rest .

[CarolC]

That's about the best news you could have. Yay!!!

[speterson0618]

Thanks Carol!!

He slept through the night, took a good long pee again when he got up, and ate all of his regular breakfast this am. I'm thrilled, but of course I'm remaining cautiously optimistic.

Oh, also--his back is no longer hunched. When he walks on the back patio, his back has now returned to a more horizontal position, and his tail is up and wagging.

Fingers Crossed,
Sue and Otto

[Cindi]

My dachshund mix was diagnosed with a bulging disc without any scans. Her back legs quit working, her back was humped up, incontinent of both bowels and bladder. Vet put her on Tramadol and Previcox and gave her a steroid shot. She improved a little each day. Began eating and drinking, taking her meds without a problem. She was even able to walk around yard for short time. We kept her quiet and did everything for her. Then on Thursday evening she started acting weird again. She vomited twice and although I saw no blood or anything in it, it had the worst odor I've ever smelled in dog emesis! She stood on all 4's in one spot for almost an entire hour. So I called the vet and he told me to stop the Previcox and if no better by morning, bring her in. Morning came and I took her to the vet. He checked her out...back legs were somewhat flaccid again, no fever, and was pretty sure her bowels were not full. I was concerned because I had only seen her have a a bowel movement once in 5 days. He decreased both her oral meds to 1/2 and gave her another shot of steroid. That was yesterday! He also told me to give her 5 cc (1 tsp) of Pepto Bismal for upset tummy. She no longer would take any of her meds! But I did manage to get the Pepto in her last night. During the night she had vomited it up in her crate. I have a really bad feeling about this!

[CarolC]

There is an injectable anti-emetic called Reglan (metoclopramide). Dogs on steroids are often given Pepcid a/c as a stomach protectant, check with the vet for the dose. Conservative management for disk disease would mean crating the dog for 6-8 weeks and no activity even if the dog seems better, only out to potty on a leash, then back in the crate. Since your dog improved then had a relapse, I think you might want to consider surgery for her while she still has deep pain sensation. If surgery is not an option then I think she needs to be crated very strictly. I think if it was my dog I would transport her to the weekend emergency vet, see about getting Reglan or something to prevent vomiting. The exertion of vomiting is going to further strain her back. It seems like she should be checked for possible GI ulceration even if you did not see blood. She may also need to be treated for constipation.

There is a website specializing in dachshund disk disease, with an active email list. The foul smelling vomit does not sound familiar to me but maybe someone there would know something about it.

http://www.dodgerslist.com

I am not a vet but it makes me uneasy to see he has her on 2 types of steroids [EDIT TO CORRECT: Previcox is an NSAID, not a steroid, but what I said still applies] and she is vomiting so badly. This is from the Previcox website (highlighting is mine):

As a class, cyclooxygenase inhibitory NSAIDs may be associated with gastrointestinal, kidney or liver side effects. These are usually mild, but may be serious. Pet owners should discontinue therapy and contact their veterinarian immediately if side effects occur. Evaluation for pre-existing conditions and regular monitoring are recommended for pets on any medication, including PREVICOX. Use with other NSAIDs, corticosteroids or nephrotoxic medication should be avoided.

[CarolC]

Hi Cindi,

How are things going?

Joanne sent me some information I was not aware of about Pepto-Bismol, so I am posting it for anyone who reads this.

Pepto Bismol

I was always told to give my dog Pepto Bismol for mild vomiting. But a friend recently told me that Pepto Bismol can be toxic to dogs. Is this true?

- Elisabeth B.

Pepto Bismol contains bismuth salicylate, which is somewhat similar to aspirin. While this medication has been prescribed by veterinarians at appropriate doses, large enough quantities of bismuth salicylate could cause effects similar to aspirin poisoning, depending on the circumstances of exposure

Because many human medications can be very harmful or even deadly to pets, the ASPCA advises pet owners to never give animals any medication or supplement that is not specifically prescribed by a veterinarian. If you suspect that your dog may not be feeling well, Elisabeth, call your vet so that your pet can be properly evaluated and given appropriate treatment.

Hope things are going better.