Degenerative Disk Disease

[TLC]

Originally Posted by Bellaandhelen

Thank you so much for responding- I just feel so helpless right now and want to make sure I do the right things for her and as quickly as possible. I think I am going to ask my vet for a referral to a specialist. A coworker told me you usually need to be referred, but I don't really know - I hadn't tried calling anywhere yet. And I wasn't sure what kind of specialist to go to- neurologist? ortho? internist? I'm still troubled by no explanation of why there would have been blood in her stool yesterday. Do you think I should start her on Cosequin? Do I need to wait until she has completed the medications the vet put her on? thanks again for your post.

Yes you do need to be referred to see a specialist, and I do believe that spine/disc is Neuro. And the ER Vet can do that instead of you making the trip and paying the office visit to your general Vet.

Cosiquin is a joint supplement and it can't hurt.

There wasn't any explanation for Cole either, one minute he was fine, the next he couldn't stand up on his own.

I did read that bacteria could also be a culprit, but from what I recall, it was hard to determine that, but maybe worth while mentioning to the Vet.

[Bellaandhelen]

I just got back from Bella's regular vet. He looked at her and everything and said he doesn't think anything is wrong with her back at all. He thinks she ate or got into something that made her sick. He said that with the rain we have had recently, there have been some wild mushrooms that have made a number of dogs sick in the past week or two. He thinks her weakness in her hind legs was a result of her having intense pain in her stomach from some sort of toxin or food poisoning from something she ate. He thinks the medications she is on will clear everything up in a few days and that she will be back to normal. He said the reason I probably didn't understand the other vet's explanation of the x-ray very well is that she didn't actually find anything that supported her theory of degenerative disk disease. He told me that if her back was really injured, she would still have signs of pain or limping today.

I really really want to believe that her regular vet is right and that she is going to be totally fine and back to normal in a few days. I do trust him and she does seem soooo much better today. But, I don't want to make a mistake and be wrong and have her get worse. For right now, I am thinking I will continue to keep her confined to the crate and taking it easy for a while longer. Keep her on all the medicines like both vets have recommended. I guess I can just watch her closely and seek out a specialist if she regresses even the slightest bit.

[TLC]

Sounds good

My concern with my parents and Cole was that he too seemed better and now what to do about the Pred. You can't just stop it, but yet if they don't need to be on it, you need some direction with it, bc it is very rough on the organs (liver, etc..)

Did either Vet give you direction with the Pred

[Bellaandhelen]

Bella's regular vet said to continue with all the medications including the prednisone. It's prescribed for twice a day for 2 days, once a day for 4 days, and once every other day for 2 days.
Any thoughts? Should I call him back to ask more questions about whether she really needs to take the prednisone? Part of me wants to be on the safe side just in case her back is injured in any way and have her take the prednisone in addition to extra rest and restricted activity. I'm going to look up more about side effects, etc...

[TLC]

Ok, that's good, so they are only doing it mildly and weaning down at the same time

[Bellaandhelen]

Originally Posted by TLC

Ok, that's good, so they are only doing it mildly and weaning down at the same time

I'm relieved you don't find the dose too worrisome. Yes, I'm glad it's only for a few days and tapered off. I looked up the side effects and some are definitely scary, but it looks like the side effects are more of a concern for longer term use - whew. I have noticed the drinking and peeing more and some panting.

I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for all your responses and support!

I'll definitely keep everyone informed on how she does from here. I have my fingers crossed and am just enjoying every moment I can have Bella on my lap petting her. These little lovebugs sure can scare us- I'm exhausted.

[Connie]

I am so glad to see that your vet thinks Bella will be fine! Bless her heart! Hugs to you...yes indeed...they sure can scare us!

[Patti]

I am so glad your vet visit was better. I took Cali to the er vet because she had eaten part of a latex toy and was hunched over and looked in pain when walking. I got the er doc I don't like, I can tell he doesn't like small dogs. He did xrays and bloodwork and comes back and said that all he could see was that her tummy was too full and I must have fed her too much. SHe hadn't eaten all day!! Then he said her spine looked bad that she had spondylosis and disc narrowing and thats all he would concentrate on, when I knew she had eaten the latex toy. I took her home and next morning she poops out this large piece of latex and is fine. That was 2 years ago and she had not had any back problems. I know refuse to see this er vet and wait for whoever else is on duty.

[Bellaandhelen]

Originally Posted by Patti

I am so glad your vet visit was better. I took Cali to the er vet because she had eaten part of a latex toy and was hunched over and looked in pain when walking. I got the er doc I don't like, I can tell he doesn't like small dogs. He did xrays and bloodwork and comes back and said that all he could see was that her tummy was too full and I must have fed her too much. SHe hadn't eaten all day!! Then he said her spine looked bad that she had spondylosis and disc narrowing and thats all he would concentrate on, when I knew she had eaten the latex toy. I took her home and next morning she poops out this large piece of latex and is fine. That was 2 years ago and she had not had any back problems. I know refuse to see this er vet and wait for whoever else is on duty.

Yes, lesson learned for me there- you just don't know who you are getting with an emergency vet. I would be angry with the emergency vet for getting me so upset, but I imagine she was just trying to cover every possible problem: ulcer, slipped disk, or GI infection. Still- I hope if I ever have to go back to the emergency vet that there is another vet on duty! And for right now, I am just soooo relieved that Bella is improving and that this could all be cleared up in a matter of days.

What a nightmare story about your emergency vet- I can totally understand why you would demand and even wait to see another vet at your emergency clinic!!! I don't know how any vet could not like small dogs- but hey- I know some doctors and nurses who seem not to like people very much. It always makes me wonder why they went into medicine. I'm glad your Cali turned out to be alright and hope that the doctor didn't get you in hysterics like the ER one got me. It sounds like you knew he was totally off-base though since you knew she had eaten the toy.

Thanks again everyone for your support!

[Bellaandhelen]

Todays update- Bella is continuing to get better.
Bella is eating and drinking very well. She had a stool last night that was firmer and no blood that Tom could see- I though there might have been a little bit of darker clotted blood but might have been my eyes. This morning another stool which was pretty firm and no blood. I am keeping her either in my lap or next to me on the couch and will let her walk around in the same room I am in when I am home, let her sleep in the bed with me last night- she slept well through the night. I carry her out into the yard to potty on her leash and back into the house. I put her in her crate (with plenty of water) while I am at work- partially because I don't want her to overdo it or for her to get jumped on by Baci and partially because the prednisone is making her pee a lot and I don't want her having accidents in the house. I'll check in on both furbabies at lunch. She appears to be feeling much better- still sleeping a lot and not moving terribly fast most of the time, but her face and eyes look better, she doesn't appear to be in any pain that I can tell. She does seem to want to run about a tiny bit- not too much. She is walking just fine. I assume her being somewhat sleepy and lethargic still is related to her taking the muscle relaxer/pain medication.

Overall, everything is well and I am very relieved.

[Datzie]

I'm glad Bella is back on track and everything is going to be ok with her

[TLC]

Glad to hear to good news

[vlccairo]

So happy for the good news. Vivian and Samantha

[FlDebra]

Glad to hear she is doing so much better! Maybe she just overdid it a little with the play. Just glad she is no longer in pain. Wishing her continued recovery!

[Patti]

So happy to hear Bella is better.