Need advice about spinal issues
 

Kirby is 6 and he has been having seizures for 3 years now. He's on keppra and a controlled diet and he has been doing well - only 2 seizures this year.

Today I took him to the vet because he hadn't been jumping around or lifting his leg to pee and I was concerned about this back legs. They did an xray and he has two areas of spinal compression (lumbar and mid back) and his left patella is luxating... which means his right one will eventually, too. I have an xray from last year about this time and none of these issues appear to be present, so we're in the early stages. I have copies of both xrays in case I need them. Kirby is crated when I'm not home so I know he didn't take any big falls, but it's possible he hurt himself jumping on/off the couch. He's been doing that for years without an issue but maybe he landed funny or something.

The vet gave me pain medication but they are hesistant to put him on prednisone because it reduces his seizure threshold. They want the vet specialist to make a recommendation and adjust his keppra dosage if necessary, but I can't get an appointment with them until the week of the 6th. Until then he is to be confined to the crate, only allowed out to eat and potty. This isn't really a problem because he puts himself in his crate, and for the last couple days he hasn't been coming out much... but it's a long time to wait. And I admit not being able to play with him makes me sad.

He seems ok for the most part (besides the butorphanol making him loopy) but this is a dog who had life-threatening pancreatitis and barely even let on. Is there anything I can do to help him? Tests I should pursue? Does he need to be on an anti-inflammatory right away? Is there a such thing as canine spinal decompression or other procedures that can help?

You can go the MRI and surgery route. Some wners choose to and others don't. The neurologist would decide based on testing whether surgery is warranted right now. I highly doubt it.

Bupi seems to work well keeping them quiet for this. You can add gabapentin if needed. Yes, anti-inflammatories are recommended. If steroids are a no go an NSAID might be appropriate.

Thanks. Does butorphanol typically cause nausea? He has just thrown up some food and seems a little loopy and out of it. He could just be a little off from the vet visit itself.

How is he doing? I'm sure it could cause nausea, but it hasn't for my girl.

Sorry for the late response - I missed the notification email. He seems to be doing ok on the butorphanal. It's the only pill he's ever taken willingly so I guess he likes it... hopefully I haven't turned him into a junkie or something. I think they want to add gabapentin or replace the butorphanal with it, but I haven't been able to get an appointment with the vet specialist yet. All the neurologists have been gone for the holidays. I'll get him an appointment next week. I'm not sure what the plan is with the anti-inflammatory yet.

After day 2 the nausea stopped but the meds definitely make him drowsy. He spends a lot more time sleeping than he usually does, but it's probably good for him to relax and not jump around and hurt himself.

I'm hoping maybe this is an injury and not a congenital issue, but knowing Kirby, it's probably the latter. I feel like he is too young to have all these issues.