Good News/Bad News

 Oh no Aspen, we can't have you with the ouchies! You poor little sweetie. 

As for the UTI's Annie, you are NOT a bad dog mum, they happen.  I've never had Ben on Pred so I'm no help there, but there are several people who've had their dogs on it recently and I'm sure they'll be along to help.  

I wonder if massage might help?  I know when I've slipped a disc in the past I keep my back SO stiff just because any movement hurts, so all the muscles tense up and the pain doesn't just come from the disc itself.  It *really* helps if you can keep those other muscles from knotting up too much. 

Pred sucks but SOMETIMES you just plain gotta to get inflammation under control. 

The dog will drink a TON -- let them.  Give them ALL they want.  Anticipate having to go out constantly -- pred can mess with the muscles and they sometimes can't hold it like they want NOR can they 'release' it the way they want outside.  So be uber patient.  You might put a plastic table cloth under their bed or switch to bedding that you can wash.  Put down sheets, etc. in the areas they lay.

Yep, I'd tell you to give milk thistle -- all you can.  Marin and Denosyl are expensive and I've done fine with the herb.  You just use a LOT of it.  (Marin is like concentrated milk thistle but it also takes the 'natural' element out of it so it could have other side effects I don't know about.)

A whole lot of it is patience -- pred can mess with the emotions and all sorts of stuff.  And you DO know you gotta wean off it, right?  Medical opinion differs -- some say wean off ANY pred, others say if they've been on it a week you gotta wean ... etc. 

Thanks Kate.  I am a human massage therapist so I know the benefit of keeping muscles relaxed.  I know that Reiki can also help.  Pred just scares me.

gradyupmybutt

I am a human massage therapist so I know the benefit of keeping muscles relaxed.

I did not know that! LOL.  Guess I was preaching to the converted there, sorry!

Good thing you like your new Vet!  Hope everyone is better soon. 

gradyupmybutt

I am a human massage therapist so I know the benefit of keeping muscles relaxed.

Oh Aspen I feel for ya bud!  No advice on the prednisone - from others posting it would appear he will have to pee a lot. 

I am surprised they went to a steroid to reduce inflammation instead of a pain killer/muscle relaxant............  But what do I know

Sending some healing vibes the to the whole pack

 Aw, Annie, you're not a bad mom. I'm sending lots of lovin's and get-well vibes to your crew.

Kate & Karen, hey, I gotta have SOME secrets, ya know? ~L~  I actually am thinking about trying to pursue canine massage as a career.

Back on topic....Karen, I'm surprised that Pred was prescribed too.  I also got a muscle relaxant as well.  Of course I'm not a Vet or anything but I'm really wondering if I want to do that to my Peanut.  I think I'm going to talk to the Vet again about just keeping an eye on him, give him the muscle relaxants PRN & just forget the Pred.

Any thoughts?

gradyupmybutt

I think I'm going to talk to the Vet again about just keeping an eye on him, give him the muscle relaxants PRN & just forget the Pred.

Slipped discs in humans can certainly be conservatively treated and can flare up and go again quickly.

Anyway poor Aspen 

I didn't know your babies were sick! Give them special kisses from me and spoil 'em rotten. 

Ok, you guys know I'm kind of the herbal 'queen' BUT I'm also going to tell you that there are times when you gotta do ALL you can do to reduce inflammation FAST before tissue is damaged.

Now ... if you can suggest something *else* -- like if you can find a holistic vet who will do Traumeel injections (a homeopathic -- incredible stuff and will help, along with acupuncture, to heal hurt cartilage, joints, etc. amazingly well) -- BUT if you can't find some relatively fast treatment to reduce that inflammation then there are times when the pred is perhaps the best you've got.

in other words -- just the fact that the disc is slipped -- it's in the wrong spot, it's inflamed, it's sore, and day after day that inflammation is breaking down that cartilage -- there are times with an injury when you have to choose 'fast and effective'. 

Now -- that being said here's the link to the AHV vet list and you might be able to find someone near you who stocks Traumeel (it's a -Heel product and it is amazing stuff but the injectible in a case like that will help incredibly).  You could give it orally (it comes in tablets and liquid) TOO.  (I usually get it at MorningstarHealth.com because it's cheaper than Whole Foods -- Billy and Tink both get it as well as me).

But a short course of pred (particularly if the vet is inclined to start it with a shot of dex) isn't the worst thing in the world.  In the right place, pred can be an incredible help.  It's just the long term use of it that sucks.

http://www.holisticvetlist.com/

No advice to give. People with more expertise than I have yet to gain have already posted. But it's great that you have a vet you trust and like.

 I'm sorry the "kids" have been under the weather! Poor little Aspen... Rascal would send you his favorite ripped-up squeaky toy to comfort you if he could, I'm sure!

calliecritturs

It's just the long term use of it that sucks.

Yeah, and not only that but the dose makes a huge difference too.  A lot of times you hear all the horror stories from people who had the dogs on huge whopping doses.  I see a big difference in Willow from the high dose to the dose she's on now.