Neuro Corner Answers
Dr. Andrew Isaacs
DVM Diplomate ACVIM (Neurology)
Dogwood Veterinary Referral Center
Primary interests include intervertebral disc disease, seizure management, luxations/fractures of the spine, and surgery for brain tumors
Question
ROBBIE ASKS:
We took our 9 pound toy poodle to the emergency vet because she was shaking and would not eat. They did an x-ray and thought it was IVDD. They gave us tramadol for pain and told us to strictly crate her for 2 weeks. This was on Feb. 4 of this year.
We did this and she seemed to recover but mid April, 2 days ago, she started with the same symptoms. Our vet has recommended we see a neuro vet. My question after doing a lot of reading online and finding Dodgerslist is if we crated her long enough?
Was it only 2 weeks because she is a toy poodle not a dachshund? The night we were at the emergency vet a dachshund came in with back pain and they were instructed to crate it for 6 weeks.
Any additional information would be appreciated. We have not been given any other meds but the tramadol for pain. Bella can walk and go to the bathroom and the tramadol seems to control the pain. We will do anything we need to do for Bella and want to be sure we do whatever is best to try to prevent this from recurring?
ANSWER
With the second go around ideally it would be nice to know what you are up against. However, if advanced imaging (MRI, CT) is not going to be feasible then by no means is a longer cage rest time wrong.