Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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I'm glad Abner seems to be doing better! It sounds like a great update!
Sorry about your injury!
As a side note, when Comet had diskospondylitis, the ortho recommended Cipro antibiotic for life. She tolerated it well, so that is what we did.
Lots of good thoughts to you and Abner!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
P.S.
May I suggest you start a new topic on your next update? It's a bit confusing if you start reading on the 1st page.
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
Thanks for the Cipro suggestion. Did you have a sense that the infection never really went away? As it is Abner is getting 4 huge Cephalexin capsule per day. I'm not sure if Cipro would be less intrusive but I will run it past his vets and see what they think. Did you keep Comet on anti-inflammatories for the remainder of her life as well?
As far as starting a new topic, I would be fine doing that although the issues I am raising all grew out of his initial cancer diagnosis and the resulting amputation, chemo, and complications from them. Not sure what would be different if I start a new topic.
Did your dog have a blood culture? That is the only way to know which antibiotic is appropriate for diskospondylitis but in general cephalexin is the best bet. You can ask your vet about cefpodoxime which has the same spectrum of activity but he would only need to take 2 tablets once daily. Cefpodoxime is more expensive, however! Cephalexin is about $10 to $15 per month at Walmart and cefpodoxime would probably cost 5 times that.
Pam
Thanks for the Cipro suggestion. Did you have a sense that the infection never really went away? As it is Abner is getting 4 huge Cephalexin capsule per day. I'm not sure if Cipro would be less intrusive but I will run it past his vets and see what they think. Did you keep Comet on anti-inflammatories for the remainder of her life as well?
FYI, Pam is a vet so her input is invaluable!
We didn't do a blood culture but that's what our ortho vet familiar with disko said since she didn't tolerate Clavamox well. (threw up on it all the time because of the acid reflux and having to hop made it worse) My vet said disko is recurring and it's better to stay on it. Comet was 11-ish years old at the time of diagnosis.
Yes, Comet was on Rimadyl for life also. But keep in mind Comet was 3 legged all her life and her body had been thru the ringer from hopping all her life. I also did heat compresses on her neck and back and she got lots of massages. And she was on a muscle relaxer at bedtime. My ortho vet put her on a therapy of hyrdo therapy too. We have a rehab center and did that until summer and bought an Intex pool (around a $100 and easy to set up) and so she did hydro therapy at home.
All of combined really gave her a lot of comfort!
Here's hoping Abner stays feeling good!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
tazziedog said
Did your dog have a blood culture? That is the only way to know which antibiotic is appropriate for diskospondylitis but in general cephalexin is the best bet. You can ask your vet about cefpodoxime which has the same spectrum of activity but he would only need to take 2 tablets once daily. Cefpodoxime is more expensive, however! Cephalexin is about $10 to $15 per month at Walmart and cefpodoxime would probably cost 5 times that.Pam
We actually have never had a completely confirmed diagnosis so no blood cultures were done. The surgeon who did his biopsy and the amputation feels strongly that this is what we are dealing with but no one knows for sure. I think the reason we are on Cephalexin is that he thinks it is likely to attack the infection if it is present and it is available for $9 per month through a local pharmacy. We also had been on Deramaxx but it was costing a fortune and so switched to Gabapentin and Meloxicam. Oddly enough, my doc is now treating my pinched nerve pain with Gabapentin as well only in far higher doses. It make me very groggy so I only take it at night. This is also when I medicate Abner with his.
Thanks for your input.
Knowing now what I know, I would have preferred Meloxicam over Rimadyl (and not based on the cost but that is a bonus).
Our disko showed up on an xray. Again, not a vet but relating what my ortho vet said to me, the only way to confirm disko is to get a biopsy of the infection...but it's rarely done. He said, if they get better on antibiotics, then it is...if not...it isn't. But keeping mind, "the better" part takes awhile! It took a good month or two before I saw improvement but quiet honestly, she was never back to her old self after it. But she was also geriatric too.
Pinched nerves suck!!! I hope yours feel better soon!
Comet - 1999 to 2011
She departed us unexpectedly January 23, 2011 at the age of 12 1/2.
She was born with a deformed front leg and a tripawd all of her life.
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