VALIUM

[james]

After a worrying couple of days the Vet (and I) have come to the conclusion that Lupin has injured her back. She had been very unhappy and obviously in pain and also had a high temp. She has had 2 antibiotic injections and 1 pain killing injection. She is much happier now that she has had some pain relief and although we cannot be 100% certain we hope that it is minor damage which will resolve with pain relief and time. I have come away from the Vets this morning with antibiotics (Vet reckons that since we have started a course we may as well finish), anti inflammatory/pain killer (meloxicam) and Valium (4 x 2.5mg doses). The reason given for the Valium is that it is a very effective muscle relaxant and is to be given last thing at night to ease any painful muscle spasms.Somewhere in the back of my mind I recall reading a thread which mentioned Valium but can't remember whether comments were positive or negative.
Can anyone offer any feedback or advice ?

James

[gazer]

My greyhound Alfie has had a few back 'episodes' and valium was prescribed along with anti-inflamms.  It did wonders and really helped to relax the muscles in the affected area, I would definitely use it again for Alf.  The muscles go into spasm and valium can help to relieve this.
Hope Lupin makes a full and speedy recovery

Jacqui

[alfiemoon]

Hey James, how are you?

Sorry to hear Lupin has been in the wars, healing vibes are on their way

I don't know about hounds but my step dad has had a bad back and he was prescribed vallium as a muscle relaxant too...no help at all I know!

(you may recognise Alfie but not the user name! Loz was already taken on here. )

[james]

Hi Alfiemoon, I'm OK.
It's been a stressful couple of days. Saturday evening Lupin out chasing bunnies and having a great old time - Sunday morning she is shut down. Wont eat, interact with anything and generally miserable. Off to emergency vet who thinks she has an infection as her temperature is up but can't find anything else so gives an antibiotic injection but no pain relief.The fact that he managed to take her temperature(no other vet has managed) and give her an injection without howling the place down told me she was not in great shape. Monday back to vet and temp still up but managed to persuade him that the dog was in pain(different vet and much more switched on) so another antibiotic jab plus painkiller jab. Not easy to get her temp and much howling at the painkiller jab told me things were a little better. Little madam would not eat cooked chicken I had bought or even sausages but had a little nibble at some tuna (John West chunks in spring water of course). Seemed much cheerier when the painkiller kicked in. Today extremely difficult to take temp but it is back to normal and vet has found a slightly painful area in her back. Hopefully minor injury that will get better with anti inflammatory/painkiller. Tonight has eaten all of her posh dinner and attempted to chase a cat! Why do we put ourselves through these things. These bloody lurchers are like Lazarus.
Thanks to you and Gazer for info on Valium. I hope she enjoys her trip tonight.

James

[vickyb]

Gracie has had a few short course of Diazepam which I believe is much the same to relax her back muscles as they tend to get tight with her only having 3 legs.
They seem to help without making a massive difference to her in herself.

Hope she's feeling better very soon

[julies]

My bridge grey began to show signs of severe pain - arched back, high temperature and the conventional vets I used couldn't get to the cause of it .. my homeopathic vet (who's unfortunately miles and miles away) recommended I get her to a chiropractor which he finds usually sorts undiagnosed problems ... he was right, Tig had had two discs damaged by my other vets when they didn't support her head and neck after/during a GA

What about accupuncture too ? THat can really help free muscles?

Julie x

[alfiemoon]

How's the lovely Lupin doing now James? Hope there's been more of an improvement.
xxx and to you both.


Loz

[james]

HI

Not at all good I'm afraid. Been back to the vets for painkiller jab as I could not get her to eat anything to give meds with.
She has eaten very little over the the past week and is just very depressed. What I have been able to tempt her with one day she won't touch the next. Today I managed 4 cooked sausages and a whole packet of soft training treats.
Into vet tomorrow morning for a GA to do X-rays and bloods.
Thanks for your concern I am frightened to death.

James

[vickyb]

So sorry, really hope your fears are unfounded and it all goes well today and it's nothing too serious

[julies]

All crossed its something straight forward - my bridge grey was re-xrayed by my 'conventional' vets to see if they could find out why she was so ill they found nothing tho how the feck they missed the two damaged discs was beyond me She was taken into the local vet referral hospital but after 4 days I took her home then to the homeopathic vet and it was he who diagnosed the damage and cured her enough to go back to off-lead etc etc

If there is a pain in her neck/back etc can you hold the food at a different angle to see if she'll eat then? My grey would be tempted by Tescos steak and Kidney Pies or their warm roast beef slices in gravy or cream cheese which I rubbed on her teeth cos I'd crushed her tabs in it and she had to lick it off her teeth so had some calories and the pain killers ...she'd eat some of the Tescos training treats too and a bit of pilchards ... I remember how desparate I was too Hope all goes well ....

J xx

[james]

X-rays clear so no structural problems thank goodness. Temp however is back up to 104.9F so a complete change of tack. It seems that she has some sort of infection and vet is not surprised that she is depressed and not wanting to eat with so high a temp. A bit of a relief as it at least seems we are getting a handle on things even though we don't know the exact cause. They have sent off bloods to try and get a bit more info and in the meantime given 2 different antibiotics to try and get a head start. Blood results will be 2-3 days so fingers crossed. I also asked then if they would test for Lyme's disease and they will.
Challenge now is to get the bugger to eat something! I have tried sausages, ham, and even smoked salmon trimmings and what is grudgingly accepted one day will be refused the next. All she has had today is a whole packet of Bakers Allsorts and a few soft training treats. Not too unhappy as she has had a GA today and just started antibiotics. We'll see what tomorrow brings.

James

[james]

STOP PRESS

Has just eaten 4 sausages

[alfiemoon]

Poor Lupin, she must be feeling poorly to refuse food, but good news on the sausages! I hope the meds start working quickly and she gets on the mend PDQ.

Please give her a from us here and try not to worry yourself too much.

[nataliesian]

Great news about the sausages ! Any luck with cheese Mak likes scotch eggs and cream cheese when hes poorly xxxx failing that mashed potatoe and butter with peas xxxx

[Rachel and Daisy]

Hi James, I think I remember from my biology lessons that if you have a high temperature the enzymes that digest your food cannot work properly as they have a very narrow temp range within which they function. This then obviously affects appetite. I know thats not that helpful in terms of wanting Lupin to eat but may explain why she is not.