Hi all,
This might be kind of a long story, but I'm feeling very torn after a recent visit to the vet about what direction to take next to help my little mini-dachshund, Kobe. He's almost 4 years old, and has always been very easily stressed out by just the slightest shift in our routine. For probably at least 2 years, he's had these brief little spells where his tummy makes extremely loud rumbling noises, he refuses to eat, and generally acts uncomfortable. However, they always resolve within a half-day, he poops normally and doesn't vomit, so I've never taken him to the vet for this. It has occurred maybe every 3ish months, usually after events that messed up our schedule (Christmas, a day at the dog-sitter's, etc.).
Anyway, recently he had three of these events within 2 weeks, and I called the vet to get their opinion. They had me bring him, and their thought was that his tummy was upset because of back pain. They did a GI X-ray just to check, which was normal. Then they sent me home, recommending crate rest, along with an anti-inflammatory and pain meds. As usual, his tummy cleared up within a day, and he was wanting to play and acting normally. I've been limiting his activity around the house and keeping him crated when I can't supervise. I'm giving him the anti-inflammatory, which is a liquid, but the pain meds are pills that he absolutely refuses when mixed with anything. But he hasn't been in pain, so hasn't seemed like he needed them.
I've been doing research into IVDD, and literally the only symptoms I can notice are the tense tummy and not wanting to eat, but these have always been short-lived. As soon as I started crating him, his stress went through the roof, and he's woken up a couple different nights with the noisy tummy again. As usual, it still clears up quickly, but the episodes are getting more frequent. I can't afford to keep running to the vet each time he has symptoms, but I guess I'm just really torn about what is best. I want to be safe in case it is his back, so I'm following the restrictions, but messing with his routine seems like it's making his tummy troubles worse, and that's what I was mainly concerned about in the first place. Does this sound like IVDD to anyone else? In between tummy episodes, he's begging to play (which I've been trying to keep extremely gentle) and eating normally. He never is reluctant to move or be touched. I'm considering getting a second opinion, but again, don't want to keep paying for visits. Thanks for your help!
This might be kind of a long story, but I'm feeling very torn after a recent visit to the vet about what direction to take next to help my little mini-dachshund, Kobe. He's almost 4 years old, and has always been very easily stressed out by just the slightest shift in our routine. For probably at least 2 years, he's had these brief little spells where his tummy makes extremely loud rumbling noises, he refuses to eat, and generally acts uncomfortable. However, they always resolve within a half-day, he poops normally and doesn't vomit, so I've never taken him to the vet for this. It has occurred maybe every 3ish months, usually after events that messed up our schedule (Christmas, a day at the dog-sitter's, etc.).
Anyway, recently he had three of these events within 2 weeks, and I called the vet to get their opinion. They had me bring him, and their thought was that his tummy was upset because of back pain. They did a GI X-ray just to check, which was normal. Then they sent me home, recommending crate rest, along with an anti-inflammatory and pain meds. As usual, his tummy cleared up within a day, and he was wanting to play and acting normally. I've been limiting his activity around the house and keeping him crated when I can't supervise. I'm giving him the anti-inflammatory, which is a liquid, but the pain meds are pills that he absolutely refuses when mixed with anything. But he hasn't been in pain, so hasn't seemed like he needed them.
I've been doing research into IVDD, and literally the only symptoms I can notice are the tense tummy and not wanting to eat, but these have always been short-lived. As soon as I started crating him, his stress went through the roof, and he's woken up a couple different nights with the noisy tummy again. As usual, it still clears up quickly, but the episodes are getting more frequent. I can't afford to keep running to the vet each time he has symptoms, but I guess I'm just really torn about what is best. I want to be safe in case it is his back, so I'm following the restrictions, but messing with his routine seems like it's making his tummy troubles worse, and that's what I was mainly concerned about in the first place. Does this sound like IVDD to anyone else? In between tummy episodes, he's begging to play (which I've been trying to keep extremely gentle) and eating normally. He never is reluctant to move or be touched. I'm considering getting a second opinion, but again, don't want to keep paying for visits. Thanks for your help!
