Gabapentin

**cavluvver** · 5th October 2011, 03:24 PM

Hi everyone We are taking Rossi to Chestergates again on Friday as he has been getting worse. As you know Rossi was diagnosed in April by mri and has been on gabapentin 3 times daily with metacam for bad pain episodes. To be honest, although he hasn't had any bad pain episodes since he has been on it, his face rubbing and ear scratching hasn't stopped and have become more frequent and he has developed a bad limp on his front right leg. He can hardly move around after he has been resting and seems better when out for a walk. What are your experiences? Is gabapentin supposed to stop the scratching, rubbing etc.? I am going to ask the neurologist about a csf inhibitor as he hasn't even mentioned this to us and I know that most of your dogs are taking one. Our neurologist said thatRossi has a small syrinx, do you think that is the reason he has mentioned a csf inhibitor as he perhaps was going to suggest it if Rossi deteriorated?

**Kate H** · 5th October 2011, 08:44 PM

Did Rossi's MRI show that he had dilated ventricles as well as a small syrinx? My Oliver also has a small syrinx, but most of his problems come from his greatly dilated ventricles, which give him headaches and eye problems (he squints in strong light due to interference with the mechanism of his pupils). The dilated ventricles (rather then the syrinx) also seem to have affected the nerves in his right front leg, though this is much better now, 2 years on. I would definitely discuss a CSF inhibitor with the neurologist, as this could reduce the pressure of the ventricles (if Rossi has a problem here!).

Kate, Oliver and Aled

**cavluvver** · 5th October 2011, 10:09 PM

Thanks for your reply Kate. Our neurologist never mentioned dilated ventricles to us so I don't know anything about them, but I will ask him about thyem on Friday.

**Kate H** · 6th October 2011, 10:34 AM

When Oliver was scanned at Chestergates (this was just a mini-scan designed for breeders to know whether or not their breeding stock have SM - I'm not a breeder but just wanted to check on Oliver), we were given a certificate which showed the results of the scan at the bottom. There is a list of symptoms that are ticked if present: cerebellar herniation, dilated ventricles, syringomyelia. middle ear disease. If you were given a similar certificate, you will be able to see if Rossi was ticked for dilated ventricles (and how big they are - Oliver's are 3 times bigger than normal).

Kate, Oliver and Aled

**cavluvver** · 6th October 2011, 01:14 PM

We weren't given anything at all Kate, Luca just told us that Rossi had syringomyelia and showed us the herniation and the syrinx and prescribed gabapentin.

**Margaret C** · 6th October 2011, 01:27 PM

Originally Posted by cavluvver

We weren't given anything at all Kate, Luca just told us that Rossi had syringomyelia and showed us the herniation and the syrinx and prescribed gabapentin.

If this was a full MRI scan for diagnostic purposes ( cost about £1,500- £2,000 ) then there will have been a report sent to your Vet and you can ask for a copy.

The continuing scratching and rubbing & now the limping would suggest that the SM symptoms are getting worse, and obviously the gabapentin is either not working well for Rossi or the dose may need to be increased.

My Tommy had to go from 100mg three times a day to 200mg x 3 when his symptoms worsened. He now needs Lyrica which I think could be described as a newer, stronger and more expensive successor to gabapentin.

**cavluvver** · 7th October 2011, 09:37 AM

Thank you so much, Margaret and Kate for your very helpful advice. Rossi did have the full MRI. We are now off to Chestergates feeling much more informed and with a list of questions. We feel much more confident thatat we can make sure that Rossi is in as little pain as possible, thanks to you, your help is invaluable.

**Ylan** · 7th October 2011, 01:31 PM

Hi all,

My Lily's on Gabapentine with Dexamethazone for the scratching. We saw a specialist dermatologist as well and the result was that Lily's also got dermatitis which causes her to scratch and rub her nose aand chin, lick her paws etc. This doesn't explain the limping (unless he happens to have a self-inflicted via too much licking or accidental injury) but it might also be at play. Additionally dermatitis can make them more sensitive in their ears (where there is of course skin too) and where your dog may or may not also have PSOMS which could have shown up on the MRI.

Good luck with it. It's hard to narrow everything down but try and stay hopeful; it might be a more benign and more easily treatable cause.
Ylan