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Gabapentin

Cavluvver wrote: when I look at him he seems to squint and seems to find it difficult to raise his eyes

I got Oliver at a year old and right from the start he squinted in strong sunlight or when looking up at bright light - when I breed showed him and he was looking up at me in the ring he would squint if he was also looking directly at fluorescent lighting in the ceiling. Neither I nor my vet thought anything of this at the time - it was just the way Oliver was. Now I know that his dilated ventricles interfere with the mechanism that controls his pupils - they close too slowly and don't close completely, so that he can't prevent strong light getting into his eyes. Fortunately - so far - there is no damage to his retina. He's fine on our normal walks, as he usually has his nose to the ground so isn't looking at the sky and sun. But when he is lying down looking out on sunshine, even if he is in the shade himself, he starts to squint and is obviously beginning a headache. After one really bad episode, I keep a watchful eye on him and either move him away from the sun or put his sun hat on (a fetching tan baseball cap!), so the problem is pretty well under control.

So what that rather long explanation is saying is yes, keep an eye on Rossi's squinting - it can be just a normal reaction to sunlight, to protect the eyes, but it could be yet another symptom of his SM (the list does seem to be endless...).

Kate, Oliver and Aled
 
Rossi's operation

Well we're off to Chestergates again with Rossi tomorrow for the operation to put a screw in his leg to prevent it breaking. I am dreading it, we have to leave him overnight and pick him back up on Thursday. I hope he's not going to be in a lot of pain afterwards. What with this and his sm which doesn't seem to be improving with the tramadol either. As I said before, when we see the neurologist again I am going to ask him if we can try omeprozole. My son still hasn't got a date for the removal of his thyroid tumour yet either. It's disgusting, he had his pre-op almost 2 months ago. It's just one thing on top of another at the moment but you can get through anything if you have support can't you?:hug:
 
Wow you are under so much stress at the moment. We'll be thinking of Rossi tomorrow, once he gets over the hurdle of his leg op then you can focus on his sm. As for your son, well I think it's disgraceful that you are left waiting for a date, poor lad. Hope everything goes ok tomorrow xx
 
Will be thinking of you tomorrow and hoping that your son is going to get the date for his op soon.

I am sorry but in my opinion you need to change your neurologist
 
Can't wait to see rossi

Thanks everyone for your good wishes. We are off to pick Rossi up shortly, it's an hour and a half drive, but I can't wait to get him home. Apparently, the surgery want well and the screw is noe in place to hold the bone in his leg together so it won't break. He's been there since yesterday morning at 8.30 am and I have missed him so much and keep thinking I hear him following me around the house. They say he hasn't eaten anything, even when they try to hand feed him, so that means that he hasn't had any food since Tuesday teatime. Oh my poor baby I just want to get him home and comfort him. Then it will be dealing with the sm again and finding the right meds. I let you all know how he is later.:(
 
Oh I hope he eats when he's back in the comfort of home. I'm so glad the operation went well. What kind of restriction is he on for movement? So glad he's coming home and you'll be able to cuddle him.
 
Thanks everyone for your good wishes. We are off to pick Rossi up shortly, it's an hour and a half drive, but I can't wait to get him home. Apparently, the surgery want well and the screw is noe in place to hold the bone in his leg together so it won't break. He's been there since yesterday morning at 8.30 am and I have missed him so much and keep thinking I hear him following me around the house. They say he hasn't eaten anything, even when they try to hand feed him, so that means that he hasn't had any food since Tuesday teatime. Oh my poor baby I just want to get him home and comfort him. Then it will be dealing with the sm again and finding the right meds. I let you all know how he is later.:(



He will soon be home with you and you can spoil him, cuddle him and give him all his favourite things to eat.

At least this will be one of the complications in your life dealt with for now.

Give Rossi a gentle hug from me.
 
Rossi's back home

Sorry I haven't posted till now but the last couple of days has been so hectic. Thanks again for all your good wishes. We picked Rossi up on Thursday teatime and the surgeon said that all had gone well. We couldn't believe how lively Rossi was and that he was walking perfectly well on the leg, no limp at all. The surgeon told us that Rossi was to be walked on a tight lead, 4 times a day for 10 mins and he was not to be allowed to jump om furniture or knees, one jump could mean the screw implant would break. We were also to be vigilant in watching the wound, which is open to the air, for any signs of infection. Rossi was not to lick it so has to wear an elizabethan collar when we are not with him and he totally freaks when it's on him. We have to carry on with the tramadol that the neurologist had now prescribed for his sm, which doesn't seem to be helping by the way, and also give him antibiotics. Rossi wolfed down the food that I had taken for him as he hdn't eaten for 2 days and had the longest drink of water I had ever seen him have. He also slept all evening as he seemed exhausted. The only problem has been keeping a very excitable dog like Rossi from jumping up on furniture and on people. As i look after my 2 three year old grandsons it was a nightmare trying to give them my attention while following Rossi from room to room making sure he didn't jump up. I felt like I was nagging the boys most of the time and felt very guilty when they had gone. We have noticed also since yesterday, Rossi has started limping again. We are not sure if he has damaged the screw or if it a reaction to moving around more. We are going to have to see how he goes this weekend and if we don't see an improvement by Monday morning give the surgeon a ring. Nothing is ever straight forward is it? Last night I had a good old cry but we have to keep going for them, don't we?:(
 
Sorry I haven't posted till now but the last couple of days has been so hectic. Thanks again for all your good wishes. We picked Rossi up on Thursday teatime and the surgeon said that all had gone well. We couldn't believe how lively Rossi was and that he was walking perfectly well on the leg, no limp at all. The surgeon told us that Rossi was to be walked on a tight lead, 4 times a day for 10 mins and he was not to be allowed to jump om furniture or knees, one jump could mean the screw implant would break. We were also to be vigilant in watching the wound, which is open to the air, for any signs of infection. Rossi was not to lick it so has to wear an elizabethan collar when we are not with him and he totally freaks when it's on him. We have to carry on with the tramadol that the neurologist had now prescribed for his sm, which doesn't seem to be helping by the way, and also give him antibiotics. Rossi wolfed down the food that I had taken for him as he hdn't eaten for 2 days and had the longest drink of water I had ever seen him have. He also slept all evening as he seemed exhausted. The only problem has been keeping a very excitable dog like Rossi from jumping up on furniture and on people. As i look after my 2 three year old grandsons it was a nightmare trying to give them my attention while following Rossi from room to room making sure he didn't jump up. I felt like I was nagging the boys most of the time and felt very guilty when they had gone. We have noticed also since yesterday, Rossi has started limping again. We are not sure if he has damaged the screw or if it a reaction to moving around more. We are going to have to see how he goes this weekend and if we don't see an improvement by Monday morning give the surgeon a ring. Nothing is ever straight forward is it? Last night I had a good old cry but we have to keep going for them, don't we?:(

Yes, you do have to keep going and so you must make it a little easier for yourself.

With two lively little boys and an excitable dog it feels as if you may be trying to do the impossible. You need to make a pen or buy a crate to keep Rossi in when you are busy and unable to watch him.

He may not like being shut away but you should harden your heart because it is for his own good. A little tough love is needed until that leg has healed.
 
Margaret is absolutely right,a little tough love is exactly what's called for.
Perhaps some of the pain relief is starting to wear off and he may be feeling it a little so keep him calm and stress free.
A lot is down to the skills of the specialist,the rest, just time and good care at home.
You have so much to contend with at the moment,just be kind to yourself and everything will fall into place in the end.
I'm so glad you have him home.
Sins
 
Still worried

You are right, I have to try to make things easier as I just can't keep my eye on the boys and Rossi at the same time. I have a large travel cot so I'll pop him in that when I can't watch him. he will be able to see us through the mesh but I don't know if that will stop him jumping up and spinning round, he's such an excitable dog. As for the leg, he is STILL limping and, as I have said, he didn't when we brought him home. I haven't seen an improvement since he started limping again on Friday, the day after we brought him home. I'm still so worried because, if the screw has broken, what damage may it be doing to his leg? Thanks Margaret and sins for your advice and encouragement.
 
X ray

Rossi has just been dropped off at our vets to have an x ray of the leg to see if the screw has snapped. He is still limping badly this morning. I will post again when I find out the results.
 
Rossi has just been dropped off at our vets to have an x ray of the leg to see if the screw has snapped. He is still limping badly this morning. I will post again when I find out the results.

I have had my fingers crossed. Any news yet?
 
Great news

Hi everyone, the screw in Rossi's leg is NOT broken. The x rays show that it is still intact, which is great news. The vet said that the strong meds that he would have been given after the op would still have been in Rossi's system for a while after we brought him home and when they had worn off and was just on his syringomyelia med ( tramadol ) and antibiotics, he would probably been in more pain and that's probably why his lamenous was worse. I am still glad though that we had thex ray done as it has given us peace of mind that we were not damaging Rossi's leg and that the screw is tougher than we thought. We are taking him back on Monday and the vet is going to take his stitches out and give hime a thorough check. We then go back in a months time to ChesterGates to see the orthopaedic surgeon again and I am also going to see the neurologist again to discuss how Rossi has been on tramadol, but I am really going to push to try a csf inhibitor and, if he is not keen, I am going to insist as I am not happy that we haven't tried one yet, so I am not going to let his 'attitude' bother me this time. After all Rossi is MY dog and I want to try all avenues to cause him the least suffering and I truly believe that all your advice is invaluable after all this forum is like one big study of dogs with syringomyelia and how effective different meds are, isn't it? Thanks, yet again for all your support, I really do not know what I would do without you, as you probably have found too, people get a bit fed up sometimes of listening to you talking about our dogs, but not you guys. love you all loads, Jackie, I will keep you posted:updte:
 
That is such good news!!!!! Amazing that not one of us thought of that as the reason for his limping. I actually had foot surgery a few years ago and the surgeon gave me a nerve block and for the first 24 hours after surgery I had absolutely no pain. Should have thought of that for Rossi. But I'm so glad you had it checked out and he's doing o.k. Just get through his recovery and then you can deal with his SM meds.
 
I'm so pleased the vet found the screw in Rossi's foot is still okay. That is one big worry off your mind.

Give him a gentle hug from me.
 
Great news about his leg....and you go girl!! Stick to your guns, he's your baby and there's every reason for you to want the best treatment for him xx
 
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