Treatment after spinal tap

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For the latest info on helping your dog get through the recovery following the NDV spinal tap, go here: http://www.edbond.com/distemper/discussion/phpBB3/viewforum.php?f=2

There have been problems with dogs experiencing pain after the spinal tap treatment, but a drug therapy can help limit this. Here are some notes from Dr. Sears, with additional information he’s endorsed. The pain control and extra rest and sleep in the first week after the treatment is key. Otherwise a dog who had seemed to be rebounding will have sudden difficulties, as they crash from buildup of pain.

UPDATE, APRIL 7, 2010: “I talked to an old friend vet in Calif today who treated a case neurolgically and had pain.  He treated with Buprenorphine and said the dog was much more comfortable.  And did well.  I would suggest this as a post brain tap treatment to see if it helps with the pain.  Buprenophine  0.005 – 0.03 mg/kg  IV or IM or SQ .  2 to 4 times daily.   Also comes under the names of  Buprenex, Buprenor, or Tumgesic.   Vets have access to this drug.  Worth a try.

I’m hearing of a large group of dogs that are having problems with lock jaw after being treated intrathecally.  Do not know the cause.  But, most of these cases go on to die or be euthanized.  I think this needs to be put into the protocol as an exception.  I know of no way to help this situation at this time.  Doc

[UPDATE FROM ED BOND, NOVEMBER 2017: Received an email from a dog owner in Texas who reported that botox injections helped with the lock jaw problem. This is a newer technique, published in 2013 as a way to alleviate neuro trouble. Can be expensive, but worth asking about.]

Additional information, endorsed by Dr. Sears: “Also use valium orally or rectally.  Between pain control and keeping them relaxed/sleeping for the first week, this helps them recover from the tap and seizures.  For a 4 lb dog, we used 0.7ml up to three times a day of liquid valium–per treating vets tried both the cherry kid’s oral and the IV valium in her rectum. I was given pre-filled syringes of buprenorpnine for a week–in a big jar, and several days of pre-filled syringes of valium plus a prescription was called into my local pharmacy.”

Notes from Dr. Sears on pneumonia, distemper

These are notes from Dr. Sears, amending treatments, after attending a lecture in St. Louis:

Treatment at presentation of acute upper respiratory disease.

Serum – NDV induced serum 1 cc per ten lbs plus 1 cc per dog for 3 treatments given 12 hours apart. ( not NDV as some dogs cannot or do not respond and make appropriate cytokines) So, for a 30 lb dog would be 1 cc plus 3 cc for a total of 4 cc given 3 times.

Tamiflu–Turns out some of these other viruses are extremely sensitive to this medication. I would recommend that 1 mg/lb be given twice daily for at lease 7 days. Should block most of the viruses we are discussing.

Antibiotics.–All these viruses cause inflammation in the lungs. (flu causes hemorrhagic pneumonia) All leave a BACTERIAL SECONDARY PNEUMONIA. My recommendation is Penicillin -G and Baytril inj three times daily in older dogs 9 Mos or older for at least 10 days.
Penicillin -G and Chloromycetin (25 mg/lb) three times daily for 10 days in younger dogs. (Baytril causes joint problems in younger dogs)

Supportive fluids and feeding as necessary.

There is an effective test for these viruses developed and available through ANTECH. This is a throat swab that distinguishes the upper respiratory viruses and give a good diagnosis. Also for distemper there is still the transitional cell bladder test. Works great to diagnose acute distemper quickly.

There is a test for distemper antigen an intranasal swab that is done at the clinical level. Problem with this test is that it can and does go positive with vaccine distemper virus. So, it can and does give false positive tests for distemper and cause a misdiagnosis.

Bordetella is kennel cough. It is treated with cephalosporin antibiotics. It does not routinely cause pneumonia. Can be confused with the viral diseases. I DO NOT LIKE THIS CLASS OF ANTIBIOTICS FOR PNEUMONIA IN VIRAL DISEASES.

List of upper respirartory diseases that can and are confused with distemper

Distemper
Parainfluenza
Adenovirus
Canine influenza H3N8
influenza H1N1
Mycoplasma
Corona virus
Herpes virus
Many bacterial pneumonias.

Treatment of secondary neurologic problems in dogs remains the same at this time. This problem is only seen in those dogs treated late in the disease or those that make a spontaneous recovery.

If you have any comments or recommendations please write to me and we can discuss them. I came to realize that a lot of the pneumonias that are reported are NOT distemper. Still need to be treated.

Doc Sears

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Further notes from Dr. Sears (July 26, 2011):

“I have been thinking about the NDV neuro treatment for the last year.  I realize that some get complete recovery and others do not.  Some go on to have major neurologic and painful sequela to the procedure. Reading and following research in Neuro problems in the human has me thinking that these animals suffering from continuing disease may also be suffering from a secondary problem.  In the human it is turning out to be  HHV-6  a Herpes virus.  It happens that this HHV-6 human Herpes virus can and does attack pets especially cats and possibly dogs. At this time I understand that there is only one canine herpes.  It does respond to NDV serum by going quiescent  but not a cure.  In Canine Herpes from fading puppy syndrome when treated early with NDV serum we get a complete remission of the problem.  Those pups not treated early and dying when about 4 weeks old do not respond to NDV serum alone but when treated with Gangcyclovir (a potent anti-herpes drug) along with NDV serum got results and cures from what was a 100 % death sentence.  Soooo,  I’m wondering if in the dog like in humans we have a dual infection in some of these animals as well as genetic factors involved.  Genetic factors being RNA intracellular viruses carried by the genetics that interfere with the workings of the immune system.  So, would suggest an experimental procedure.  Those that do not respond immediately be give a bout of  Gangcyclovir  treatment  Iv along with prednisone to see if this secondary horror can be contained.   There are no lab tests at this time to substantiate this thinking but it might be worth a try.  Doc”

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