A little update - the Shiloh Man - 2nd post today

Mom here - I have REALLY been NEEDING to do this for several days now. In a way it seems like the original onset (this year that is) happened a LONG time ago HOWEVER it was just on October 21, 2012.  Maybe it was the way Shiloh had a few days at first where I thought he was getting better only to be back to whining and in pain less than 12 hours later.  At first, after the first 5 days, he was done with the Metacam then about 4 or 5 days later, he was able to stop the pain med however I decided it would be good for Shiloh to continue his muscle relaxant for a bit - he was still having a bit of a problem with relaxing and doing some pacing - symptoms of IVDD.

It was only a couple of days before the muscle relaxant was stopped also.  However the problem I had convincing Shiloh he still had to take it easy increased along with keeping him off his favorite chair.  Shiloh will usually sleep on one of two dog beds available - one of those being his new orthopedic dog bed I got for him

 (like I said before, this is NOT an endorsement for this bed with AKC's tag on it - the bed just happened to be the ortho bed I could afford at this time and I didn't realize how prominent their logo would be in this picture)

The other change I made - and so far it is working along with Shiloh's improvement - I WAS giving him glucosamine however after talking about his IVDD on Facebook a bit and several comments from other Beagle owners whose Beagles had HAD problems with their backs, I switched to a product called
DURALACTIN Now this joint supplement does not contain glucosamine or chondroitin - Duralactin contains only MicroLactin®, which modifies the neutrophil/endothelial cell interaction to reduce the emigration of neutrophils.  Now that last part is just some of what is said on the website and I'm not real sure what it means but I think something like the problem with Shiloh's back is caused by too many neutrophils getting to the area where it shouldn't be and the MicroLactin® interferes with this.  In the meantime, what I really know is when I open the back door to let the dogs out - if they spot something on the other side of the fence that should not be there, like some kind of critter, both Shiloh'n The DIVA Shasta take off Aroooooo-ing and running.  I should probably keep Shiloh on a leash instead of letting him go but he has shown no ill effects from this.  The Beaglebratz are also playing and chasing each other again in the house altho this is on a limited basis.  At times, it almost seems like Shiloh really knows when he needs to take it easy and when not.  I am keeping an open mind and open eyes - as long as Shiloh either stays the course or improves any then I know the Duralactin is doing the job it was made for.  If Shiloh has another setback sooner than later - then I will decide at that time what to do.

   ~Kim, Shiloh'n The DIVA Shasta~