Question by KQS: Otrivin over-usage = surgery?
Hi there. Early in October 2010 I started experiencing some bad allergy symptoms — at least I think they’re allergies. I’ve lived with a rabbit now for about a year and a half, as well as a dog who moved in last September and moved out May 2010. I have always been allergic to animals, but my symptoms have always been the same: itchy, dry eyes & throat, stuffy nose (not congested as much as overloaded, haha, I went through a lot of tissue fall 2009), irritable skin and plenty of sneezing. I eventually built up a tolerance and didn’t notice anything until six months ago, when I started to get extremely congested with almost no mucus. My previous allergy symptoms have been relatively quiet, unless I’m interacting directly with the rabbit, his hay, or his cage, which usually I’m not. Long story short, I don’t know what I’m allergic to anymore, because my nasal passages are congested & swollen even when I leave the city (and the rabbit) entirely for days and days on end, and they don’t get better or worse when I return.

So, in December, I started using Otrivin Complete to defeat the intense congestion, as I suffered two months without any relief (allergy pills weren’t working, and to this day they don’t). I was warned not to use it after three days of usage, but assumed that meant not to use it three days consecutively. I would use it at night, every other day or once a week or so when the congestion was bad and thought everything was fine.

Well, today I went to the pharmacist to ask if it would be worth buying the “Complete” version or the regular four-dollar version, when she stopped me and asked how long I’ve been using it. She really alarmed me when she informed me that prolonged use could lead to a rebound bad enough to require surgery! I’ve never even heard of this before, and I wish my doctor had told me. :/ I’m assuming she may be exaggerating, but I don’t want to assume anything any longer.

I’ve admitted that I’m becoming dependent on the drug as it *has* started a bit of a cycle. Sometimes I’m alright without it for a few days, but occasionally it gets bad and I have to take a dose at night to help me sleep, but now I’m MUCH too afraid that it’ll lead to me being on a stretcher in a hospital. I’m also hearing that some doctors strongly recommend AGAINST surgery after nasal spray addiction, but then what would we do?

Either way I’m extremely anxious now. Any advice at all? Has anyone else heard of this? I’ll be talking to my doctor ASAP, but I’d love to hear some points of views on this matter.

Sorry for the long read and thanks a bunch,
Kat

Best answer:

Answer by rosagallica2002
There is no question that over-usage of Otrivin (Xylometazoline) can result in degenerative changes in nasal tissue and in rebound chronic congestion when the medication has been used for an extended time and then stopped. But the operative word here is extended.

There is a difference between using the medication twice a day every day for three months and using the medication every second or third day, or even weekly, even for an extended period. While I think it was important for the pharmacist to impart the information to you, I think she could have done so in a way that would convey her concern but not send you into panic mode.

Severe allergies are no fun and I can empathize with the inability to get any significant relief of what are undoubtedly pretty severe symptoms. Honestly, you may well be headed for surgery, but I do not think it will be because you potentially over-used this medication, but rather, because it may be the only other option available that can possibly help ease your suffering.

I would avoid using it until you see the doctor again, but my guess is that in not understanding the true frequency that you were using the medication, she exaggerated the danger to you and unwittingly sent you into panic mode.

Best wishes for some true, lasting relief.

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Question by cap20coke: When is it time to put your beloved pet to sleep or keep having joint surgery. When is enough enough.?
Hi, i am desperately looking for realistic, sensitive advice regarding my beloved 6 year old black lab. She has been ill a little over a third of her life. She has battled a R-torn ACL surgery with a hard long recovery, (even with all the recommended physical therapy) multiple ear infections one nasty bacterial infection (6 months until the cure was finally found, steroid treatment), food allergies, a R-ACL re-injury sprain with 5 months recovery, also she has been found to have bad hips and arthritis in both hips and some in her R-knee(daily pain medication and joint supplements are given with premium allergy food). I was also told that if she gets really bad, a hip surgery is then needed. Now just days ago on her 6th birthday she tore her Left ACL. This was her strong leg as her left leg was finally just starting to become stronger and have muscle mass. I have sought out 2 vets opinions and each one wants to perform yet another ACL surgery. I don’t care about the money, I care about her and her quality of life and her suffering. She can’t run, play, fetch. The best she has been in almost 2 years is going out for walks and of course being my dedicated companion and winter house dog. I feel pressured from the vets, that I am being dramatic and should keep operating and that she’ll recover, but with all her medical issues I am really torn. I am concerned that this surgery will add more arthritis in the hips and knee. Also this would be the 6th time she has been put under anesthesia (eye surgery, x-rays, spay, chest cut injury, knee surgery,). I know a lot of dogs have multiple knee surgeries but given her struggles and circumstances I am not sure if this is the best for her. I am not sure if she is strong enough, I am just sick about it… Should I just let my baby go to sleep and remember the good times or make her, help her to keep fighting? I love her dearly.Thank you for your time…

Best answer:

Answer by Char
If she is in pain and there is a chance the surgery can put her in more pain then I would put her down. We had to put our 6yr old springer spaniel down because his epilepsy got so bad. I got home from school and he just wasn’t there no one told me, so I guess would you prefer to be there and watch her pass away peacefully or in pain. Or you never know she could get better from the surgery. I’d try the surgery and if it doesn’t work maybe you should start thinking about putting her down.

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Question by thinklikeaboss: Should I get cataract surgery for my dog?
My miniature pinscher is 10 years old with a few health problems (skin allergies, arthritis, and now cataracts) He crashes into furniture at times and is less energetic than before, but he’s still a happy dog. It seems like he’s blind; if I wave my hand in front of his face he doesn’t react. It’s around $ 3000 for the surgery and we’re already dealing with a few financial problems.

Best answer:

Answer by And my wisdom says…
If I were in your position, I would consider euthanizing, I’m sorry.

But the fact is, the pup is already having a lot of problems & only has a few more years to live naturally anyways.

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Question by Ebbah: I need real Info. Spitz Breed dog. Any tips for retraining a Shiba Inu after major surgery?
Re-training after major surgery

Ok, I need some major help. Here’s a little background. I work in a adoption center and I got my shiba from a puppy mill that was being shut down (the guy ended up in jail and lost his land YAY!!!). He was a puppy when I got him. We’ve been fighting allergies since he was about 8 months old, but, we put that on the “back burner” due to his knees. He was diagnosed at a 1 1/2 years old with luxating patella in both back legs. Class 4.5 out of 5 on the right and class 5 out of 5 on the left. Anyway, he was in surgery with in a month of diagnose. It took about 10 months and 3 surgery’s to finally fix the problem. As any shiba owner knows, they have a very wild personality. Before the surgery’s he was great with other dogs, good with strangers, even kids. After the surgery’s and being out of commission for almost a year, he has taken up the mind set of “I’m going to hurt you before you hurt me.” He is very timid around new people, and doesn’t give any dog a chance to get near him. He starts growling and if the other dog feeds in to it he starts bearing teeth and escalates from there. If, however, the other dog doesn’t respond at all, just ignores him, he’ll be bark and no bite and will even start playing with the other dog once he gets to know them. He’s turned into a very insecure dog.

After the knees got settled, we went back to working on the allergies (it’s very expensive and we had to move slow), and now he’s turning 3, the allergies got 100% worse to the point where he has to wear an ecollar 24/7. So he’s just miserable. And training has become very difficult when you can’t even give your dog a treat and he hates his hypoallergenic dog food. We’ve just started allergy shots, which can take up to 6 months to a year to work, so we’re slowly getting the allergies under control.

He’s now 4 years old. Now that we’re just getting the allergies under control, his left knee needs another surgery. It’s popping in and out again and has turned into a class 2 luxating patella, on it’s way to a class 3 (that knee gave us so much trouble the first and second time). My vet wants to wait a month or two and wait for the allergy shots to work more before we lay him up again. My concern is that he hasn’t really recovered emotionally from the last time, and he will regress more into instinct and become more wild.

PLEASE HELP ME HELP HIM!!

P.s. And take a lesson from me, DON’T BUY FROM A PUPPY MILL! All I do is hemorrhage money on him.

Best answer:

Answer by Sam P
sorry

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