Advice for a FCE

[Guest guest]

Hi all, I have a country case that they think had a FCE 3 months ago. 3 year old Jack Russel terrier. No MRI done, none available out there. They figured it would resolve in a few weeks. They brought her in for a 4 1/2 hr drive to see me this week. She is still bowel and bladder incontinent, though she will extend her legs when she is brought outside for a pee. So it sounds like she has some control. She gets around by scooting. Her right leg has quads control, it's definately the stronger leg. She has no balance, so when you place her in standing, she just topples the pelvis over. Deep pain present both hind feet, but both have extreme proprioceptive deficits. She does kick with both hind when swimming, but lake season is over. Front has built up to look like a bulldog she uses it so much. Not painful.

I have suggested a cart to get her in good functional position , especially since it looks like the right hind will work to a degree. Lot's of ex's etc. My/their question is this, what kind of recovery can you expect from this condition? Is 3 months still a young condition? Dad wants to euthanize, mum has put in so much work she's still willing to try. Dad doesn;t want cart, says the farm is too unsteady a terrain, why put more money in etc. Mum wants honest opinion on whether bowel/bladder function can return. And prognosis for a dog withan FCE (or I guess it could be disc.)

I have no experioence with a FCE that lasted this long.

Thanks all

Silvia Lavallee BMR PT

Pet Animal Rehab

[Guest guest]

I would be more suspect of a disk than FCE in a small long backed dog.

Hi all, I have a country case that they think had a FCE 3 months ago. 3 year old Jack Russel terrier. No MRI done, none available out there. They figured it would resolve in a few weeks. They brought her in for a 4 1/2 hr drive to see me this week. She is still bowel and bladder incontinent, though she will extend her legs when she is brought outside for a pee. So it sounds like she has some control. She gets around by scooting. Her right leg has quads control, it's definately the stronger leg. She has no balance, so when you place her in standing, she just topples the pelvis over. Deep pain present both hind feet, but both have extreme proprioceptive deficits. She does kick with both hind when swimming, but lake season is over. Front has built up to look like a bulldog she uses it so much. Not painful.

I have suggested a cart to get her in good functional position , especially since it looks like the right hind will work to a degree. Lot's of ex's etc. My/their question is this, what kind of recovery can you expect from this condition? Is 3 months still a young condition? Dad wants to euthanize, mum has put in so much work she's still willing to try. Dad doesn;t want cart, says the farm is too unsteady a terrain, why put more money in etc. Mum wants honest opinion on whether bowel/bladder function can return. And prognosis for a dog withan FCE (or I guess it could be disc.)

I have no experioence with a FCE that lasted this long.

Thanks all

Silvia Lavallee BMR PT

Pet Animal Rehab

-- Jeff Bowra DVMCanine Rehabilitation Practitioner

Aldergrove Animal Hospital26841 Fraser HighwayAldergrove, BC, Canadawww.familypetdoc.comwww.thespaw.ca

[Guest guest]

I have had 1 case, 5-year-old Min. Schnauzer. She never developed incontinence issues, just was dragging her right rear leg. She has progressed very well - episode July 4th; walking now on the leg, with only slight proprioception issues after tiring out at the end of the day.

I would maybe try a DorsiFlex Assisted boot instead of a cart if she is able to walk with her other leg. We've been doing water treadmill therapy, laser, massage, stretching/ROM exercises, balance exercises, theraband walks, sit-to-stands, etc. I talked with Dr. VanDyke about this case, and she said that you can see improvement up to 1 year with these FCE cases, if that's what it is. Hope this helps!

- R., RVT, CCRA (pending)

Subject: Advice for a FCETo: VetRehab Date: Monday, September 22, 2008, 10:42 AM

Hi all, I have a country case that they think had a FCE 3 months ago. 3 year old Jack Russel terrier. No MRI done, none available out there. They figured it would resolve in a few weeks. They brought her in for a 4 1/2 hr drive to see me this week. She is still bowel and bladder incontinent, though she will extend her legs when she is brought outside for a pee. So it sounds like she has some control. She gets around by scooting. Her right leg has quads control, it's definately the stronger leg. She has no balance, so when you place her in standing, she just topples the pelvis over. Deep pain present both hind feet, but both have extreme proprioceptive deficits. She does kick with both hind when swimming, but lake season is over. Front has built up to look like a bulldog she uses it so much. Not painful.

I have suggested a cart to get her in good functional position , especially since it looks like the right hind will work to a degree. Lot's of ex's etc. My/their question is this, what kind of recovery can you expect from this condition? Is 3 months still a young condition? Dad wants to euthanize, mum has put in so much work she's still willing to try. Dad doesn;t want cart, says the farm is too unsteady a terrain, why put more money in etc. Mum wants honest opinion on whether bowel/bladder function can return. And prognosis for a dog withan FCE (or I guess it could be disc.)

I have no experioence with a FCE that lasted this long.

Thanks all

Silvia Lavallee BMR PT

Pet Animal Rehab