Re: Forelimb amputee with cervical IVDD

[Guest guest]

Hi !  Saludos from PR!  I'd do laser on the neck too if I could... Not sure what others out there with more experience would consider.Alma

 

Help!  I am going to see a 10 year old 45lb dog (Samoyed) that is a forelimb amputee and diagnosed with cervical IVDD after acute paresis at doggy day care.  This dog was referred by a coworker.  I have only examined him in lateral recumbancy.  He was really painful when he came in, so my colleague sedated him with narcotics (I think hydro) and started him on dexamethasone.  This is what I know about him now: he has to be towel walked (front and back support), he can urinate and defecate on his own.  He has spondylosis throughout his cervical and cranial thoracic vertebrae.

 For pain relief: He is on prednisone, tramadol and gabapentin.  (I did acupuncture on him when he was sedated in the clinic). Surgery is not an option for these owners.  They would like to try to rehab him.

 Here were some of my thoughts, but would really appreciate others: 1.)  I thought a ruffwear dog harness might help the owners help him walk better.  2.) ROM and joint mobs for all legs, 3.) wobble board- each leg separately? 4.) Massage of neck and shoulder muscles.  5.) Continue acupuncture.   I don't have u/s, laser or an UWTM.  I am going to talk to the owners about being referred for UWTM therapy.

 Any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated  Hershey, DVM, CCRT

  

[Guest guest]

Instead of the RuffWear harness try the Help-Em-Up Harness. It will give the dog

and owner front and rear end support. He can continuously wear the harness and

it is machine washable.

Christie Carlo, DVM, CCRT

Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist

Secretary for American Association of Rehabilitation Veterinarians

Avondale Veterinary Healthcare Complex

(fax)

>

> Help! I am going to see a 10 year old 45lb dog (Samoyed) that is a

> forelimb amputee and diagnosed with cervical IVDD after acute paresis at

> doggy day care. This dog was referred by a coworker. I have only examined

> him in lateral recumbancy. He was really painful when he came in, so my

> colleague sedated him with narcotics (I think hydro) and started him on

> dexamethasone. This is what I know about him now: he has to be towel

> walked (front and back support), he can urinate and defecate on his own.

> He has spondylosis throughout his cervical and cranial thoracic vertebrae.

>

> For pain relief: He is on prednisone, tramadol and gabapentin. (I did

> acupuncture on him when he was sedated in the clinic).

> Surgery is not an option for these owners. They would like to try to rehab

> him.

>

> Here were some of my thoughts, but would really appreciate others:

> 1.) I thought a ruffwear dog harness might help the owners help him walk

> better. 2.) ROM and joint mobs for all legs, 3.) wobble board- each leg

> separately? 4.) Massage of neck and shoulder muscles. 5.) Continue

> acupuncture. I don't have u/s, laser or an UWTM. I am going to talk to

> the owners about being referred for UWTM therapy.

>

> Any thoughts you might have would be greatly appreciated

>

> Hershey, DVM, CCRT

>

> >

> >

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >>

> >

> >

>

[Guest guest]

,

If surgery and/or advanced imaging are not an option then your initial task is

pain management. If your patient is still painful I would consider an opioid

CRI for 18 to 36 hours and then start back on po meds. I recently had an acute

onset TL paraparesis in a geriatric patient that was born without a thoracic

limb, she also had multiple joint osteoarthritis and severe pain in LS spine.

Following pain management with multiple joint IA triamcinolone, methylpred

epidural and adjustments in oral meds we ordered a quad cart to use as a rehab

tool rather than a permanent home. It has allowed the patient mobility,

assistance with exercise and the added benefit if getting her up as opposed to

prolonged periods in lateral recumbency. We also incorporated numerous

therapeutic exercise, underwater treadmill, passive stretching, trigger point

work, etc. in her recovery. She now only uses the quad cart to enable her to go

on long walks with the owner.

Rick Wall, DVM

The Woodlands, TX

[Guest guest]

We are seeing a forelimb amputee who also has bad hip dysplasia and cannot really walk. 97 # Greater Swiss Mtn Dog. We got her a Help Em Up but unfortunately we haven't found it to work well for the dog with only one front leg, it slips up and chokes her.

As far as treatment, what we do with this dog is mostly laser and water work (swimming) -- two modalities that you lack.I would guess you can do massage,cervical traction, jt mobsPam Mueller PhD DVMAnimal Therapy Center Bethleham PA

[Guest guest]

Hi guys,Thank you so much for your responses.  I just saw the dog today- I recommended a Help-em-up harness, hopefully the slipping won't be a huge issue with this dog, but I will warn her about that.  Thanks for the tip. 

 The dog has extensor rigidity on the left (only) front, no CP's on the left rear, but CP's on the RR.  We started doing PNF.  I made the dog go through every movement from laying down to sitting to walking like a normal dog would and by the end of the session he was really trying to walk on his own! It was amazing.  He couldn't do much with the front, but the back legs were really trying. 

 Thanks for everyone's responses.  So helpful to know you guys are here.

 

We are seeing a forelimb amputee who also has bad hip dysplasia and cannot really walk. 97 # Greater Swiss Mtn Dog. We got her a Help Em Up but unfortunately we haven't found it to work well for the dog with only one front leg, it slips up and chokes her.

As far as treatment, what we do with this dog is mostly laser and water work (swimming) -- two modalities that you lack.I would guess you can do massage,cervical traction, jt mobsPam Mueller PhD DVMAnimal Therapy Center Bethleham PA