Rex (4 year old male neutered Labrador)
Sudden hind end collapse
Non painful, non progressive
Presumptive Diagnosis:
Fibrocartilaginous Embolus of the spinal cord
Blood clot in the spinal cord that causes weakness or paralysis in the legs depending on what level of the spinal cord.
Recovery may be rapid or slow or not at all depending on degree of spinal cord damage.
Presented to us 5 days after the episode.
Pain sensation present in both hind legs.
Right hind weak but able to use it with help
Left hind knuckling and very little movement present on land.
Video 1 shows him walking on land with very little movement in the back legs.
Video 2 shows him after being put on the underwater treadmill. He immediately started using his back legs.
Over several weeks therapy helped him to regain use of his legs and now, almost 1 year later he is almost normal.
Shelby (1.5-year-old Bernese mountain dog)
Has hip dysplasia both hips. Had surgery on one hip. Also has had surgery on right elbow for elbow dysplasia.
Oliver (8-year-old shitzu/poodle cross)
He lost all feeling in his legs and was paralyzed. He had surgery to relieve pressure on his spine by a ruptured intervertebral disk. He still can not stand or walk on land but he can take some steps underwater.
Chief (7-year-old Rottweiler)
Ruptured cranial cruciate ligament that was repaired with a tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO)
Tasha (7-year-old cocker spaniel)
Ruptured cranial cruciate that was repaired but the repair failed and she needs a second surgery. Hydrotherapy prior to second surgery to allow reduced weight bearing exercise.
Hemi (12-year-old Australian Shepherd)
April 2005 Hemi was run over and had 3 broken legs, nerve damage, broken ribs punctured lungs and pneumonia. To top it of he has severe elbow arthritis in the one leg that was not broken. He had multiple surgeries and almost died from complications.
His family made numerous trips to specialists and to the Spaw 3-4 times per week. They carried him in slings and stretchers for almost 4 months. He could not get up on land but he could walk on the underwater treadmill.
Finally in late August he walked on land after being assisted to his feet. In September he actually got up on his own. His family had a party.
Without his family’s dedication and the underwater treadmill Hemi would not have walked again.
Presumptive Diagnosis: