Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Physical therapy helped three paralyzed dogs with neck spinal cord
By Speciale, J & Fingeroth, J M·Published in Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association·2000·Center for Pets with Nerve Disease, United States·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Use of physiatry as the sole treatment for three paretic or paralyzed dogs with chronic compressive conditions of the caudal portion of the cervical spinal cord.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
Three large dogs, aged 6 to 9 years, were brought in for weakness or paralysis in their legs due to chronic issues in their neck area. They received only physical therapy, which helped them improve significantly. Two of the dogs continued with a home exercise program and regained full movement, while the third dog showed some improvement but did not get enough treatment at home, leading to a return of symptoms and eventual euthanasia. This suggests that consistent physical therapy can be beneficial for dogs with neck-related paralysis, even without surgery or medication.
People also search for: dog paralysis treatment · physical therapy for dogs · cervical spinal cord injury in dogs
Abstract
Physiatry alone was used to treat 3 large (30- to 40-kg [66 to 88 lb]) mature (6- to 9-year-old) dogs that were tetraparetic or tetraplegic. All 3 dogs had myelographic evidence of multiple chronic compressive extradural lesions of the caudal portion of the cervical spinal cord. All dogs improved substantially after a course of intensive physical treatment. For 2 dogs, an abbreviated treatment regimen was continued by the owners after the dogs were discharged. Both of these dogs regained and retained normal neurologic function. The other dog improved but was treated infrequently at home. That dog's signs recurred, and the dog was euthanatized. Persistent use of physical treatment for paralysis that results from conditions affecting the cervical spinal cord may be useful even without concurrent surgical or pharmacologic treatments.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10909445/