Aug. 1, 2007, Woburn, MA – Neurology, physical therapy and complex surgeries are becoming the norm in specialty veterinary medicine as the availability of sophisticated diagnostic modalities and treatment options means that more alternatives are available for paralyzed pets. Two such cases are Bruin and Angus:
Bruin, a chocolate lab, was hit by a car when she escaped from her fenced yard at 10 months of age. Her owners brought her to Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital (Mass Vet). Bruin was in shock; she was stabilized by Dr. Gaura Shah, DVM and our team of emergency/critical care staff. Radiographs revealed a back fracture and a fractured left front leg. A neurologic exam the following day revealed that while some sensation was still present, Bruin was otherwise paralyzed. A guarded prognosis of a 50% chance of walking again was given. The owners decided to proceed with surgery and treatment.
A modified spinal segmental stabilization, or spinal stapling surgery, was performed by Dr. Lisa Corti, DVM, DACVS, CCRP on Bruin’s back. Rods and wires currently hold her spine in place. Screws and a large bone plate hold her fractured radius-ulna (in her front leg) in place. Bruin was still completely paralyzed when she was sent home following surgery. She was fitted with special harnesses to facilitate being lifted and moved by her owners. Two months of physical therapy and rehabilitation at Mass Vet with Chris Cranston, MPT, CCRP, and Bruin is running and playing again. She no longer needs the harnesses and is fully functional on all four legs.
Angus is a disabled dachshund. In 2005 Angus presented to Mass Vet in Woburn for sudden onset paralysis. An examination by staff neurologist Dr. Mark Troxel, DVM, DACVIM (Neurology) revealed pain in the middle of his back, complete paralysis of the hind limbs and loss of all sensation. An MRI showed a large ruptured disc was pressing on his spinal cord. Despite only a 50% prognosis for recovery, the owners agreed to proceed with a hemilaminectomy, or surgery to remove a large amount of extruded disc material in his spine, thereby relieving the compression on his spinal cord.
Following several aquatic physical therapy sessions to promote healing, strength and stamina Angus remained paralyzed. Three months later noting that Angus was an otherwise healthy, happy dog, Dr. Troxel recommended that, rather than euthanasia, Angus could he be fitted with a mobility cart from Eddie’s Wheels. Today, Angus seems unaware of his disability. He plays with his brother and happily races ahead of his owners on walks.
Angus and Bruin are two examples of dogs that have benefited from advances in veterinary medicine, diagnostic modalities, such as MRI, and ancillary services, such as Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioners (CCRPs) and mobility carts for pets available today.
In both cases Bruin and Angus had options beyond euthanasia that maintained their quality of life. These two success stories could not have occurred without owners who were willing to put their faith in our doctors and physical therapists, follow through on treatments and exams, and take on the extra care each of these pets required. Today Bruin and Angus are very happy dogs.
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About Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital
Massachusetts Veterinary Referral Hospital is a 24-hour emergency/critical care and specialty hospital dedicated to providing referring veterinarians and their clients with timely access to the most advanced specialists and emergency services available today. Our board-certified veterinary specialists provide a complete range of care in emergency/critical care, internal medicine, neurology, ophthalmology, oncology, radiology and surgery. Mass Vet is fully equipped with state-of-the art surgical facilities and technologically advanced diagnostic capabilities, including on-site MRI, CT, digital radiography, ultrasonography, endoscopy, electrodiagnostics and in-house laboratory. For more information visit us at
www.InTownMassVet.com.
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For more information or additional pictures:
Sommer Aweidah
Director of Marketing
InTown Veterinary Group
(781) 305-2240
saweidah@intownvet.com