Bo Peep” is a 13-year-old spayed Maltese that was suffering with paraplegia. The owner brought her in to see me for a consultation. Bo Peep’s history and exam findings are as follows: The owner first noted Bo Peep to be sensitive on her right hind limb. The weakness progressed over a one-week period to the point that she had lost all use of both her hind limbs. X-rays revealed several sites of intervertebral disc space narrowing consistent with intervertebral disc disease. I explained to the owner that her dog had suffered a spinal cord injury resulting in loss of neurologic function in the hind limbs.
The options discussed with the owner were hospitalization, intravenous fluid therapy, pain management, steroid administration and an emergency surgical consultation with a veterinary neurologist. The owner met with the neurologist and declined surgical intervention. She instead requested outpatient care and a discussion regarding the alternatives to surgery.
I told her I felt confident that we could proceed without surgery, and recommended a combination of traditional Western and Eastern treatments instead. The treatment included acupuncture, Chinese herbal therapy to make her stronger and release the local qi/blood stagnation, strict rest and Western medications to reduce inflammation and control the pain.
Within two weeks, Bo Peep was able to stand and even walk around on her own. After Chinese herbal therapy, traditional therapies, rehabilitation and acupuncture, Bo Peep is walking on her own. We are very excited with her success.
Source: Dr. Michel Selmer of Advanced Animal Care, located at 260 Evergreen Ave., South Huntington. For more information, call 631-FOR-PETS (631-367-7387) or visit AdvancedCareForPets.com. See ad on page 2.<
