Caring for a Three Legged Dog or Cat
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Hello. Need ideas please?
12 yr old Lab mix, very strong gait before leg injury. Full rear right amputation. On carprofen and occasionally gabapentin. After surgery for 2 weeks he was using remaining leg well albeit with our limitations. eventually we took a flat 1/4 mile walk and he did very well but tired near the end. Now 4 weeks out he can hardly walk after about 1 minute. Rear sags, spine curves towards missing leg, remaining leg walks sideways. Vet says possible nerve impingement. Here is vet report: thanks for looking at!😄
-Left stifle: moderate periarticular thickening, mild crepitus on PROM, reduced stifle flexion with firm end-feel, stifle is stable to tibial thrust
-Left hip: mild hip joint pain on joint compression and joint mobilization, pain on end-range extension and abduction
-Left Hip Flexor mm: moderate pain on iliopsoas mm. stretch, mild tight bands on palpation of caudal psoas major mm. belly, comfortable on palpation throughout iliacus to insertion, mild to moderate muscle spasm on palpation of proximal rectus femoris
Axial/Neuro:
-Cervical spine: normal PROM and AROM with no palpable pain
-Thoracic spine: mild muscle spasm on palpation of caudal thoracic paraspinals at TL -Lumbar spine: trigger points just caudal to the TL and at L5-L7 bilaterally
-Lumbosacral junction: pain on ventral pelvic tilt, pain on direct DV palpation of LS space
Welcome, Bob. I'm sorry your pup is struggling. Unfortunately, I don't have the expertise to help with your question. I have approved your post and I sure someone with more experience will have some ideas for you.
Sorry your pup is having these issues. Although I couldn't even begin to interpret the Vet's report, I do have a suggestion.
Try to find a Certified Rehabilitation Specialist as soon as you can. The Tripawds Foundation will pay for the first consultation. They are quite masterful at identifying issues and, quite often come up with results that differ from a vet.
Did the vet come up with any suggestions, any pain meds, anti-inflammatory etc? , Curious how he came up with this assessment? X-rays? What was the next step?
Did this seem to happen right after his 1/4 mile walk or did it come on more slowly the following weeks?
Eating and drinking okay? Is he still able to potty? In any pain?? Was this Vet the Orthopedic Surgeon who did the amputation?
Sorry for all the questions.
Anyway, hopefully you can find a rehabilitation specialist in your area and, at the very least get a second opinion.
Stay connected and update when you can, okay?
Hugs
Sally and Alumni Happy Hannah and Merry Myrtle and Frankie too!
Happy Hannah had a glorious additional bonus time of over one yr & two months after amp for osteo! She made me laugh everyday! Joined April's Angels after send off meal of steak, ice cream, M&Ms & deer poop!
Thank You
The “vet” is a sports medicine doc. she recommended some home rehab, massage etc. Also acupuncture and water treadmill (we have our first appt this week). the Attempt at a diagnosis was done without current X-rays but with touching and manipulation. she suggested we could see a neuro doc. Ultimately we did not see a clear path forward. It's just so surprising to us that a dog that was so strong 2 months ago and seemed to take to 3 legs so well, now has a backend that can hardly function. Thanks for your help
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