Saturday, 29 August 2009
The Show Jumper
Poles £2 each Asda, Buckets £1 each B&Q... who said physio was expensive!!
Whatever next?
Wednesday, 19 August 2009
Lucy - Diagnosis Explained
Fibrocartilaginous Embolism (FCE)
The vertebral column is made up with individual verterbrae, which are cushioned by interverebral discs that allow an animal to flex its back. These discs are soft and gelatinous on the inside in order to absorb the forces exerted on the when the animal is moving. When a microscopic piece of this gelatinous material dislodges, it can enter and form a blockage in the arteries that feed into the spinal column, thus creating a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE). With no blood supply, the section of spinal cord affected by the embolism dies, and the dog becomes paralyzed in one or multiple limbs. FCE typically occur in young adults around 3 to 6 years of age, and about half of the dogs affected are large and giant breeds. In many cases the paralyzing effect occurs after minor injuries such as a fall, or simply a bad landing after a jump; however, the injury itself is usually not painful, and the paralysis is the only apparent symptom. The location and severity of the embolism will determine the degree of some dogs may just be weak in the affected limb, while others become completely paralyzed. It is not yet understood why or how FCE occurs, and the exact cause of this condition remains unclear.
Symptoms and Diagnosis.
At the onset of the embolism, there might be a painful yelp when the dog collapses or suddenly becomes weak in one or multiple limbs. However the pain is not persistent, and no other signs of trauma can be detected except for the In milder cases the dog might maintain some degrees of motor function, but fall more than usualDiagnosing FCE is usually a process of elimination since the blocked artery will not show up in X-ray. One distinguishing feature of FCE is the lack of pain, since there are usually considerable amounts of pain involved if the is caused by acute trauma or disc herniation. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used to positively identify an embolism, however most veterinarians do not have access to this expensive method. Currently the only way to be absolutely sure of FCE is a post-mortem autopsy. For the purpose of treatment and rehabilitation, the safe practice is to assume FCE when other possibilities have been excluded
Treatment
The damage to the spinal cord is permanent, and therefore effectiveness of treatment is limited. However, dogs that receive treatment within the first 24 hours of the injury might have a better prognosis. While the effect of the paralysis cannot be reversed, it does not worsen over time, and many dogs will ultimately regain some level of motor function and lead an otherwise normal life. Relief techniques such as water therapy and massages will prevent muscle atrophy and help the animal to better function with limited mobility.
The vertebral column is made up with individual verterbrae, which are cushioned by interverebral discs that allow an animal to flex its back. These discs are soft and gelatinous on the inside in order to absorb the forces exerted on the when the animal is moving. When a microscopic piece of this gelatinous material dislodges, it can enter and form a blockage in the arteries that feed into the spinal column, thus creating a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE). With no blood supply, the section of spinal cord affected by the embolism dies, and the dog becomes paralyzed in one or multiple limbs. FCE typically occur in young adults around 3 to 6 years of age, and about half of the dogs affected are large and giant breeds. In many cases the paralyzing effect occurs after minor injuries such as a fall, or simply a bad landing after a jump; however, the injury itself is usually not painful, and the paralysis is the only apparent symptom. The location and severity of the embolism will determine the degree of some dogs may just be weak in the affected limb, while others become completely paralyzed. It is not yet understood why or how FCE occurs, and the exact cause of this condition remains unclear.
Symptoms and Diagnosis.
At the onset of the embolism, there might be a painful yelp when the dog collapses or suddenly becomes weak in one or multiple limbs. However the pain is not persistent, and no other signs of trauma can be detected except for the In milder cases the dog might maintain some degrees of motor function, but fall more than usualDiagnosing FCE is usually a process of elimination since the blocked artery will not show up in X-ray. One distinguishing feature of FCE is the lack of pain, since there are usually considerable amounts of pain involved if the is caused by acute trauma or disc herniation. Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) can be used to positively identify an embolism, however most veterinarians do not have access to this expensive method. Currently the only way to be absolutely sure of FCE is a post-mortem autopsy. For the purpose of treatment and rehabilitation, the safe practice is to assume FCE when other possibilities have been excluded
Treatment
The damage to the spinal cord is permanent, and therefore effectiveness of treatment is limited. However, dogs that receive treatment within the first 24 hours of the injury might have a better prognosis. While the effect of the paralysis cannot be reversed, it does not worsen over time, and many dogs will ultimately regain some level of motor function and lead an otherwise normal life. Relief techniques such as water therapy and massages will prevent muscle atrophy and help the animal to better function with limited mobility.
Monday, 17 August 2009
Tuesday, 4 August 2009
Lucy's Fall
It was the first cache of the holiday that we were on. We'd picked up Sara and Pippin from there camp site and headed off to Rough Tor for a different walk this time up to the old airfield and then back again. There's a wonderful dip to go down about half a mile from the car park, over a small bridge, done just right everyone's tummy in the car goes flip.... everyone's did.
We parked up and made our way along the path, both dogs running ahead. We started throwing stones for them to chase to see which one was fastest. I still maintain Lucy, since shedding her weight was faster. May not have quiet the acceleration of a wee jack russel but given a distance definitely. Just catching up to a stone she fell whimpering to the ground, unable to stand just squirming. We ran up and had a look. The first thing was her chin it was bleeding. She was using her front legs trying to stand but both back legs flayed. Trying to calm her I checked each one in turn. I couldn't find any obvious breaks or fractures as they both moved OK and she didn't squeal when I touched them. It must be dislocated.
Aaron was dispatched to the car to get a couple of blankets so we could carry her back between us. Thankfully the car was only about 1/2 a mile away. While we waited the cut on her chin dried. It was a classic case of what happens when you fall down as a child and forget to put your hands out to break your fall and graze your chin. I guess when you are running at full pelt possibly with all legs off the ground and they stop working I inevitably your chin would be the first thing to hit the ground.
Aaron came back and we lay her on the blankets and carried her back to the car. Gently lifting her into the boot we headed to the vets which was just the other side of Camelford. There we left her, to be x-rayed and if her leg was dislocated to be put back in.
As we were camping she stayed there for the rest of the holiday and we picked her up on the way home. Still unable to take her own weight a towel was used to support her rear end as she walked. When talking to the vet, she thought it must be something neurological as her hip wasn't dislocated. She did have really bad hip displasia though. And so she was transferred to SVCS a specialist animal orthopaedic clinic on the outskirts of Ringwood to be assessed and start her recuperation.
We parked up and made our way along the path, both dogs running ahead. We started throwing stones for them to chase to see which one was fastest. I still maintain Lucy, since shedding her weight was faster. May not have quiet the acceleration of a wee jack russel but given a distance definitely. Just catching up to a stone she fell whimpering to the ground, unable to stand just squirming. We ran up and had a look. The first thing was her chin it was bleeding. She was using her front legs trying to stand but both back legs flayed. Trying to calm her I checked each one in turn. I couldn't find any obvious breaks or fractures as they both moved OK and she didn't squeal when I touched them. It must be dislocated.
Aaron was dispatched to the car to get a couple of blankets so we could carry her back between us. Thankfully the car was only about 1/2 a mile away. While we waited the cut on her chin dried. It was a classic case of what happens when you fall down as a child and forget to put your hands out to break your fall and graze your chin. I guess when you are running at full pelt possibly with all legs off the ground and they stop working I inevitably your chin would be the first thing to hit the ground.
Aaron came back and we lay her on the blankets and carried her back to the car. Gently lifting her into the boot we headed to the vets which was just the other side of Camelford. There we left her, to be x-rayed and if her leg was dislocated to be put back in.
As we were camping she stayed there for the rest of the holiday and we picked her up on the way home. Still unable to take her own weight a towel was used to support her rear end as she walked. When talking to the vet, she thought it must be something neurological as her hip wasn't dislocated. She did have really bad hip displasia though. And so she was transferred to SVCS a specialist animal orthopaedic clinic on the outskirts of Ringwood to be assessed and start her recuperation.
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