Buffy, a Mongrel with paraparesis due to disc extrusion

SPECIES: dog
BREED: mongrel
GENDER: female
AGE: 5
NAME: Buffy

Clinical picture
Buffy was brought to the clinic due to sudden paraplegia which began the day before with abdominal pain, treated with an anti-inflammatory by her doctor.

  • An MRI with contrast medium was carried out on the thoracic-lumbar area.
  • This showed a disc degeneration throughout the entire rachis examined and a disc extrusion between the T12-T13 vertebrae with spinal cord compression.
  • Buffy underwent laminectomy surgery and began physiotherapy one week after the operation.

Treatment schedule
Buffy began a daily intensive physiotherapy path. On arrival at the clinic, she had paraplegia, absence of deep pain, modest muscle tone and was able to maintain a four-legged stance for a few seconds.
The daily sessions included massage, prom, stretching, maintaining the four-legged position through physio rolls and ball, proprioceptive and isokinetic exercises, assisted walking on an underwater treadmill, magnetotherapy, TENS and MLS® Laser Therapy.

MLS® Laser Therapy: therapeutic program
The «IVDD» points program was used on the roots of the nerves which originate from the spinal column, from the area of the lesion:

  • on 3 points towards the cranial area of the patient
  • on 3 points towards the caudal area, to the right and to the left of the spine

together with the «Back pain» program, scanning over the muscles of the back:

  • on alternate days for the first 2 weeks
  • a further twice a week for the following 3 weeks

In addition, to improve the trophic state of the hind leg muscles, scanning with the «Muscle contracture» program was carried out on the hind legs for the first three sessions.

Final result

  • After the first 5 physiotherapy sessions, Buffy began to improve considerably, showing an improvement in proprioception and in maintaining the four-legged stance.
  • After 15 sessions, Buffy was able to walk properly and was taken home by her owners.

Courtesy of Doctor Lili Asnal – Patagonia Veterinary Clinic, Castelfranco Veneto (TV)