SPECIES: Dog
BREED: Pekingese
GENDER: Spayed female
AGE: 10 years
NAME: Mia
Clinical case
Patient referred for sudden hind limb paralysis.
Diabetic, blind, and treated with caninsulin for over three years.
The owner refused further diagnostic testing, opting for a conservative approach.
Gabapentin therapy with poor response.
Clinical examination
On neurological examination:
- Mental state: alert and responsive
- Posture: inability to stand
- Gait: non-ambulatory paraparesis with left lateralisation
- Postural reactions and proprioception: absent hind limbs
- Cranial nerves: normal
- Spinal reflexes: left posterior flexor -2, right posterior flexor -1
- Sensation: absent superficial sensation in hind limbs bilaterally
Suspected diagnosis of thoracolumbar disc protrusion.
Therapeutic protocol
- Rest combined with standing exercises.
- Gabapentin therapy combined with hemp flour and PEA supplementation with no apparent results.
- MLS® Laser Therapy with M-VET device, T10-L3 spine and bilateral knee joint: 5 sessions every other day.
- “Inflammation” program (Phase - acute), Point-to-Point mode, 2 cm diameter terminal.
- Maintenance MLS® Laser Therapy is then performed once a month.
Results
The animal showed clear improvement from the second session, with attempts to stand spontaneously and a reduction in pain.
80% recovery was achieved by the fifth session.
Supplementation was discontinued and a maintenance protocol was established with a “chronic inflammation” program twice a week for two weeks, then once a week.
Follow-up one month after the last session: the patient continues to show improvement; maintenance treatment continues every 2 months
By Dr. Carla Maisto, Animal Food Veterinary Hospital, Giugliano in Campania (Naples) - Italy