Neuro dog & progression

15 Feb 2015

Hi Laurie, 

I have been working with a Parson's Russell Terrier who came in last July at three months old, paralyzed with her rear legs after the neighbor's dog bit down on her back.  She has continued to make progress, able to get up and walk well in UWT.  She can also get herself up occasionally, and walk many steps, especially if we place her in a sit position.  I use a sling wit her by Gingerlead , that wraps around her hips and attaches to a harness.  In this harness I do not hold her up- she can walk for a long time- its like its her security blanket that gives her confidence.

Her back legs are like stilts- VERY long, and maybe still have upper motor neuron symptoms, where they are stiff, but become much less after we are working with her.

Thank you so much!!  It is so great to have help when you need it!

SC

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Hi SC…

TREADMILL!

I had one little dog - oooh!  I did a video of him in late summer - #88 Treadmill & the Neuro Dog.

LOTS of patterning... add weights, add bells, add resistance, add an ace bandage around the body and hips (check out training video 37), walk on the treadmill with 2 legs on, 4 legs on, forwards, backwards, sideways.  If you don't have a land treadmill, then get in the UWT with her to try some of this... water LOW LOW LOW height... you don't want buoyancy! 

There is likely a bit more improvement to be made.

The dog in the video was about 7 months post-op (I forget... I say it in the video)... and he made huge gains, not just in his walking and function, but also in his proprioceptive reflexes!  The owner came every 2 weeks, and I progressed his home program... changed things up on the treadmill etc and sent her off doing exercises... and home treadmill stuff.

I hope this gives you a wee bit of direction and some ideas!

Cheers,

Laurie