A dog’s ability to move around and perform its daily activities depends on the ability of the brain, spine, nerves and muscles to coordinate in assembly. When a dog is experiencing paralysis, it is often because communications between the spinal cord and the brain have been disrupted. In some cases, the dog will not be able to move its legs at all, a condition of total paralysis, and in other cases, there may still be some communication between the brain and spine and the dog will only appear to be weak. ( partial paralysis.)
Paralysis of a leg often results from damage to the peripheral spinal nerves. Paralysis of a front leg is usually associated with injury to the nerve roots in the neck, shoulder, armpit and paralysis of a hind leg is usually associated with injury to the nerve roots in the lower back or tailbone, spinal cord and nerve in the leg. Accident is the most common cause of sudden limb paralysis.
Therefore the dog should be looked after properly and care must be given.
Severe diarrhea or nutritional deficiency also can cause paralysis of the hind legs due to nutritional imbalance.
Causes
There may be one or several causes for this condition such as; unknown, slipped discs in the back, bacterial or viral infection in the bones of the spine, muscles, nerves and brain, Distemper, cancer, severe muscle weakness, low thyroid level and physical injury to spine
Signs
The animal’s posture and gait, spinal reflexes, pain sensation, and the condition of the muscles in the affected limb are evaluated to identify the location of the injury. The ability or inability of the animal to flex the joint, bear weight and dragging the leg are common. Within a few days, muscles wither and lose mass because of the lost nerve connection. Loss appetite for several days, diarrhea, emaciation and loss of weight are other signs associated with leg paralysis
Diagnosis
Your veterinarian can diagnose this condition just by visual examination, physical examination and if need by X rays.
Treatment
Nerves regenerate slowly (about 1 inch per month), and full functional recovery depends on the condition of the nerve sheath and on the distance between the injury and the muscle where the nerve ends. Electrical stimulation of the nerve can be used to determine the location of the nerve injury and whether the nerve is partially intact. Some nerve injuries can resolve after several weeks or months; however, when total nerve rupture occur, surgical reattachment is required for regeneration.
Applying heat, performing massage, and stretching tendons should be done as directed by your veterinarian to keep muscles, tendons, and joints of a paralyzed leg healthy while the nerve is regenerating. A light, but not tight, bandage may prevent damage to the foot from dragging. If the leg drags on the ground, it can be held up with a sling or amputated to prevent damage to the paw. Three-legged dogs generally have a good quality of life.
No specific therapy is available to help nerve regeneration, but laser therapy and acupuncture may help recovery. Anti-inflammatory medications may also help if swelling is present. An Elizabethan collar may be needed to prevent the dog from chewing on its leg.
Add new comment