Loyal dog becomes your blind friend dog’s guide dog

The faithful friend of a blind Labrador dog has taken on the role of guide dog.

Milo, a six-year-old terrier cross, acts as Eddie’s eyes to play and bring him back to his proud owner Angie Baker-Stedham. He can be seen pulling a rope as they go along the way.

Mrs Baker-Stedham, 45, says the pair are very close. He tells us that before Eddie went blind, they were both chasing dog toys, but now Eddie uses Milo to play and they love to go to the forest.

Milo is always taking care of Eddie and lies on Eddie’s back.

She explains that everything happened quickly, which is very sad because before they used to play together so easily. Now Milo helps Eddie when she calls him. He directs him towards her. Milo took on the role of his assistant dog without training, according to the Daily Mail.

“Milo really cares about Eddie, he always licks her face, they sleep in the same room and spend all their time together. Without Milo, Eddie would be lost.”

Milo even wears bells around his neck for Eddie to follow him everywhere. If Eddie walks away, Milo goes to find him and brings him back.

A nice friendship, don’t you think?

www.planetacurioso.com

26/10/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

Most Common Injuries in Sport Dogs

injuries, Sports

Since time immemorial, dogs have remained by our side for their amazing physical gifts such as speed, endurance and agility. With the passage of time, man was selecting those that were better accustomed to hunting and the defense of the home, such as show dogs and collectors. Today, what was once just a job, has become leisure, sports activities and jobs of great responsibility. Among the sports activities we could highlight the greyhound races, the sled dogs or the exhibition and agility tracks. Both working dogs and those of sport and leisure require excellent physical and mental training at all times throughout their lives. More than referring to a strict training, we refer to a lifestyle with great wear and tear throughout the body. Specifically, their joints receive blows or trauma constantly and wear out more quickly than the joints of our pets. These traumatisms usually cause joint inflammation that often goes unnoticed. Many of these sports animals do not usually show pain until the injuries worsen, producing more pain, and being complicated to treat them. The most affected joints are usually those of the front extremities: the shoulder, carpal or wrist and the interphalangeal joints.

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Among the most frequent joint pathologies we find muscle contractures, sprains and dislocations.

Contractures and muscle aches are one of the most common injuries and are usually caused by poor training. Trainers have to follow a series of steps to get dogs used to the new physical demands of their profession. Many trainers perform these exercises daily to work on strength, endurance and speed in a balanced and progressive way. It is advisable to warm up before exercise, stretch before and after and relax the muscles through massage or more specific techniques such as magnetotherapy.
Sprains are injuries to the ligaments from sudden movement or from exceeding the physiological limits of joint movement. They are usually accompanied by inflammation, hematoma and pain that prevents movement of the affected joint. In this case, the most affected joint is the wrist and interphalangeal. For example, sled and rescue dogs use the front legs to slow the weight of the body on descending slopes and to cling to the terrain on ascending slopes. This effort accompanied by the weight of their colleagues and the owner usually causes very serious sprains that are usually accompanied by wear of the digital pads and loss of the nail.
Dislocations are described as an abnormal displacement of the articular surfaces. Traumatic dislocations (from sudden blows or forced movements) usually occur from the rupture of a ligament or tendon of the most important muscle. This causes the bones not to fit as they should producing erosion, muscle atrophy and rupture of other ligaments. For example, when jumping from a considerable height, dogs fall on their front or back legs and can cause the tendon of the biceps muscle to rupture. This would cause the shoulder to disengage and the animal could not support or raise the arm.

The best treatment on these occasions is the prevention of injuries. Dominique Grandjean, director of the sport unit at L’Ecole Nationale Veterinaire d’Alfort and Colonel of the Paris Fire Sappers brigade, states that “A search and rescue dog must always be prepared. Like any athlete, he must train and return to training.” Once the injury appears, more than three weeks of rest are necessary, preventing them from doing their job. Many of them would be left with chronic sequelae, such as osteoarthritis, and with a very high probability of repeating the injury if it is not treated correctly. Physical therapists recommend a good daily workout to strengthen the muscles and stretch the tendons and ligaments well. As for rehabilitation, companies such as Ortocanis.com, offer us hip, elbow and carpal supports that in addition to applying a slight pressure to the joint and being able to choose different degrees of immobilization, keep the joint warm and improve performance. These technical aids made especially for dogs, allow a cure of quality injuries and considerably reduce the time of rehabilitation.

Diana Uribelarrea

UCE University of Valencia

18/10/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

The personality of the cat: keys to understanding its behavior and differences with dogs

Curiosities

The differences in character with dogs are evident.
They can spend more hours without their owners, without being distressed or suffering from anxiety.
Cats are more territorial, although this feature can be confused with curiosity.
The cat is an independent, clean, territorial animal and a twilight hunter.
Dangerous food for the cat – what should you never eat?

Cats are one of the favorite pets of many Spaniards and more and more homes it is easy to meet a small feline. Do their owners know how to decipher the behavior of a cat?

As with humans, it is impossible to generalize because every cat is a world. However, there are some traits common to the feline species, which may be more or less accentuated in each cat. From Consumer they explain some keys to understand some of their actions:

Tolerates loneliness more than a dog

Although felines can be independent, there are also those attached to their owners. However, in general, if a feline is compared to a dog, the difference is remarkable in that the cat tolerates loneliness better: it can spend more hours without its owners, without being distressed or suffering from anxiety.

It is a mistake to associate the fact that a cat is indomitable with being ariscoUs feline can be up to three days alone at home, as long as it has food, water, its hygienic tray and a comfortable place to sleep. However, a dog requires not only several daily walks, but also more hours than the cat in the company of its owners.

Less easy to tame

The cat’s genes predispose it to be an animal that is not easy to tame. They are solitary hunters who do not need the coexistence of the group to survive and are accustomed to getting ahead in solitude. However, the creation of breeds of hand cats of humans has favored the emphasis on their genes of characteristics such as lasociability, “says Zorriqueta, veterinarian expert in these animals.

The cat or Felis silvestris catus was incorporated into domestic coexistence with people around 9,500 years ago, later than the dog. However, it is a mistake to associate the fact that a cat is indomitable with being ariscous.

Territorial by nature

Felines have territoriality inscribed in their genes. The house in which they live with their owners is their territory and they like to have it controlled, in its entirety. The habit of the cat to climb high places, such as the back of the sofa or tables, is due to its eagerness to have an adequate perspective of its territory.

The sense of territoriality of the cat is often confused by its owners with the fact that they are curious and have an interest in browsing any novelty.

‘Selective’ caresses

The cat has a very peculiar personality. A cat will accept petting only when it feels like it, but will demand the attention of the owner whenever he wants.

The schedules of the felines are twilight, when the sun goes down they are more active and by day they sleep moreIn addition, you will have a special instinct to choose the coolest place in the house in summer and the warmest in winter, rebels when overwhelmed with pampering and attention and loves your independence. But when the cat seeks the attention of its owners, it will know how to win it over with a sound that only it emits: purring.

The particular character of the feline does not fit well with everyone. Therefore, before making the decision to share life with a cat, it is advisable to find out about its unique and particular personality.

Night Hunter

The schedules of the felines are twilight, when the sun goes down they are more active and during the day they sleep more. However, a cat acclimatizes to the habits of the human family with which it coexists and more if it is taken into account that in the domestic sphere it does not need to hunt at night to eat.

Cats can sleep 12 hours a day and even more, but during that time there are many times when they doze and stay tuned to what’s going on around them. Cats sleep based on their vital habits and amount of physical activity they perform. So felines that get bored sleep more during the day, but it does not mean that they are more sleepy than other animals, such as dogs.

Loves cleanliness

Cats’ reputation for cleanliness is due to reality: felines like to keep their bodies and environments clean. Therefore, the cat spends time licking and grooming to preserve its fur and skin without dirt.

Cats accustomed to water since puppies also willingly accept baths and touch-ups in the hairdresser. The cat’s ingrained hygienic habits are also reflected in their environment: they use the feline hygienic tray (the sandbox) to make their bowel movements and refuse to sleep or eat in smelly or dirty places.

More misunderstood

The character and personality of cats are often misunderstood by their owners. The feline’s communicative signals are commonly misinterpreted. But, the masters of the cat do not usually ask in the consultation their doubts about it, which creates misunderstandings in the coexistence with the animal.

A common problem resulting from the incomprehension of cats by owners is that laziness and drowsiness are confused with a feline disease, such as osteoarthritis. The reason is that the cat does not limp, because it is an athlete and avoids showing weaknesses as a way to protect itself against its enemies. The consequence is that the cat does not receive the veterinary treatment it needs to improve its quality of life.

In general, the character of the cat is understood worse than that of the dog. The felines are more reserved than the dogs and their peculiar personality has brought them false and cruel fames, of demons, friend of witches, of having seven lives and even giving bad fario, in the case of black cats.

Source: Diario 20 minutos

01/07/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

Physiotherapy as an alternative treatment in compression of Cauda Equina

Pathologies, Treatments, vet

Physiotherapy for animals: accelerates their rehabilitation

Physiotherapy as an alternative treatment in compression of Cauda Equina

SUMMARY

The cauda equina, is the set of nerves and nerve roots that originate from L6 – L7 innervating the posterior train by means of the nerves: Sciatic, Obturator, Pudendo, Femoral and Pelvic.

When generating a trauma at this level, mild to severe compressions can occur generating in the patient pain, claudication of hind limbs, contracture of all muscle mass, proprioceptive deficit, ataxic gait, incontinence, among other clinical signs that will guide the Veterinarian to establish an adequate medical treatment and in the case of the physiotherapist, locate the areas of pain and improve weight support, resistance, bodybuilding (avoiding muscle atrophy as much as possible), joint mobility and proprioception.

The diagnosis is made by radiological study and magnetic resonance imaging of the spine at the level of the lumbo-sacral joint, treatment options

consist of: cage rest, allopathic (NSAIDs, analgesics, corticosteroids), homotoxicological, physiotherapy and rehabilitation, being an excellent option the synergy between homotoxicological treatment and physiotherapy (integral analgesia).

This paper presents the case of a patient of a Pinscher, female, 10 months, which is taken to consultation after having suffered a trauma by fall presenting as main signs paraparesis, contracture of all muscle mass in hind limbs, proprioceptive deficit and ataxic gait. It was decided to perform physiotherapy and rehabilitation without suspending the medical treatment established from the beginning, managing to reduce the recovery time, improvement in the patient’s condition, elimination of the cause of the physical alteration, pain relief, reduce inflammation and resumption to daily life.

Keywords: cauda equine compression, physiotherapy and rehabilitation.

Interested? Here’s the full article

Angelica B. Ortega Vasquez

Ortocanis.com Collaborator

30/05/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

Treatment of hip dysplasia in the young dog

injuries, Pathologies, Treatments, vet

Hip dysplasia is a very common problem in certain breeds: BullDog, Bordeaux Doge, St. Bernard, Neapolitan Mastiff, German Shepherd, Rottweiler, Golden… all of them have an incidence above 20%.

Dysplasia is a multifactorial, multigenic and hereditary disease, that is, there are several factors that predispose and cause hip dysplasia, there are several genes involved in its appearance and it has a hereditary character.

Environmental factors are becoming more and more important in the development of hip dysplasia, the genetic factor is necessary to develop the disease but this is not the only factor. Genetics is a necessary but not exclusive factor, that is, you can have the genetic predisposition and not develop the disease but if you do not have a predisposition it is sure that it does not develop.

There are several degrees of dysplasia, and also those that appear when the dog is a puppy or those that give problem already in adulthood; but in this article we will focus on the treatment and specifically on the treatment of dysplasia to young dogs.

Classification of the degrees of dysplasia according to the OFA :

Grade I: minimal alteration with small subluxation and few degenerative changes.

Grade II: marked lateral subluxation of the femoral head, 25-50% of which is outside the acetabulum.

Grade III: 50-75% of the femoral head is outside the acetabulum; there are important degenerative changes.

Grade IV: dislocation of the femoral head with flattening of the acetabular border and femoral head; there are major degenerative changes.

The presentation in the young dog is puppy hip x-ray normally between 5 and 6 months and is marked by a significant limp.

A dog is not considered to be free of dysplasia until at two years of age already completed no problems or inconsistencies are observed in the control x-rays.

Food is one of the factors that predisposes to the appearance of hip dysplasia, Calcium-Phosphorus imbalances that must keep a correlation Ca1.6% – P1.1% and above all not overfeeding or providing excess proteins allows us to minimize the incidence of hip dysplasia. A hypocaloric diet from 3 months to 8 months protects dogs with rapid growth from dysplasia. Excess weight at 60 days is another factor that predisposes to the disease.

Hip dysplasia in the puppy usually debuts from 5 or 6 months, before it is not possible to observe any problem and the dog has been completely normal and has developed normally. The debut is usually presented as a sharp limp that prevents the dog from playing as it had done to date. We can observe changes in the desire to play, negative when going for a walk, to relate to other dogs or owners. Mood swings, frequent slips of the hind legs, discomfort and even refusal to be touched and the fact of “fleeing” from children in dogs that until a few days ago were playful and affectionate are frequent.

Sometimes when you reach 90% of the growth between 8 and 11 months the signs can be reduced and even disappear. Anyway the dysplasia remains and in many cases the problems reappear after a while and sooner rather than later signs of osteoarthritis appear in the hips.

The most common clinical signs are:

Lameness that may increase with exercise

Walking and jogging with hip swing

Morning stiffness

Difficulty getting up

Muscle atrophy

Refusal to move

Mood swings

Pain on palpation

Sign of Ortolani.

Although there are surgical methods: excision of the pectineus muscle, triple hip osteotomy, arthroplasty of the femoral head, osteotomy of the pubis, forage, hip prostheses most are practiced when the dog is young to supposedly decrease the possibility of secondary coxofemoral osteoarthritis in adulthood. The hip prosthesis should be reserved for severe cases and once the growth has finished.

Medical treatment is based on anti-inflammatories, we can start with natural anti-inflammatories, such as inflamex, which does not contain medicinal substances, if we do not obtain the expected results move to Aine’s and in extreme cases corticos are resorted to. We must include nutraceuticals especially chondroprotectors since they reduce the incidence of osteoarthritis and protect the articular cartilage. These are used in senior dogs in a very general way but are very useful as a joint protector in growing dogs, there are specific drug carriers for young dogs. Weight reduction, moderate and above all regular exercise are other basic points, as well as improvements in the environment and the fact of sleeping on a special mattress for older dogs and in a warm place away from humidity.

Canine physiotherapy can help a lot to better develop the muscles to reduce pain, to draw tensions and eliminate compensations that the dog has made with the wrong postures and antialgic positions. This will be based on TENS, ultrasound, therapeutic exercises, the use of hydrotherapy, laser, shock waves…

The main improvement in the environment is to sleep on a good therapeutic mattress, not to be cold or exposed to a lot of humidity, to use in winter a thermal coat for dogs, to be able to be a therapeutic canine blanket that can be used all year round.

We can help our Dog with hip dysplasia, regular physical exercise can be very useful to improve muscle mass that better withstands poor joint congruence, avoid impacts, jumps or uncontrolled runs during the presentation of the picture are also important elements. Physiotherapy and massages allow you to always have the dog in a correct muscular state, and all the adjuvant treatments such as acupuncture, massages, reiki, bach flowers … they can also help with treatment. The latest novelty is the hip supports that help stabilize the pelvis, give support and greatly improve the quality of life of our pets.

Toni

Ortocanis.com Team

14/03/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

Degeneration of the spine in dogs

injuries, most commented, Pathologies, Treatments, vet

Deforming Spondylosis in Dogs

DEGENERATION OF THE SPINE IN DOGS

Deforming spondylosis is a degenerative, non-inflammatory disease of the spine, characterized by the production of bone spurs in the lower, sides, and upper area of the vertebrae of the spine. These spurs are simply caused by bone growths, usually growing in response to aging or injury.

In dogs, deforming spondylosis most often occurs along the spine, in the back of the chest, and in the upper vertebrae of the lower back. Older and large breed dogs are at higher risk of developing deforming spondylosis.

SYMPTOMS

*Patients are usually asymptomatic, bone growth can be felt by touching your pet before perceiving changes in its behavior in the wake of growth

Fracture of spurs or bridges can cause pain
Rigidity
Restricted movement
Pain

CAUSES

Repeated microtrauma – repeated pressure on the same joints or bones, through certain exercises or activities
Major traumas – the body responds when trying to grow new bone
*Predisposition to hered spurs

DIAGNOSIS

Your veterinarian will do a complete physical examination of your dog, including a biochemical profile, a complete blood count, a urinalysis, and an electrolyte panel, in order to rule out or confirm other diseases, such as cancer. You will need to give a complete history of your dog’s health, including background history of symptoms, onset of symptoms, and possible incidents that may have precipitated this condition.
X-ray images of the chest and abdomen (side view) are essential for the diagnosis of deforming spondylosis. X-rays reveal osteophytes (small bone growths) in the vertebrae, or in more advanced cases an osteophyte can be found as a bridge in the space between the vertebrae.

Your doctor may choose from several other types of tests in order to reach a definitive conclusion. A myelography uses the injection of a radiopaque substance to obtain an interior image; Computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are also options. These procedures can help your veterinarian find a bone spur that may be putting pressure on your dog’s spinal cord or nerves (leading to neurological reactions).

TREATMENT

Usually, patients with deforming spondylosis do not show abnormal external symptoms of initial bone growth. A neurological examination should be performed to rule out a pathology of the spine that requires surgery. Otherwise, if the growth has reached the point of damaging nerves and tissue, and your pet suffers intense pain, or if your veterinarian has decided on a surgical solution, your dog will be hospitalized. Under normal circumstances, when damage to the body is minimal, and your dog feels little discomfort and pain, the condition will be treated on an outpatient basis, with strict rest and prescription painkillers for home treatment. Pain medications are given after your meals. To speed up recovery and from four days after the intervention you can use thermal coats or spine girdles for dogs (consult your veterinarian). Acupuncture can also provide pain relief for some animals.

LIFE AND MANAGEMENT

Depending on the severity of the symptoms, your veterinarian will schedule checkups to track your dog’s progress. Only give pain medication when your dog is showing signs of discomfort (after a meal), and only in the exact amount prescribed, unless your veterinarian tells you otherwise. Drug or drug overdose is one of the most common causes of unintentional deaths in pets. You will need to provide a safe and quiet place for your dog to rest, away from other pets and active children. During this time, limit yourself to slow walks around the neighborhood. When your dog shows no signs of discomfort for several weeks he can slowly return to normal activity.

Source: Venfido

www.ortocanis.com

13/03/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

An examination of canine hip dysplasia grading

injuries, Pathologies, vet

The phenotypic evaluation of hips done by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals falls into seven different categories. Those categories are Normal (Excellent, Good, Fair), and Dysplastic (Mild, Moderate, Severe). Once each of the radiologists classifies the hip into one of the 7 phenotypes above, the final hip grade is decided by a consensus of the 3 independent outside evaluations. Examples would be:

Two radiologists reported Excellent, one Good—the final grade would be Excellent
One radiologist reported Excellent, one Good, one Fair—the final grade would be Good
One radiologist reported Fair, two radiologists reported Mild—the final grade would be Mild

The hip grades of Excellent, Good and Fair are within normal limits and are given OFA numbers. This information is accepted by AKC on dogs with permanent identification (tattoo, microchip) and is in the public domain. Radiographs of Borderline, Mild, Moderate and Severely dysplastic hip grades are reviewed by the OFA radiologist and a radiographic report is generated documenting the abnormal radiographic findings. Unless the owner has chosen the open database, dysplastic hip grades are not in the public domain.

Excellent

Excellent: this classification is assigned for superior conformation in comparison to other animals of the same age and breed. There is a deep seated ball (femoral head) which fits tightly into a well-formed socket (acetabulum) with minimal joint space. There is almost complete coverage of the socket over the ball.

Good

Good: slightly less than superior but a well-formed congruent hip joint is visualized. The ball fits well into the socket and good coverage is present.

Fair

Fair: Assigned where minor irregularities in the hip joint exist. The hip joint is wider than a good hip phenotype. This is due to the ball slightly slipping out of the socket causing a minor degree of joint incongruency. There may also be slight inward deviation of the weight-bearing surface of the socket (dorsal acetabular rim) causing the socket to appear slightly shallow. This can be a normal finding in some breeds however, such as the Chinese Shar Pei, Chow Chow, and Poodle.

Borderline

Borderline: there is no clear cut consensus between the radiologists to place the hip into a given category of normal or dysplastic. There is usually more incongruency present than what occurs in the minor amount found in a fair but there are no arthritic changes present that definitively diagnose the hip joint being dysplastic. There also may be a bony projection present on any of the areas of the hip anatomy illustrated above that can not accurately be assessed as being an abnormal arthritic change or as a normal anatomic variant for that individual dog. To increase the accuracy of a correct diagnosis, it is recommended to repeat the radiographs at a later date (usually 6 months). This allows the radiologist to compare the initial film with the most recent film over a given time period and assess for progressive arthritic changes that would be expected if the dog was truly dysplastic. Most dogs with this grade (over 50%) show no change in hip conformation over time and receive a normal hip rating; usually a fair hip phenotype.

Mild

Mild Hip Dysplasia: there is significant subluxation present where the ball is partially out of the socket causing an incongruent increased joint space. The socket is usually shallow only partially covering the ball. There are usually no arthritic changes present with this classification and if the dog is young (24 to 30 months of age), there is an option to resubmit an radiograph when the dog is older so it can be reevaluated a second time. Most dogs will remain dysplastic showing progression of the disease with early arthritic changes. Since HD is a chronic, progressive disease, the older the dog, the more accurate the diagnosis of HD (or lack of HD).

Moderate

Moderate Hip Dysplasia: there is significant subluxation present where the ball is barely seated into a shallow socket causing joint incongruency. There are secondary arthritic bone changes usually along the femoral neck and head (termed remodeling), acetabular rim changes (termed osteophytes or bone spurs) and various degrees of trabecular bone pattern changes called sclerosis. Once arthritis is reported, there is only continued progression of arthritis over time.

Severe

Severe Hip Dysplasia: assigned where radiographic evidence of marked dysplasia exists. There is significant subluxation present where the ball is partly or completely out of a shallow socket. Like moderate HD, there are also large amounts of secondary arthritic bone changes along the femoral neck and head, acetabular rim changes and large amounts of abnormal bone pattern changes.

Other Hip Dysplasia Registries—An Approximation

OFA	FCI (European)	BVA (UK/Australia)	SV (Germany)
Excellent	A-1	0-4 (no > 3/hip)	Normal
Good	A-2	5-10 (no > 6/hip)	Normal
Fair	B-1	11-18	Normal
Borderline	B-2	19-25	Fast Normal
Mild	C	26-35	Noch Zugelassen
Moderate	D	36-50	Mittlere
Severe	And	51-106	Schwere

Font: Orthopedic Foundation For Animals

20/02/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

Assessment of the proprioceptive system

Curiosities, Treatments, vet

What is the proprioceptive system?

It is the system by which the brain receives information about the position and movement of body parts with each other and in relation to their support base. This is produced through a series of receptors distributed throughout the body. Proprioceptive sensitivity is extraordinarily important in the dog’s relationship life.

Within the physiotherapy examination (musculoskeletal or neurological), the proprioceptive system will always be evaluated to have a reference and guidelines with which to establish the treatment plan. Sometimes the same techniques that help us to value the animal, serve us later to rehabilitate it.

Postural reactions

Positional reaction or conscious proprioception
1. Put the dorsal face of the limb in contact with the ground. The animal should instantly rectify to the normal position.
2. Put the limb of the animal in abduction or adduction. In this case you should also instantly rectify towards the starting position.
3. Place a sheet of paper so that the dog supports the pads. Move the leaf laterally in thoracic limbs and caudolaterally for the pelvic limbs. When perceiving the movement stimulus, you need to reposition the limb correctly.
Hemistation
1. You should take the limbs of a hemibody and move the animal to the opposite side to see if it is able to withstand the balance.
2. In the case of musculoskeletal injuries it is also possible to assess the affected limb by taking only the opposite limb or one of the previous ones and assess the balance reaction presented by the animal (uniestación)
Hemimarcha
1. It is exactly the same exercise as the hemistation only that the animal will have to move on the two limbs.
Jump test
1. Holding the animal and preventing it from supporting three of its four limbs, move it laterally. You will need to make small jumps.
Truck test
1. Make him move with his thoracic limbs holding him through the pelvic area. Do it with the head of the animal in a high position to prevent it from looking where to put your hands.
Extensor postural impulse reaction test
1. Take the animal by the armpits in an upright position and descend it slowly. When its hind limbs touch the ground, it will extend them caudally in a marching motion, anticipating displacement.
Visual and tactile reaction
1. Holding the animal, he approaches the edge of a table until he touches it. You should place your limb on the table instantly. We will assess visual and proprioceptive sensitivity. It should be repeated by covering the eyes, so we will value tactile and proprioceptive sensitivity.

Balance in season and dynamics

The balance of the animal can be assessed by provoking some of the postural reactions mentioned above or by creating destabilizations of the animal in static and during walking.

During walking you can tap small sideways to see how it reacts. If the animal has its correct balance, it will continue walking in a straight line without modifying its state or its rhythm.

Coordination

Coordination can be assessed through circles, eights, climbs, descents, speed changes, different terrains with small difficulties in between.

Ortocanis Writing

[email protected]

18/01/2013/by Ortocanis

Paralysis in dogs

Pathologies, Treatments, vet

A dog’s ability to move and perform its daily activities depends on the ability of the brain, spine, nerves, and muscles to coordinate together.

This complex communication system exchanges information when nerves in the brain send messages to the body about the outside environment, and the body sends messages to the brain about what it is experiencing in the environment. These messages are transmitted through nerves in the spinal cord, which are embedded in the spine or spine. Together, the nerves of the brain and spinal cord make up the central nervous system. Trauma to any part of the nerve pathways can lead to poor communication, or a total lack of communication between the brain and the body, leading to an inability to coordinate body movements.

The spine is made up of a set of 24 bones called vertebrae, which are separated from each other by small cushions called intervertebral discs. Together, the vertebrae and intervertebral discs protect the spine from damage. Trauma to the vertebrae or discs can create vulnerability in the nerves of the spinal cord, leading to new disorders to the neural pathway.

When a dog experiences paralysis, it is often because communication between the spinal cord and the brain has been disrupted. In some cases, the dog is not able to move its legs, a state of total paralysis, and in other cases, there may still be some communication between the brain and the spine, and the dog will only appear weak or have difficulty moving its legs, a condition known as: partial paralysis. There are also cases where a dog may be paralyzed on all four legs (quadriplegia), and in others, the dog may be able to control movement in some of its legs, but not all. This is determined by the location of the trauma, occurring in the brain, spine, nerves or muscles.

Some breeds are more prone than others. Dogs that are close to the ground with elongated backs, such as dachshunds and bassets, are commonly affected by ruptured vertebral discs by putting pressure on the spinal cord, a condition known as intervertebral disc disease. Some breeds are genetically predisposed to a condition called degenerative myelopathy (MD), a disease that attacks nerves on the backs of older dogs (more than seven years old). It is a slow action, a progressive disorder that eventually leads to paralysis of the hind legs. Breeds affected by this disease are the Welsh corgi, boxer, German shepherd, Chesapeake Bay retriever, and Irish setter.

Symptoms:

Not able to move all four legs (quadriplegia)

Not able to move the hind legs (paraplegia)

Walks with front legs while dragging hind legs

There may be pain in the neck, spine, or legs

Can’t urinate

Not able to control urination, urine dripping

Not able to control defecation

Constipation

Causes:

Canine degenerative myelopathy (MD) – related to the gene of German shepherd, boxer, Welsh corgi, Chesapeake Bay retriever, ages 7-14 years; the cause is unknown

Slippage of the discs in the back – intervertebral disc disease

Spondylodiscitis – bacterial or viral infection in the bones of the spine (vertebrae)

Infection or inflammation of the spine

Distemper

Meningomyelitis – viral or bacterial infection of the brain, leading to poor communication of nerve impulses

Polymyositis – infection or inflammation in the muscles

Polyneuritis – inflammation of the nerves

Embolism – obstruction of blood flow to the spine

Aortic embolism – obstruction of blood flow to the back legs

Tumors or cancer in the spine or brain

Tick paralysis as a result of tick bites

Rocky Mountain Fever

Botulism – bacterial toxins

Myasthenia Gravis – severe muscle weakness

Fibrocartilaginous embolism the fluid inside an injured disc enters the arterial system and settles in the spinal cord, creating a permanent embolism, or blockage, is irreversible, but not progressive.

Hypothyroidism – Low thyroid level

Spinal injury

Malformation of the spine or vertebrae

Diagnosis:

You will need to give a complete history of your dog’s health, the onset of symptoms and possible incidences that may have led to this condition, such as tick bites, or recent injuries from jumping or falling. During the physical exam, your veterinarian will pay close attention to how well your dog is able to move his legs, and how well he is able to respond to reflex tests. The veterinarian will also test your dog’s ability to feel pain on all four legs, control of the head, spine, and legs for signs of pain and alertness to the touch.

All of these things will help your veterinarian locate the place in your dog’s spine, where nerves or muscles are having problems. Basic laboratory tests include a complete blood count, a biochemical profile and a urinalysis, which can determine if your dog has a bacterial infection, a virus or a toxin reaction, which is interfering with nerve pathways. X-ray images of the spine can show evidence of an infection, a malformation of the vertebrae, or a herniated disc that is pressing against the spinal cord. Other conditions that can lead to disruption of nerve pathways may be evident on an X-ray, such as tumors, obstructions, or inflamed nerves.

In some cases, your veterinarian may order a special X-ray called a myelogram. This process uses an injection with a contrast agent (dye) into the spine, followed by X-ray images that will allow the doctor to see the spinal cord and vertebrae in more detail. If these imaging techniques aren’t helpful, your veterinarian may order a computed tomography (CT) scan, or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of your dog’s brain and spine, both of which provide a very detailed picture. In some cases, your veterinarian may take a sample of the fluid around the spine, for analysis, or sample of the muscles or nerve fibers for a biopsy. These tests can determine the presence of an infection in the brain or spine.

Treatment:

The course of treatment will depend on the cause of the paralysis. If your dog is unable to walk, urinate, or defecate on his own, he will most likely be admitted to the hospital while his veterinarian will work to deliver a diagnosis. From there your veterinarian will track your dog’s recovery and progress. If your dog is in pain, he will be given medication to help control the pain, the bladder is emptied several times a day by catheter, and your dog will be physically moved to make sure he doesn’t get ulcers from staying in one place for too long. There are several products that will help you spend time still without getting damaged, such as mattresses. If the cause of the paralysis is an infection or a herniated disc, the condition will be treated with either medication, surgery, or therapy. Anti-inflammatory drugs that may be natural and specific such as imflamex will be used to reduce inflammation of the nerves. Tumors or blockages of blood flow can be repaired surgically, depending on the vulnerability of the location. Some paralyzed dogs recover very quickly. Depending on the severity of the illness, your dog may stay in the hospital until he is able to walk, or your veterinarian will decide to send your dog home with a guide to provide care and recovery at home. Your veterinarian will establish a plan to review the progress of your dog’s treatment and adjust it accordingly.

life and a lot!

Your veterinarian will help you make a plan for your dog’s care at home. Occasionally, the dog may resist care due to pain, but assertive and gentle care will help decrease fear reactions.

It is important that you take care of your dog properly so that he can fully recover. Carefully follow all instructions from your veterinarian. If your veterinarian has prescribed medication, be sure to administer all treatment, even after your dog appears to have fully recovered. In most cases, a canine wheelchair can be of great help, either for the rehabilitation process or as a simple means of transporting the immobile part of the animal. Most wheelchair dogs adapt very well and continue to enjoy their life.

Orthocanis

source:VenFido

16/01/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis

A disabled dog competes on an Agility circuit

Curiosities, Sports, stories

An example of overcoming A disabled dog competes in an agility contest with his wheelchair.

Zip has five titles of agility champion, achieved before an accident left her paralyzed.

Un perro discapacitado compite en un concurso de agilidad con su silla de ruedas Perra discapacitada A CNN viewer presented a video of herself and her disabled Border Collie competing in an agility contest in Pensacola, Florida.

The owner of the dog commented: “Zip has taught me many lessons, one of them is that you can not let a disability put you on a sofa.” “Many are already those who have told me that they were going through a difficult time in their lives and seeing the case of Zip gave them hope and grabbed the problem by the horns.”

Proceeds raised from zip’s exhibit and his guide Sue went toward cancer research in dogs.

12/01/2013/0 Comments/by Ortocanis