Atlantoaxial dislocation in a dachshund

[Monica78]

Hi Laurie, I have a 3 yeah old dachshund who had a traumatic atlantoaxial dislocation with consequent tetraplegia in october 2019. The first neurologist decided for conservative therapy and he did well till july 2020 when he became again tetraplegic. They went to another neurologist that finally did the stabilization surgery and the dog did well since september when he started to walk with head on the floor like a fifth leg. They did another MRI and the result was that the surgery site was ok but there is some medullar atrophy. I've seen this dog for the first time last week : he is very thin and nervous- the owner says he was a different dog before. He walks using his head like a support with his neck curved. He also seems to have difficulties with his tongue but not while eating or drinking. He is unable to rise his head or to turn completely right or left. His ventrolateral neck muscles are all very tense bilaterally. He also has pain on caudal shoulder muscles, ileopsoas bilaterally and no propioception. All other reflexes are normal. I'm doing acupuncture (very difficult because he is nervous and tense and the needels jump out), laser all the muscles, E stim on dorsal neck, some balance exercises trying to make him move the head in every direction. It is difficult to do some traction because he never relaxes and I fear for the surgery site. The owner is very depressed and cries everytime for this dog....do you have any suggestions to do something more and to understand why he was doing well and now his head is down like this?
How can I post a video here?
Thank you and sorry for my English

[Monica78]

Here is the video https://youtu.be/tY6kqqpgLeI
I also suggested some days of meloxicam and an initial dose of full spectrum cbd oil for pain.
Thank you!

[lehughes]

Hey Monica,

Well that video makes me want to cry too!

So, my questions are:
1) Do you know how the stabilization was done?
2) Do you have x-rays you can post?
3) What dose of laser are you using?
4) What acupoints are you using?

Beyond that, I would think that this dog would benefit from a bit of sedation in order to check mobility of the caudal aspect of the neck.
Whatever dose your lasering with, I'd increase it substantially and aim it at the the C1-C2 region AND the base of the skull.
If you or anyone near your practice can do craniosacral therapy, it might be worth trying.
It just feels like some very gentle manual therapies (or even energy work... yay, I know I sound a bit crazy saying that, but I think that this poor dog needs some calming).

I look forward to learning more about this poor dog!

Cheers,

Laurie

[Monica78]

Hi Laurie

The surgery was done on 10.07.20 with a spongiosa implant, titanium cortical screws 2,7 mm over the ventral atlas and the epistrofeus body. Stabilization with PMMA.

I have an x ray (done 29.09.20) that I attach and an MRI: I try to translate the most important part of the report for you
" Intramedullar hyperintensity in C1-C2 with probable spinal cord focal atrophy, no signs of spinal cord compression, no signs of implants dislocation; persistence of chronic focal spinal cord contusion signs, suspect meningeal flogosis" (BUT LCR was normal)

Regarding acupuncture he is very nervous and literally spits out the needles so my collegue tried two different combinations:
- the first : GV 20, GV 14, BL 10 (bilateral), BL 11 ( bilateral) and TOP TAIL
- the 2 nd: GV 20, BL 60/KI 3 (bilateral), BL 23 (bilateral) and BL31

Regarding laser I have a class III and I use 10 J/cm2

The owner doesn't allow me further sedation to check the neck

Unfortunately nobody for craniosacral therapy here

After some days of FANS and CBD oil he seems more relaxed, the neck is still down but he is able to rise the head to follow a cookie.

GUSTAV.jpg (73.04 KiB) Viewed 4821 times

Thank you very much, your advices are always precious !

[lehughes]

Hey Monica,

Sorry for my tardy reply...

So, my gut feeling is to do massage-type therapies on the ventral aspect of the neck. Heal of your hand, finger tips... stroking and lifting upward. On hand holding under the chin. Lots of full hand contact on the skin - for the warmth and to reduce the anxiety / stress. Touch for the release of endorphins. Don't even think of it as releasing muscles, but rather given them a break, supporting them, and allowing the dog to trust neck movement and/or neck relaxation.

I guess, I'd leave out the acupuncture for now. Laser the points instead... and / or Tens on acupoints. Then you could do grade 1 and 2 mobilizations to the caudal cervical spine. And then continue with the cookie exercises.

Does any of this seem possible? I hope so!

Laurie

[Monica78]

Thank you Laurie, I'll try and see

[lehughes]

Good luck!!!