fourleg.com

Hi all-
This sweet puppy about 3-4 weeks after adoption started to want to walk less and had progressive weakness in his hinds, falling, eating lying down. Decreased tone hinds and proximal weakness greater than distally. Strangely kyphosis lower thoracolumbar spine and he has a definite preference for flexion all four limbs too. Not sure about front weakness but there is some stumbling that is hard to tell from where it originates. EMG testing: abnormal spontaneous activity fronts and hinds with normal nerve function. No patellar reflexes. From my PT standpoint I am concerned about potential loss of ROM in His hinds > fronts due to hip/ knee weakness, perhaps that has spawned his preference for flexion. He sits rolled back on his lower spine and ambulates with a wide base and kyphoric posture. Spine extensor weakness also a factor? If he loses range, it will be hard to get him strong over his limbs to allow progress with gail and all standing function. I don't know where this all will lead, but hope there is room for neuro improvement as a puppy! I am encouraging owners to have him stand and walk to them vs being picked up and carried (!), to eat standing at raised bowls, walking on leash in yard (soft grass and traction), ROM & stretching, ( he likes lying on his back between a long sitting human's legs), we are "swimming" in the UWTM, cavalettis, standing over a smallish peanut (but he does not like it!). Has anyone had a puppy with this diagnosis and similar problems?
I have a video and will try to download it! Thank you!

WEIRD!!!

FYI: To post a video here, you'll need to upload it to youtube and put the URL here.

Okay... So in a case such as this, where you have no diagnosis and therefore no way to treat the 'root of the problem' because who knows what the root is, you have to look at function.

As such, I think you are on the right path. Gait practice. Functional limb patterning. Functional activity practice. Assistive devices. Lots of owner education.

In regards to active versus passive therapies. I'd only be concerned with stretching & ROM as a way to monitor tissue extensibility. If you note a trend then it becomes a main therapy component. Otherwise, I always look at Exercise Prescription as 'What will give you the biggest bang for your buck?' So active exercise would be my preference. If you can prescribe certain exercises that would also target ROM, that is likely best.

Cookies into extension (for extensor muscles). Front feet up on a yoga block or book for hips extension. Really... lots and lots of movement practice, and a little bit of balance practice.
It sounds to me as though he will never be 'normal'... so it's function that matters most!

I'd say have fun playing with the puppy as you develop functional exercises, tests, and challenges.

Best of luck!

Laurie

Thanks very much Laurie- good to be on the right track! And I see your point about functional/active work over stretching/passive work but still watching the trend. I have had a 2 cases in the past where loss of tissue extensibility became an issue very quickly- faster than I would have imagined, so am always nervous about this. When you say "cookies into extension" you mean sittin pretty, snoopies, standing with fronts on a higher surface? Others you like? (Will try again to get connected to your exercise programs)

Very good info! I just like to make sure that people aren't spending so much time on the passive therapies that they overlook the functional therapies. If the dog is moving and function is improving, then soft tissue restrictions minimize themselves. But I hear what you're saying... so it sounds like you are on it!

Okay... in regards to cookies into extension, I just mean getting the dog to look up in order to take the treat... which will work the extensor muscles in the neck and back. (not sit pretty... I never recommend that one, and wouldn't think of it with a neuro compromised dog!)

You start in lying, then standing, then with front feet elevated - just to get more and more extension further down the spine.

Best!

Laurie