Common Conditions

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OA is one of the most common causes of lameness in dogs one study performed in 2018 showed that over 80% of dogs over the age of 8 years had OA to some degree.

It is usually secondary to a primary cause like Hip Dysplasia or an injury.

It triggers a biological cascade of events that eventually, causes the protective cartilage at the ends of the bones to deteriorates and loosing that protection, enables the bones to rub together, causing damage.

OA can occur in any joint (you can see the OA on the right of the image).

Clinical signs

·  Pain

·  Lameness/ Stiffness

·  Reluctance to jump/go up steps

·  Reduced exercise tolerance

·  Decreased joint mobility

·  Muscle wastage (Atrophy)

·  Gets worse with cold weather

Like other orthopedic conditions, OA is diagnosed by your veterinary surgeon, following detailed clinical history and examination. Some times Radiographs can be taken (can see secondary boney development), joint taps (where synovial joint fluid is taken from the joint, to check viscosity and cell count) and in some cases a CT or MRI scan.

Treatment

* Non-Steroidal Anti-inflammatory Drugs (NSAID)

*Conservative  management (see HD)

*Neutricuticals to aid joint health

* Weight management

*Joint replacement

* Arthrodesis (Joint fusion)

Hip Dysplasia is a disease that commonly affects larger and giant breed dogs (but can affect any breed. 

It occurs when there is a genetic defect that causes the cartilage and ligaments within the hip joint to become lax, these ligaments usually stabilize the hip joint but in the case of HD dogs, they are weak. 

As a result the developing joint doesn’t fit together properly (Joint incongruity). This causes abnormal forces in the bones and joint surfaces, they loose contact and the acetabulum (socket) and femoral head (ball) become malformed and don’t fit together correctly. 

The abnormal loading can also lead to boney spurs developing, these lead to joint inflammation and pain.

As the dog gets older this can cause a lot of discomfort and pain, and can lead to arthritis. In some cases the joint is so badly affected it can cause a partial or full dislocation.

It can affect both legs or be just one sided.

It is diagnosed by a veterinary surgeon following consultation, assessment and radiography. It can be diagnosed as early as 6 months.

Clinical signs

·  Gait abnormality (lameness, bunny hopping)

·  Stiffness

·  Muscle atrophy (wastage)

·  Poor hip flexion or extension

·  Difficulty with steps and stairs

·  Guarding joints

·  Abnormal frog leg posture in sit

Treatment

* Conservative management

- Analgesia  - Exercise plans

- Physiotherapy  - Weight control

- Hydrotherapy  - Special diets

- Environmental changes

* Total hip replacement (replace the affected ball and socket)

* TPO (surgical fracture of the pelvis, to realign the hip and femur)

*  Femoral head and neck excision (removal of the ball to take pressure off the socket and reduce pain)

This condition occurs when the discs between the vertebral bodies (the spines shock absorbers) herniate and material from the center of these discs (nucleus pulposus) either bulges into the tough outer material (annulus fibrosis) or escapes through a tear. This can be caused by long-term degeneration or from an acute traumatic injury.

This escaped/bulging material puts pressure on the spinal cord, limits the brains ability to send messages via the cord and, depending on depth of compression, the clinical signs can range from weakness (paresis) and mild ataxia (wobbly walk) to complete paralysis and negative pain perception.

Clinical signs

·  Limb weakness (paresis)

·  Paralysis (loss of function)

·  Ataxia (wobbly gait)

·  Muscle wastage (if chronic)

·  Muscle atrophy (wastage)

·  Scuffing toes

·  Abnormal sitting position

·  Abnormal posture

·  Hypotonic musculature (poor tone)

Clinical signs are dependent of the level at which the spinal cord is affected (i.e. neck all limbs affected, lower back just hind limbs).

Treatment

Depending on the level of severity, treatment protocols can range from strict rest and medication – in cases that are still ambulatory (walking) to cases where paralysis is present and surgery is the only treatment option, where the surgeon performs decompression of the spinal cord, this is done by making a window in the vertebrae (laminectomy) and removing the disc material. 

In cases of spinal insult rehabilitation will pay a key part in their recovery.

FCE is caused by a vascular embolus (blocked blood vessel) caused by fibrocartilagenous material, probably from a disc. The sudden blockage limits the amount of oxygen supply to the spinal cord, this can lead to some degree of tissue death. 

These cases usually present very acutely (quick onset). The dogs are usually painful at the time of the injury (it is normally caused by some form of trauma or extreme activity) but not generally painful after that.

Clinical signs

·  Usually one sided, but can affect symetrically or all four limbs

·  Limb weakness (paresis)

·  Painful initially at onset then non painful

·  Scuffing toes on affected limb/limbs

·  Quick onset

·  Generally no muscle atrophy (wastage) initially as acute onset

As with IVDD clinical signs depend of the level at which the spinal cord is affected.

Treatment

Treatment for FCE is usually rest, Careful exercise regime and rehabilitation. 

Surgery is not generally indicated in these cases.

Some specialists may prescribe anti-inflammatory medication in the early stages.

All these conditions have similar implications for Physiotherapy.

We use Physiotherapy to:

- Build muscle

- Assist in joint mobility

- Improve gait pattern

- Provide pain relief

- Decrease tension

- Improve the patients comfort and exercise tolerance

- Improve and speed up recovery from a procedure or injury

Treatment will assist in improving and maintaining a good quality of life for your pet, and for you as an owner.

All plans will be individually tailored to your pets ability and requirement.