Raven is a 9 year old Pomeranian princess who is very special to us.
She was diagnosed with kidney stones in July 2011. She had neck pain in the spring and fall of 2011 and responded well to medical treatment. In March of 2012, she was in respiratory distress and would not stop panting excessively and had to be transferred from here to the emergency clinic with an oxygen tank. Her breathing improved after a night at the emergency clinic. Recently, she suffered from severe neck pain and had to have spinal surgery in her neck early June at a referral clinic called the Toronto Veterinary Emergency Hospital. She had a myelogram done which uses radiographs and a special dye that is placed in the spinal canal to look for problems in the spine. A herniated disc was found in her neck which resulted in her needing spinal surgery to remove the disc.
Back or neck pain can be very serious. If it is caused by a herniated disc (Intervertebral Disc Disease), emergency surgery may be required. Signs of pain can be a hunched back, reluctance to move their neck up, down or sideways, or reluctance to use stairs or jump up on furniture. Neurologic signs can occur if the spinal cord is affected such as ataxia (walking as if intoxicated), knuckling (dragging legs behind), and in the worst case, paralysis of the front or back legs. Most back problems can be diagnosed with a physical examination and sedation for xrays of the spine. Pain medication and anti-inflammatory medication is the usual treatment for back pain but sometimes a referral to a neurologist and surgeon is necessary.
We are happy to report Raven is doing great post operatively. She went home with pain medication and a detailed home program for exercise and physical rehabilitation. As you can see, Raven is no stranger to us nor the emergency clinic! The owners moved to Mississauga approx 10 years ago but continue to come here because they love us and we love them!
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