Species: Dog
Breed: Pekingese
Gender: Spayed female
Age: 10 years
Clinical Case
Patient referred for sudden hind limb paralysis.
Diabetic, blind, and treated with caninsulin for over three years.
The owner refused further diagnostic testing, opting for a conservative approach.
Gabapentin therapy with poor response.
Clinical Examination
On neurological examination:
- Mental state: alert and responsive
- Posture: inability to stand
- Gait: non-ambulatory paraparesis with left lateralisation
- Postural reactions and proprioception: absent hind limbs
- Cranial nerves: normal
- Spinal reflexes: left posterior flexor -2, right posterior flexor -1
- Sensation: absent superficial sensation in hind limbs bilaterally
Suspected diagnosis of thoracolumbar disc protrusion.
Therapeutic Protocol
- Rest combined with standing exercises.
- Gabapentin therapy combined with hemp flour and PEA supplementation with no apparent results.
- MLS® Laser Therapy with M-VET device, T10-L3 spine and bilateral knee joint: 5 sessions every other day.
- “Inflammation” program (Phase – acute), Point-to-Point mode, 2 cm diameter terminal.
- Maintenance MLS® Laser Therapy is then performed once a month.
Results
- The animal showed clear improvement from the second session, with sensation regained in the distal limb.
- After the third session, the limb began to show partial weight bearing.
- After the ninth session (one month after the injury), full mobility of the limb was restored.
- A one-month follow-up X-ray revealed callus formation.
By Dr. Carla Maisto, Animal Food Veterinary Hospital, Giugliano in Campania (Naples) – Italy
