Patellar luxation, the culprit of paralysis

What is patellar luxation

The patella slides stably on the trochlear groove at the distal end of the femur. When the patella can move beyond the trochlear groove, it is called " Patellar luxation”
Patellar luxation is a common joint disease in small pets. Most medial patellar luxation is related to skeletal muscle abnormalities. The impact of patellar luxation occurs in 50% or more of the bilateral hind limbs, causing physical discomfort and loss of function.

Common causes of patellar luxation

Patellar luxation is particularly common in dogs that have been walking or upright for a long time

Symptoms of patellar luxation

Dogs will have the following symptoms: when standing still, they sometimes rely on three legs for support, with one hind leg only hanging on the ground, and they dare not support it with force. In severe cases, the affected limb only relies on three legs to move, and the affected limb never dares to touch the ground. Over time, muscle atrophy occurs, which is manifested as inconsistent sizes of the two hind limbs when touched.

Treatment of patellar dislocation

Levels 1 and 2 do not require treatment and can be recovered through professional massage. But for grades 3 and 4, surgical treatment is necessary to heal.
Patellar luxation requires supplementing joint chondroitin and glucosamine, hydrotherapy, etc. Through the above treatments, dogs can walk well.

Cervical spondylosis is the main culprit of sudden paralysis

Dogs also have cervical spondylosis

Cervical spondylosis can be divided into neck types with mainly neck symptoms and nerve root involvement in the upper limbs. Symptoms include nerve root type, spinal type with limb motor and sensory impairment, vertebral artery type with vertebral artery compression causing symptoms of sympathetic nerve stimulation around the vertebral artery, and esophageal type with compression of the esophagus causing discomfort or difficulty in swallowing.

Causes of cervical spondylosis

There are two common possible conditions:

1. The dog's head is suddenly hit by an external force, causing the cervical spine to become dislocated.

2. Long-term bowing and muscle tension cause overstrain, cervical vertebra deformation, etc., which may compress nerves.

The most common culprit of cervical spondylosis in our homes is something that everyone often ignores: the dog’s eating.

Putting the food bowl directly on the ground will cause the dog to lower his head when eating. Not only will it cause choking, but the neck muscles will also bear a heavy load, which will cause great damage to the dog's cervical spine in the long run. s damage.

Symptoms of cervical spondylosis

Early symptoms of cervical spondylosis: dizziness, vomiting, numbness of limbs, insomnia, decreased vision and other problems.

Myelitis is the culprit of sudden paralysis

What is myelitis

Myelitis refers to an inflammatory disease of the spinal cord parenchyma and blood vessels. It is also called meningomyelitis because it is often accompanied by meningitis. It mostly occurs in dogs, while catsrate is lower.

Causes of myelitis

1. Most are caused by infection, commonly seen in canine distemper, rabies, pseudorabies, feline infectious peritonitis, tetanus, toxoplasmosis, heartrofilariasis, systemic fungal infection, etc., and are also seen in colds, sepsis and sepsis.
2． Vertebral fractures, kicks, falls and spinal cord oscillations.
3. Rickets, rickets, and disc abnormalities.
4． Idiopathic myelitis is seen in granulomatous meningoencephalomyelitis, feline cerebral poliomyelitis, and reticulocytosis.

Symptoms of myelitis

Sick dogs will have prodromal symptoms of reluctance to move, easy fatigue and pain in the limbs, and then the body temperature will rise and the disease will occur, and various symptoms of spinal cord dysfunction will appear. symptoms.
Movement disorders manifest as excitement or paralysis.
Occurrence in the early stage of the disease: stiffness of the back, stiff gait, muscle spasm, followed by hindquarter paralysis or paralysis; sensory impairment manifested as hypersensitivity or weakening and disappearance, even if the sick dog's back is touched, Loud barking or loss of response to various stimuli may occur;
In cervical myelitis, the reflex function is hyperactive;
In lumbar myelitis, the reflex function is hypo or hyperactive; When the low-level centers that control the rectum and bladder are damaged, anuria, constipation, and penile erection in male dogs will occur in the early stages, and fecal incontinence and impotence will occur in the later stages. Symptoms of encephalopathy such as nystagmus, head tilt, disturbance of consciousness, epilepsy, and ataxia may also occur.

Treatment of myelitis

The principle of treatment is antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and enhanced nursing care. Depending on the nature of the infection, different antibacterial preparations are given, mainly to control myelitis and prevent it from spreading to the brain.

Neuritis is the culprit of sudden paralysis

What is neuritis

Acute infectious polyneuritis, also known as Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) is a neurological dysfunction disease caused by a variety of reasons that damages most peripheral nerve endings, causing symmetry in the distal limbs.
This disease is not caused by the direct action of pathogens on the nervous system, but a neuroallergic reaction caused by viral infection (or vaccination). It is an infectious and immune disease.

Causes of neuritis

The pathogenesis of canine polyneuritis is relatively complex, but lack of vitamin B is one of the main causes. Dogs of different breeds and ages are susceptible to the disease. The main reason is that the long-term, single-feeding method of mainly meat has led to the deficiency of certain vitamins in the dog's body, especially the deficiency of vitamin B family (such as B1, B6, B12).

Symptoms of neuritis

In the early stage, most sick dogs show high spasm and swelling of the dorsal and lumbar muscles, abdominal muscles, and femoral muscles. The sick dogs show sensitivity to palpation and arched back and waist. ,The abdomen is curled up, and it will not be allowed to be touched. It will bark or bite when touched.
Some sick dogs suddenly become ill and develop movement disorders quickly. In severe cases, paralysis of the hindquarters or even the whole body may occur within a few hours or days, and the hindquarters are dragged forward by the two forelimbs. The vast majority of sick dogs have prodromal symptoms, such as abnormality (lameness) in one or more limbs, trembling, weakness of the hindquarters, restricted movement, unsteady gait, inability to climb high places, and gradually paralysis. Others develop paralysis during treatment.

PS: Although the sick dog is paralyzed, its knee tendon reflex, tail and anal reflex will never disappear.