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The Dog Dragging Hind Leg Condition

By Roger Edwards


Coordination in the assembly of the muscles, spine, nerves, and brain of a dog contribute to its ability to move around performing its daily activities. This process is a complex type of communication involving the brain relaying information about the outer environment to the relevant parts of a body and those parts sending feedback about the actual state of an environment. Communication is facilitated by nerve cells which are embedded in the spinal cord found in the vertebral column of vertebrates like dogs. Here is more on dog dragging hind leg.

When the pathway between the brain and spine is disrupted, the dog experiences paralysis. The canine may be observed to move the hind legs weakly when the damage is partial, but total paralysis makes the dog unable to move the limbs totally. Inability to move the hind legs alone is referred to as partial paresis or paresis.

There are some breeds that are more prone to this condition than others. Genetically low dogs with short limbs and long bodies are more susceptible to rupturing of vertebral disks due to intense pressure exerted on the vertebral column. This immense pressure blocks or damages neural pathways and results to in-coordination.

Other breeds are genetically vulnerable to degenerative myelopathy. This disease attacks nerves in the spinal cords of older dogs, approximately at the age of seven years. This disorder is slow acting but progressive and with time it results in paresis. The Welsh Corgi, Irish Setter, German Shepherd and Chesapeake Bay Retriever are most affected by this genetic disease.

When the dog owner takes the canine to the veterinary, a medical history is required to aid in knowing what the possible cause is. Accidents may lead to this condition as well as tick bites. The veterinary may carry out reflex tests to establish whether the canine still has the ability to feel pain in the limbs. This test also helps determine which part of the spine is affected by the disease. Blood samples may also be tested to determine whether it is a bacterial or viral infection. Toxins may sometimes also interfere with nerve transmissions.

The extent of paralysis determines the course of treatment taken. If the dog is unable to urinate, defecate or even walk, the canine is admitted for close supervision and daily monitoring for progress in healing. The bladder of a canine is emptied several times in a day and the canine is turned to prevent the development of sores if the pet lies on one side for too long.

Administration of medicine, surgery or therapy is applied when the cause is a slipped disk of a spinal cord, tumors or blockages of blood vessels. Inflamed nerves are treated by use of anti-inflammatory drugs. Some dogs tend to recover quicker than others depending on how severe the condition is. Dogs released to go home are given a guideline for home care so that they recover fully.

Degenerative myelopathy, on the other hand, has not had a cure yet. The disease spreads progressively until it causes paresis. Medics have not been able to slow down the rate of infection of this condition either. For treatable conditions, the majority of dogs have been reported to recover fully with exercise going a long way in helping achieve this.




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