AcuMed Veterinary Specialty : Veterinary Acupuncture : Rover's Story

A very unusual case was presented to us.

Rover ,a 4 month old Labrador who had an episode of Gastroenteritis a month before he came to us , now developed contractures of the hind leg muscles and tendons along with neurological deficits and hence he could not stand up or walk.
The owners said, he was extremely depressed as he was a very playful Labrador and used to feel sad when he couldn't join his other friends in the playground.

The prognosis of him able to walk again with the disability was not too great and he would have to spend his entire life this way.
The same question was put up, " Can Acupuncture be used to do something for him"
We said, the structural deformities cannot be corrected ,but
"We could Help".

We started treating him with Acupuncture and Physiotherapy trying to Rehabilitate him.

After a 3 weeks the pain had gone away and he was then able to stand on his own for a brief period of 30-45 seconds. We took it as a positive sign and continued with our therapy.

Within 5 weeks he was now able to walk.
The owners kept up with some simple physio exercises.

We saw him now after a span of 4 months .. He is now able to walk and run around with his friends.. 
The contracture of muscles and tendons still remain as a disability and the deformity can be obviously be noted, but he still manages to do everything like all his Labrador friends do.. that too without pain.. 

We are happy we could help Rover and provide him a better quality of life...

Rover showed us the power of mind over matter and reminded us of the great quote by Scott Hamilton,
"The Only Disability in Life .. Is a Bad Attitude.."

AcuMed Veterinary Specialty- Veterinary Acupuncture for Cats : Dewey !

Dewey - Instilled the belief in us that Cats indeed do have 9 lives.

Dewey was paralyzed and was lying at one of the corners and was rescued by a kindhearted gentleman . He volunteered to take care of her and later adopted her. Upon examination we found that she was paralyzed by her hindlegs and had lost control over her urine. A radiograph was taken, showed reduction in vertebral size,but was inconclusive. A CT scan was then performed which revealed a fracture of the vertebrae and a rotatory subluxation.. With a lesion so severe the prognosis was guarded to poor.
We were requested to start with the treatment and thus we started her on Acupuncture.

With a lesion so severe the recovery was indeed going to be very gradual. She first was able to bear weight on her legs. Then slowly started taking a few steps , then walking with an ataxic/ inco-ordinated  gait . The ataxia then reduced and she was able to walk in a more co-ordinated way.

A Video showing her progress , For all the students interested in Neurological Rehabilitation, this shows a few stages:




 It was a perfect combination of Compassion, Veterinary Care , Pet-parent Compliance  Patience which helped Dewey on her road to recovery.

AcuMed Veterinary Specialty - Happy Feet Peacock

As a kid ,The City Zoo,Veermata Jijabai Udyaan,Byculla always had a special place in my heart. I would like to share my experience about treating a White Peacock . 

This april he had developed a condition which rendered him paralyzed by his right side, in addition to the existing foot issue. He lost his proprioception and was rapidly loosing sensation in his feet and had a drooped wing. As a result he fluttered and tried to get up, but could not. Soon he ended up having wounds on the underside of the wings. He received immediate attention from the Zoo hospital with daily medical monitoring. The next challenge was of rehabilitating him, as soon the wound used to get better, his constant fluttering resulted in him developing ulcerative wounds.

We chalked out an Integrative Approach , the Zoo Hospital started him on the necessary medical therapy and i was assigned the work to rehabilitate him. He received 4 Acupuncture sessions and by the end of 2 sessions, he was able to stand after assisted lifting and did not fall after that, so thus it helped in healing of his ulcerative wound. Post 4 sessions he regained all his neurological deficits and was able to walk a few steps.

Post 4th  Acupuncture session

A Big Thank you to the Zoo hospital Vets & staff for all the help .. It was a great Honor & a Pleasure to be on the other side of the City Zoo this time.

The White Peacock also featured in Hindustan Times dated 17th June,2012 , with reference to Veterinary Acupuncture practice in Mumbai.

http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/City-pet-owners-opting-for-acupuncture-therapy-for-arthritis-and-paralysis/Article1-873637.aspx

City Pet Owners Opting for Acupuncture therapy for Paralysis & Arthritis : AcuMed Veterinary Specialty

An article featuring use of Veterinary Acupuncture in pet practice was published in Hindustan Times dated 17th June,2012.
A brief interview,about my experience in treating a couple of cases was also published.
http://www.hindustantimes.com/India-news/Mumbai/City-pet-owners-opting-for-acupuncture-therapy-for-arthritis-and-paralysis/Article1-873637.aspx

Featured our Poster Boy Enzo's story

http://drprathmeshdvet.blogspot.in/2012/06/acumed-vets-veterinary-acupuncture-for.html

AcuMed Veterinary Specialty: Veterinary Acupuncture for Monoplegia / Forelimb Paralysis

Enzo a 10 year old Boxer, was brought in with a severe neck pain and inability to get up. With the help of the Referral Vet we tried to stabilize him to prevent the progression of the neurological deficits.

Enzo could now get up and walk , but he was completely paralyzed by his right forelimb.

A neurology work up helped me to get a tentative diagnosis of a Cervical spine / Brachial plexus lesion.

An MRI then revealed the presence of an extradural mass at the level of C4-C5 leading to a cord compression.

Surgical option was turned down by the owners and asked for a non-surgical approach. So an integrative approach was implemented,he was stabilized medically and received Acupuncture for his neurological rehabilitation. 

He was so relaxed that he dozed off in the middle of the Acupuncture session, unaware of whats going on around him.

Enzo received a total of 6 Acupuncture sessions , spaced over one & half month. 

This is Enzo after his 6 th Acupuncture session.

Here is a video showing Enzo's Progress

  

Veterinary Acupuncture for Hind leg Paralysis - A Squirrel's Tale : AcuMed Veterinary Specialty

Cases come to us in all sizes, perhaps this was the smallest one yet.

Spikee was rescued & brought in to the clinic following an onset of Paralysis of hind limbs,following a trauma . He could neither support his hindlimbs, nor move his tail. Radiological investigations showed up a pathology of the lumbar vertebrae. The referral vet stabilized Spikee from his Spinal shock and was started up on medical therapy.
Saw Spikee after 4 days of initiating the medical therapy. He regained his movement of his tail put still remained  paralyzed by his hind legs.
Spikee then received 2 Acupuncture sessions spaced over 2 weeks and he regained all his neurological deficits and was able to walk again..

Here is a video showing his progress.