Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

Neurological Disorders Resources. Treatment and care for pets having pain or trouble walking or standing due to spinal injuries or neurological disorders like IVDD, FCE and DM.
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critters
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

Post by critters »

I think it's OK, but you'd want to wash it frequently and look at the foot, too.
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CarolC
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Found some on eBay for $1.99 and they should be here Monday.

I got an amazing idea a little while ago. :idea: What if I get one more piece of track and install it under the windows on that wall where we did our Wall Treats exercise (which he can't do anymore). The windows are 9' wide, the track is 8'. It would be using shelf brackets like the trolley on the fence (which is working) only I think I would make this one closer to the wall. The one on the fence is a foot out because I don't want him brushing his shoulder against the chainlink. He already knows the wall is his place to walk and get treats. I want him to walk independently like he was doing when we had a track in the living room before (not permanently installed). I don't care if he does it with a sling for balance, just so he's bearing weight and moving.

I wonder if the cats would try to walk on it. :)
:thinking:
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critters
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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They probably would, but would it matter?
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CarolC
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Only if they slip and fall. :thinking: They're both senior. It's shiny metal. It would be about 3' off the ground.

On another subject, I finally ordered him a quad cart. I'm looking for ways to get him to do some weight-bearing since he isn't walking anymore. The trolley is excellent, but it's only a few minutes every day. The cart arrived 2 days ago. It's a nice little piece of equipment. He is tolerating it.

I've had a question for a long time that I'd like to ask a neurologist. Thought I posted it here but I don't see it. It is whether the crossed extensor reflex works both ways. You always hear about it in relation to a dog with rear paralysis, where the front legs move and it triggers a response in the hind legs. I have wanted to know for a long time whether it also works in reverse with a front paralyzed dog. I'm going to answer my own question based on observation only. Yes, it does.

I first noticed it with Pip when I would put him in a double harness and carry him across the grass with his toes sweeping the grass. His hind legs would start taking steps first, then a few seconds later his front legs would start taking steps, always in that order. I have it on video.

Now with the quad cart, I was pushing him around in the cart with his toes dragging the carpet. Once again his hind legs started walking, then a couple of steps later his front legs joined in. So I think the reflex works both ways. I'm not a neurologist, could be wrong, but that's what I'm seeing.
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critters
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Interesting :!:
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CarolC
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Pip in his sock. This is supposed to keep him from catching his claw on his ACL. On the good side, he is ignoring it and it fits. On the other side, it is very hard to get on. I expect it will be too much of a struggle. I may switch to vet wrap. But he acts like it's not there, so yay! Maybe he'd leave vet wrap alone, too.

Pip_in_his_sock.JPG
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Pip on his trolley. He runs like a champ!

Image
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critters
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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:mrgreen:
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CarolC
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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We discontinued the trolley several days ago. I'm probably going to end up dismantling it. I don't think he can keep doing it. I think it bothers his neck, even though he loves being able to move normally like he wants to. I tried just letting him do 2 runs and brought him in, but he looked uncomfortable after only 2 runs, so I decided to quit completely. The discomfort (if that's what it is) goes away after a while, and he might actually think it's worth a headache or neck ache to be able to run for a minute, but I don't want to make anything worse.

If you notice the look on his face in the picture, it's more determined than joyful. I think it could be, "I can do this and I'm going to give it my all, look at me go, but it hurts." After his run, an hour or two later he seems mentally happier and confident because he did something he wanted to do (run). I don't want to take that away from him, but I'm thinking we might have to if it's going to bother him.

This is looking more and more like syringomyelia. He is having frequent episodes of kicking toward his head/neck and scooting himself across his bed to get his head elevated up on the edge. He'll do that for an hour, then he's OK. In the morning he's barking and happy, but he starts to look uncomfortable in the late afternoon, early evening. Today he was restless and uncomfortable from about 6-6:30PM, yet we haven't done anything all day except eat, drink, have blox, and potty several times, and I'm careful how I handle him.

This morning for the first time I took him out to potty, thought he was done urinating, brought him back in and laid him on his potty towel to do his number two, and he wetted a small circle. Maybe I brought him in before he was done. I hope his bladder control isn't being affected. Trying to imagine expressing a dog who can't be touched on his back, tends to curl up in a circle when lying down, and can't stand on his front feet. If it is syringomyelia, it would be progressive.
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critters
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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No idea...
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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August 2022 was when he first did his kicking thing for a week. I just realized that was also when he started losing his walking, but I thought maybe it was the hot weather and trouble breathing with exercise with his laryngeal paralysis. But he couldn't walk indoors as well either and we finally quit and I let him rest for weeks.

He hasn't been kicking since last August until roughly 1-2 weeks ago. I don't know if he'll quit doing it again like he did last August.

I want to get him an appointment but I'm trying to get photos to show the vet. I took a photo of how he scoots himself up to the corner of his bed and elevates his head and extends his neck. I want to get a photo of him kicking.
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Here is a picture of him elevating his head.

head_elevated.JPG
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Carol, anything to report about his recovery or health? :thinking:
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Hi Dianne.

I want to get him checked for syringomyelia. I thought I should have something to show the vet in order to get a referral because he won't necessarily do anything on the exam table except demonstrate neck pain which could be anything. I got a photo of him elevating his head, which they do when they have SM (see above). I have been unable to get one of him kicking at his neck. I have the name of a specialist I would like to take him to that is recommended by the Cavalier club if I could get a referral. I've discontinued his exercise and he's not as happy only lying around all day. but it was bothering him. :(
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Re: Pip diagnosis - Central cord syndrome

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Update on where we stand.

The past few weeks he hasn't wanted to eat his breakfast (Science Diet w/d kibbles soaked in water). I used to put his bowl in front of him with a washcloth to slant it toward him and he would sit up and polish it off. Now he still wants the food (he isn't tired of it) but he waits for me to hand feed him. I don't think he's being spoiled, I think it has something to do with sitting.

The past few weeks he has been restless in the late afternoon. He can't seem to get comfortable and lies on his right side and kicks himself up toward the corner. If I reposition him semi-sternal then he relaxes and he's better. After several repeats of this per afternoon (where he moves to his side, kicks, and I put him sternal) I have started transferring him in his playpen. He is able to get into his own preferred position better there by using the net sides. It also allows him to stretch full length while sternal with his chin and neck on the blanket. It seems to be what he needs when he's like that. It may become necessary to exchange his daybed for another playpen.
I started a "Pip Care" guide last year. :book: It is 24 pages with pictures. I thought if anything happens to me it would help someone give him better care. I can never finish it because he keeps changing all the time and I have to revise it.

On a happy note, I bought some little 8 oz. bottles of premade thickened water for him, and he didn't like it. But the bottles were really neat so I saved them. Now I'm using them to store his soy milk. A carton is 32 oz. and he gets 1/3c a day so I have to freeze most of it. I love these little bottles. The funnel fits in the opening and it's like filling baby bottles. :lol: I put them in the freezer with the caps on but loose, let them freeze, then tighten the caps. They're perfect!

bottles.JPG
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