Wheelchair for partial paralysis?
Posted: Sat Nov 26, 2022 9:43 pm
Hi all! New here and just looking for some advice for my frenchie with stage 5 IVDD - now post two surgeries - and timing for using a wheelchair. I've gotten different opinions from physical therapists, his current rehab vet, and a family friend who is also a rehab vet in another city, so any advice or ideas would be great!
Some background: my frenchie is 3yo and VERY motivated to get moving! He had his first surgery 5/16/22 after waking up suddenly with his hind legs completely paralyzed with no deep pain sensation (L2-L4 hemilaminectomy). He was on crate rest and just cleared for PT when one of his hind legs again went completely paralyzed and he had a second surgery 6/29/22 (T12-L1 hemilaminectomy). About 6 weeks after his second surgery, his neurologist cleared him to restart PT.
We've been going to physical therapy twice a week (1-1.5 hour sessions) consistently for the past 4 months - acupuncture, physical therapy, and he just started the underwater treadmill a few weeks ago. He can stand on his own for quite some time and take a few steps when there's traction on the ground - but gets pretty tired after about 5 minutes even with his help em up harness. However he doesn't know his limits and always wants to keep going, but starts dragging his hind legs and gets abrasions on his toes from knuckling. He has a stroller that I put him in when this starts happening - but lately he's gotten very frustrated in the stroller and hops up and down (which isn't good for his back), tries to climb out of it, and just doesn't like it anymore.
My question is would it be helpful to get a dog wheelchair for him, but let him keep his hind legs on the ground (not in the stirrups) to provide him more support and let him go on longer walks? I'm all about maximizing his quality of life and can tell that lately he just wants to keep walking and not be in the stroller, but with his help em up harness he gets so tired and his toes start dragging even with full support, so I have to pick him up and carry him back home which frustrates him too. In terms of his overall recovery he's been making slow progress - it's slowed down over the past couple weeks though hasn't completely plateaued yet. He still needs his bladder expressed (he can pee a little on his own but not ever fully empty) and matchsticking. The vet said it's still hard to predict how far he'll get though obviously the goal remains being able to walk on his own.
The vet told us when he started PT to avoid using a wheelchair too early since dogs can rely on it too much. Knowing my pup though and seeing how well he's doing in rehab now 5 months after his second surgery, I don't think this will happen because again he is VERY motivated and determined to walk on his own, but wondering what others think? Would it be helpful to let him use the wheelchair so he can be happy on longer walks, or would it impede his progress? This would be while continuing the PT still - not to replace it.
Any thoughts/suggestions are much appreciated!! Thank you! <3
Some background: my frenchie is 3yo and VERY motivated to get moving! He had his first surgery 5/16/22 after waking up suddenly with his hind legs completely paralyzed with no deep pain sensation (L2-L4 hemilaminectomy). He was on crate rest and just cleared for PT when one of his hind legs again went completely paralyzed and he had a second surgery 6/29/22 (T12-L1 hemilaminectomy). About 6 weeks after his second surgery, his neurologist cleared him to restart PT.
We've been going to physical therapy twice a week (1-1.5 hour sessions) consistently for the past 4 months - acupuncture, physical therapy, and he just started the underwater treadmill a few weeks ago. He can stand on his own for quite some time and take a few steps when there's traction on the ground - but gets pretty tired after about 5 minutes even with his help em up harness. However he doesn't know his limits and always wants to keep going, but starts dragging his hind legs and gets abrasions on his toes from knuckling. He has a stroller that I put him in when this starts happening - but lately he's gotten very frustrated in the stroller and hops up and down (which isn't good for his back), tries to climb out of it, and just doesn't like it anymore.
My question is would it be helpful to get a dog wheelchair for him, but let him keep his hind legs on the ground (not in the stirrups) to provide him more support and let him go on longer walks? I'm all about maximizing his quality of life and can tell that lately he just wants to keep walking and not be in the stroller, but with his help em up harness he gets so tired and his toes start dragging even with full support, so I have to pick him up and carry him back home which frustrates him too. In terms of his overall recovery he's been making slow progress - it's slowed down over the past couple weeks though hasn't completely plateaued yet. He still needs his bladder expressed (he can pee a little on his own but not ever fully empty) and matchsticking. The vet said it's still hard to predict how far he'll get though obviously the goal remains being able to walk on his own.
The vet told us when he started PT to avoid using a wheelchair too early since dogs can rely on it too much. Knowing my pup though and seeing how well he's doing in rehab now 5 months after his second surgery, I don't think this will happen because again he is VERY motivated and determined to walk on his own, but wondering what others think? Would it be helpful to let him use the wheelchair so he can be happy on longer walks, or would it impede his progress? This would be while continuing the PT still - not to replace it.
Any thoughts/suggestions are much appreciated!! Thank you! <3