Re: 11 year old Pom Mix with Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Bilateral Cruciate Ruptures, and Bilateral MPLs!!!

[Guest guest]

This dog should be small enough to do water workouts at home, especially as you say she loves the uwtm. Walking around in a tub is pretty easy to get most small dog to do.

Liptak, RVT CCRP

11 year old Pom Mix with Immune-Mediated Polyarthritis, Hip Dysplasia, Bilateral Cruciate Ruptures, and Bilateral MPLs!!!

Hello All!

I have been working with an 11 year old, 15# Pomeranian Mix with immune-mediated polyarthritis, severe hip dysplasia, bilateral cruciate ruptures, and bilateral medial patellar luxation for the last month! She is quite the mess! The owners are not putting her through any surgeries because she barely made it through the diagnostics of her polyarthritis a year ago. She has tons of energy, is stoic when it comes to pain, and very sweet. She is currently on 7.5 mg Pred BID from the referring vet and is increased to 10 mg BID when having more difficulty and Adequan injections. The owners' goal is to maintain her quality of life/comfort level and help strengthen her hind end so she does splay her hind limbs at home. We have been doing hot/cold therapy at home, NMES of the gluteals and quads/hams, LASER of the stifles and hips, and Underwater Treadmill (which she loves). The owners have not been able to work a stretching session into their schedule so both are here, but we will be doing that soon as well. Clinically she has been doing significantly better and the owners have been happy with her therapy and activity, until this week...we got over a foot of snow here and the weather is frigid, she has been having more difficulty getting around at home, slower to rise, but still tail-wagging happy. When she has difficulty in her hind she also becomes lame in her front limbs, a flare up of her IMPA. She now has audible crepitus in the UWTM in her left knee and at faster speeds in her right, but we walk her at a slow speed to prevent this. I have discussed starting Vetsystems Whirlpool /HakoMedTherapy with the owners. I am wondering about a brace(s) to support her hind limbs since she has little ligamentous stability. I have read previous posts about orthovets braces, but I was wondering about their cost. I have worked with an orthotist before but cost of the braces is an issue for this pup. Any thoughts, ideas, comments are as always greatly appreciated!

Hope everyone has a very happy new year!

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Beck, DVM, CCRT

Backlund Animal Clinic

Canine Rehabilitation and Wellness

2616 South 158th Plaza

Omaha, NE 68130

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