Congenital Defects-advice PLZ

[luvadog]

I have a little yorkie from the Daejeon City Shelter. She's 1.2 kgs and was born with a very bad problem with her hind end and pelvis and can't walk (yet.) I'm hoping to work with her and see if I can get her walking or maybe get/make a wheelchair so she can get around. So I'd like some information from people who have done any physical therapy on dogs.

If you cross your fingers for good luck you will see how her back legs are. Basically she gets around a little like a seal, she can stand to pee, and moves out of the way after pooping. She's 5 yrs old but seems a lot older and has arthritis as well. She's HW negative and has adequate antibodies...but needs her teeth scaled.

A vet in Panam did surgery for luxating patella and another on the hips. Where the ball fits into a round socket in a normal hip, her pelvis to ball connection is flat, so the ball slips around. I'm not sure the exact surgery.

She's really shy with me and my friend, but when she met my other dogs, she perked up and stood and got really happy.

I'll post some pictures soon. She's sooooo small can't believe it. Next to Punky, she's even a dwarf. Plz help with any advice.

[Scarlet13]

See if you can google the dog whisperer, he had some good shows on dealing with dogs needing wheel chairs. Very informative. Good luck!

[luvadog]

Thanks Faylyn!! I found a lot of things on dogs helping people with wheelchairs but not anything on dog wheelchairs yet.:(

She's so tiny that I'm not thinking anymore about the conventional wheelchairs out there. More like something shaped to slip her back end into with 3-4 free-wheeling ball-bearings that go in any direction. It would be easy to make.

She's already starting to walk a little.

[luvadog]

Africa vet said if she were pushed to walk, it might cause pain, so I'm letting her go at her own pace. She's become such a happy little dog that she scoots around like she already has wheels on her back side.:)

Dr. Choi in Kangnam scaled her teeth and gave her first vaccines (rabies/DHPPL) so she's all ready to go back with me in May.

He told me that the ball at the top of the femur could be removed on her rt leg which would eliminate the pain she might have in trying to walk too soon. But we'll deal with that later. She's only been with me a few days and she's come a long way.

[LolaMarigolda]

Luvadog, there is plenty of info out there on canine wheelchairs. One of the benefits of going with something that has been designed specifically for dogs is that they have enough engineering in them to reduce/eliminate overuse injuries to the front end. When a dog is gimpy in the back, the shoulders take a beating leading to early arthritis and other ailments.

One of my friends had a Doxi that herniated several discs and had to have some major surgery with a lengthy recovery including physical therapy and ultimately a doggy wheelchair. I helped her with some of her research and can honestly say that not all chairs are equal. In the end, she also consulted with her dog's orthopedist who confirmed that neutral-balanced or counter-balanced was the way to go.

http://www.eddieswheels.com/ has some good information.

[luvadog]

My Muffy has started doing this. She's gotten quite spunky and very happy.:)

http://video.yahoo.com/watch/4541720/12163740

[luvadog]

**************duplicate*************

[luvadog]

Take a look at her now. Whoooaaa...Go Muffy!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DUd_oUW-vrE

[luvadog]

One of the benefits of going with something that has been designed specifically for dogs is that they have enough engineering in them to reduce/eliminate overuse injuries to the front end. When a dog is gimpy in the back, the shoulders take a beating leading to early arthritis and other ailments.

http://www.eddieswheels.com/ has some good information.

Thanks Lola,

I'm going to look into it later. I do worry about her back and the pressure it might put on her. Right now, she's really getting around like a little mouse darting about.

She especially likes to ride in her bag hanging from the passenger sun visor. What a cutie!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QfWhW7wFIVw

[luvadog]

I don't think she needs a wheel chair anymore. She had started walking and scooting like a seal pup, but now she's been straightening out her back legs and walking on all fours since a couple days ago.

And look at the light in her eyes. She's so happy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z5qZVY7vLrE