I have a Beagle/Jack Russel mix approximately 5 years old. A few months ago he suffered a stroke. His ENTIRE right side of his body went dead. No circulation and very cold feeling. He could not stand up and kept falling down in his "puddles". He spent a week in the vet's office.
He is now home and is about 75% back. However, his right side still droops and his front paw has little control. His rear paw has come back 90% but he still slides on lenoleum. (pretty sad and funny to watch!)
He is a fighter and deals with his handicap very well. He's had no more signs of strokes since then. I believe the cause of his stroke could have been injury related by bumping his head when chasing the other dog or a spike in fever from a flea allergy.
Has anyone else seen this problem? I'm doing some physical therapy but not sure what to do. His paws seems to be "Stiff". He licks me when I touch and work with his front paw. I can't tell if it is pain or he likes it. He has soo much trust for me that He wouldn't bite me if it did hurt. Thanks for any help.
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Definitely consult with your vet re: what sort of therapy is appropriate and how to progress. A lot depends upon his current physical condition, strength, ie. how much he can tolerate and at what rate you should increase his activity. I would think a lot of passive range of motion exercises are in order, just as you are doing, exercising his joints gently, daily. I'd watch him carefully on slippery surfaces, jumping off furniture, etc. Without full control of his limbs, he might fall or slip and hurt himself. Perhaps your vet could recommend a certified therapist, a veterinary rehab center? One beloved PT doggie had a severe injury after falling off a balcony. He had many weeks of rehab., including hydrotherapy and it worked wonders. Thanks for rescuing all of these special dogs! Hugs to Scooby! And welcome to Pet Talk!
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