Most of the clinical cases that rely on this service are situations for which previously performed treatments offered no satisfactory results.
Our success with these animals is reflected primarily in the resolution and / or control of these situations and improving of their quality of life.
I n addition to these cases, we also treat animals with acute diseases, neurological sequelae (paralysis) of injuries, weight controlling problems (obesity) and geriatric animals, for which their owners want to improve the quality of life.
In health, there's always something else that can be donne to improve the quality of life in our patients and their owners.
We present bellow a selection of animals and their clinical cases handled by us withsuccess.
ORTHOPEDCS - BONES, MUSCLES AND JOINTS
CASE I - ELBOW HYGROMA - ORTHOPEDICS
October 2006
The hygroma is a "bag" filled with serous fluid that normally occurs in the elbow over the lateral side of the joint. Comes in the wake of successive traumas over this region of the body against hard surfaces in young animals with sensitive skin, or in adult animals when excessive pressure is exerted on this joint. The treatment consists in removing the cause that leads to the formation and accumulation of fluid.ombined with the administration of the most appropriated antibiotics. Post-surgical problems and relapses are frequent thus making the hygroma a chronic condition difficult to solve.
Our Case - dog, male, neutered, undetermined breed, estimated age of 10-12 years, 38kg / aprox 84 lbs.
Hygroma over the elbow of the right forelimb, increasing dimensions over a period of a month, followed by ulceration (wound) with discharge of purulent fluid (pus) and formation of fibrous capsule. It has been previouselly at a conventional medicine consultation in a veterinary hospital, where a bandage was applied to protect the region and antibiotics prescribed for 15 days.
After a month the problem persisted and the owners made use of our service.They were applying daily an anti-inflammatory gel in the place and the hygroma had the appearance of Figure 1-A, where an area of ulceration is put into evidence on the inner face of the right forelimb, with continuouse drainage (output) of a sero-hemorrhagic fluid.
After the clinical evaluation of the animal the administration of anti-inflammatory gel was suspended and began using an elbow padding for protection during the day. A therapeutic approach with acupuncture and homeopathy waschosen and performed in a weekly basis.
After 8 weeks, at the end of treatment, the size of the initial hygroma (see Figure 1-B) was completely reduced (see Figure 1-C) and there was also the closure of the area of ulceration. Two months after the last session the animal was reassessed and there was a complete resolution of the situation.
CASE II - HIP DYSPLASIA - OSTEOARTHROSIS - ORTHOPEDICS
August 2006
The term osteoarthrosis refers to non-inflammatory, non-infectious degenerative joint disease.It may be primary or secondary. The secondary form is the most common one and comes in response to the presence of other initial disease (eg fractures, rupture of the cruciate ligament of the knee or hip dysplasia). The most important clinical sign is limping but it is also observed decrease in range of motion, pain on palpation and characteristic radiological changes. The osteoarthrosis is a chronic, progressive, debilitating disease and is important to identify the primary disease that led to it and deal with it for the best treatment results. In general body weight control and the level of physical activity are important aspects to take into account during the treatment.
Our Case - dog, female, spayed, Golden Retriever, age 12 years, 30kg / aprox 66 lbs.
Earlier diagnosis of osteoarthrosis of the hip joint, secondary to hip dysplasia. Figure 2-A. She was in a weight controlling program with comercial petfood and joint protector suplementation. The frequent painful episodes were controlled by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs).
Owner appealed to our consultation following an episode of incapacitating pain that did not improve with the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs.
After the diagnosis was made, a therapeutic protocol based on acupuncture, homeopathy and physiotherapy, with bi-weekly sessions initially, going on after the weekly sessions.
It was given advice on the degree and type of physical activity allowed. In addition diet on weight control advises remained as well as administration of oral chondroprotectors.
The results were visible soon after the first week of treatment and after 4 weeks the joint stiffness was decreased, the range of motion increased and the associated pain was controlled, being the animal able to do her normal routine with comfort and quality of life.
CASE I - GERIATRIC PERIPHERAL VESTIBULAR SYNDROME (GPVS) - NEUROLOGY
December 2005
The Geriatric Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome (GPVS) is a disease that affects dogs with a mean age of 12.5 years and is thought to be related to an inflammation / degeneration of the vestibular cranial nerve (CN VIII), which connects the inner ear to the cerebellum. It comes as a sudden episode and since these organs are responsible for balance and spatial orientation of the animal, the most common symptoms are head tilt, difficulty in maintaining the balance (ataxia), falls, rhythmic movements of the eyeball (nistagmos) and also nausea, vomiting and loss of appetite (anorexia).
The acute phase of the disease can go from 2 days to about 2 to 3 weeks. In most animals, during these weeks, recovery occurs gradually until a certain limit but chronic sequelae, such as tremors or head, tilt may remain.. The therapy in conventional medicine is based on life support approaches.Recidives are very frequent and usual, as a new outcome may show up only a few weeks after the initial episode.
Our case - dog, male, neutered, undetermined breed, estimated age of 10-12 years, 38kg / aprox 84 lbs .
Sudden episode of head tilt, ataxia, falls, nausea and vomiting. Having the diagnosis of Geriatric Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome (GPVS) made in a conventional clinic, the animal was medicated to control vomiting and intravenous fluidtherapy was administered for 48 hours, as well as antibiotics for about 15 days. After 15 days of treatment the recovery was minimal.
When the owners appealed to our consultation the animal showed sharp deviation of the head, persistent gait imbalance even when walking in a strait line, sporadic falls, nausea and vomiting. General weakeness.
Our specific diagnosis revealed imbalances compatible with the condition expressed.The Geriatric Peripheral Vestibular Syndrome (GPVS) is interpreted in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a condition of Wind and is related to energy imbalances of several organs such as Spleen, Liver and Kidney.
The therapeutic protocol chosen was made of simple puncture within the selected acupuncture points, for about 20 minutes, as often as once a week for 8 weeks.
After the first session the results were visible showing the animal improvements on general condition, lessening the degree of tilt of the head, better equilibrium during walking and the absence of falls, nausea and vomiting. By the end of the sessions all the symptoms have disappeared.After one year the animal remained stable, with no occurrence of a new episode, featuring only sometimes a slight head tilt transition when subjected to situations of stress or anxiety.
Hindlimb paralysis occurs when the neurological impulses and information along the spinal cord does not flow in a normal way. The flow of the impulses may be increased, decreased or absent and therefore lead to diferent forms of paralysis.The structures and parts of the body affected also depend on the location of where the cord injury is.The cause of injuries mat also vary being: the complete or partially by-section of the spinal cord due to trauma; compression by a protruding disc (disc herniation), by the presence of local masses or tumors or by a local acute inflammatory process; the formation of local thrombi or emboli as part of general vascular imparements; and degenerative diseases of the central nervous system (CNS).
Our case - dog, female, x poodle, estimated age of 10 years, 16kg / aprox 35 lbs.
Episode of progressive loss of sensation, proprioception and motor activity of both members later with consequent paralysis and decreased mobility.To move arround she used to drag her hindlimbs on the floor.She was on anti-inflammatory drugs on a daily basis with prednisolone (steroid). The situation was being prolonged for up to 6 months.
When the owner appealed to our consultation the animal was dragging her hindlimbs in order to move arround and sensitivity and proprioception were absent in the hindlimbs. She could not sustain her our weight to remain standing. G eneral condition was good.
Diagnosis was made and a protocol with acupuncture, homeopathy and physiotherapy was implemented. In some of the treatment sessions electroacupuncture was introduced.
Notes: In cases of paralysis, the sooner ter diagnosis is made and age of the animal are important factors in the success of its recovery.This case has already reached a fairly late stage after diagnosis and being an animal of advanced age, has led to the recovery of this case has taken 16 weeks, but still managed to very positive results, as the animal recovered all the lost functions and by the end 18 months since the last treatment, she remains stable doing a normal life.
Wobbler's syndrome, also known as Cervical Spondilomielopathy or Cervical Spondilopathy is a condition of the cervical caudal vertebra and intervertebral discs, causing compression of the spinal cord. Wobbler syndrome is relatively common in breeds such as Doberman Pincher and Great Danne. From our clinical experience, the the most involved breeds we treat in Portugal are the Dalmatian, the Doberman Pincher and the Mastif, although almost any animal may suffer from the disease. This condition can be classified into 5 groups according to the pathophysiological process that gives rise to it. There is almost always a congenital - young animals - or degenerative - mature animals - factor. It is very important for the success of treatment, that the condition is detected and diagnosed as soon as possible.The symptoms observed are generally progressive, debilitating and there is often some degree of pain associated. It can lead the animal to tetraplegia/ tetraparesis or even leaves it with no control ofurinary and anal sphincters. ,
Our case - dog, male, Doberman, age 10 years, approx 30kg.
Episode with several months long, leading to decreased sensitivity, proprioception and motor activity of both the hindquarters with decreased mobility - slowly climbed the stairs -, loss of strength and balance - difficulty in urination without falling -, claudication - from time to time -, decreased range of motion - with pain and difficulty bending the neck to eat or drink water. On November 2, 2008, felt on his bed after the daily walk and was no longer able to lift. He has also lost control of the sphyncters and became partially incontinent. He was reffered to a neurologist and the diagnosis was established. He was put on anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs for a week, with no obvious results.
When consulted by us the animal presented tetraparesis (had no strength in the limbs and was always lying on its side), strong pain in the neck despite the analgesic medication recommended, he could not stand or sit and had no full control of it's sphyncters.
The energetic diagnosis was made and a protocol with acupuncture, homeopathy and physiotherapy thecniques was established. In some therapeutic sessions electroacupuncture was also performed.
All the anti-inflammatory and analgesic medication was removed and given homeopathic recomendations instead for SOS control of cervical (neck) pain, when needed. After three (3) treatment sessions (acupuncture and homeopathy) the animal was walking, as seen in the video below:
NOTE: Wobbler syndrome is a progressive and debilitating condition that can lead to the complete incapability of the animal. If your dog belongs to any of the above races and/ or has some following sign(s), consider conducting a neurologyappointment: pain and/ or difficulty in moving the neck, unbalanced walking specially in the hindquarters (ataxia), "limp" and/ or loss of strength in one or more limbs, the neck is often "shrunk" or taking a tense and retracted appearance, loss of strength in the limbs when urinating or defecating.
Dermatophytosis is a disease of the skin caused by fungi. The responsible agents are Microsporum canis, Trichophyton mentagrophytes and Microsporum gypseum. The caratheristic appearance of the circular areas of alopecia (furless areas) and other characteristic signals as peeling, erythema (redness), hyperpigmentation and itching are variable. Diseases or drugs that cause immunosuppression (decreased immunity) are risk factors for the onset of clinical signs of the disease. Given the potential side effects of some specific anti-fungal drugs, which focus particularly on the liver, it is recommended to regularly monitor certain blood parameters.
Our case - dog, female, spayed, Alaskan Malamute, estimated age > 8 years old, 35kg / aprox 77 lbs.
She had red circular lesions with characteristic aspect, who had been diagnosed since around 2 years ago as dermatophytosis. The clinical manifestations were cyclical and constant throughout the year. The owner used to apply a lotion based on aloe vera gel and essential oils, with which used to control the acute episodes.
After the diagnosis of the animal has been made, a protocol of treatment was established with homeopathy and supplements with essential nutrients and trace elements.
After 4 weeks of treatment the frequency of the acute episodes decreased and the lesions disappeared being thus the clinical manifestations of the disease controlled.The fur became more brilliant and thick than ever. Since then nutritional supplementation remained on and there were no new episodes since.
