The Challenges of the Paralyzed Dog

Canine paralysis often comes unexpectedly and suddenly, leaving an owner overwhelmed and uncertain, coupled with a dog that is now completely dependent on the owner for every need. It is important for us as therapists to have an understanding of the challenges that will be faced by an owner, their dog and ourselves. This will allow us to be prepared, anticipating difficulties and challenges, so that setbacks can be prevented or dealt with as swiftly and effectively as possible.

We spoke to?Marti Drum in The Veterinary Rehabilitation Podcast?on this subject, and she has given some fantastic insights into these challenges, and how they can be dealt with.

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The Challenges Faced by an Owner:

Bringing home a paralyzed dog for the first time can be a lot like bringing home your first baby. The experience can be overwhelming for an owner, laden with uncertainty and the fear of doing something wrong. But unlike raising a baby, taking care of a paralyzed dog becomes easier as time passes; a routine develops, and owner and dog learn to work together.

Let’s look at some of the challenges an owner of a paralyzed dog will face, and how to make them easier.

Bladder and Bowel Management

Many dogs with paralysis have?little or no bladder control?and will need to be manually expressed in the initial phase after injury or surgery. An owner will need to learn how to effectively do this routinely throughout the day, in order to reduce the risks of a urinary tract infection. Even in the event of excellent expression, the risk of infection is still high, and urine should be regularly tested to ensure that the dog remains infection free. Females tend to be at a higher risk, and should be monitored closely.

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Medication to support bladder management

Taking advantage of medication during the first few weeks can help to relax the sphincter, making expressing easier, and can also help to strengthen the bladder and decrease the risk of infection. Medication will reduce the amount of stress the owner and dog experience during the initial phase, which will make management easier and more effective. The referring veterinarian should be consulted in each individual case.

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Weak and leaky bladders

Occasionally dogs will have a very weak or leaky bladder, posing a very real challenge to hygiene and maintenance of a healthy skin and environment. This condition can improve over time with a regular and stringent routine of expression. There are those, however, that continue to be a challenge. To make the management of a leaky bladder easier, it is best to confine the dog to an area with a soft and washable surface, so that cleaning can be achieved more easily. If a leaky bladder continues to be a problem, doggy diapers can be used. These will pose their own challenges however, as urine will be trapped against the skin, causing skin irritation and breakdown over time. Diapers should be used as a last resort and need to be changed regularly.

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Bowel control

Lack of bowel control can be just as frustrating a problem, especially if the faeces have a low tone or become diarrhea. The bowels can also be expressed manually to develop an evacuation routine, if necessary.

Dealing with diarrhea can be very challenging as it will cause skin breakdown and irritation very quickly. It can, however, be dealt with and is not a permanent state of affairs; be sure to get advice from the referring veterinarian on medical treatment, assess the diet and keep the skin as clean and dry as possible.??

Learn more about the challenges faced by the owner, the Vetrehabber and most importantly the patient