July 24, 2024
Lucky Walks Again!
Lucky, a 15 year old Golden Retriever, had been immobile for almost a week and needed help. When I met him, Lucky laid on his side and was unable to prop himself up, let alone stand. Due to his size, it was challenging for his owner to move him so he wore diapers for eliminations. Being immobile, Lucky was experiencing all of the issues expected in a recumbent pet. These include pressure sores, elimination concerns leading to secondary skin infections, decreased circulation, muscle atrophy, and joint stiffness. At this point, Lucky was in pain because he couldn’t move, and Lucky wouldn’t move because he was in pain! Talk about a catch-22 situation!
After a thorough physical exam, we decided that our primary goal is to get Lucky pain-free so he can be comfortable enough to try to move by himself. An aggressive multi-modal approach combining the use of pharmaceuticals, nutraceuticals and complementary care is taken because this will give us the best chance of success in the least amount of time.
Lucky’s blood work looked great for a senior pet, so we started him on a combination of joint supplements, anti-inflammatory, and pain control medications. His skin infection was managed with topical treatments and oral antibiotics.
After one week of treatment, we started seeing small but positive improvements in Lucky. Although we could see that he was starting to feel better, he was still unable to stand.
Week Two – Walking After Adding Acupuncture & PEMF therapy
In the second week, we started complementary treatments consisting of acupuncture (with electro-stimulation) and Pulsed Electromagnetic Field Therapy with an Assisi loop. After his first session, Lucky stood up and took a few steps! His owner, trained in (human) massage therapy, worked with Lucky in between his acupuncture treatments.
Lucky was slipping during his first attempt to walk, so we outfitted him with some toe grips to give him some traction. After the second acupuncture treatment, there was no stopping this 15-year-old! With integrative care, Lucky improved day by day.
Lucky Today
Since that second week, Lucky has gone from walking with assistance to now being able to rise and walk all by himself! His pain continues to be well-controlled and he is thrilled to be able to go outdoors. Since Lucky’s mobility has improved, he can now eliminate it on his own, which has helped with his skin condition. Although all of his pressure sores have healed, there is one sore that will need to be managed.
We continue to monitor Lucky and will adjust his treatment plan based on his progress and needs.
Lucky has lived up to his name and is truly ‘Lucky’ to have such a dedicated and loving owner who spends most of her days tending to his needs and being his personal masseuse!