Chemotherapy
Surgery
County Animal Hospital LTD.
14020 Manchester Road
Manchester, MO 63011
Email: Contact@countyanimalhosp.com
Trainer@countyanimalhosp.com
Located in West St. Louis County behind McDonald’s restaurant at Weidman Road
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Open late and on weekends to better serve you!
| Monday | 8am - 8pm |
| Tuesday | 8am - 6pm |
| Wednesday | 8am - 6pm |
| Thursday | 8am - 8pm |
| Friday | 8am - 6pm |
| Saturday | 8am - 4pm |
Please call 636-256-7387
or 636-256-8387
Our friendly staff is waiting to help you with all of your veterinary needs!
Slinky Koller
11 yo Spayed Female Dachshund
Slinky presented to CAH for inability to use her hind legs.
Upon physical exam, Slinky was found to be in good condition except for her inability to move her back legs. A neurologic exam was performed. Utilizing specific localizing neurological tests, Slinky had spinal cord problem that was located somewhere from thoracic vertebrae 3 to lumbar vertebrae 3. This encompasses much of what we call "the back." Specifically, Slinky's conscience proproiception was absent in both hindlimbs and she was unable to urinate. Deep pain sensation was present.
Historically Dachshunds are more prone to a condition called intervertebral disk disease (IVDD). There are two types; Hansen type I and II. Dogs with similar body conformation to Slinky can develop Type I. Hansen type I IVDD occurs when the disk material acutely ruptures into the spinal canal.
To definitively diagnose Slinky with a disk lesion x-rays and a myelogram were needed to see if there was compression of the spinal cord. The below image shows the myelogram that was performed.
Notice the spinal needle on the right side of the x-ray. Contrast was injected into the spinal canal to highlight a disk that had compressed the spinal cord causing Slinky's paralysis. The ruptured disk is located between the third and fourth vertebrae to the left of the needle or more specifically between lumbar vertebrae 1 and 2.
Treatment/Surgery
Slinky would need to have an operation to relieve the pressure the disk was causing on the spinal cord. The procedure that was performed is called a hemilaminectomy. This procedure entailed removing a small segment of the bone with a high speed air burr so that the disk can be removed with very delicate instruments. Below is the post-op x-ray showing an area of removed bone over the L1 and L2 region.
Slinky recovered well after surgery. After two weeks of physical therapy Slinky started to urinate and walk again! It has been 3 months since surgery and she now has complete motor control of her hind legs. Here at CAH we all love Slinky!!
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