October 2001 Pet of the Month  Sarah Jenkins, a 3 year old spayed female beagle was
examined on day after visiting the local emergency clinic for vomiting and moderate back pain. She had ingested numerous pine needles, which caused her vomiting.
Despite being placed on a
muscle relaxant and pain medication she became weaker in her rear limbs and had difficulty walking. She still had normal proprioception (plac3ment reflex) and deep pain. Treatment was changed
to a high dose of Dexamethasone in hopes of decreasing spinal cord swelling and improving neurologic function.
Over the next 18 hours Sarah's neurologic function did not improve and it was
recommended that she be referred for surgery at the Fox Valley Animal Referral Center. An emergency Hemilaminectomy of the 12th & 13th Thoracic Vertebra and the protruding
degenerated disc material that was compressing the spinal cord was removed.
Two weeks after surgery she still had poor motion function in both rear limbs. At
this time Karen Felten, a certified animal physical therapist was enlisted to help with her recovery with supervised sessions at heritage Animal Hospital.
 Karen also trained Sarah's owner on in-home
therapy. After several months of physical therapy and excellent home care she is nearly back to her old self with perhaps a bit more wiggle in her walk.
Sarah is an excellent example of what Heritage
Animal Hospital and our extended family of health care professionals strive to give our patients.
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