Daily Controlled Physiotherapy Increases Survival Time in Dogs with Suspected Degenerative Myelopathy

• DOI: 10.1111/j.1939-1676.2006.tb01807.x
• Publication Date: 2010-03-11T10:06:46Z
• Authors: I. Kathmann; S. Cizinauskas; M.G. Doherr; F. Steffen; A. Jaggy
• Keywords: Male; Massage; 0402 animal and dairy science; Walking; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Survival Analysis; Spinal Cord Diseases; Dogs; Physical Conditioning, Animal; Animals; Female; Dog Diseases; Physical Therapy Modalities; Swimming; Retrospective Studies

The purposes of the study reported here were to evaluate signalment and clinical presentation in 50 dogs with degenerative myelopathy, whether mean survival time was significantly affected by various means physiotherapy performed 22 dogs, determine neurologic status, anatomic localization, or age at onset had an influence on that received physiotherapy. We found a significant ( P < .05) breed predisposition for German Shepherd Dog, Kuvasz, Hovawart, Bernese Mountain Dog. Mean diagnosis 9.1 years, both sexes equally. localization lesion spinal cord segment T3‐L3 56% (n = 28) L3‐S3 44% 22) dogs. Animals intensive 9) longer (mean 255 days), compared animals moderate 6; 130 days) no 7; 55 In addition, our results indicate which remained ambulatory than did not receive physical treatment.