Dog shoulder nerve damage: Sling, brace, or physical therapy options?

Poor Georgia! Unfortunately it is possible that she may have permanent damage due to her accident, especially since her injury occurred while she was a puppy and still growing. However, there may be a few things that may help her, including acupuncture, massage, chiropractic treatment, rehabilitation exercises and physiotherapy, as you mentioned. It's also important that you keep her at a lean body weight and don't let her get overweight, as that would put extra strain on her joints. Talk to your vet about joint supplements to help support her joints, as the rest of her joints and legs will be taking on extra strain due to the fact that she cannot use her left front leg, which can make them more prone to injury and arthritis. Your veterinarian may also want to prescribe pain medication, as the fact that she cannot use her leg properly is likely causing pain in the affected limb and other limbs, as described above. Some types of pain medications are particularly good for nerve pain, and may be a good option for Georgia. The links below can help you find rehabilitation and acupuncture therapists near you that may help. Good luck, and I hope Georgia feels better soon! http://www.tcvm.com/Resources/FindaTCVMPractitioner.aspx http://www.caninerehabinstitute.com/Find_A_Therapist.html

Yes, I think time, physiotherapy and acupuncture is often what they need. I know it takes patience, but I can confirm I have seen radial nerve paralysis improvements in quite a few cases ! All the best

I agree with your veterinarian that the trauma could have caused nerve damage. Paws that don;t have the ability to move can be prone to injury and then amputation is needed. Nerve repair is slow. If you want to be as proactive as possible, I recommend to look into physical therapy for Scooby. A physical therapist will set up a multi-model plan that can consist of laser therapy, acupuncture and movement. I hope this helps and I hope Scooby recovers quickly.

If she is unable to feel the foot and place it correctly, without signs of pain it is likely there is an underlying nerve injury causing the limb to be numb. Unfortunately, in some cases amputation is necessary to prevent self trauma and further injury to the leg as they cannot feel cuts/grazes etc. Monitor closely for any skin damage and have her reassessed in 7-10days

Unfortunately, the plaster will not help this condition and can cause sores on the skin if used. Depending on how severe the nerve damage is, Goyla may be able to get some return of leg function, but a vet doctor would need to examine him to tell. I recommend taking him to a vet doctor as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis and treatment. For now, the best thing you can do is keep him confined to a small area and provide a soft surface to crawl on. I hope that helps and Golya can get better soon.

The medications should help and I would continue them as well as limiting her activity. I have good success in my practice with pain relief with heat, massage, laser and acupuncture. I would check your area for an acupuncture veterinarian or a dog rehabilitation practice. They will be able to perform these treatments. Many dogs get immediate relief with acupuncture. Relieving the muscle spasms by using a heating pad and gentle massage is something you can do at home. Please do not use a collar, use a harness if you need to walk her on a leash. Unfortunately this may take several weeks to fully resolve, so seeking alternative care can speed up the healing. Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach to help you get answers to your veterinary questions.

The only way to better determine Snit's prognosis of regaining use of the affected limb is through repeated neurologic exams. Based on your description, it sounds possible that Snit may be experiencing either radial nerve paralysis or a brachial plexus avulsion. While function of the affected limb may return, this is not the case for every cat and amputation may be considered in some cases. I recommend taking Snit to his vet regularly for neurologic exams to determine if there are any changes. If there is no improvement after 6 or more weeks, it may be best to discuss amputation as an option with your veterinarian. I hope that all goes well!