Question Details
Rear Limb Paresis, Incontinence
by fixapet - October 13, 2009
I'm treating a 4 year old staffordshire terrier that developed acute rear limb paresis 6 months ago, about 4 days after being kicked. She has partial urinary and fecal incontinence but has learned how to spinal walk. Her tongue is thin, pale, ears were cold, loss of muscling along back but still decent thigh muscles. No response to palpation of points along her back. She tends to have soft stools with undigested food.
The thin tongue, abnormal stools, loss of muscling I interpret as spleen Qi deficiency. Incontinence is kidney Qi deficiency, cold is Ki Yang deficiency.
Where do I start with an herb combination? Acp points I'm using - BL 20, 21, 23, 25,40 tip of tail, Ki3, St36. Haven't added moxa yet b/c we're in SC and it was in the 90's and just didn't seem right!
Thanks, Janet
Replies
by naturevet
October 13, 2009
Hi Janet,

I wouldn't get the results I do with paretic animals without chiropractic. You should try to source that for your chronic cases. It restores mobility, allowing circulation to return to the area and help make the spine more supple; takes pressure off nerve roots, such as those of the sacral plexus (which confers continence); and spreads the workload of extending and flexing the spine across all joints, and not just the few remaining ones that move.

Chronic cases like this often benefit from Wind expelling formulas that move blood out to the periphery, and increase the blood supply generally. If there is a strong sense of small bowel weakness, then Yi Yi Ren Tang (Coix Decoction) is a good choice. If the animal strikes you as being quite dry (skin, haircoat, etc.) then Du Huo Ji Sheng Tang is an option.

If you sedate BL 40 and the pulse feels more moderate (less toned), then Wind invasion is confirmed. If it was tonification that made a weak or deep pulse stronger, then a Kidney tonic is a better choice. Even something like Rehmannia Eight may work.

Lastly, for some of our old and weak Kidney deficiency dogs, we've been using the Ayurvedhic herb Ashwaganda (Withania sp.).

Hope that's some how useful.

Steve
by fixapet
October 14, 2009
Absolutely helpful. I'm going to try to find a chiropracter in Charleston to help out.
I'm going to start with Coix decoction for an herbal formula. Thanks for your help.
Janet
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