Featured Case - "Reikar" Claussen

"We thought he wasn't fixable." -Nicole Claussen

Meet "Reikar" Claussen. Reikar is an 8 year old Rottweiler, who first came to TOPS 4 years ago for rehabilitation following a Femoral Head Osteotomy of the right hip, and then again 2 years ago to rehab from a partial ACL tear along with his chronic hip osteoarthritis. Reikar did well with his rehab, and those two issues were well controlled with maintenance therapy.

Unfortunately, in February of 2016, Reikar suffered an acute injury. Reikar was walking, but awkwardly; he became worse, and couldn't rise independently. His owner initially thought his hips were giving out, and brought him in fearing that he wold not recover a good quality of life. Upon examination he was found weak and ataxic in all four limbs, with the right side being predominant. He was experiencing no pain but was slightly guarded at C6. Although independently ambulatory, he needed assistance to prevent falling. The presumptive diagnosis was cervical IVDD. At the time of his appointment, Reikar was also currently taking Deramaxx and Tramadol. Reikar was immediately treated with acupuncture and laser therapy. His Deramaxx was discontinued and he was put on a tapering dose of Prednisone following a washout period, with instructions to limit activity and return for outpatient acupuncture and laser therapy twice weekly for 2 weeks, then every other week for another 2 weeks. Reikar responded immediately to his first treatment even prior to initiating Prednisone. Nicole reported that "within 10 – 15 minutes of doing the acupuncture you could tell he had relief." After the acupuncture therapy and laser therapy had concluded, Reiker resumed the hydro-treadmill therapy. He is almost back to his baseline mobility with increased exercise tolerance and exhibits only mild ataxia.

Today, Nicole reports "Reikar is walking, running and hopping. He's going up stairs again, and his tail is going crazier than ever."