CASE WINTER
Home / Cases / Winter Hand
Winter’s Journey to Renewed Mobility: A Success Story
Meet Winter, a 7-year-old White German Shepherd who came to us on May 29, 2024, seeking relief from mobility issues related to a suspected cranial cruciate ligament (CCL) rupture in his right rear limb. Winter had been struggling with lameness since May 2021, when he was initially evaluated by his primary care veterinarian. While surgery was recommended at that time, his owner opted for conservative management. Unfortunately, Winter’s condition worsened recently, prompting his owner to seek further assistance.
Upon presentation, Winter experienced significant challenges with basic movements such as walking, running, jumping, and even getting up or lying down. Despite being on Galliprant for pain management, his quality of life remained compromised. He had difficulty jumping onto his bed, a task that had once been routine, indicating increasing discomfort. After a thorough evaluation, Dr. Natalie diagnosed Winter with bilateral cruciate disease and significant pain, which also included low back pain likely due to compensatory movement.
To address Winter’s pain and improve his comfort, we implemented a combination of advanced therapies, beginning with photobiomodulation (laser therapy) and acupuncture to target pain relief and inflammation reduction. Winter responded quickly to the initial treatments, and by his third visit, he was already putting approximately 30% more weight on his right rear leg. As his therapy continued, Winter’s progress became more evident. After seven sessions, his condition continued to improve, and by the eighth session, Winter was seen engaging in activities he hadn’t been able to do in years, such as jumping onto surfaces like the bar or table.
Winter’s story is a testament to the power of personalized, non-surgical treatments in enhancing a pet’s quality of life. His owners are thrilled with his progress and the remarkable improvement in his overall well-being. They are now continuing his rehabilitation at home with renewed hope and satisfaction.
Below you can watch videos to see Winter’s journey. If your pet is facing similar mobility challenges, explore how our innovative therapies can make a difference. Contact us today to learn more and schedule a consultation!
My Friendly Vet Cases
SEE HOW WE CHANGED THEIR LIFE
Here in Winter’s first visit, you can see that he’s avoiding sitting down, which could indicate discomfort in his lower back or knees, or both. When he does sit, he’s unable to sit squarely, suggesting possible mobility issues in his right rear limb.
At our fourth session one month later, Winter is now more comfortable and quicker to sit, but still shifts weight to avoid full pressure on his knees, showing some persistent discomfort.
Here almost 6 weeks after his initial consultation, Winter can sit down much more comfortably and in a more balanced, square position, even at ground level (something he previously struggled with). He’s showing overall improvements in comfort and mobility.
Here is Winter one month after his previous acupuncture session. A little over 3 months since his initial visit, we were able to reduce the frequency of his treatments while continuing to see significant improvements! You can see Winter confidently and quickly sitting without hesitation. His progress reflects increased comfort and stability with sitting and moving!
Related Articles
CASE EVERETT Home / Cases / Everett Ochoa Pawsitive Progress: How Integrative Treatments Gave Everett a New Lease on Life […]
CASE CINNAMON Home / Cases / Cinnamon Morris Success Story: Cinnamon the Labradoodle Meet Cinnamon, a spirited 12-year-old Labradoodle who […]
CASE WINTER Home / Cases / Winter Hand Winter’s Journey to Renewed Mobility: A Success Story Meet Winter, a 7-year-old […]