Chaika is a 10-year-old female spayed Siberian Husky who arrived at our facility with severe neurological deficits. She was non-ambulatory with right pelvic monoplegia and significant left pelvic monoparesis. An MRI of the T3-L3 and L4-S2 regions of her spine was conducted, which revealed a T9-T10 disc extrusion causing mild spinal cord compression. However, Dr. Moeser was skeptical that this was the root cause of her issues, as Chaika exhibited pain with mid-lumbar palpation.
Instead of opting for surgery, Dr. Moeser advised a conservative approach and recommended continued rest and medication. He believed that Chaika might have suffered a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE) that did not appear on the MRI. Chaika has shown significant improvement with the conservative plan, and is now able to walk without assistance. Although her legs remain somewhat weak, she is gradually building strength each day and enjoys going for walks with her owner.
