Muscle Atrophy in dogs after surgery
Atrophy is a wasting condition that occurs in the body tissues. Muscle atrophy in the dog is characterized by the dog losing muscle mass through degeneration, wasting, or loss of muscle tissues of the body. In most cases, muscle atrophy occurs in the dogs hind legs, although it can occur in the body tissue. Muscle wasting in dogs has many causes; in most cases, it occurs due to any trauma, i.e., injury or surgery.
If we try to understand muscle atrophy, we learn that muscle starts to deteriorate when left unused. Recumbency occurs due to many causes. One of the causes is surgery; therefore post-surgical rest is mandatory for dogs. This recumbency results in muscle deterioration. This article will provide you with a quick understanding of muscle atrophy and its possible treatment management.
Muscle inhibition after surgery
Muscle atrophy is a severe condition that may be compounded with muscle inhibition. Muscle inhibition is a sequel of muscle atrophy, which worsens the condition. The nervous shut down of a muscle is referred to as muscle inhibition.
The condition proceeds when the neurons attached with muscle start sending distorted signals or stop sending signals. The result, in this case, is pain, loos joints, inflammation, instability. All these conditions contribute to muscle inhibition, which is common after surgeries.
Some common surgeries that lead to muscle atrophy are rupture of cruciate ligament injury and other conditions in which animals are subjected to chronic recumbency.
Common signs of muscle atrophy
As a pet owner, you can easily spot muscle atrophy in your furry friend. If your dog is suffering from muscle atrophy, the muscles will look thinning or shrinking, along with other signs mentioned below.
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Wasting disease – weight loss
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Week, thin, flabby muscle
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Limping disease
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Unbalanced or abnormal gait
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Your dog may appear lethargic or recumbent
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Difficulty in standing or walking
How to recover muscle after surgery
The most important part of muscle recovery is adequate movement or exercise. Muscles are body tissues that start building when they are used. For that purpose, dogs are subjected to physical therapy in which they have to perform certain exercises. Dogs are not able to perform activities on their own. Therefore, they need external aid; one person and the use of specific assisted instruments can help a lot.
We at Quincydogs provide three different designs of harnesses that provide great help in exercising. In the past, at least four persons were needed to move your dog with the help of a towel. But this is no more! Quincydogs has solved the problem, and only one person is required to help your dog move effectively. We provide the following three different designs; your veterinarian can help you choose the best-suited harness for your dog.
There are two main therapies used by physical therapists; manual therapy or therapeutic exercises. Our harnesses can help your dog make a good recovery in a short period. Where continuous assistance is required and the harness needs to be left on, we would recommend the GenX harness. This mobility and support harness has been built on the basis that it can be left on for longer periods due its breathable build.
written by:
Dr Saba Afzal, DVM, RVMP
M.phil in Microbiology.