Snowflake is a nine-year-old male Maltese who presented for inability to walk on his back legs. Snowflake was previously a very happy and active dog. A few days before presentation, Snowflake’s owners noticed he was having trouble going up steps and was crossing his back legs. Snowflake became worse and started dragging his back legs. His owners rushed him to an emergency clinic where he was examined and prescribed medications. Unfortunately, Snowflake did not improve with the medications and was referred to SEVN for further evaluation.

Snowflake's exam findings told us there was a problem affecting his mid-back spinal cord and his injury was severe, a five on a scale of one to five. This gave him a 50% chance of walking even with surgery, but only a 5% chance of walking without surgery.

An MRI of his thoracolumbar spine was recommended and performed which revealed a slipped disc at L2-L3. Snowflake underwent decompressive spinal surgery to remove the ruptured disc material.

Post-operatively, Snowflake is doing fantastic. He has healed from surgery is comfortable, walking again, and continues giving kisses!

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