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Reggie was referred to our Neurology and Neurosurgery team after he accidentally ran into a glass door, leaving him unable to walk or stand on any of his four limbs. His carers took him straight to their out-of-hours vet, where X-rays revealed a fracture and partial subluxation of one of the vertebrae in his neck. 

When he arrived at The Ralph, Reggie was unable to walk and had significant neck pain, although reassuringly, he still had good movement of his limbs. 

A CT scan confirmed the neck fracture, and surgery was recommended to stabilise the vertebrae with screws. Because of the complexity of the procedure, some planning time was needed, so Reggie’s neck was supported with a cervical bandage for 36 hours while he was monitored in our ICU.

Neurologists Lorenzo and Ricardo, and Neurology Resident, Irenka, performed surgery to repair the fracture, placing 12 screws to stabilise Reggie’s neck. He recovered smoothly from the procedure and began to show gradual improvement each day.

By the time he was discharged, Reggie was comfortable and able to walk, though still a little weak in all four limbs. Reggie’s rehabilitation was supported by our physiotherapy team, and as you can see in the photo, he thoroughly enjoyed his sessions! He went home with six weeks of crate rest and clear instructions to avoid play and stairs for three months to allow his spine to heal fully. Reggie will continue with physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to help him regain strength and get back to his usual activities.

Reggie’s carers got in touch recently with these lovely words:

“We cannot thank The Ralph enough for the incredible care they gave our 6-month-old Doberman, Reggie, after he suffered a broken neck running into our patio doors. From the very first moment, the whole team were simply exceptional. They not only gave Reggie the best possible treatment, but they also kept us fully updated every step of the way, which made such a difference during such a worrying time. The compassion, professionalism, and dedication shown by everyone at The Ralph went above and beyond our expectations. We are so grateful to the entire team for everything they did for Reggie and for us as his family.”