Ruby, an eight-year-old Miniature Schnauzer, had been showing difficulties using both back legs for 14 days after suffering from wobbliness, collapsing limbs, and struggling to get up.
Owner Mrs Ralls, who lives in Ashbourne, took her to her local general practice vets where they advised immediate referral to a specialist neurologist due to Ruby’s age and the quick progression of her symptoms.
It was recommended that Ruby be taken to Dovecote Veterinary Referrals in Castle Donington, Derbyshire, where veterinary neurologist Sergio Gomes conducted MRI scans of her spine to see if he could identify the problem.
He established that a section of Ruby’s spine was not functioning properly due to a large one-inch mass inside the spinal cord in the middle of her back. This was severely pressing on her spinal cord, causing a loss of function in both back legs.
Sergio (pictured) and his team at Dovecote planned surgery to quickly decompress Ruby’s spine. A two-hour operation to carefully remove the one-inch tumour without causing any damage to Ruby’s delicate spinal cord was a success.
Immediately after her operation, Ruby began to support her bodyweight on her legs and was taking tentative steps. At home, over four weeks she continued to recover smoothly. More than 18 months on, Ruby now has full limb function.
Analysis of the tumour samples confirmed it was a meningioma. Six months later, Ruby underwent a repeat MRI scan at Dovecote to see if any re-growth had occurred. No re-growth has been identified.
Sergio comments: “We are very happy with how Ruby is doing. Her owner has remarked how pleased she is with Ruby’s recovery and the new lease of life this surgery has provided her with. Meningiomas are one of the “better” growths one can find, as we can safely remove them in the majority of cases. Ruby has, however, recovered incredibly well!”
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