At age 12, Eloise the Dachshund was as youthful as Kay Thompson’s famed storybook character, Eloise. But rather than roaming the halls of the Plaza Hotel, Eloise much preferred passing the time playing ball – a sport in which she was obsessed with. One tragic day in August, Eloise was lost in a game of fetch when she skidded on the hardwood floor and a disc in her lower back suddenly ruptured, leaving her complete backside paralyzed. Like any children’s tale, however, Eloise’s has a happy ending.
Due to their small stature, Dachshunds are most susceptible to back problems. Owners should ensure they avoid drastic jumps or walking up and down the stairs and always support their front and back ends when carrying them. Eloise’s case was sudden and unexpected, but Dr. Jason Berg of the County Animal Clinic in Yonkers, New York was her storybook hero. Within 22 hours of her accident, Eloise was on the operating table under the magic hands of Dr. Berg. Dr. Berg has a paw up in the veterinarian field as he is board certified in both Neurology and Internal Medicine. He comments, “One of the most important reasons I went into Neurology was because it is a ‘scary’ discipline because you can’t see it and it controls everything … thus many animals get less than ideal recommendations and many are euthanized that could be treated and even cured.” Dr. Berg and his business partner and Neurology mentor Dr. Richard Joseph are combining their expertise and opening a new animal hospital, the Animal Specialty Center in Yonkers. The 16,000 square foot facility’s tag line will read, “Expanding the horizons of veterinary medicine.” Dr. Berg insists that it “will have technology that is found no where in the world for animals,” including radiation therapy for animal tumors.
Once Eloise’s surgery was over, Dr. Berg referred her to Renee Shumway, Licensed Veterinarian Technician and Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, at the Animal Medical Center in Manhattan. The AMC offers a wide range of rehabilitation, with the only rehabilitation facilities in the state. Eloise was treated with hydrotherapy, strength exercises, and heat massages for twice a week and today she enjoys the same activities she did some three months ago. She may walk with a slight limp, and have a little hop when she runs, but Eloise will continue to play ball and enjoy life thanks to the brilliant innovations that doctors like Dr. Jason Berg are creating.
For more information visit: amcny.org, countyanimalclinic.com, or animalspecialtycenter.com.
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