The sciatic nerve is a sensory motor nerve with two sections that connect to the muscles behind and below the knee. The sections that make up the sciatic nerve are called the tibial and peroneal nerves. It is a nerve that comes from the seventh vertebra and coccyx of the dog. Since the nerve passes over the large sciatic notch, it can be damaged as a result of pelvic fractures or incorrect injections into the muscle. Tumor growth in the area also has an effect on the nerve. Sciatic nerve damage causes various symptoms.

Symptoms of Sciatic Nerve Damage

Symptoms of sciatic nerve damage are obvious. If these symptoms are seen, a veterinarian should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment. Among the most common symptoms;

• The dog’s inability to straighten or stretch its knees,
• Limping,
• Inability to bend or extend its paws,
• Difficulty going to the toilet,
• Posture disorder,
• Muscle loss due to restricted blood flow,
• Abnormal walking movement,
• There is sensitivity on the side affected by the sciatic nerve. Pain also occurs after the damage. However, if there is a deep lesion in the sciatic nerve, pain may not be seen.
  

  Types of Sciatic Nerve Damage

  Sciatic neuropathy can occur as a result of pressure on the sciatic nerve. This can lead to the development of benign tumors in the region. Nerve damage can develop due to fractures in the pelvic region as a result of unintended accidents. Apart from this, as in humans, lumbosacral diseases that cause pressure on the sciatic nerve are another cause of sciatic nerve damage. Sciatic nerve damage is divided into three different types according to the severity of the damage.

  Neuropraxia

  Neuropraxia is the mildest nerve damage. Since the dog’s nerve damage is quite mild, the severity of the symptoms is also quite mild. With appropriate treatment, the damage itself and the symptoms it causes are reversible.

  Axonotmesis

  Axonotmesis is the second class of damage to the sciatic nerve. In this damage, partial damage is seen in the dog’s axons, but the surrounding connective tissue is still intact. For this reason, dogs classified with axonotmesis usually experience motor function deficiency due to nerve, pain, and inability to stretch their hind limbs. In addition, muscle loss is one of the common symptoms at this level of damage.

  Neuronotmesis

  The most severe case of sciatic nerve damage. In this case, the injury cannot be reversed and completely healed. As a result of the complete destruction of the axons of the sciatic nerve as well as the connective tissue, nerve damage is considered neurotmesis.