Canine hit by car recovers at UC Davis

Flynn, an approximately 1-year-old male neutered Great Pyrenees, was brought to UC Davis by the Yolo County Spay and Neuter group after he was reported to have been run over by a car and thrown in a ditch by the City of Stockton Animal Services Center, with visible tire tracks present on his back leg and abdomen. Flynn presented to UC Davis in pain and lame in both back legs as well as a neurological deficit in his left back leg.

Flynn received care at the UC Davis veterinary hospital after being thrown from a car (Image courtesy of UC Davis)

Karen M. Vernau, DVM, MAS, DACVIM (Neurology), of UC Davis’s Neurology/Neurosurgery Service, worked with the Anesthesia and Diagnostic Imaging Services to perform an MRI on Flynn to see the full extent of the damages done to Flynn. The MRI showed the UC Davis team that he suffered from a fracture of his L7 vertebra, and a lumbosacral luxation was compressing the nerves causing him to have intense pain in his back legs and pelvis. Flynn was then taken for a CT scan to help the team determine next steps to repair the damage to his vertebra.¹

Flynn then received a dorsal laminectomy to help relieve the pressure on his spinal nerve and stabilized his L7 fracture with a specialized metal implant. He spent 6 days in the hospital and slowly began to improve his pelvic limb motor function as well as his comfort level. Flynn was able to leave the hospital without any apparent pain and one of the veterinary technicians at the hospital agreed to foster him.

CT scan image show's the implant stabilizing Flynn's L7 vertebra

While at home, Flynn was on strict cage rest while his surgical site and spin healed, had brief leash respites 3-4 times a day, and was prohibited from any jumping, running, or any activity involving impact for a few months. During his one-month recheck, Flynn presented with normal nerve function, was able to put more weight on his back leg, and his lameness in his back legs improved significantly.¹ The team was expecting some decreased muscle mass in both of his back legs, but Flynn appeared comfortable with no signs of pain.

A portion of Flynn’s treatment was provided by UC Davis’s Compassionate Care Fund, formerly known as Angel Funds. This fund is donor-supported and helps provide care to animals in the hospital’s community, such as stray animals and shelter pets. Pets given treatment through the fund can receive lifesaving care despite any existing financial barriers. Compassionate Care Funds was established originally in 1990 and not only help pets, but also provides a learning opportunity for future veterinary professionals.²

References

1. Abandoned Dog Hit by Car Recovers from Back Surgery. News release. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. May 21, 2025. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://www.vetmed.ucdavis.edu/news/abandoned-dog-thrown-car-recovers-back-surgery
2. Compassionate Care Fund. UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine. Accessed May 29, 2025. https://give.ucdavis.edu/VMTH/323773