Dog Physio/Rehab

[SaddlePsych'D]

Given we've very much established Ivy does not have a terminal diagnosis, I thought I'd start a thread with a less dramatic title and maybe it can be a support space for anyone else who is having to rehab an injury with our dog. It's certainly a new journey for us!

Physio apt today went fairly well. Our two weeks of isometric (?) exercises aka making the dog stand on three legs for 45s at a time for five sets on each side and pushing her hips side to side for 45s, are done. Thank goodness because she was getting through a lot of lick mats and we had to get a bit creative with the toppings to keep her interested long enough to do all the sets. She found it challenging and we had to build up to being able to do the full reps and times.

We now have 4 - 6 weeks of isotonic (?) exercises aka making the dog step over and onto stuff in a slow and controlled manner.

My OH is good at making things out of other things that aren't designed for the thing you need but making it work anyway, so we have very quickly cobbled together this for the pole work:



Then we just need to find some steps to go up and down. We're in a bungalow with not even a front door step to go up so will have to make some kind of platform or see what we can find around the village.

OH worked out that putting kibble on the floor helped Ivy step over rather than bounding over. I was worried she'd called my bluff on the hand feeding thing we started yesterday (sort of!) as she refused all day to eat any kibble offered until this evening, and then it was suddenly very exciting. Probably the heat messing with her appetite, which I can relate to! This exercise at least seemed more fun for all of us than the previous ones

Rehab vet in a couple of weeks as I'd like a second opinion/fresh view of things and maybe have a think about acupuncture.

 

[misst]

I'm on long term maintenance rehab with Moti for disc disease in his neck and left hind knee arthritis and general arthritis in the other 3 legs. We do water treadmill alternate weeks now and some basic stuff on a wobble cushion when he's feeling obliging. He's improved no end but obviously without surgery he will get worse but is off his meds and mobile and agile at present. He's just turned 9.
He walks through a shallow stream against the current on a walk at the moment which is good. However he won't go in if the weather cools down.
Physio has made a huge difference for him painwise.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I'm on long term maintenance rehab with Moti for disc disease in his neck and left hind knee arthritis and general arthritis in the other 3 legs. We do water treadmill alternate weeks now and some basic stuff on a wobble cushion when he's feeling obliging. He's improved no end but obviously without surgery he will get worse but is off his meds and mobile and agile at present. He's just turned 9.
He walks through a shallow stream against the current on a walk at the moment which is good. However he won't go in if the weather cools down.
Physio has made a huge difference for him painwise.

Great to hear it's helping him and you're seeing such a difference.

I can't imagine trying to get Ivy on a wobble cushion She is the same about going into streams and unfortunately our nearest one is quite a long walk to do in warm weather. Hydro keeps getting mentioned but I keep saying no not unless it becomes essential to do it because she would hate it!

Ivy seems to be enjoying the pole exercise a lot more than the previous ones we were doing and they don't take as long. I've added a fourth pole now that she's got the hang of it. I am also getting the workout too with getting her to walk through it so maybe I'll feel a different too

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

We had our first Rehab Vet session this week and I so wish we had started with this route! Bloomin' hindsight eh?

She watched Ivy walk and trot up, and walk around me in a circle, then did a really thorough full body assessment of all Ivy's joints and muscles. Found more sore spots in her back legs which was disappointing given Ivy is still on Loxicom.

Ivy had some massage, some laser treatment, and some acupuncture. We had a little go with the treadmill (no water, I really do have to hold firm on that otherwise we won't get her back on the treadmill at all)! Poor Ivy wasn't really getting it at all just kept sliding to the back with a very sad expression on her face

I was so proud of Ivy and so pleased with how patient the vet was with her. We've kept exercises from previous physio going and added in a stretch suggested by the vet, then back for a second session tomorrow. Fingers crossed that Ivy will be a little less worried about being in a new place. And I'll take ham slices for her this time.

 

[fiwen30]

For the water treadmill, is the physio in the tank with her? With my old boy, the physio was wet suited up and in the treadmill as well, to help guide and keep him straight and centred. For less enthusiastic dogs they had other methods - licky mats stuck to the front of the tank, or pool noodles around their bums or chests - to encourage them along. My lad’s favourite was getting to hold a floaty toy and then drop and dunk it into the water!

When we needed a ‘step up’ exercise, we used to use a high kerb down the road. Or an exercise step worked well too. For her size, perhaps an old pallet with a board screwed across it? You could raise the pallet on bricks to the correct height for her.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

For the water treadmill, is the physio in the tank with her? With my old boy, the physio was wet suited up and in the treadmill as well, to help guide and keep him straight and centred. For less enthusiastic dogs they had other methods - licky mats stuck to the front of the tank, or pool noodles around their bums or chests - to encourage them along. My lad’s favourite was getting to hold a floaty toy and then drop and dunk it into the water!

When we needed a ‘step up’ exercise, we used to use a high kerb down the road. Or an exercise step worked well too. For her size, perhaps an old pallet with a board screwed across it? You could raise the pallet on bricks to the correct height for her.

Yes the vet got in too to try to help Ivy out a bit. We're hoping next time Ivy won't be feeling so overwhelmed and be more willing to give it a go. The salmon paste the vet offered wasn't doing the job so I will upgrade and bring ham slices to the session tomorrow. Ivy was probably just a bit too worried that first time but I have a feeling once she 'gets' it she's quite enjoy it.

We've made do with the tallest bit of kerb we can find on our regular walk. Then the wash basket is our standing on platform for the stretch exercise.

I moved the poles closer together today as realised Ivy shuffles about to pretty much always lead with the same back leg. With the poles a bit closer together she has to alternate them. I'll report that back tomorrow as I think it will link to her preference not to take as much weight on one side.

 

[misst]

Moti has smelly sausages in front of him supplied by the surgery and his physio is in the tank with him. Larger dogs have 2 physios with them if needed. It took Moti a session to get the hang of it now he loves it.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Moti has smelly sausages in front of him supplied by the surgery and his physio is in the tank with him. Larger dogs have 2 physios with them if needed. It took Moti a session to get the hang of it now he loves it.

The ham seemed to help today once we got her on the treadmill, a lot less of Ivy sad sliding to the back of the tank!

Vet thought Ivy has improved since last week when she watched Ivy walk up and down today. Ivy was actually very keen to go into the clinic which helped with the treatments as she was less tense to start with. A little more massage, some laser, a tuning fork (apparently this has been scientifically researched!), and a longer session of acupuncture all done in the session. Then another little go on the treadmill.

We're also starting a medication to help with nerve pain as vet has a hypothesis about a source of pain in Ivy's sacral area where the spinal cord ends. I can't remember all the terminology but basically a bit like a trapped nerve thing happening, so I think the idea is a short course of this medication to help Ivy use her muscles properly to build strength then we can stop that medication and then hopefully the Loxicom too.

Any recommendations for online vet pharmacy very welcome - I've decided to get a script for the Loxicom and just buy online. Regular vet has been issuing 32ml at a time and I've recently learned it comes in 100ml; wish they might have pointed that out much sooner and not just whacked more stuff on the insurance. I didn't mind doing medication directly from the vet initially but if I'd have realised it would be prescribed for this long and that a bigger size was available I'd have asked for the script weeks ago!

 

[Clodagh]

I get mine from pet drugs online. Tawny had giant bottles of metacam. It cost me the same money for a year online as one bottle from the vet.

 

[rara007]

Rheumacam comes in 200ml bottles if you get the script for melox rather than a brand.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Rheumacam comes in 200ml bottles if you get the script for melox rather than a brand.

Ooh thank you, I'd missed that Loxicom is the brand name. I'll see if we can get the script for the bigger bottle as that's quite a price difference.

We've got three weeks of amantadine, a bit longer if it works, then working towards stopping both medications as we get further on with the rehab.

I'm feeling horribly guilty for not letting Ivy have off lead time for weeks now. She seems to managing it okay but I'm looking forward to seeing her have her freedom again!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Waiting on a call back from vet as poor Ivy doesn't seem to quite be herself since the treatment on Monday. Nothing obvious, she's just a bit bleh then today I've noticed her breathing rapidly at points and it's not especially hot weather today. Hoping to just check in with vet to see what to look out for with medication side effects.

Rheumocam is on the way from the website recommended and looking to now make the switch of our regular vet now that we've got things rolling with an ongoing treatment plan with the rehab vet.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

So we've dropped the Amantadine as suspect side effects - Ivy wasn't sick or anything really obvious but after the session last week she seemed less happy in herself and that went on for a few days. We came away from the session on Monday this week and she was quite happy, perhaps a little sleepy, but otherwise has been her usual happy self so makes me suspect the medication was making her feel a bit crap.

The pole exercises are ongoing; the adjustment I made has helped stop her keep leading with the same leg each time so I hope that will help both sides to get stronger. We're also doing a stand front paws on a thing to stretch. Turns out the thing I picked was much higher than needed so now we just have a really chunky book for this. I've also now been given an infra-red thingy to take home and use on a few spots on Ivy every day.

Vet thinks there was good progress between session 1 and 2 but less so for session 3 this week. I'm pleased that Ivy was even better able to tolerate the acupuncture though, and she still quite enjoys the laser bit. We left out the treadmill this time

Next appointment isn't for a couple of weeks now so just really hoping the vet sees some progress again next time. I'm not sure where we go from here if not. All I'd like is for Ivy to be able to go off lead again and ideally not have to have the ongoing medication if that's going to be possible. I miss seeing her enjoying a good run and goofing about!

 

[KEK]

The ham seemed to help today once we got her on the treadmill, a lot less of Ivy sad sliding to the back of the tank!

Vet thought Ivy has improved since last week when she watched Ivy walk up and down today. Ivy was actually very keen to go into the clinic which helped with the treatments as she was less tense to start with. A little more massage, some laser, a tuning fork (apparently this has been scientifically researched!), and a longer session of acupuncture all done in the session. Then another little go on the treadmill.

We're also starting a medication to help with nerve pain as vet has a hypothesis about a source of pain in Ivy's sacral area where the spinal cord ends. I can't remember all the terminology but basically a bit like a trapped nerve thing happening, so I think the idea is a short course of this medication to help Ivy use her muscles properly to build strength then we can stop that medication and then hopefully the Loxicom too.

Any recommendations for online vet pharmacy very welcome - I've decided to get a script for the Loxicom and just buy online. Regular vet has been issuing 32ml at a time and I've recently learned it comes in 100ml; wish they might have pointed that out much sooner and not just whacked more stuff on the insurance. I didn't mind doing medication directly from the vet initially but if I'd have realised it would be prescribed for this long and that a bigger size was available I'd have asked for the script weeks ago!

Do you mean tethered cord syndrome? This is what my young border whippet has just had surgery for. If so you might want to ask to try pregabalin and muscle relaxers (mine gets diazepam).

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Do you mean tethered cord syndrome? This is what my young border whippet has just had surgery for. If so you might want to ask to try pregabalin and muscle relaxers (mine gets diazepam).

I'm not sure. It was something to do with an abnormality that came up on the CT or x-ray, I think fused sacral spinal processes. I've lost my bit of paper where I wrote down the terminology the vets used!

She had Diazepam for 10 days but that was before we started seeing the rehab vet. It seemed to help but the previous physio and vet didn't really make much reference back to it (i.e., I'm not sure what we were aiming for or why we stopped it).

I think the Amantadine was instead of Gabapentin (or Pregabalin) so maybe we'll try one of those next.

Rehab vet was considering ultrasound but also unsure how useful that would be. I guess we just keep going with the exercises and Rheumocam for now and hope she sees some progress when we go back.

Ivy's still keen as anything for her walks and seems to quite like the pole exercise (she keeps spontaneously doing it without being asked, to see if she can get some treats out of me!) which is good. It wasn't very nice last week when she seemed a bit sorry for herself.

 

[KEK]

I'm not sure. It was something to do with an abnormality that came up on the CT or x-ray, I think fused sacral spinal processes. I've lost my bit of paper where I wrote down the terminology the vets used!

She had Diazepam for 10 days but that was before we started seeing the rehab vet. It seemed to help but the previous physio and vet didn't really make much reference back to it (i.e., I'm not sure what we were aiming for or why we stopped it).

I think the Amantadine was instead of Gabapentin (or Pregabalin) so maybe we'll try one of those next.

Rehab vet was considering ultrasound but also unsure how useful that would be. I guess we just keep going with the exercises and Rheumocam for now and hope she sees some progress when we go back.

Ivy's still keen as anything for her walks and seems to quite like the pole exercise (she keeps spontaneously doing it without being asked, to see if she can get some treats out of me!) which is good. It wasn't very nice last week when she seemed a bit sorry for herself.

LTV? Lumbar transitional vertebrae? Causes back issues. Amantadine is a diff type of drug and if it doesn’t suit her I’d see if you can try pregabalin. Diazepam is a nice muscle relaxant, mines been on it for ages. Also good for back pain.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

LTV? Lumbar transitional vertebrae? Causes back issues. Amantadine is a diff type of drug and if it doesn’t suit her I’d see if you can try pregabalin. Diazepam is a nice muscle relaxant, mines been on it for ages. Also good for back pain.

Yes it could be to do with that. Will have a conversation with the vet about medication when we go in a couple of weeks.

OH and I both thought Ivy is looking better when we walked her yesterday evening. Her back improved fairly early on with the physio but I think it's moving even better now when she walks and she looks like she is moving better in her hips too. Hopefully the vet will see it too and it's not just my wishful thinking!

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Ooh a positive update from yesterday's rehab session

Also have a question for those who have done canine physio/rehab - how have you managed transition back to off-lead? We're not there yet and when we are obviously will speak to the vet about this. I can imagine Ivy will go fairly zoomy the first time off-lead after months without!

Ivy had the full works yesterday; laser, tuning fork (yep the dog has been tuned), and acupuncture which she was able to tolerate more of this time. She was definitely more settled in the session and less reactive. The vet also saw the improvement in how Ivy is walking (yay!) and we managed to do some actual treadmill. It took a lot of chicken! It was so interesting that just a few minutes of walking with breaks had Ivy's hind leg muscles shaking, as they would do when she has had a proper blast running around.

I feel hopeful that now we can get her on the treadmill we can get the benefit of this. Probably no hydro though; we'd undo our hard work and never be able to get Ivy back on it!

Ivy was clearly feeling good after the session; she was pooped when we got home but when OH arrived home she went particularly bonkers!

 

[millitiger]

We've been through nearly a year of rehab, from what we thought was cruciate ligament injury and then one op for ligament repair and a second op 10 weeks later for full TPLO.

We then did 6 months of rehab, starting on crate rest for 2 weeks, then short lead very short and quiet walks, then progressing but always on lead and under control.
Alongside this we had physio and water treadmill- which Isla hated and we had to funnel treats into her.

She was signed off from all rehab in late April this year and then off the lead but tbh, she was much less active than before the accident and more cautious.

In the middle of June she slowed down considerably, stopped coming to poo pick etc with us and was much less active.
By the end of June she was showing neurological symptoms, low head, unable to walk in a straight line, uncontrolled tremoring.

We rushed her to the vets and they assumed compression of spinal cord or disc bulge etc. but x-rays all clear.
So we thought muscle spasm in her back- caused in the initial accident but no-one noticed as we were all so focussed on fixing her leg!

She had 10 days of pain relief and muscle relaxants and essentially crate rest again.
Cautiously this seemed to help but she went back into rehab programme with physio and water treadmill.
The treadmill particularly has really helped.


She is back to 'normal' now, off lead, running and playing with the puppy which is amazing to see.
However, the view is she has chronic muscle injury in her back and we need to keep the treadmill up and physio as needed, for the rest of her life.
I'm happy to do that if it means she can have a happy and active life.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

We've been through nearly a year of rehab, from what we thought was cruciate ligament injury and then one op for ligament repair and a second op 10 weeks later for full TPLO.

We then did 6 months of rehab, starting on crate rest for 2 weeks, then short lead very short and quiet walks, then progressing but always on lead and under control.
Alongside this we had physio and water treadmill- which Isla hated and we had to funnel treats into her.

She was signed off from all rehab in late April this year and then off the lead but tbh, she was much less active than before the accident and more cautious.

In the middle of June she slowed down considerably, stopped coming to poo pick etc with us and was much less active.
By the end of June she was showing neurological symptoms, low head, unable to walk in a straight line, uncontrolled tremoring.

We rushed her to the vets and they assumed compression of spinal cord or disc bulge etc. but x-rays all clear.
So we thought muscle spasm in her back- caused in the initial accident but no-one noticed as we were all so focussed on fixing her leg!

She had 10 days of pain relief and muscle relaxants and essentially crate rest again.
Cautiously this seemed to help but she went back into rehab programme with physio and water treadmill.
The treadmill particularly has really helped.


She is back to 'normal' now, off lead, running and playing with the puppy which is amazing to see.
However, the view is she has chronic muscle injury in her back and we need to keep the treadmill up and physio as needed, for the rest of her life.
I'm happy to do that if it means she can have a happy and active life.

Wow you guys have really been through it! Great to read that Isla is doing much better now and that you're seeing the benefit of the treadmill work.

I suspect we may need to keep up something for maintenance once we're where we need to be. I can't remember the names of the things going on for Ivy but basically there's weird bone stuff going on for her which we can't change so the best we can do is get her strong and moving as well as possible.

 

[skinnydipper]

I can't remember the names of the things going on for Ivy but basically there's weird bone stuff going on for her which we can't change so the best we can do is get her strong and moving as well as possible.

It would be interesting to know the diagnosis as we follow Ivy's progress, and her diagnosis and treatment might be helpful to someone else whose dog has the same condition.

Would you be able to make a note at your next appointment or ask the vet to write it down please.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

It would be interesting to know the diagnosis as we follow Ivy's progress, and her diagnosis and treatment might be helpful to someone else whose dog has the same condition.

Would you be able to make a note at your next appointment or ask the vet to write it down please.

I will. I think in all the confusion I have a longer list of what it isn't than what it is! We're back there in a couple of weeks so I can check.

It also seems to be because there have been multiple things going on and it's working out what's secondary to what (i.e., where she's been compensating).

We have the x-ray and CT imaging so I think the vet is guided by those but perhaps it's not clear what's clinically significant.

Iliopsoas tear is/was definitely part of it, and we think that she is prone to that because of some of her weird bone stuff (her pelvis bones aren't the same size on each side), and it generally being a common injury for Greyhounds.

I think the other term is sacrocaudal fusion, which is also more common in Greyhounds apparently. So it may be that Ivy has had a sciatica type pain.

If this thread can be useful to anyone that would be great. It's a whole new world to me and I'm learning as I go!

 

[Clodagh]

I think Ivy is a very lucky dog.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I think Ivy is a very lucky dog.

Ahh to be the first and only dog of a Double Income No Kids millenial couple

 

[MurphysMinder]

My lad had surgery as a puppy to correct an angular limb deformity, he has a metal plate in his leg now . He had several weeks of treadmill and physio . I was very wary of letting him off lead, the physio used to tease me about it . Long story short that was nearly 4 years ago , he competes in agility with some success and is super active . He still has monthly physio and I imagine I will keep taking him always . Apart from anything else physio is great at picking up the slightest tweak anywhere , plus he loves it .

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

My lad had surgery as a puppy to correct an angular limb deformity, he has a metal plate in his leg now . He had several weeks of treadmill and physio . I was very wary of letting him off lead, the physio used to tease me about it . Long story short that was nearly 4 years ago , he competes in agility with some success and is super active . He still has monthly physio and I imagine I will keep taking him always . Apart from anything else physio is great at picking up the slightest tweak anywhere , plus he loves it .

Wow what a fab success story! It's giving me hope that eventually Ivy will get her off lead time again. Great to hear your pup enjoys his maintenance visits.

We had a session yesterday and Ivy managed a bit more on the treadmill, still no water. She must find it hard work as was quite tired on her walk this morning so we kept it short. She was definitely moving better though after her various bits of treatment with the vet. We're optimistic that after our next visit we can trial a reduction of metacam.

Really pleased that our exercises and feeding seem to be making a difference too. The vet was pleased with increase in Ivy's glute muscles and commented that she's generally looking good. So nice to hear as I thought Ivy looked a bit poor after the house move in March and it seemed like her coat didn't want to change until we were well into the warm weather. Poor girl has been through a lot this year!

It would be interesting to know the diagnosis as we follow Ivy's progress, and her diagnosis and treatment might be helpful to someone else whose dog has the same condition.

Would you be able to make a note at your next appointment or ask the vet to write it down please.

The vet did talk me through it all again but I'm not sure it has a particular name. Other than the iliopsoas injury, which is secondary to the abnormality with Ivy's pelvis, there is fusion between the vertebrae where the tail starts. Both things Ivy was probably born with and may explain why she came out of racing at a younger age. That seems to get 'irritated' (obvs. that's not the right word) and can then cause nerve pain.

 

[skinnydipper]

The vet did talk me through it all again but I'm not sure it has a particular name. Other than the iliopsoas injury, which is secondary to the abnormality with Ivy's pelvis, there is fusion between the vertebrae where the tail starts. Both things Ivy was probably born with and may explain why she came out of racing at a younger age. That seems to get 'irritated' (obvs. that's not the right word) and can then cause nerve pain.

Spondylosis can fuse the vertebrae and can cause neuropathic pain. I wonder if it is something similar.

Fingers crossed Ivy continues to improve.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Spondylosis can fuse the vertebrae and can cause neuropathic pain. I wonder if it is something similar.

Fingers crossed Ivy continues to improve.

I think she does also have some spondylosis further up her spine. That area of her back improved very quickly but the lower part near the tail has been quite sore. Definitely improving though.

She was absolutely full of beans for her second walk this evening so the restful day seems to have helped. We still kept the walk short as there was a bit of leg shaking. I suspect still from her work on the treadmill yesterday. Will see how we're doing tomorrow but certainly going in the right direction today.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Ooooh another good update from Ivy's rehab appointment today. The vet was really pleased with her! Lots of muscle development and relaxed fascia on hind legs (I think that's the right terms).

Ivy got super relaxed during her acupuncture and rolled onto her side, so the vet was able to get in to do some massage to the iliopsoas on the 'bad' side. This is pretty amazing given how at the start of this whole journey, it was so sore we could barely touch it without Greyhound Scream of Death.

Ivy managed a full four one-minute sets of treadmill walking. Best she's done so far. Not scared to go in and getting the hang of moving when it moves (my tip here is to take whole cooked chicken breast and voila! treadmill not scary any more).

We're going to start trialling a reduction of Rheumocam at the weekend. I will be so pleased if Ivy doesn't need to be on longer term medication. She'll have it if needed, but great to get to this stage to even try without.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Another couple of weeks on and still going well for Ivy. We've dropped the Rheumocam dose down in line with the vet's instructions and a week later not seeing any signs of discomfort/pain returning.

When we got home from the last appointment a couple of weeks ago, Ivy hopped up onto the sofa by leaping over the arm end - a new one for her, she was obviously feeling particularly well! There's not been any more agility displays from her since but she's been a bit zoomy around the house a few times.

We've managed a couple of hour long walks and, as the weather has got cooler, Ivy's naturally been running around more (still on the long line). Still no sign of things going backwards so just keeping everything crossed that our next visit to the vet in a couple more weeks' time will be another positive one