Hydrotherapy

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Greylegs

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Further to my other thread about using Tramadol for pain relief, the dog in question - a collie/staffie cross of uncertain age but we think about 11ish - has been off any kind of pain relief medication for over a week now and, thankfully, seems well in himself. However, his arthritis in his shoulder seems to be causing him more stiffness than pain, and we were wondering about hydrotherapy sessions to help him. There's a therapy centre nearby where we could go. Anyone ever tried it and was it worth it?
 
My rottie went to hydro for the last few years of his life and it made a huge difference to him. He'd had a long period of lead rest because of unexplained lameness and then surgery on both elbows so had lost all his 'topline'/muscle and was still very lame. I'll admit I was very sceptical but HT really was like magic for him but I would chose your therapist very carefully, a good centre will only take vet referrals and will make sure that the swims start short and are often. It wasn't cheap and at the start we were going three times a week!!! but it did make a very positive improvement to his fitness and quality of life so was worth it IMO.

If you've any questions, I'll try and answer them...
 
Our lab has swum weekly since rupturing her second cruciate when she was 2yrs old. She is now nearly eight and walks for at least two hours per day easily. There is no sign of stiffness or lameness and the vet said at her last check that he would normally expect a dog with her history to be on regular metacam by now. She is well muscled and supple and I'm sure that it is all down to the hydro. We couldn't recommend it more wholeheartedly......she loves it too.
 
I ran a hydro pool for my year out so knew it was useful, but hadn't really appreciated it until the last year. My boy (11yrs) was struggling to walk even half a mile and was hopping lame the whole time on his front leg - he has been on longterm pain meds etc for spondylosis and hip dysplasia/arthritis anyway. I thought we were facing the end, but wanted to try hydro. Luckily for us there is one very near to home, overnight after his first swim he was sound, was back to walking 2-3 miles after 2 weeks and was so fit and well after his first 10 week course that he came off all meds and his regular cartrophen injections (he had them every 3 weeks and couldn't manage being a day late).
A year on and he is fitter than he has possibly ever been, runs for 1-2hrs offlead when given the chance, walked 9hr walks on holiday in October up lakeland mountains and came back ready for more, and is still off most of his meds, he just has anti-inflams if I see him looking stiff. He swims once a week and will do so forever, but he now swims 35mins which is a crazy amount in a hydro pool!
Do be aware that it is hard work, much harder than swimming free, so the first few swims are often VERY short, don't be surprised if you only get 2-3mins initially. I also use a back on track coat for a few hours after swimming which makes a big difference - I notice the days I take it off earlier, he stiffens up a little more.
 
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