Ask the Expert
Pet Rehab – Finally!!!
By Dave Dawson, DVM, Owner of HydroPaws Animal Rehabilitation and Performance Center as well as San Roque Pet Hospital
"Bojangles" is a large Labrador Retriever that suffered a knee injury to his ACL (anterior cruciate ligament) while acrobatically jumping for a ball at the beach. Surgery was recommended for him but the owners were unable to afford the surgery right away. The owners followed secondary recommendations to strictly rest him until they could get the surgery performed.
Over subsequent months, "Bojangles’” muscles became very atrophied in the affected leg. He used the leg less and less. A dog that was once a great athlete had been reduced to a 3-legged food vacuum. By the time the owners could afford the surgery months later, “Bojangles” was very overweight and not using the leg very much. His surgeon was disappointed because he had started to develop arthritis in the joint and he was no longer the ideal candidate for surgery.
After the surgery was performed, “Bojangles” was placed on another 6-8 weeks of strict confinement and prohibited from doing any significant activity. The muscles in his affected leg, now considerably smaller than normal, continued to atrophy. At this point, “Bojangles” chances for return to full normal function were not very good.
What if this were you? If you were the recipient of an orthopedic injury, (possibly as a result of the active Santa Barbara lifestyle you lead) you would not be told to lay still for 6-8 weeks until your surgery was completely healed. Rather, after surgery, you would be immediately placed in cold therapy (ice) and your joint would be passively moved via an automatic machine, back and forth, so you do not get stiff and so that your muscles are still getting some stimulation as well as some normal range of motion. A week after surgery, you would be starting physical therapy so that you can get back out on the tennis court, hiking trail, bicycle, surfboard, etc., as soon as possible!
Animal Rehabilitation has finally become recognized as a very important part of the post-operative recovery and rehabilitation. We are no longer limited by the lack of available resources or limited by advancements (or lack thereof) in veterinary medicine. Not only is animal rehabilitation indicated for post-surgical patients (certainly “Bojangles’” would have benefitted before and after surgery), but it is also indicated for older, arthritic patients, neurologically debilitated patients as well as for the canine performance athlete.
Arthritic, geriatric patients are greatly benefitting from hydrotherapy, made possible by the introduction of the Underwater Treadmill. The Underwater Treadmill allows the dog to start to move his joints while passively returning the limbs for another stride. By increasing weight bearing and increasing range of motion of those affected joints, the dog is able to build muscle tone and reduce ongoing atrophy, as well as increase range of motion of those joints. This allows the dog to bear its own weight and get up with more comfort. By intervening with rehabilitation, we are slowing the advancement of the dog’s arthritis!!
With the grand opening of the HydroPaws Animal Rehabilitation and Performance Center, we are now able to offer Underwater Treadmill sessions, therapeutic ultrasound, cold-laser therapy, E-stim, home exercise & weight loss programs, and much more right here in Santa Barbara. Talk to your veterinarian about a referral or call us directly at 805-687-4131. |
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