Zuki training for the National NZ Dog Agility Champs this Labour weekend!
She is 10yrs old so her Dad has been making the most of the low-impact strengthening #hydrotherapy provides. Making sure Zuki is performing at her best to end her agility career on a high.
I’ll be at NZDAC all weekend offering pre-run WOOFs (Warrant Of Orthopaedic Fitness) and post-run recovery massage for the canine athletes.
The comp is at the Mandeville Sports Club Friday to Monday, pop along if you want to see some serious competition and some real good boys 🐶
Moral support 🥰
Castle did great on his first session today! After some recent health scares his vet has recommended hydrotherapy to help regain muscle and fitness.
His sister Echo LOVES the underwater treadmill! She had already had her turn, and is now confused why it’s not still her turn..
All at different stages of their rehab program, and all absolutely smashing it 💪
🔹 Rose 🔹 Finn 🔹 Nova 🔹 Mollie 🔹 Penny-lane 🔹 2J 🔹 Jasper’s knee 🔹 Jenson 🔹
I’ve never struggled to get a dog walking on their first session because they LOVE IT so much 😂😂
Gypsy is a wee trooper. She has multiple fractures in her pelvis, only one could be surgically repaired. There is currently nerve damage in her right hind leg - you may notice she occasionally “knuckles over” on that paw.
I love that my job is to help Gypsy recover 💜🐶
And don’t worry, I figured out how to make her hydrotherapy controlled and safe!
Archie 🥺🧡
Bribes are often used to encourage dogs to walk in the underwater treadmill. Archie’s mum used to bring his dinner biscuits so he wasn’t getting extra calories on hydro-day.
However, we’ve switched to peanut butter recently so we’re not filling up his stomach with heavy bikkies while exercising.
Eating too close to exercise is thought to be a possible cause of gastric torsion, aka bloat, which is a life threatening condition in dogs 💔
No complaints from Archie that he no longer gets biscuits!
Teaching an old dog new tricks ☺️
Turbo is 12yrs old, was adopted a year ago and his new Mum and Dad took him to the vet for a full check up. They found that at some point in his life he had knee surgery for a cruciate ligament rupture, he has arthritis in his hocks, and in his spine. He’s weak in the back end, struggles to get on the couch, and can only manage 10min walks at the moment.
He now has some gentle strengthening exercises to do at home and he’ll be coming into hydrotherapy once a week for a few months to build muscle with low impact on his joints.
This was his first session yesterday and he did great 💪
I always try to make rehab fun. The underwater treadmill is an incredibly foreign activity and can be scary. By taking a little extra time on their first session building their confidence, I end up with heaps of dogs like Assos who can’t wait to get in the treadmill!
Assos needed surgery in Feb to repair a torn ligament in his left knee - the dreaded cruciate! Aka ACL.
He’s recovered from that incredibly well, but is now showing subtle signs that the right knee may have a small tear (sprain). Unfortunately it’s very common for a dog to need cruciate surgery on both knees within a year of each other. So lifestyle adjustments have been made (no ball throwing!), joint supplements on board, he has a soft knee brace to wear when playing at the park, and he’ll come to see me for laser therapy and underwater treadmill once a month.
More #dachshund cuteness to brighten your day. Cooper and Talulah 🧡💜
5 weeks ago DJ sustained a neck injury that resulted in full tetraplegia paralysis. Once he was able to stand he had to learn to walk again. Now look at him! And the huge improvement between his first two hydrotherapy sessions.
It’s been a combined effort from Veterinary Specialists Aotearoa, The Balanced Dog Ltd and of course DJ’s dedicated owners 💙
This is 14 year old Eva 🥰
Improving and maintaining quality of life for older dogs is hugely rewarding.
Cooper said “No Thank You” to cancer and is loving life in his new #HelpEmUpHarness 😁
He comes to me for regular massage while his body adjusts to being a tripod, then has a splash in the underwater treadmill to strengthen core and limbs without all that Rotti body weight on his joints - especially his remaining front leg!
Mollie is only 5 weeks post-op right hind knee surgery, look at how well she’s doing!
She had a TPLO for a torn cruciate ligament.
