Get those reps in!
Get those reps in! Repetition is carefully used to increase stamina but also to "remind" the body of what it used to do. When a neurological injury happens, the signals between the brain and the body are interrupted, causing paralysis or weakness. Rehab can either help reconnect those neurological pathways or help support the body while it forges new pathways, all with the goal of getting your pet back out and doing their favorite activities!
We've got lovely model Willow practicing her cat walk and showing off her Snood! A Snood can be an excellent tool to prevent water from getting into your pup's ears during a Hydrotherapy session - Plus they're so fashionable!
Hazel Teefies!
Sharing Hazel's super cute teefies to start your weekend right! 😍
🚫 No donuts were harmed in the making of this film!🚫
DISCLAIMER: 🚫 No donuts were harmed in the making of this film!🚫 That being said, Rehab often includes figuring out what motivates a patient to work. Obviously, we can't feed patients donuts - sorry Gizmo 😭! But his desire for donuts coupled with our skilled hands has helped Gizmo go from non-ambulatory to independent walking in less than a month! We'll keep working to help him get stronger and more confident, but we are very proud of this little guy already. Though the team may grieve the loss of such a lovely donut, the sacrifice was well worth it!
"This is cool and all, but what else ya got?"
Some dogs become such pro's in the Underwater Treadmill that they get bored and that's certainly the case with Timber! You can almost hear him saying "This is cool and all, but what else ya got?"
Tyson Graduates!
Remember Tyson? We posted some videos of him a few weeks back showing how he couldn't even sit upright when he first started therapy.
🤩 LOOK AT HIM NOW!!! 🤩 What a glow up! This video was captured during his last therapy session - our little man has graduated now that he can get back to tackling life on his own! We miss him already, but loved being a part of his recovery 💙
Check Out Banxy's Progress!
Banxy came to us completely unable to use his back legs. While he still has a long journey ahead of him, we're so proud to share his progress! In this video, you'll notice that he's repeatedly shifting forward, especially when made to stand in a normal position. He's doing this because bearing weight on his back legs is hard! It's so much easier for him to just let his back legs fall and use his super strong front leg, chest, and back muscles to propel himself where he wants to go. It's our job to encourage Banxy to use his back legs despite their weakness and neuropathy and to strengthen those legs to make independent standing and walking possible. The fact that he is motivated to go where he wants, can support his weight, and is moving his back legs as an attempt to walk is extremely promising so we're very excited to help Banxy achieve his best recovery!
Your pet has homework!
Don't get us wrong, the Underwater Treadmills and Therapeutic Lasers are super cool and effective tools in our Rehab arsenal, but simple exercises like this are also a huge part of a patient's recovery. That's why every CROC patient is prescribed a customized home care regimen; their "homework" so to speak. Patients whose families stick to their prescribed home care will recover faster and better than those who did not.
Motivation to Succeed!
A big part of a patient's success is to find what motivates them; what will make them keep trying even when they're tired and the task is difficult. The more motivated a patient is to participate, the more likely they are to attain their rehab goals. So, even when the squeaker is obnoxious and we sound like fools with our loud baby talk, we're not even a little embarassed because look at Willow go! Absolutely worth it to see her walking without assistance and even self-correcting when she stumbles!
Tyson's Update!
Check out Tyson now! Consistent and frequent therapy as well as his mom's dedication to his "homework" between sessions has paid off! Tyson is now walking and able to take on more difficult challenges like slick floors, stairs, ramps, and the wobbleboard shown here.
Tyson's Beginning
Tyson came to us in September, not only unable to walk, but unable to even sit up! Here, we're carefully checking what Tyson can do on his own so we can improve what he has and start working on regaining what he doesn't. Check out our next post for an update on this kiddo!
Blue's Hydrotherapy Session
What conditions is Hydrotherapy using the Underwater Treadmill good for? The limit does not exist! Dogs with Intervertebral Disc Disease? Yep! What about Osteoarthritis? You bet! Even post-op orthopedic surgeries, like those for torn ligaments or Hip Dysplasia? Absolutely! What about incurable things like Degenerative Myelopathy? It's the best! If you're not sure if Hydrotherapy is right for your dog, give us a call and we're happy to discuss your pet's case 💙🐾
CROC was established in 2017, though it originally began as The Vet's House Rehabilitation in 2014.
