So I've eventually got an appointment next week for hydro for Charlie. Although the surgeon says he is happy for Charlie to free swim, the hydro place say that Charlie will be better off on the water treadmill - they say free swimming can really aggravate cruciate ligament injuries. We've got an assessment with the physio, to see whether she is happy, then a session on the treadmill (if we get the go ahead). The purpose of the treadmill would be to rebuild and maintain muscle particularly around the injured joint (muscle wastage is a problem, as he puts so little weight on the leg), which will help stability of the joint before the op - as the surrounding muscles can compensate a bit if they are stronger, and obviously recovery time after the op. Apparently, dogs get used to the treadmill quickly, and he will have a therapist in the treadmill cabinet with him to help him get used to it. I'm not sure that he'll like it. I don't think it's a very enjoyable experience. If Charlie doesn't like things, he makes it known, and very clearly - I mean he resists, and sulks, and is very unhappy. Anyone else every tried water treadmills for their dogs?
Re: Water treadmill Oh Julie I hope he does like it,it will be so good for him..he's not a nervous dog so I hope he be up for trying it....they will be handling dogs doing this all the time,is it close by to you? Can you go and have a visit on your own first to at least prepare you for it.it sounds a step on from Lilly's hydrotherapy?im going to google now to see of o can find how it looks...... I'm glad you've at least got the option...x
Re: Water treadmill Yes My Lab when about 6 months had to go to hydrotherapy due to fractured elbow. He liked the pool until one day they put the harness on wrongly and he went under the water several times and then hated it. Glad to say he now loves water. However, because of this he went into the water treadmill and it was fine, I cannot remember him being scared or a problem. I think it took a wee bit of time for him to get the idea but I stood at his face end with titbits and he soon learned to do it well.
Re: Water treadmill I hope it will be a positive experience for him Julie, there's no doubt the exercise will be very good for him.
Re: Water treadmill [quote author=Dexter link=topic=3934.msg45398#msg45398 date=1389172600] Oh Julie I hope he does like it,it will be so good for him..he's not a nervous dog so I hope he be up for trying it....they will be handling dogs doing this all the time,is it close by to you? Can you go and have a visit on your own first to at least prepare you for it.it sounds a step on from Lilly's hydrotherapy?im going to google now to see of o can find how it looks...... I'm glad you've at least got the option...x [/quote] It's a fair drive, just over an hour. I've been before (before he was diagnosed, we were referred for physio when we just thought it was a soft tissue injury). So I've seen the place, pool and treadmill. There is a picture here of a happy looking lab on the treadmill: http://www.greyfriarsrehab.co.uk/rehabilitation/hydrotherapy No, Charlie isn't nervous. But he doesn't like being restrained. I spoke to the therapist on the phone yesterday and she says lots of treats are involved and they get the dogs used to it slowly. He is definitely going to have to do this after the op, so getting him used to it before seems like a good idea at least. I'm hopeful it'll work out.
Re: Water treadmill Sounds like a great place owned and run by really committed staff.....gives confidence too that they specialize on rehabilitation...not spreading them selves too thin....god forbid,there is NOTHING like that in Dubai,I would truly be out of my mind The lab on the treadmill looks like Dex....( bigger ears though,always the bigger ears ;D)
Re: Water treadmill Hopefully he won't feel too restrained, he'll be on the move just not actually going anywhere. I like the glass sides too so he can see out and not feel hemmed in. Good luck
Re: Water treadmill My guess would be that after lead only exercise, the chance to be in water with a member of staff who - from Charlie's perspective - exists only to adore him, all whilst being offered treats... will probably outweigh his displeasure at the harness. I hope so, anyway! It looks like a great place... If you have a free hand for photos, you know we'd love to see them. Clare
Re: Water treadmill I hope it works out. It is a good place. They take in-patients too - I might ask about that, I have a busy few days in a couple of months, and it might be better for Charlie to have a week's holiday, being professionally cared for and swimming everyday, then me trying to manage him at home with my ad-hoc arrangements of Grandad and dog walker and so on.
Re: Water treadmill Good luck with the treadmill Julie, really hope that it works and helps Charlie x
Re: Water treadmill [quote author=JulieT link=topic=3934.msg45450#msg45450 date=1389178606] I hope it works out. It is a good place. They take in-patients too - I might ask about that, I have a busy few days in a couple of months, and it might be better for Charlie to have a week's holiday, being professionally cared for and swimming everyday, then me trying to manage him at home with my ad-hoc arrangements of Grandad and dog walker and so on. [/quote] That sounds like a great idea Doggie rehab and spa!
Re: Water treadmill You're going to Greyfriars?? That place is fab!! I did one of their courses a couple of years ago which included pool swimming and the water treadmill, it's a really great peice of equipment and not a lot of hydro places I've come across have one. Good luck! I'm sure you'll be fine. You should be able to stay with Charlie when he's in the treadmill so you can give him lots of encouragement. The staff are lovely, one of them actually left Greyfriars and set up a hydrotherapy centre near me.
Re: Water treadmill Sounds like a fab facility. I hope that Charlie takes to it... Excellent plan to practise before the op.
Re: Water treadmill I really hope he loves it and gets every ounce of fun out of it. ;D. I'm sure he will.
Re: Water treadmill [quote author=Penny+Me link=topic=3934.msg45727#msg45727 date=1389303812] You're going to Greyfriars?? That place is fab!! [/quote] It's good to hear that - thanks. i'm in a constant crisis trying to make sure I have the best advice - which sometimes plays against me, i know, because I end up with several opinions! there is such a thing as too many vets.... Greyfriars do seem good, very professional.
Re: Water treadmill It sounds great Julie! I bet he will love it and ASK to booked in for his spa break. I really do hope it works out as you hope x
Re: Water treadmill It looks great!! Here's hoping Charlie will see it as so much fun he forgets all about the restraint issue....
Re: Water treadmill Barley has ben on a water treadmill before, twice actually. Both were free trial sessions to see if he would take to it, but the answer was a big fat NO. He did not mind the treadmill and he got used to it after a while, but as soon as water was intorduced that was it, he stood on the treamill until he hit the back then only walked with his front legs, which are the wrong legs we wanted him to move, as we went for his hips. The water never got above his paws, he done a little dance when the water started coming in, it was funny to watch, it was like he was standing on a hot potato with all four feet ;D. he had to be picked up to be put on the treadmill as he would ot go in byhimself, even for ham, cheese, sausage, liver cake nothing worked. We ended up having accupuncture instead
Re: Water treadmill Hmmm....poor Barley. I think the danger with Charlie is that he will get so excited, he will have to be restrained - which he will hate. I don't know if it's just his nature or the way I handle him, but I learned very early that 'making' him do something - eg pulling him with his collar, making him sit by pushing on his back - meets with a LOT of resistance from him and ends up in a wrestle, and one unhappy dog who is then unhappy with whatever situation he was in when the wrestle started. So I never do it, finding other ways, and spending ages training him to do whatever it was that I wanted him to do. I find myself explaining this a lot to people who handle him. I'll talk it through with the therapist in advance.
