Hydrotherapy

With Katy's ongoing arthritic knee problems I have looked into hydrotherapy. With have 3 in under an hours drive from me. Messaged one, they have got back to me & said they needed to contact my vet for a signed referral. My vet has signed so we will see how it goes There's not much more I can do with supplements so it's got to be worth a try, don't you think?
1st appointment is July 2nd unless they get a cancellation

I think it's well worth the effort!

Good luck - does she like the water?

Yes especially muddy, smelly water Not too sure she will like the pool, she hasn't swam much. They also have a treadmill to video her movements on.

Ooh, how exciting. Please do let us know how it goes

What supplements are you giving btw, see any difference ?
I’m glad to say that Opium is doing very well with her Flexadin and she’s pretty much back to normal.

She's on turmeric paste, cbd oil, salmon oil, Yumove & Metacam when needed. tbh I don't know if they are doing any good unless I stop them Just ordered some Yumove senior to see if that is better.
Took her for a proper walk yesterday as it was cooler, big regret on my part, she was fine on the walk but very lame after we got home, couldn't put weight on her leg   Same again this morning but loosened up for a walk round the block.
I'm really hopeful the hydrotherapy could help her, I will let you know how she gets on  
I'm glad to hear that Opium is doing well now







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Hope you find the solution to keep Katy comfortable.

Yumove is getting more difficult and expensive to find here, especially since brexit
I’ve just bought some working dog which appears to have the same level ingredients as the adult but with an added something for digestion support. Might suit Nifty better (even if she’s no working dog, as such )

Opium is finishing her young and active which I really rate

Haven't had any problems getting Yumove but yesterday tried to use her prescription for Metacam before it runs out with the online pharmacy & they haven't any due to Global shortage!

Update! Had our 1st session yesterday, Katy was such a good girl checking out the equipment. Walked happily onto the treadmill, was a bit surprised when the water started coming in But walked when it started moving.
They say she is pretty much tri-pawed atm, not using the leg properly. They measured the leg muscle, 36 on her good leg & 32 on the bad one!
When they increased the speed she started trotting but the girl said she shouldn't at that speed, she just wasn't striding out properly. The Spondylosis is also affecting her stride
Also need to lose some weight as she's baring most of her weight on the front legs! Need to have serious words with hubby!!!
7 more sessions booked, so if she doesn't lose some weight I'm basically flushing water away!

Awwww, poor girl!

But I'm sure it will do her so much good.

Thanks so much for the update Jen, very interesting too.
Good luck Katy in getting rid of those “covid kilos”  but even if she isn’t down to supermodel weight, I’m sure the sessions will have some benefit ! Maybe just a bit more limited

2nd session tomorrow morning! I hope she will be happy to back in there, will let you know after She's much happier doing 2 short walks rather than 1 short 1 long in a day, suggested by the therapy girls

Session went well, she went in without me happily She has lost 1kg in 2 weeks so we are doing it right. They said she was actually weight baring a bit on that leg now She is much happier in herself since starting our new routine

That is really treat news !
How encouraging to hear that this strategy of hydrotherapy + small change in lifestyle is having such positive results in a short time.

Yes it's great Nifty, just surprised our vet didn't suggest it as they refer a lot of dogs there!!!! She will never be a little staffie as she's not K.C standard but a few kgs less will certainly help They have suggested upping her food as I give her way under the suggested feed!

Jenc wrote:Yes it's great Nifty, just surprised our vet didn't suggest it as they refer a lot of dogs there!!!! She will never be a little staffie as she's not K.C standard but a few kgs less will certainly help They have suggested upping her food as I give her way under the suggested feed!

I'm confused - they're saying she could lose a little weight (well done, by the way...no mean feat for a Stafford!), but then you're told you're not feeding enough.

The guidelines on the packets are purely that - guidelines. Nothing's set in stone & all dogs are individuals. If she's had to cut back a little on exercise, then the amount she gets will be less.

The guidelines on the pack are 20-41kgs 200-320 grams, I was only giving her 100 grams a day plus extras. Now the extras have stopped her body will be feeding on muscle rather than fat! I know it sounds strange but she's lost that weight by doing 2x20min lead walks a day & seriously reduced extras!

Had our 4th session yesterday, she's been quite lame the last couple of days Behaved herself in there, they did the same amount of exercise as last week due to how her leg was. She did well & only tried to climb out at the end of the session Lost a bit more weight
She nearly launched the lady out of the door to get back to me, she had forgotten how strong she is
Walking much better this morning

Way to go Katy !
Glad to hear the hydrotherapy is helping. Any ideas why she’s been lame recently ?

I'm pleased with how she's doing As for the lameness I can only assume she must have launched herself off the sofa when a courier came! She has no sense!

Whoops !

She's a nightmare with couriers & the postie! They asked if I could curb it, no chance unless I see them 1st

Another session done yesterday, worked her a bit longer & she was putting more pressure on her leg Exactly the same weight as last week though, at least she hasn't put any on The girls adore her & kissed her to death before we left

Way to go Katy !
Slowly but surely working on that leg,

It will take a while to build her up again, we have sessions booked till the beginning of September & they've just booked her in for another 7! Trouble is you have to book when you can or you won't get in!!
She didn't try to climb out this time

She’s starting to enjoy her swimming lessons !

Another session done today, Katy did well & did an extra minute on the treadmill! She said she's putting more weight down on her leg seems to be enjoying it. Still exactly the same weight as on the last session but I didn't tell her about the saveloy & kfc that we had this week I did reduce her food right down on those days!

Jenc wrote:Another session done today, Katy did well & did an extra minute on the treadmill! She said she's putting more weight down on her leg seems to be enjoying it. Still exactly the same weight as on the last session but I didn't tell her about the saveloy & kfc that we had this week :-$ I did reduce her food right down on those days!

Well done on your progress Katy !

They are pleased with how she's doing, we can see progress It can never be fixed but at least it will make her more comfortable

Are you reassured Jen ?
You seemed hesitant at the beginning

Yes I'm happy with her progress, I knew hydrotherapy was good but wanted to see it in action I was looking at acupuncture if this didn't help

Katy wasn't feeling motivated today so she had to get the gravy bones out! That did it, she said it was actually better as she could control Katy's stride better & worked her for an extra minute More weight baring on the leg, couldn't weigh her as we were in the small cabin, next week on the scales

KFC, gravy bones !

Don't worry I reduced her dinner she only had a couple!

We've just done another session, this is the 3rd since I last updated. Katy did really well & is putting more weight down on her toes but still reluctant to put her foot down flat. They weighed & measured her today, she has gone from 31.15 down to 30.35kgs & built up her bad leg by a centimetre
Certainly seems to be working

I was just thinking about you today and I was going to ask how it’s going.
It’s nice that tape measure is confirming timid weighing indications. After all, they say muscle is heavier than fat.

Well done on all of your,progress Katy!

Had another good session today although Katy won't move now until the gravy bones appear I told them they've made that mistake Still the same weight as last time, but at least she hasn't put any on! Weight baring well on her leg, just needs to stride out longer in her walk but we are getting there

Really good news

Nifty is going to orthopedic vet next week for spine and hip xrays.
She’s not really bearing weight correctly on her left hind so as with Opium, I just want to know what state she is in (skeletal)

Oh bless her, funny it's Katy's left hind too! Let me know how she gets on

Update on Katy's progress!
She had her 1st session back of the year last week, the dreaded weigh in after Christmas She had lost weight, down to 29kgs! This week weighed again, now 28.5kgs She's weight baring much more now & stretching her stride out longer
The injection the vet gave before Christmas is making a big difference & she's got her sparkle back

Oh great news and good to hear she was reasonable over xmas
Just wondering, is your hydrotherapy paddling in a smaller swimming pool or is it the treadmill that is filled up with water ?

She has the treadmill



She may not look impressed but she's waiting for a bit of gravy bone