[Pet Spa Special Topic]Tailor-made treatment to correct limb strain…

(Hong Kong News) As we age, dogs, like us, face deterioration of their body functions. Arthritis, muscle pain, inconvenience after surgery… Seeing the furry baby stumbling and feeling unhappy, the pet owner also feels distressed and helpless.

In recent years, there is an emerging therapy – pet hydrotherapy, which helps dogs recover and exercise. It can not only strengthen the muscles of the whole body, but also promote blood circulation, allowing them to regain their confidence and vitality!

At first glance, pet spas are easily confused with pet spas that focus on relaxation and beauty. However, there are significant differences in reality.

Anita Yang, a veterinarian from the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, said that pet spas commonly include underwater treadmills and constant-temperature pool facilities. The main purpose is treatment and rehabilitation exercises. Through swimming and walking, the properties of water are used to help dogs Targeted exercise.

Low-impact exercise buoyancy reduces joint burden

“First of all, hydrotherapy utilizes the cooperation of muscles throughout the body for exercise, and the buoyancy of the water can reduce the burden on the joints.” She explained that hydrotherapy is a low-impact exercise. The buoyancy of the water supports part of the dog’s weight and reduces the stress on the joints. ” For dogs with existing joint problems or weak muscle strength, compared with walking on flat ground (on land), using an underwater treadmill can provide a better full-body exercise and can last longer.”

At the same time, using the resistance of water can strengthen the dog’s cardiopulmonary function and blood circulation, which is a good aerobic exercise; it is a good “weight loss” option for dogs who are overweight or lack exercise.

Yang Qiaoer pointed out that pet spa therapy allows dogs to walk in the water at a speed and time suitable for them under the supervision and companionship of a dedicated person. Especially for dogs who have just undergone surgery and need rehabilitation, or have problems with their feet or joints, the underwater treadmill can strengthen the required muscle groups and provide rehabilitation treatment in a safe environment.

She explained that these dogs also need some support exercises to correct the exertion of their limbs. “Maybe the dog deliberately accommodates a certain foot (because of pain or discomfort) when walking or standing, then we need supervised exercise to Make sure the dog’s limbs are balanced.”

Walking in water is more physically demanding than walking on land

The association’s hydrotherapy services are evaluated and formulated by physical therapists to determine the walking time, speed, water depth, slope, etc. of dogs using the underwater treadmill. It is generally recommended to do so once a week. The initial treatment will not allow them to walk for more than 10 minutes.

Debi Siu, Veterinary Nurse Supervisor (Operating Theater) and Trainee Physiotherapist of the Hong Kong Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, pointed out that although dogs seem to be relaxed, in fact, the resistance of the water makes them need more time to move around in the water than on land. Physical strength, “They seemed to walk or swim for a short time, but the amount of exercise was several times that of flat land.”

If walking for too long makes them too tired, it may have the opposite effect. As the condition and physical strength improve, the physical therapist will gradually increase their running time.

It is not suitable for dogs that are afraid of water, suffer from skin diseases and have wounds.

Since there are so many benefits to exercising in the water, is taking your dog swimming another option? Xiao Riran said that dogs usually use their front feet more when swimming, and their back feet tend to be retracted and unable to make large movements. Therefore, swimming is at most a kind of regular fitness. If your dog has had surgery and has weak hind foot muscles, it is more recommended to use an underwater treadmill for rehabilitation.

However, not all dogs are suitable for water sports. She reminded that if they are afraid of water, suffer from skin diseases or infectious diseases, or have wounds, they are not suitable for hydrotherapy. It is recommended to consult a veterinarian first.

Accompanied by a spa therapist

Supervision helps improve gait

Rehabilitation treatment for fur babies can be lengthy, and it is important to find a place where they can exercise regularly.

Eddie Choi, a senior dog behavior consultant and dog trainer, said that as a place that specializes in hydrotherapy rehabilitation for dogs, it hopes to provide a professional and safe hydrotherapy experience, so it introduced a pet-specific underwater treadmill and a constant-temperature pool, and was operated by the British OCNLR Supervision and companionship by a certified canine spa therapist.

“Dogs of different breeds and ages may require hydrotherapy due to injuries, surgeries or natural joint problems. The center will develop exclusive rehabilitation plans based on their specific conditions.”

Wear a buoyancy aid and feel the joints through touch

Before receiving the first service, the center must first understand the dog’s physical condition with the owner, measure its weight, observe its walking condition and massage it, then measure the opening and closing of its limbs as reference data, and finally let it use the underwater treadmill. . Before entering the treadmill, the spa therapist will briefly clean the dog and put on a buoyancy aid for it. Maybe you think you just want your dog to run alone on a treadmill like a human? Of course, it doesn’t stop there, the spa therapist will also walk on the underwater treadmill with the dog.

Eddie explained: “Because you can control their gait and touch their walking state.”

The spa therapist will sometimes hold the dog’s hind legs and feel the condition of the joints through touch, such as stiffness and stuckness, or feeling that the strength of the two feet is different, so they can provide timely assistance to improve the gait. Sometimes there is also an extra spa therapist to assist in the front to control the dog’s squirming body, or to attract their attention with snacks and toys. It is generally recommended that pet owners stand in front of their dogs so that they will not be afraid of unfamiliar environments. Video cameras are installed on the left, right and front of the treadmill to record the process and monitor its walking angle to facilitate real-time adjustments.

Under normal circumstances, every 30 to 40 seconds of walking, there will be a pause of 30 seconds to 1 minute to allow them to take a break. The entire running process takes about 10 to 15 minutes, and then you will move to a constant-temperature pool for activities.

30℃ constant temperature pool increases blood circulation and helps relieve pain

Eddie said that dogs swimming in the pool can exercise their muscles in a gentle and comprehensive way, including core muscle strength and joint flexion and extension abilities. The water temperature is maintained at about 30°C all year round, which can improve their blood circulation and relieve pain.

“The hydrotherapist will also accompany the dogs into the water, assist them from the side, and try to guide them to use their limbs to swim as much as possible to wake up the muscles and improve the recovery effect. However, he does not recommend that dogs with intervertebral disc disease swim in the pool. , because they have insufficient self-control and are relatively easy to sprain their spine, it is recommended to use an underwater treadmill.”

He said that the entire treatment course, including underwater treadmill and pool swimming, should not exceed half an hour at most to avoid excessive exercise of the dog. If necessary, the center can also fill in a report and send the treatment fragments to the veterinarian to facilitate follow-up visits to understand the progress of rehabilitation.

Dog profile: Paralyzed lower body returns to walking after 4 months

Name: Simba

Breed: Tang dog

Age: 4 years old

Recovery time: 4 months

Rehabilitation status: Suffering from acute intervertebral disc herniation, which resulted in paralysis of the lower body and complete inability to walk. After 4 months of hydrotherapy and other rehabilitation treatments, he regained the ability to walk and was basically able to control his muscles and balance.

Text by ◇ Chen Zhenji, photo by ◇ Lai Junjie “Ming Pao”

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