I get asked every day how my Missie is recovering from her spinal injury January last year. I hope this photo tells a thousand words. From a dog that was incontinent and paralysed, I think she is doing very well (touch wood). It is a journey for sure with ups and downs, but overall she now has a great quality of life (despite her modifications). With the help of her vest she enjoys her swims on her own.
Many have come along in this journey with their own dog and you will understand how great it is to see them enjoying life.
She is 9 this year so hopefully we can keep these times going for a lot longer!
I had another fantastic week working to complete my Advanced Diploma of Equine Acupuncture. This is the 2nd last clinic to consolidate all the information I have learnt over the last year. We had some fantastic responses to treatment and I really enjoyed getting my brain working again. Chinese medicine is such a great compliment to Western medicine.
The more I learn the more I know there is to learn.
These large beasts are so responsive to treatment and I enjoyed my week immensely.
Thanks Tom for taking us patiently through all the twists and turns of Traditional Chinese Medicine.
I treated Harry a few years ago after Cruciate surgery. He recovered very well but had an incident of back spasm on Easter weekend, requiring treatment. I was a little concerned about the fella and woke up to this message which made my day.
Hi Brooke
I can’t thank you enough for the care you took with Harry yesterday, and the extra time you gave him.
He slept for about 2 hrs when we got home, snuggled up in his pale blue dressing gown. When he woke up he was very happy and energetic. The massage and acupuncture worked wonders for him. This morning he woke us up (first time all week) ready to go out walking and demanding breakfast.
What a shot! Meet Charlie. This beautiful little fella came all the way from Gladstone. He was born with scoliosis in his thoracic spine, requiring surgery to decompress his spinal cord. He was in hospital with us at North Coast Veterinary Specialists for a few weeks. His amazingly dedicated owners drove down and back from Gladstone to visit and attend his physiotherapy sessions. He is now walking (though with ataxia - neurological 'wobbly' gait) but this will improve in time.
I look forward to seeing his progress and take my hat off to his owners (and extended family) for all the hard work they are putting into this fella to improve his quality of life.
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Bella had her 2nd session in the underwater treadmill this week to help manage her osteoarthritis in her hips and back.
She was so much more comfortable and you can really see the improvement in her stride.
Bella is now more easily jumping up onto the couch and having no problems getting up and down. Her back and hip pain has improved considerably on palpation. Combined with acupuncture and physiotherapy and a home program she is doing very well for an old girl. Well done Bella! (ps and thanks for not shredding me!)
As part of our ongoing professional development we had a great afternoon on Saturday working with Horses. The Animal Physio Group (APG) is a subgroup of our association the APA (Australian Physiotherapy association). We aim to meet at least 4 times a year in Qld to gather Physios - animal and human for ongoing learning opportunities.
Sandy organised an afternoon on the sunshine coast with the help of Nicky to present on the topic of Equine Spinal mobilisation. These sessions are a great chance for us to learn and network and further enhance our skills. I look forward to more throughout the year.
One of my clients sent me this beautiful photo. It is apparently over in northern Europe and was a gathering of dogs in carts for a play. They certainly seem to love their wheels put together from spare parts... Such simple pleasures to run and play can still be achieved.
This is why I love working with dogs - they just get there whichever way they can. I must say I don't have to get my whip out at all these days, since I have transferred my skills from the good ol human to our 4 legged friends!
Belle was referred to me for Physiotherapy at North Coast Veterinary specialists. She has arthritis in her hips and back.
She tolerates Physiotherapy and acupuncture brilliantly as you have seen before.
I felt brave last week at her Physiotherapy session. Belle walks well on a lead and apparently loves the water
This is her first session in the underwater treadmill and managed very well!
I am using this to help strengthen her hindlimb muscles and reduce load for her arthritis joints.
Hopefully we can work on her expression and she will grow to 'enjoy' this!
I came across this very informative video that may help the clients taking their beloved dogs home who need bladder expression. After a spinal injury/ surgery it may take some time for the bladder to regain control. Sometimes dogs/cats are managed at home with permanent dysfunction. Often bladder expression is the most overwhelming technique to cope with other than managing a paralysed dog at home.
Hopefully this video will be a reminder after your vet/nurse has shown you these techniques before you go home. I spend 1.5 hours on discharge for spinal injured dogs for treatment and advice of setting up a home program to help with daily care. It can be a long road at times before their pet is up and walking/running independently. From a personal experience with my Missie I can understand how much work this is.
Dogs have a variety of back or spinal diseases or injuries. Slipped or protruding discs are well known in long backed breeds like Dachshunds for example. But one disease you may not have heard of can be devastating to Large Breed owners and this is an interesting case. It is called Wobblers Disease or Syndrome.
Here is a very informative video for those of you who might want to know more....
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