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One of the special animals we treated this month!

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conditions:
Arthritis
An in-depth look at this condition.

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Brooke's blog

brooke's blog

Update on my Missie

Brooke Marsh - Tuesday, May 01, 2012
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!


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Rainy days

Brooke Marsh - Monday, March 26, 2012

Gotta love a sleepy physio session in a bali hut. What a lovely sight to see the relaxing session for Snoopy and her mum.  After some underwater treadmill (no umbrella or gumboots required) and acupuncture and physio both enjoyed some time to revitalise.

I think we should rename the sunny coast! The underwater treadmill has been a blessing for many owners who have not been able to get their loved ones out for a good ol fashioned stroll in the park. Blue is so Blue today! Thanks huey for giving us some respite!




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Bella the wonder cat working well in Underwater Treadmill

Brooke Marsh - Tuesday, March 13, 2012

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!)
What an amazing puss!


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Go Bonnie!

Brooke Marsh - Tuesday, March 13, 2012
What a great shot! This is the lovely Bonnie (her story is on my testimonial page) who obviously is recovering beautifully with her Physiotherapy program for hock OCD.  I just received this photo today from her dedicated mum who looks like she has an ideal environment at home to keep her dogs happy. I can't say the leaping in the pool is physio approved but it is great to see her being able to extend so well and it is so lovely to see her enjoying the process.  
The underwater treadmill at NCVS has given her very controlled strengthening with the buoyancy of the water helping with the recovery.  Her regular massage and acupuncture sessions have all added to the process.
Gotta love border collies!
I find these portage float coats work so well providing just enough buoyancy and fit snuggly.  They have superior quality and would recommend them for small to large dogs.  Check out the ruffwear section on my products page if you are interested.... Happy swimming! 
Go Bonnie!



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Dog Pool ramp

Brooke Marsh - Thursday, March 08, 2012

dog using doggydocks Floating Water Ramp for Dogs to get on boat

For many of our aussie pooches they love swimming but find entering the pool or water without walking in a little disconcerting.

We are looking into an appropriate ramp to help with the safety of this for the owner and the dog and make swimming less stressful.

Have a look at: http://pupgearcorporation.com/Products/doggydocks for an option (though a little costly).

I find the ruffwear portage float coat has been fantastic over the years to provide just enough buoyancy, last for years and fit snugly.  This helps you safely get your dog in and out of the water also.

Happy swimming!




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Tuli update - go figure!

Brooke Marsh - Tuesday, February 14, 2012

How is this for an update....!! Makes me smile....

Hows this for the working dog mind. 

So I have been trying really hard to get tuls to do her water work. Increasingly she's become more and more weary and scared of the water, even reluctant to chase her obsession, the tennis ball.

So I buy her a vest but still she's weary, reluctant.

Enter ollie, a four year old cattle kelpie, a friend rescued him. If possible he is more obsessed with a tennis ball than tuls.

Before my eyes - exit miss weary. Enter miss jealous competitive tuli who loves going in the water as long as ollie is. 

Go figure.  

Meet the ball obsessed twosome 

Care of the lovely Wendy and Tuls - Thanks!


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Carpal hyperextension following surgery

Brooke Marsh - Sunday, January 29, 2012
This young Husky has had surgery recently for angular limb deformity.  I have started some Physiotherapy for her to regain some muscle strength and stability.  As she was in bandages and strict rest for some time, she has lost some range in her joints, has a lot of hypersensitivity and marked reduction in muscle bulk.  As a result her carpus (wrist) is dropping (hyperextension) which you can see in the video.  The underwater treadmill is the most ideal environment to build this strength, whilst providing buoyancy to protect her joint.  She has taken to it very well.  
After recommending some modifications to the house, her extremely keen owners had done a make-over within hours of our first consult with carpeting the house and bought a pool for the backyard to continue her rehabilitation in between our sessions. 
I look forward to seeing her enjoy the life a puppy should!



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What a face!

Brooke Marsh - Monday, December 19, 2011
Lyra is a very special girl. At 10 months old she has been diagnosed with Hip Dysplasia.
With such a face how can you refuse treatment! She is a gorgeous dog and tolerates every trick I am throwing at her.
We have been working on building her muscle stability and strength over the last month or so. It was great to see her with much less pain on Saturday
With the underwater treadmill to correct her gait, improve her quality of muscle activation, specific exercises to improve her stability (dog-a-lates!), electroacupuncture, massage and moxa, I am sure she will continue to improve
Her owner is a massage therapist which is great to continue rehab at home, alongside her concoction of specific exercises.
I am sure she will continue to improve as she completes her growth.
This taping I did to help control her rotational instability - it gives her proprioception and supports her leg in a better position to activate the right butt muscles. It is all about the Butt!!
keep working on those buns of steal lovely lady!


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APA Course - Canine conformation and Gait (Feb 2013). Footprints in the sand....

Brooke Marsh - Monday, December 19, 2011

I was walking along the beach this afternoon with the dogs and followed a lovely chocolate Lab.  

These were his imprints:

The joy of being a physio is that I can't switch off from watching and observing. Whether it be how humans stand in a cue, the shape of their buttocks (not for a weird reason but it tells me what their back is like... of course!) and all our 4 legged friends moving

Movement tells us so much.  Animals are very body aware and have 4 feet to distribute their weight.

This lovely labrador was multi-limb lame and you can tell by his prints that he is not spaced evenly.

So when you are next on the beach with your friend (human or animal) - have a look back at your footprints and see what that tells you!

I will be running a course with Helen (Animal Physio from Sydney) in Melbourne next Feb regarding canine conformation and gait - got me thinking today on my stroll.

Happy beaching!!

Cheers


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