Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy

Physiotherapy

Physiotherapy plays an important role in the healing process after surgery, as well as for animals with injuries and arthritis.

SDVC recommends Animal Physiotherapist Lindsey Connell at Veterinary Specialist Services (Underwood) and the Gold Coast (Carrara). Lindsey utilises many different treatment techniques as well as the use of an underwater treadmill. The underwater treadmill enables the physiotherapist to facilitate the animal’s normal walking patterns compared to the different biomechanics used when swimming.

A veterinary referral is required prior to your pets visit.

For more information visit Animal Physiotherapy Solutions.

Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is a non-weightbearing form of exercise which can assist dogs to build fitness and lose weight without putting excessive weight on their joints. This form of exercise is extremely useful for animals recovering from orthopaedic surgery including knee and hip operations, as well as some spinal and neurological injuries. Swimming increases muscle mass and circulation and decreases inflammation. Dogs that have had hydrotherapy incorporated into their rehabilitation have an increased rate of recovery. It is often critical to incorporate this therapy into the first three months post surgery*.

*Swimming and baths are NOT recommended until stitches are removed from your animal.

Testimonial for Hydrotherapy

‘I experienced the value of Hydrotherapy first hand when our dog Kass got hit by a car. She was in intensive car at the Aspley Vet Hospital for a week with internal bleeding and paralysis. We then brought her home where we nursed her for a further two weeks, doing physiotherapy every day with her legs. After 3 weeks she still had no feeling from her waist down. She could not walk and had no control of her bladder. We didn’t want to give up but at this point we thought there was no return.

On the next visit to the vet she turned around slightly when the vet tested her pain reflex by sticking a needle in her foot! This was defiantly a positive sign for us and we clung to the hope that just maybe she would eventually recover.

For the next 3 months Kass went swimming twice a week. At the start she needed the help of a life jacket but we found that in the water she started to move her hind legs. After just 3 weeks of swimming Kass was walking again! This was definitely the most positive outcome we could have hoped for. She would occasionally run and even jumped a couple of logs. She lived a long and happy life until the ripe old age (especially for a Weimeraner) of 15!’

Hannah Pipe-Martin