rehab after cruciate surgery

[Ilsah]

My rottie girl had cruciate surgery in Feb. Does anyone have experience with rehab after surgery? Thank you!

[rottcrazed]

Controlled swimming is an excellent form of rehab for injuries/surgeries like these since there is no pressure on the leg itself.

My friend's bitch had the surgery done a few years back (TPLO) and after her crate rest was over, she was in the rehab pool we have here a few times a week along with massage and a few other things I can't remember. We have a rehab centre here for dogs, and if you have access to one, utilize it forsure, if not, I do know swimming is a great way to help get that leg back into shape.

Kristi

[flyballmom]

Swimming is a great exercise, AFTER 12 weeks post TPLO, and whenever released by your vet to do so after traditional. (Swimming, not water rehab, but just swimming, too soon post TPLO has recently been shown to cause an increase in post-op patellar tendonitis.) Walking, then trotting, followed by longer periods of trotting (so great exercise for owner too!) is great for building up knee muscles...so is walking uphill. All ONLY after being released by your vet for such activities. Do you have a canine PT in your area? A PT would be able to set you up with a home program after doing a careful eval.

Edited to say: Here is a list of Canine PT/Rehab facilities. There are a few in your state, altho I have no idea how far they are from you...
http://www.utc.edu/Faculty/David-Levine/#Clinics

[Ilsah]

Thank you so much! We will be going back for a check up this week. She did have a little set back last week when she tried to get up and somehow twisted her left leg. Her muscles are very weak and I am looking for things to do that will increase her strenght and give her some stability when she is walking. I am sure she would love to hopp into a pool!!

[JackieandMia]

Hi Ilsah,
My rotty also had cruciate surgery in Feb and again on the other leg 6 weeks later. I was advised to give her 10 minute lead walks a few times a day as soon as she was ready to avoid muscle wastage. She is now doing great. When she`s had her next lot of x-rays i also will be asking to be reffered for hydrotherapy as i`ve heard it helps them so much.
Good luck i hope your rotty is back to normal soon.

Jackie

[Anne]

Flyballmom, what do you think about the underwater treadmill for rehab for TPLO? When Sophie was going to the hydro pool they didn't have the u/water treadmill so I just had her swimming, but they do have one now.

Has anyone used one of these treadmills. I would be interested in opinions.

[flyballmom]

Originally Posted by Anne

Flyballmom, what do you think about the underwater treadmill for rehab for TPLO?

The vets I've talked to felt the underwater treadmill was fine...it was actual swimming (like in a pool or lake) that caused problems. And they agreed that after 12 weeks post-op, swimming WAS the best possible exercise.

[BostonRott]

Banja started the underwater treadmill as soon as those staples were out (about 14 days post-op). We went twice a week, and she very quickly built up power and maintained her musculature. She had surgery in Sept'04, returned to agility trials March'05.

I also did a lot of walking with her. Basically let her set the pace, but I know that exercise (safely controlled) is best for rebuilding bone mass (this is well proven in the elderly), and so we started with slow walks (on 12" of leash) and built up. By her 1mos xrays we were already doing a mile.

[Ilsah]

We went back to the vet and he found that she hurt her left hip. That is not good! I will be giving her Adequan injections for the next four weeks. Anyone have experience with this drug?

[Sharon Marples]

Originally Posted by Ilsah

We went back to the vet and he found that she hurt her left hip. That is not good! I will be giving her Adequan injections for the next four weeks. Anyone have experience with this drug?

We've used it for years, it is a good drug. It will help to lubricate the joint. Be sure to keep her good and quiet.

You can do a search on the archives for Adequan and find lots of posts on it.