Inka

 

Inka is a beautiful pedigree Bernese Mountain Dog who was re-homed by her breeder to her current owners at the age of 12 months. Unfortunately she was suffering from elbow dysplasia, but that did not put Derek and Marion off (who had previously owned two other Bernese), they were prepared for a journey that would include considerable treatment for Inka.

Already showing signs of lameness, Inka was receiving cartrofen injections every four weeks (July 2004). Derek and Marion wasted no time in registering Inka with a local vet, who recommended that she would benefit from swimming, which should start as soon as possible. Swimming would provide Inka with non weight bearing exercise, helping to prevent muscle wastage and keep her fit in preparation for an inevitable operation on her elbow.

Derek and Marion brought Inka to Aqua Dogs in late July 2004 and her hydrotherapy began. Inka swam once a week until her operation (an elbow arthrotomy), performed on the 18 October 2004. After an eight week rest Inka resumed her weekly swimming sessions until May 2005, when, her swims were reduced to bi-weekly sessions, which continued until September 2005. It is almost inevitable that Inka will suffer from arthritis in her elbow as she gets older, so she continues to swim once a month to help to maintain mobility in the joint, and for her general fitness. Inka had her last cartrofen injection in July 2004, her hydrotherapy programme and surgery have restored her to a fit and healthy dog, who now enjoys life to the full.

Florence

 

Florence, a very special pedigree Borzoi had only just been rehomed when she got off the lead in a city park, luckily she found her way home but with a broken leg.

After surgery to repair a fractured ulna and radius she spent 6 weeks with a splint, unable to exercise at all. Hydrotherapy was recommended by her vet just after the pins in her leg had been taken out. The twice weekly swims helped her to regain mobility of her post operative leg but still she was left with a limp.

When she began swimming Flo could only swim for a minute or two, within a year Florence swam for up to twenty minutes per session. Hydrotherapy was crucial to her well being and it gave her a really good workout but without putting any pressure on her arthritic leg.

Pippin

 

Pippin is an eight and a half year old golden retriever X Labrador, who is still as exuberant as he was as an eight month old puppy! He was originally destined to become a guide dog for the blind, however, in October 1998, Pippin underwent a patella luxation operation to his left hind leg. This brought an end to his guide dog training and he was put up for re-homing.

Having been successfully re-homed Pippin's problems didn't end there. January 2005 saw Pippin undergoing a cruciate repair to his left hind leg, strict rest followed for one month, gentle lead exercise for a further two months. At this point Pippin visited the beach for a swim, returned home lame and required a cruciate repair to his right hind leg. By July 2005 Pippin needed still further surgery and an arthrotomy was performed, again on the right hind leg.

As Pippin recovered it was suggested by his vet that he would benefit from hydrotherapy and he came to Aqua Dogs. Pippin swam once a week for ten weeks, his swims were then reduced to bi-weekly sessions. Pippin has never looked back, he loves his swimming and for several months has had to take his aqua toy home as he would never give it up!