What a great time it is to be a Tripawd. With the increasing number of animal rehabilitation practitioners, or what humans call “physical therapists,” three legged dogs can now take advantage of the same life-changing therapies that humans do.
Tripawds recently visited Southern California, and were lucky enough to spend the afternoon with one of the most respected animal rehabilitation centers in the region, California Animal Rehabilitation (CARE).
The founders of CARE, veterinarian Jessica Waldman, VMD, CVA, CCRT, and physical therapist Amy L. Kramer, PT, DPT, CCRT, are partners at one of the few rehabilitation centers in the country that has a vet and a physical therapist on staff, both certified in canine rehabilitation.
Drs. Waldman and Kramer were kind enough to spend time with us to answer Tripawd member’s questions about rehabilitation. And here in part 1, “Stretching and Exercises with Happy Face,” they demo conditioning exercises on this two year old pup who was hit by car. Happy Face is just a few weeks post op and is in therapy because he has neck, lower back, pelvic pain and phantom pain caused by the accident.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FGrj41FGCdk[/youtube]
CARE’s Exercise Tips to Remember:
- Be creative and find new activities to do together, such as creating homemade obstacle courses and playing new games that can help with mobility.
- Create body awareness by doing things like playing with your Tripawd’s paws to help her connect her leg movements with her brain.
- Research canine physical therapy to show you different activities that are both fun and rehabilitative.
Many thanks to everyone at California Animal Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles for helping us bring this series to you. If you are lucky enough to live nearby, be sure to visit this incredible facility and see how their staff can help your dog stay strong and live hoppy!
Catch Part II: Canine Rehabilitation: Amputation Recovery Advice with CARE
Catch Part III: Canine Rehabilitation: Pain Meds and Supplement Tips from CARE
Video Tips to Remember:
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Open your mind and be creative with finding new activities such as homemade obstacle courses and seeking out different terrain to walk through.
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Create body awareness by doing things like playing with your Tripawds paws to help her connect her leg movements with her brain.
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Fun doesn’t have to be about rough play. Research canine physical therapy to show you different activities that are both fun and rehabilitative.
Many thanks to Drs. Waldman and Kramer and the pawesome staff at California Animal Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles for helping us bring this series to you. If you are lucky enough to live in the region, be sure to visit this incredible facility and see how their staff can help your dog stay strong and live hoppy!
They went over some great front leg amputee exercises, but I would love to see some for back leg amputees. And for a puppy, do they do anything differently than they would an adult dog? My baby is only 6-8 weeks old and had his right hind limb removed. I would like to know specifics about working with him to help him be strong and healthy for his lifetime.
Thanks for the comment, please post your questions in the forums for much more feedback from others. If you don’t get the answers you seek find a canine rehab therapist near you for a professional consultation. Any weight bearing exercise that places more weight on the rear legs will help develop muscle strength. We work Wyatt’s remaining rear leg using the FitPAWS Balance Disc. We also just uploaded another video from CARE showing some more rehab and stretching exercises with Lobo.
Can you direct me to the three part videos? I can’t seem to find 🙁
Tracy
Totally PAWSOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!! More, more, more!! I want MORE! 🙂
Question…she mentioned tail traction I believe for a big dog but didn’t show it. She showed the little dog hanging as they lifted him…but what about big dog? Do they pull on the tail gently? Is that is what is meant for tail traction? To elongate the spine?
Is she going to get into more core strength stuff in another video? Please! 😉
Awesome! Can’t wait to see more! Thanks for the reminders to do ROM stretches…I’ve not been doing those very often on Mags…been doing strength exercises more..
Tracy, Maggie’s Mom
Thanks, glad you like it! The complete three-part video from our CARE visit is already in Jerry’s Tripawds Health movie playlist. Complete interview posts are coming next.
As far as the traction stretches go, Dr Waldman only demonstrated the hanging shown in the video since our model Happy Face is a small dog.
UPDATE: Here’s a link to the complete three-part CARE video interview.