We’ve had a lot of dogs in our pool here at Wellsprings K9. I’ve not known all of them, but I’ve known a fair number and let me tell you, they come in all shapes and sizes as well as coming to our swim and massage pool for a variety of reasons.
Small, medium, and large dogs come to strengthen their bodies for sporting activities like show or agility competitions. Some come to recover from injuries or surgeries while others come to improve their quality of life. And yep, sometimes we get larger than large dogs at our pool like Irish Wolfhounds, Giant Schnauzer’s, and lately a Great Dane mix with a pretty remarkable story.

His name is Jake and he’s one handsome fellow.

And big.

Jake’s journey to Wellsprings K9 began with an awful accident. Hit by a car, Jake was transported to Animal Critical Care and Emergency Services where Dr. Tamara Walker DVM, DACVS examined Jake’s many injuries. The good news was that Jake had not been hit in the chest or abdomen, which may have fatal. But the bad news was that he’d torn many crucial ligaments and tendons in his rear left leg. Dr. Walker immediately performed reconstructive surgery and then Jake began a very long recovery.

His owner, Tyler recounts the experience:”The first two months were the hardest, as his leg was basically in a stiff splint that rendered it useless but protected the fragile surgery sites. Eventually the splint was removed and although the leg muscles were severely atrophied, his nerve function seemed to be improving. Fast forward another few months spent taking it easy and going from hopping around to beginning to use his bad leg more and more, and soon it was time for him to seek some physical therapy.”

That’s when we got the call from Dr. Walker. “Do you swim Great Danes?” she asked and went onto explain the reconstructive work she’d done on Jake’s injured leg. “I’m not sure how much nerve damage he’s suffered,” Dr. Walker explained, “But I think swimming and massage is going to help him tremendously. I wanted to make certain he’d fit into your pool!”

Jake certainly fit into our pool and when I first saw him arrive at the pool, I knew he would really benefit from swimming and massage. As Jake made his way up the driveway, his left rear leg collapsed inward as if it were made of rubber. Consequently, he compensated with his whole body to keep from slipping and falling down. While he used the leg to pivot, he only bore about 10% of his weight on it and moved around the pool room on his three good legs. A sweet and compliant boy, it was clear he’d been through a lot and now he was going to experience something else new and different — swimming!

Great Danes aren’t known for their swimming prowess. Large, muscular breeds tend sink in the back end and when they are unable to touch the bottom, they try to climb, splashing their front paws on the surface of the water. This is what we’d expected from Jake so the therapist took it slowly not only to protect his rebuilt knee, but also to help him feel comfortable and confident about swimming. With the help of his owner,  cautiously Jake got into the pool. Yes, Jake splashed at first, but soon he felt the comfort the therapist’s hands under his hips and at his side to help him stay afloat, and when he realized he wasn’t going to sink, he swam like a Labrador.

“He’s actually swimming!” his owner said a bit surprised.

On the side bench of the pool, Jake worked on proprioceptive exercises with our licensed massage therapist. In addition, Jake received a massage with a focus on his compensatory muscles –his front body was as tight as a drum and his “good” leg in the rear was clearly stressed from the overuse of compensating for his injuries. Over time as Jake was massaged and stretched and he had more sessions in our pool, he soon  learned that swim therapy wasn’t as scary as it first appeared. His body relaxed and his confidence grew. Now he swims like a champ and while he prefers the massage time, it’s clear the swimming his helping him gain muscle and mobility in his leg.

Jake’s swim and massage therapy sessions continue. After the first few sessions there was a distinct difference in Jake’s gait. No longer was the left rear leg collapsing under his weight, muscles were developing, and more importantly Jake’s confidence and awareness of his leg grew. Jake has a great deal more work to do and what “recovery” will look like for him is still uncertain, but every day, every session he makes incredible progress in a pool big enough for a Great Dane as remarkable as Jake.

Fiona is a 1-year old Border Collie/Australian Shepherd mix who, like any youngster, loves to play and run and be as adventuress as possible. Being of herding ancestry, “active” is her middle name so when she was recently diagnosed with hip dysplasia her family was upset and concerned about her future quality of life.

The hip joints are called ball and socket joints and in healthy hips the ball (or the head of the femur or thighbone) fits snugly into the cup-shaped socket of the hip (the acetabulum – a portion of the pelvis). They move together smoothly with help from the joint capsule (a fibrous tissue that surrounds the joint and produces joint fluid) and allow the joint to function fluidly.

Hip dysplasia is mostly an inherited disease, but can be caused by other factors as well. I feel for my canine pals who suffer from it. Dysplasia of the hips occurs when poor conformation leads to malformation of the hip joint allowing for partial or complete luxation (dislocation) of the femoral head (the top of the femur bone) causing cartilage damage.  The fit of the ball into the socket, in other words, is not snug. The result is painful and damaging friction.

Over time, the friction strains the joint capsule, which in turn damages the cartilage and leads to the release of inflammatory proteins within the joint. This triggers a cyclical pattern of cartilage destruction, inflammation, pain, and eventually arthritis. Hip dysplasia is not, however, the same as arthritis in the hips. Hip dysplasia happens first and then arthritis develops. In fact, hip dysplasia is the most common cause of arthritis in hips.

What’s horrible about this disease is that it can strike dogs at any age. Acute (early) dysplasia is usually seen in young dogs with symptoms of intense pain in the hips and mild to severe lameness. This stage can last from weeks to months. Chronic (late) stage hip dysplasia is characterized by pain, decreased range of motion in the hips, and progressive arthritis. Chronic dysplasia can occur in young dogs or take many years to occur.

Symptoms of canine hip dysplasia are very similar to that of osteoarthritis and can include the following:

• Limping or walking with an abnormal gait
• “Bunny hopping” while running — lifting both back legs off the ground at the same time
• Whining or grumbling when lifted or handled
• Difficulty getting up from a lying/sitting position
• Difficulty climbing stairs
• Increased sensitivity to touch
• Stiffness (especially after exercise or when rising after rest)
• Lack of motivation to move, walk, jump, or play
• A painful reaction to the extension of the rear legs
• Atrophy and weakness of one or both affected legs due to non-weight-bearing because of pain

Hip dysplasia is most common in larger breeds, but smaller and mixed breed dogs (like Fiona) can have it as well. Many veterinarians believe hip dysplasia in dogs is caused by heredity, but because many dogs do not show early signs of dysplasia, two seemingly healthy dogs could pass on the gene without the breeder knowing. Therefore it is very difficult to eliminate dysplasia from the gene pool and why it’s equally important for breeders to know the status of test results at least two generations back.

Diet is critical for many reasons, but there is a clear connection between nutritional deficiencies and canine hip dysplasia. The quality of your dog’s food — balanced in nutrients, essential minerals and vitamins — is critical for every dog, but especially for those who have a predisposition for hip dysplasia.

Weight management is also crucial. Extra weight on a dog will put more stress on legs and joints supporting the body, compounding the degeneration of the hip joint (or any joint, for that matter). Obesity is a huge problem and can compromise the health of any dog, but dogs prone to hip dysplasia are not helped in the least when they are overweight.

Some holistic vets believe over vaccination can increase the risk. You can read more about those concerns here: Natural Dog  though we encourage you to speak with your vet about any worries you may have regarding diet, weight management, and vaccinations.

In addition, talk with your vet about exercise options. For growing puppies, especially those predisposed to hip dysplasia, the kind and quantity of exercise is crucial. Any activities that put a lot of unneeded pressure and force on the joints are clearly not good. Puppies should not go running with you, for example, until their joints have fully set at approximately 12-24 months of age depending on the breed of your dog. In addition, activities that require jumping like frisbee and agility can be very damaging for dogs prone to hip dysplasia.

For dysplastic dogs, exercise should be moderate in length and time and focused on developing, strengthening, and maintaining good muscle mass. Yep, that’s where swimming comes in. Just as with arthritic dogs, warm water swimming offers non-weight-bearing exercise that not only builds muscles safely, but offers relief to stiff and sore joints. In addition, the hydrostatic pressure of the water decreases inflammation and swelling associated with dysplasia and arthritis.

At Wellsprings K9 we not only offer warm water swim therapy, but massage as well and our licensed dog massage therapists can help your dog reduce inflammation, increase range of motion, and decrease tension in muscles that are compensating for painful hips.

If you are concerned that your dog may have or does have hip dysplasia, it’s important to talk with your vet about all the options. There are non-surgical approaches — such as acupuncture, anti-inflammatories, diet changes, and swimming – as well as surgical options — from creating a false joint, a femoral head osteotomy, and a total hip replacement.

While Fiona is young and a diagnosis of hip dysplasia has put a crimp in her active lifestyle, she can still enjoy a long and healthy life. Swimming and massage at Wellsprings K9 is a good start and her owners are learning all they can about how to keep Fiona comfortable as she ages. Fiona clearly enjoys her time in the pool and it not only provides her with a safe way to exercise, but it helps build supportive muscles, reduces some of that puppy energy, and helps her find relief from tense muscles and sore joints.

If you’d like to learn more about canine hip dysplasia (in addition to consultation with your vet) here are some links that might be of help.

http://www.acvs.org/AnimalOwners/HealthConditions/SmallAnimalTopics/HipDysplasiainDogs/

http://www.workingdogs.com/vchipdysplasia.htm

We’d love to help your dog feel more comfortable and stay strong so don’t hesitate to call us and set up a swim and massage session. We can be reached at 206-935-8299 or by email – info@wellspringsk9.com.

But don’t let the resemblance fool you. Dezi is a super star in his own right and though he has never saved a “lady” he’s overcome some great adversities in his life.

Rescued from an animal shelter, Dezi lives with his human Dad, Michael and every morning can be seen in his neighborhood going for a morning stroll. Then later in the afternoon, another walk somewhere about town — Capital Hill, Bellevue, Columbia City, or the busy streets of downtown Seattle –generally sporting a handsome coat and well-tailored collar.

His daily jaunts are more like prancing than walking as Dezi has a light step and a certain spryness to his gait.

But this was not always been the case.

One day, while loading up in Michael’s car, Dezi jumped in and then collapsed — his back end going completely limp. Unable to stand or walk, his Dad rushed him to the emergency vet only to find out that Dezi had suffered a fibrocartilaginous embolism (FCE).

FCE’s often happen suddenly and to understand them, you need to understand some anatomy. First, the vertebral column is a very unique structure similar in some ways to the elbow and knee joints, but in one way distinctly different. “The vertebral column consists of numerous small bones called vertebrae that are linked together by special joints called intervertebral discs,” writes Dr. Wendy C. Brooks, DVM, DipABVP. “The discs are similar to the joints that connect arm or leg bones together in many ways. They allow flexibility between vertebrae so that one can arch or twist one’s back voluntarily just as one can flex and extend a knee or elbow.”

But the key difference is that while knee and elbow joints have a capsules that secrete lubricating fluid and the bones are capped with smooth cartilage to allow for frictionless gliding of the joint when it moves — bends or extends — the back  has discs, which are more like cushions in between the vertebrae. These cushions are kind of like donuts in that they are are filled with a jelly-like substance known as nucleus pulposus, which is the stuff that makes up the fibrocartilaginous embolism.

Dr. Brooks continues: “The vertebral column provides a bony protective case around the vulnerable spinal cord. The spinal cord is the cable of nerve connections that transmits messages to and from the brain and controls the reflexes of the body. The spinal cord is fed by a network of spinal arteries. In FCE, somehow the material from the nucleus pulposus enters the arterial system and is carried to the spinal cord where it causes a blood vessel obstruction: an embolism. This area of the spinal cord actually dies. The process is not painful but generally recovery is not likely.”

For Dezi, the process was only momentarily painful as he yelped slightly and then collapsed onto his side. For the next three days he could not stand or walk. Michael administered the steroids prescribed by the veterinarian to help reduce the swelling and while he did his best to get Dezi to stand with support and did range of motion exercises with him at home, he knew that Dezi needed something more if he was ever going to be his spry self again.

That’s when Michael called Wellsprings K9 and booked a series of appointments.

Taking your dog swimming when they can’t walk or stand very well might seem counter-intuitive. What will they be able to do in the pool that they can’t do on land? First, the pool offers weightlessness and unlike underwater treadmills where dogs must bear some weight in order to walk on the treadmill, a deep water pool allows the dog to move his or her limbs without putting undo stress on injured limbs or, in Dezi’s case, on the spine.

Next, under the supervision of a licensed massage and swim therapist, movement of injured limbs can be gently encouraged in an attempt to rewire the neural pathways that have been interrupted. For instance, Dezi’s veterinarian encouraged Michael to do daily range of motion exercises moving the limbs in the natural and full range of movement to help maintain muscle tone, but also to reduce stiffness and remind the brain how the limbs move. These range of motion exercises are part of our therapy in general, but specifically for dogs like Dezi who need that “reminding.”

Dezi running during the recent snowstorm of January 2012. Go Dezi!

In addition, focused massage can increase circulation, help remove toxins, reduce stiffness and tension, increase mobility, and improves muscle tone — among other things — and in Dezi’s case, allow him to move his legs in a way he was unable to on land.

During his first visit to Wellsprings K9, Dezi was slightly nervous at first — unaccustomed to water let alone swimming, he was hesitant to get in, but under the attentive and watchful care of the licensed massage therapist, he soon grew comfortable with the swimming and absolutely LOVED the massage. And most importantly, while swimming both back legs not only moved, they showed promising range of motion. Slowly at first, but over the course of the first hour in the pool and in the subsequent weekly sessions, Dezi grew stronger, more mobile, and regained 95% use of his hind limbs.

“It’s like he was never injured,” Michael reports. “Every morning he gets up to play with his toys and then we go on our long walk together. He looks exactly as he did before the accident and I know that Wellsprings K9 played a major role in his amazing recovery.”

While Dr. Brooks is accurate in her assessment that many cases of FCE do not regain full use of their limbs, Dezi is walking proof that prompt attention and knowledgeable veterinary care along with focused swim and massage therapy can overcome the odds.

Max, the rescue dog, is continuing to come to the pool for therapy. He’s making slow slow progress, but progress is the key. He swims two times a week and while he’d rather just lie in the therapist’s lap for a massage and stretch, he’s learning to really extend his legs and body to become quite a proficient swimmer (something he struggled with the first time in the pool).

And of course, he’s inspired us all with his gallant efforts and his wise and soulful eyes.

If you’d like to follow his journey check out Project Max.

If you don’t know Max’s story yet, you can read it below.

Only Max can barely walk let alone frolic. Rescued from a high-kill shelter in Los Angeles by Suzanne (a wonderful woman who has committed her time, finances, and energy to rescuing dogs) Max arrived in Seattle unable to stand, walk, or bear his own gentle giant weight.

His history has been pieced together: He was more than likely kept in a kennel half of his size most of his life. Unable to stand up with only enough room to turn around and lie back down, Max’s body tells the story of his abuse. His muscles are underdeveloped and severely atrophied. From the pattern of his limited muscle development, he turned mostly to the left, laid (and still does) on his left side, used his weak muscles on his right side to pull himself up, and spent considerable amount of time squatting (his back legs have more muscle mass than the rest of his body).

Bodies learn to move — walk, run, sit, stand, lie down — through brain patterning. Every human athlete knows this. You want to be better at your golf swing, practice swinging a golf club over and over again…and not just randomly, but correctly so that your body makes a connection to your brain that the swing you want is this one, not that one.

Max’s patterns were limited. Standing from a sitting position was impossible. Walking forward rarely happened. Stretching was out of the question. Therefore his neural-pathways — those neurological connections that do everything from help us learn how to pick up a glass to more complicated tasks like running over hurdles or typing on a keyboard — were limited to those movements he could do on a daily basis — squatting, turning, lying down.

Suzanne worked with Max for six weeks teaching him to stand, helping him move forward, and building those neural-pathways one network at a time. But he wasn’t making the kind of progress she expected so she called Wellsprings K9 to see if we could help.

Rescuing dogs is an act of love and unfortunately doesn’t come with much money-making potential. We agreed to work with Max using money from the Wellsprings K9 Fund because Max was exactly the kind of dog who would benefit greatly from swim and massage therapy.

He was nervous about the water at first (imagine all the experiences he’s now having outside of his previous kenneled life and you can see how amazingly odd a big pool of water might be), but he is one loving and trusting fella. From the moment he got into the pool, his legs started moving — not in the coordinated way of most swim strokes, but they were moving and the more Max acclimated to the pool, the more coordinated he became.

Max craves human attention and so the massage portion of his session was a piece of cake. He smiled. He sighed. He leaned into the massage therapist’s hands as if to say, “Yes, right there…massage me right there! That feels great!”

Swim and massage sessions continue. Max is learning to re-pattern — moving to the right and not just the left, walking forward and backward, trusting his body and growing more and more aware of where his body is in space. He’s walking better (thanks also to Suzanne’s commitment to massage and exercises at home) and slowly that hunch in his back is leveling out.

Still, Max wants to run one day — as every puppy should — and to help him continue to progress it would be great to get him into the pool as much and as often as we can.

You can help Max in one of two ways: Suzanne has her own Chip-in account for her rescue organization Seattle Sobaka and funds from this account will not only help Max, but will help other rescues as well.

Or you can donate to this Wellsprings K9 Fund and not only will we be able to help Max in his therapy, we’ll also be able to help other dogs like Max who dream to walk, perchance to run.

As always, thank you for your generosity. Check back soon and watch his progress in the weeks to come.

She’s a very active girl. She loves to go hiking, she loves to play in the snow, roll around on the beach, and yes, she’s even been known to hang out with me (and my buddy, Rubin) from time to time.

As you can see, she’s lived a very full and enriched life and I’m glad to call her my friend. So when Woobie fractured her toe, I was sad to hear the news and I worried that Woobie’s active life would be painfully curtailed. You may not know this, but when we can’t go on our daily adventures like we normally do, we can get depressed. I feared Woobie might be feeling depressed and a bit bored in her recovery.

That’s when I suggested to her owners that perhaps Woobie would benefit from some swimming and massage. They were all for it and Woobie, who loves swimming, was thrilled!

Woobie’s coat, as you can tell, is long and silky. To help her relax in the pool, she donned our version of a swim cap and walked right into the pool.

“Awwwww,” I heard her sigh, “This is wonderful! Exactly what I need!”

Swimming at Wellsprings K9 is not only a great way to provide non-weight-bearing exercise for dogs who are recovering from injury and/or surgery, but the warm water is an excellent way to help relieve stress and tension from muscles that are over-compensating for the injury.

In Woobie’s case, she must wear a brace on her injured front leg to allow the bones to set properly and give the broken toe time to heal and repair. In addition to the brace, she receives physical therapy and ultrasound treatments at her vet’s office as well as doing daily exercise to help with range of motion.Unfortunately though, her long walks with her family and morning runs by the lake are on hold until the toe heals. As you can imagine, this bums Woobie out.

“I feel as if my life has been put on hold,” Woobie told me. “I’m becoming a couch potato and that’s just not me!”

Swim and massage therapy complement Woobies work with the vet and physical therapist as it provides Woobie with great cardiovascular exercise (she LOVES swimming, I might add), warms up those stiff and sore muscles increasing her range of motion, and relieves tension in the compensatory muscles that are working over time. Furthermore, it helps rebuild atrophied muscles that are, unfortunately, not being used during her recovery.

And most importantly, she can relax and enjoy not only the warm water swimming, but also the therapeutic massage and stretching provided by our licensed massage therapists (in this case, my Mom!) — all a great way to lift her spirits, aid in her healing process, and make her see the light at the end of this long recovery tunnel.

Relaxing after a nice, long swim Woobie receives a massage for the tense muscles in her back and tries to keep her eyes open in the process.

"That feels great, Sheila! Don't stop!" says Woobie.

If your dog needs exercise, relief, or recovery from an injury or surgery…or even if you know your dog is feeling a bit down because the weather or human commitments have made it difficult for you to provide them with consistent daily adventures… consider swimming her/him at Wellsprings K9 this winter. Or as Woobie would say, “It’s the life! Every dog should have a chance to swim and get massaged at Wellsprings K9!”

Have a great weekend,

Paige the Doberman

At Wellsprings K9 one of the most common injuries (and post-surgeries) we see is to a dog’s knee. Cranial Cruciate Ligament (or CCL) injuries are the most frequent orthopedic injuries in dogs

Swimming and massage helped Brandy recover nicely from knee surgery.

and while some dogs may have a greater risk of tearing the ligament (due to size, weight, genetics, or activities), damage to the CCL is kind of an equal opportunity injury. In other words, we’ve worked with dogs as small as a Pomeranian and as large a Wolfhound with torn or ruptured CCL.

Knees (whether canine or human) are internally stabilized by two ligaments that cross and form a X. In humans, the ligaments are called Anterior Cruciate Ligaments (ACL) and if you watch any human sporting events, you know that ACL tears are also extremely common.

In dogs, the knee is known as the stifle and the ligaments are called CCL. When it tears, the same results happen for canines and humans – OUCH! – A painful and unstable knee/stifle.

Dogs who come to our pool more than likely come because they are either trying to avoid surgery for a CCL injury or recovering from CCL surgery. It’s so common in fact I thought it would be a good idea to explain a bit more about such injuries in my blog.

Acute vs. Chronic

Some CCL injuries happen quickly, while others develop over time. Acute injuries, for example, develop because of sudden trauma – like jumping up to catch a ball or stepping in a hole – an action that causes hyperextension or improper rotation of the knee.

A very active Olive swims at Wellsprings K9 to build up muscle strength before surgery.

Chronic injuries, on the other hand, are associated with disease, degenerative issues, obesity, and a dog’s conformation (how a dog’s legs are positioned to the rest of his/her body). Over time, the CCL weakens or wears down from overuse, misalignment or gradual deterioration as the dog ages or the disease progresses.

As I’ve stated above, it doesn’t matter the breed, age, size, or genetic predisposition of your dog – ANY DOG CAN INJURE THEIR KNEE. True, certain breeds are at a higher risk for CCL injuries (Newfoundlands, Labradors, and Rottweilers to name a few) and overweight dogs increase their chances of knee damage as well, but if your dog is active, they can injure their knee – playing fetch, participating in agility competitions, herding sheep, or romping in the snow.

Which means that preventing such an injury is a top priority, but how?

Weight management is important. Keep your dog trim. A heavy dog puts more strain on the knee and even five extra pounds can put unneeded pressure in the wrong place.

Next, don’t overwork your dog especially a young dog. Your dog isn’t finished developing (depending on your breed of dog) until they are approximately 12 to18 months old. Therefore, if you ask your dog to go with you on your five-mile run or participate in an athletic activity like herding or agility before her/his bones and joints have fully matured and developed, you’ve increased the risk of knee injury (among other conditions) in your dog. Think of it this way, would you ask your 5 year old child to run 10 miles or hike up a 4,000 foot mountain? Hopefully not, so you shouldn’t ask your dog (no matter

Even small dogs, like Cecilee the Pomeranian, suffer from CCL issues.

how willing s/he may seem) to do the same.

If your dog is older or suffers from degenerative conditions you can do things to help reduce the stress on the knee like provide ramps so your dog doesn’t jump up or down from the car or the couch or your bed, and limit (if not cease) games that increase your dog’s vulnerability like fetch or any activity that requires sudden twists, turns, or jumping.

Of course, one of the best activities for all dogs – old, young, active or sedentary – is swimming and swimming in a warm water environment is ideal since it warms up the muscles and provides great non-weight bearing, low-impact, and cardiovascular exercise. But I’ll come back to this topic in a moment.

“I think my dog may have hurt his knee,” you say, “How do I know for sure?”

The Cranial Cruciate Ligament is kind of like a rubber band that helps keep the femur bone from pressing into the tibia bone – it “stretches” them apart. When it tears or ruptures, those two bones come in contact and the sliding nature of the stifle is lost making for a very painful joint.

Whether acute or chronic, dogs will vary in the severity of their symptoms. For instance, a completely torn CCL might show as a slight limp in one dog while cause another dog to not bear any weight on the effected leg at all. Still, there are some signs to watch for:

• Decreased or limited range of motion and/or mobility
• Crepitus in the stifle join – a crunching noise of bones rubbing together
• The effected limb extending out when the dog sits
• Signs of pain when the knee is touched
• Stiffness, limping or unwillingness to use the leg during or after exercise
• The knee feels warm or hot and/or swollen to the touch
• Thick, tight, hard, and/or firm feel to the knee
• Unbalanced stance – bearing weight only on the tip of the toe or shifting the weight to the good leg

And of course, if you suspect that your dog has injured his/her knee, see your vet for a full assessment to make certain.

There are many surgical and non-surgical options available to help a dog with a CCL injury. We encourage you to do your research on all the options available to figure out what’s best for your dog and his/her condition as well as talking with your vet.

Non-Surgical or Conservative Management includes:

• Rest, supplements, anti-inflammatories, homeopathy, herbal medicine, nutritional supplements, and weight control
• Physical therapy, acupuncture/acupressue, osteopathy, chiropractic treatments, and massage (and yes, swimming!)

Surgical Options (with links attached to each explaining the procedure):

• Tibial Plateau Leveling Osteotomy (TPLO)
• Tibial Tuberosity Advancement (TTA)
•  Lateral Suture Stabilization which includes Tightrope or Traditional procedures
• Triple Tibial Osteotomy (TTO)

It’s important to remember that surgeries will vary in both their invasiveness and rehabilitation time. Thoroughly discuss all aspects of each surgery with your vet so you fully understand the extent of the impact on you and your dog.

Skye, the West Highland Terrier, had surgery on both knees so swimming and massage have helped her maintain and increase her mobility.

Where does swimming and massage fit into all of this?

Warm water offers a perfect way to work the leg without putting undue stress on the stifle whether you choose a non-surgical or surgical option. In fact, if you choose a surgical option, swimming your dog pre-surgery is a great way to help maintain muscle tone and strength, and limit the amount of atrophy they will experience during recovery.

Massage and passive range of motion (PROM) stretches help relieve the compensation stress felt in the rest of the body especially the “good” leg, which is now bearing more-than-normal weight. Research suggests that dogs who suffer a CCL injury on one leg are 50-70% more likely to suffer a similarly injury within 18 months to the other, healthy leg. Massage and swim therapy can help relieve this stress and tension and hopefully prevent a similar injury occurring in the other leg.

Exercise without impact is another benefit of warm water therapy.  If you choose a non-surgical route for your dog’s knee injury, land exercise will be curtailed. Swimming is a great way to maintain cardiovascular fitness and muscle strength as well as burn off energy especially in younger dogs.

Swim and massage therapy can also:

• Maintain an optimum body weight
• Support reeducation (or use) of the effected limb
  

  Buddy's swim and massage sessions at Wellsprings K9 help him enjoy his beloved beach adventures!

• Reduce swelling and inflammation
• Provide relief for developing arthritis
• Relieve muscle tension
• Increase mobility
• Offer pre-surgery support and post-operative recovery
• Oh and most importantly, provide a fun and safe way to exercise!

We sure hope your dog never suffers from an injury to his/her knee, but if they do our licensed swim and massage therapists are here to help. Give us a call (206-935-8299) or email us (info@wellspringsk9.com) to set up an assessment and appointment.

Here are some links that you might find helpful:

http://www.ehow.com/way_5185297_dog-acl-rehabilitation-exercises.html#ixzz1cxHFowLx

http://dogkneeinjury.com/cruciate-ligament-injury-in-dogs/

http://www.pethealth101.com/Working_dogs/WorkingKnee.shtml

http://dogkneeinjury.com/category/owner-experiences/dog-knee-alternative-treatment/

http://dogkneeinjury.com/category/video/

Buddy the Lab Mix

During the summer, Buddy had knee surgery. He started swimming to help him recover muscle tone and use of his injured leg, but now swims to burn off energy! He’s a powerful swimmer, but thinks massage is about the best way to spend his time in the pool!

Abby the Golden Retriever

Abby has been coming to Wellsprings K9 for many years. She suffers from hip dysplasia, but finds relief in the warm waters of our pool and from the relaxing massage.

Buddy the Dachshund

Buddy is a senior citizen and is therefore wise enough to know that time in the pool with therapist Emily is exactly how he wants to spend an hour on a cold, blustery day.

Roxy the Labrador Retriever

Ironically, when Roxy first came to Wellsprings K9 she didn’t like swimming. Now you can’t stop her! She walks right into the pool and fetches her toy like a pro!

Phoenix the Doberman Pincher

Phoenix recently underwent neck surgery and swims at the pool to help him rebuild muscle strength and relieve muscle tension through massage and gentle passive range of motion stretches.

If your dog needs some winter relief please contact us. We’d love to provide your dog with the swim and massage therapy s/he desires. Call us today at 206-935-8299 or contact us via email at info@wellspringsk9.com!

Many of the dogs who come to swim at Wellsprings K9 suffer from muscle atrophy. Often owners will ask, “How long will it take to rebuild my dog’s muscles?” This is a difficult question to answer, but as a well-read Doberman, I’m going to do my best to answer it.

First, you need to know that atrophy (or muscle wasting) is the loss of muscle tissue and is categorized by the Maryland Medical Center in two different ways – Disuse and Neurogenic. Disuse atrophy is pretty self-explanatory as it describes the loss of muscle tissue because the muscles are not used. It has many causes, but the end result is that the dog refuses to use the effected limb.

For instance, Rosie the Boxer was hit by a car in her first year of life and while the surgeons at the Washington State School of Veterinarian Medicine did a great job reconstructing her leg, she doesn’t use her right rear leg as much as she would if it hadn’t been injured. Now at six years old, with the onset of arthritis in the effected limb and years of limited use of her leg, the atrophy is evident.

Saber’s (the Labrador) atrophy, on the other hand, is a result of the early onset of hip dysplasia caused by congenital malformation. Hip dysplasia is caused by a loose fit of the hip bone in its socket. According to the American College of Veterinary Surgeons, hip dysplasia is a result of “…the abnormal motion of the hip stretching the fibrous joint capsule and ligament connecting the head of the femur to the pelvis, producing pain and lameness.  The acetabulum (the hip socket) is easily deformed by continual movement of the femoral head.  Micro fractures of the acetabular bone may occur, causing further pain and lameness in the immature dog.”

Hip dysplasia results in crippling lameness and painful arthritis of the joints and while much can be done to slow down the progression of the condition, it is degenerative and irreversible. While Saber is still in the early stages of hip dysplasia, he will often not use his left rear leg as he would if he didn’t suffer from dysplasia.

While atrophy from disuse can have many causes (injury, degenerative conditions, surgery, age, etc.), neurogenic atrophy is caused by nerve damage. The nerves can be damaged for many reasons (even some of the same reasons that cause disuse atrophy) and nerve damage can also cause disuse, but the damage to the nerve is the root cause of neurogenic muscle wasting.

Henry the Dachshund is an example of neurogenic atrophy. After a spinal injury, the nerves in his back were so damaged that Henry lost complete use of his rear legs. Again, the nerve damage made it so that Henry could not use his back legs and as a result the disuse resulted in atrophy.

In all of these cases, muscle atrophy results. But here’s the tricky part: While a dog may have muscle atrophy evident two weeks after surgery, for example, the time it will take to rebuild the muscle tissue will take much longer than two weeks. Some research shows that for every one day of non-use, it takes three days of use to compensate. Therefore, if a dog doesn’t use her back leg for two weeks (14 days) it will take six weeks (or 42 days) of use to see the muscle mass increase. To complicate matters even more, if a post-operative dog was in top muscle tone before surgery then muscle mass returns more quickly as the muscle memory is more readily available. But if the post-operative dog had poor tone prior to surgery, then it will take even longer to build muscle after surgery or injury. What took two weeks to atrophy may take three months to rebuild.

Wow! That’s a long time indeed, but luckily there are things you can do to help your dog build his muscles. It’s important to remember, though that the underlying cause of atrophy will determine the rate and possibilities of recovery. But all things being equal, muscle can rebuild through exercise, massage, stretching, and diet.

Leashed walks can be beneficial but it’s important to walk slowly making certain that the effected limb is used. Dogs have a tendency to just pick up the limb since three legs work just as well as four in our minds. This is why swimming is so beneficial. Most dogs, even dogs who don’t use their limb much on land, will use it or begin to use it in the water. Exercise increases circulation and atrophied muscles need blood flow to help in the rebuilding process so non-weight-bearing exercise such as swimming is a great way to encourage your dog to engage those muscles!

When a limb is not used, stiffness and poor range of motion result. When muscles are injured or inactive, scar tissue forms that can severely limit flexibility. Massage and gentle range of motion

exercises are extremely beneficial because it not only increases the blood flow to the muscles, but it offers a safe way to stretch the muscle, remove stagnant waste products, and break down scar tissue, which in turn, increases flexibility.

In addition, the warm water of the pool and the motion of swimming loosens up the muscles and can improve range of motion and flexibility especially in conjunction with skilled massage. As the muscles loosen and range of motion increases, muscles will begin to rebuild. From what I’ve seen in our clients from my perch in the backyard is that at first, there might be increased use of the leg, but the muscles don’t show improved bulk or mass. Then as the dog uses the leg more and more through gentle exercise on land and weekly swim and massage sessions, there’s marked improvement after about 8-10 weeks.

Diet is also a key component in muscle atrophy recovery. Your veterinarian can discuss options with you to help your dog build strong muscles with a nutrition plan. In combination with exercise and massage, specific diets can supply the raw materials needed to help muscle tissue regenerate.

Of course, all of this depends on the cause of the muscle atrophy. Henry, for example, still has limited use of his rear legs but weekly swimming and massage have kept his back legs much stronger than they would have been if he’d done nothing. He can now push himself up and stand on all four legs and while it’s taken a lot of hard work on his part and a lot of dedication by his family, Henry’s atrophied muscles have really benefitted from his time at Wellsprings K9.

Saber, too, is showing improvement in that his hasn’t lost anymore muscle mass, he’s using his effected limb more, and has more pain-free days than he did before he started swim and massage therapy at Wellsprings K9. While his hip dysplasia cannot be cured, he’s receiving everything he needs (massage, exercise, and nutrition) to help him remain active, mobile and as pain-free for as long as possible.

Same with Rosie. While she will never regain all that’s she’s lost, the quality of her life has greatly improved because she is receiving low-impact cardio-vascular exercise as well as stretching and massage to help keep her limber and mobile as she ages.

So, how long does it take to rebuild muscles? Not to sound like a trite Doberman the truthful answer is – it depends. All the factors we’ve discussed above determine the rate at which your dog will regain muscle mass as well as use of the effected limb(s). The bottom line though is that swimming and massage can help with muscle atrophy. If you have any questions about this topic or any other concern, please give us a call (206-935-8299) or email us (info@wellspringsk9.com) and we’ll be more than happy to answer your questions and start an exercise and massage plan for your dog.

It’s pretty clear that how humans are structured and how dogs are structured is very different. We’re quadrupeds, walking on all fours. Our spines are horizontal and not vertical. We walk on our toes, not our feet. We have tails (or the memories of them). Yes, we’re different, but we’re also a lot alike. One of the ways we are alike is that our anatomies (bones, joints, muscles, tendons, ligaments, and surrounding tissues) can suffer from a number of injuries, ailments, and degenerative conditions causing us both discomfort, pain, and a lack of mobility.

Arthritis is inflammation of one or more joints, which results in pain, stiffness, swelling, and limited movement, and because of our anatomical similarities, effects both humans and canines. There are many types of arthritis and while the symptoms can vary with each, arthritis makes it painful and difficult for dogs (and humans) to do all the activities they like to do. Symptoms to watch for are stiffness while walking or post exercise, difficulty rising, and pain or discomfort at various times throughout the day.

Though we might think of arthritis as a condition that only effects older dogs (and humans), it’s important to know that your puppy, and all ages in between, can be as equally afflicted as your senior dog. It’s also important to know that, unfortunately, just as with humans, arthritis has no cure and therefore medical treatment focuses on providing comfort, relieving pain, and slowing down the degenerative process.  In extreme cases, however, surgery can be performed to remove the damaged bone and surrounding joint tissue. Sometimes just the damaged part of the bone and tissue is removed, as in a femoral head osteotomy (FHO) leaving the surrounding healthy tissue to act as a joint. Other times an artificial joint replacement is performed, which involves cutting off the damaged bone and fashioning a new articulation with the new artificial joint.

If you are concerned that your dog may be suffering from arthritis, the first step will be to contact your regular veterinarian for a check up. Your veterinarian may take x-rays and/or refer you to an orthopedic vet for a consult. If you want to learn more about arthritis, there are many resources available online as well. The resources vary from very traditional approaches to more holistic methods. Whichever route you choose, consulting with your veterinarian can provide you with a number of options.

One option veterinarians will pursue is to prescribe pain medications, anti-inflammatories, herbal or homeopathic remedies, acupuncture, massage, and/or swimming (depending on their approach). There are many good articles available on all methodologies and we invite you to read more about them. Here are two helpful articles on the various approaches — holistic and traditional — and each provides a good description of symptoms to watch for as well as explanations of what is happening medically to a dog with arthritis.

“Stop the Pain! Arthritis and Your Animal Friend” by Lena McCullough DVM (located in West Seattle)

“Medications for Degenerative Arthritis” by Wendy Brooks DVM (located in Los Angles, California)

Another option will be reviewing your dog’s diet. While the quality of food is important, a veterinarian can also recommend vitamin and mineral supplements to keep your dog healthy and slow down the degenerative process. There are a lot of good books out there as well as on-line articles reviewing supplements that are important for all dogs not just those with arthritic conditions.

When a dog is overweight it can also put a lot more stress on already painfully inflamed joints so keeping your dog at a healthy weight will be imperative. Again, diet is key in helping your dog stay fit and trim and understanding all the information on the labels of different foods will take time, but is worth the effort. Your vet will also have information you can read to help you figure out the best food for your pooch.

Make certain your dog has somewhere supportive and comfortable to rest or sleep on. Frankly, I prefer my mom’s tempur-pedic bed, but your favorite pet store will have orthopedic and tempur-pedic beds made especially for dogs. Again, there are a variety of choices for comfortable beds that can help reduce discomfort from stiff, painful joints and bones and the surrounding tissues involved.

Your veterinarian will also talk with you about your dog’s exercise routines. Longer walks can put more strain on arthritic joints and in turn, cause more pain and inflammation. Shorter walks throughout the day versus one long walk a day can reduce the strain and therefore reduce the pain associated with arthritis. Activities such as playing fetch or tug-of-war may no longer be options and since keeping your dog at an optimum weight will be important, finding a low-impact exercise routine will be helpful.

This is why swimming (combined with massage) is an excellent option because it can benefit an arthritic dog in many ways. Supervised swimming offers non-weight-bearing exercise, allows the dog relief from joint discomfort while being buoyant in the warm water, and the hydrostatic pressure supports stiff joints providing needed relief from the constant discomfort of arthritis.

Both massage and supervised swimming help increase range of motion and improve circulation, reduce inflammation and muscle tension, and help alleviate overall stress. In addition, monitored swim sessions can keep your dog in cardiovascular and muscular shape — something she or he may not be able to do with shorter, less frequent exercise sessions. And as I can tell you from experience, a well-exercised dog is a happy dog who is less likely to feel depressed (also something both humans and canines can experience).

At Wellsprings K9 we like to say that “IT’S MORE THAN JUST SWIMMING…” because we offer focused exercise and massage plans that not only help maintain a dog’s overall health and well-being, but also provide needed therapy for those of who suffer from ailments like arthritis. If you are concerned that arthritis may be the case with your dog, we invite you to contact us to discuss massage and swim therapy options though we encourage you to consult with your preferred veterinarian before pursuing any exercise or therapy plan.

Yes, we may walk on all fours with our tails (whatever length they are) wagging our emotions, we’re really a lot like our human companions — when we hurt, we want relief. Unfortunately, unlike humans, we’re not very good at dialing the phone to make an appointment at Wellsprings K9.