Our Practice Manager, Amber
Dunham, went along to Glendora - The Ashton Keynes Canine Hydrotherapy
Centre with one of our patients, Macaskin, to see what all the
excitement was about. Macaskin has been visiting
Glendora for a swimming session three times a week since November.
Although Macaskin is a young and bouncy Spaniel x collie he had been
experiencing lameness in his front leg that kept recurring despite rest
and painkillers.
His vet, Graeme Pack, thought
he should be referred to Great Western Referrals to see one of the few
European veterinary specialists in orthopaedics in the country for
specialist attention. They examined his joint using arthroscopy and
found a bony lesion which they removed from the joint.
Following this operation
Macaskin has had to reduce his exercise to lead walks only for up to
six weeks! This has been very difficult for him as he is a very lively,
bouncy dog, who loves his exercise. 10 days after the operation, the incision site had healed
nicely and the vets agreed that Macaskin would benefit from some
hydrotherapy to help him to expend some of his built up energy without
putting any pressure on his joints.
Hydrotherapy is the external
use of water to aid recovery. It is a non-weight bearing form of
exercise, which helps to reduce pain and allows easier movement. It
removes joint stress while exercising muscles, this builds strength and
muscle tone and allows better balance and co-ordination. The warm water
increases circulation and can reduce pain, muscle spasm and stiffness.
The hydrostatic pressure of the water can also have an
anti-inflammatory effect which relieves pain and reduces swelling.
Here at Purton Vets we are lucky to have the great facilities of Glendora so close by.
The site has two pools. One
large one which is specifically designed to encourage 'free swimming'
and the retrieval of toys making the whole experience a fun treatment.
The smaller pool enables them
to have a more controlled 'static' swim and is often used for first
time swimmers and smaller dogs. Both pools are fitted with anti swim
jets that can be adjusted to tailor the intensity for each individual.
Entry and exit to the pools is via a non-slip ramp or electric hoist.
They can swim dogs from 3
months of age upwards providing a full vet check has been carried out
and the vet has completed a referral form.
Macaskin is swimming three
times a week for 30 minutes at each session. The excitement he showed
on arrival at the centre was thrilling, it was like he was visiting his
best friend! Lots of barking in anticipation of the fun he was about to
have. On arrival he was fitted with a bouyancy jacket which is a
precaution used to enable the centre manager to hold the dog whilst
swimming if necessary. This was not needed with Macaskin! He was
straight in the pool and swimming up down! After the first few minutes
the jets were turned on which meant that he had to work harder and his
Mum stood at one end of the pool and the centre Manager at the other
using his favourite toy in a retrieval game - no-one left the centre in
dry clothes that day!.
When it was time to leave the
pool Macaskin would try to stay in the middle of the pool so that no
one could make him get out! He obviously enjoys his swimming!
If your dog is older and
getting a bit stiff, if you want to build up your dogs' stamina and
fitness or if your dog is overweight and you think he/she would benefit
from swimming, call the surgery and book an appointment with one of our
vets to discuss these options.
Map
