Read a review of Glendora Hydrotherpay Centre by the BBC
"Pip" Smith
Pip is a 6 1/2 year old male Golden Retriever who suffers from Bilateral Cruciate Disease. In April 2004 he had a Cruciate repair on his left hind and in February 2005 he had surgery on his right hind leaving both hind limbs very weak with extensive muscle wastage. Pip started his Hydrotherapy course as soon as his stiches were out, coming only weekly. After 4 weeks Pip was weight bearing on his right hind and had certainly taken to the swimming with great enthusiasm. Muscle tone & formation had improved in both hind legs and Pip was doing so well he was changed to a fortightly programme. Pip is now swimming confidently without a life jacket, fully weight bears and has pronounced muscles in both hinds, he is nearly at the end of his first course but is going to continue with another 10 sessions once fortnightly to three weekly to maintain him.
"Beuly" Robbins
Beuly is a 8 1/2 year old female Yellow Labrador and was presented for hydrotherapy with a history of RF lameness and RH weakness after an injury whilst out working some 18 months previous. Beuly had had extensive investigation (incl. X-Rays, Scans & Tests) and a diagnosis of Bicipital Tendonitis of the right shoulder and degenerative joint disease in the right elbow and right hip was made. There was no surgical correction that could be done, just pain killers and restircted lead excersise.
There was obvious muscle waisting over the right hip and especially the right shoulder when Buely first started swimming in July 2003. She started the advanced rehabilitation course consisting of once weekly half hour sessions, starting in the hot spa, the pool and finishing in the hot spa. After 6 weeks muscle formation around the right shoulder was noted, excersise had become easier & Beuly's painkillers had been reduced significantly. By the end of the first course Beuly was fully weight bearing on her RH and had only a slight limp on her RF. Beuly then went on to the basic rehabilitation programme and completed a further two courses. Beuly also suffers from epilepsy and since she started swimming has not had any further FHS, she also returns to the pool for the occasional recreational swim!
"Freddie" Padfield
Freddie is a 6 1/2 month ond black Cocker Spaniel who has suffered from Hindlimb Deformaties & Paralysis from birth. When first presentedin February 2005, Freddie was unable to use his hindlimbs at all but had full forelimb mobility, he also had no control over his Bowel & Bladder. The first few swims we helped Freddie in the pool to move his hind legs but he was soon doing this indipendantly and had full movement in his hips with no assistance. Freddie's course was increased from once a week to three times a week. Within 3 weeks of intensive swimming Freddie was showing strong signs of indipendant mobility, he had also become aware of when he needed to empty his bowels and would ask to be let out.
He had started to wag his tail and was now able to stand on his hocks and move around a short distance. Freddie has wheels to assisthim game playing with his other housemates,helps in the yard "mucking out" and is a very happy little dog. His treatment has now been reduced to twice weekly but continues to improve and show more and more feeling and movement each week.
"Sally"
Sally is a Springer Spaniel with severe Hip Displasia.She was first presented for Hydrotherapy at 5 months of age with a need to increase strength and muscle mass in her Hindlimbs which were lost due to the nature of Sally's condition. Sally was started on the advanced rehabilitation programme coming once weekly and on a strict no other excercise plan, she was doing short swims which were gradually increased every other week as a marked improvement was seen. The RH was significantly weaker than the LH. After 8 weeks muscle formation was noted and a more even Hip Rotation and Front Stride seen, however Sally then had a season which stopped her swimming for 3 weeks. This set her regime back some considerable way and we had to return to the start again. We got Sally back to where we had been before her season quite quickly but she had another mishap and got out of the garden hurting her leg setting her back again.
However, Sally is now comming once every two weeks and continues to make very good progress.She has muscle formtion on both hind limbs, she is a strong swimmer now and even enjoys herslef in the pool with other dogs.