Exercise (remember, all external sites open in their own window. Close windows to return here)
Prior to Smedley's surgery, he could no longer walk. He could barely stand without losing his balance. Thanks to the people at K9 Carts (see below), we were able to get him a wheelchair that allowed him to stand and take care of his bodily functions without falling. We also had some success early on with special customized leg braces and "booties" (see below).
But his overall prognosis was not good unless we risked surgery.
Ten days after his surgery, he took his first step. But he had forgotten how to coordinate his steps and his muscles had atrophied.
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See
Smed swim. Swim Smed swim. |
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Thanks to SplashDog Spa, Smedley started to use his legs properly, and build muscle and cardio strength.
We have seen how warm water physical therapy can greatly assist disabled animals. Here are some resources to help your dog.
Therapist Debbie La Monica, shown here with Smedley, has been invaluable to us. When she first met Smedley, he could not walk at all. She held him in the warm water, gently massaging his frozen limbs, and really helped us assess his physical limitations. Evaluating her input, we made the decision to give Smedley a fighting chance through surgery. We needed an angel to guide us. We just never imagined our angel would be wearing a wetsuit.
(for informational purposes only: please research your pet's own therapy. All links open in separate windows. Close windows to return here.)
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This was Smedley's wheelcart. We put his front legs through the hoops and the straps supported his body so he could stand and go potty. He had enough strength to stand, but no sense of balance. When he tried to go potty without his chair, he fell down, often into the spot where he had just relieved himself. We could tell he felt afraid to go after awhile, because we always had to wash him afterwards. If we tried to hold him ourselves, he wouldn't go at all (a guy needs some privacy, thank you.) So this cart was a great solution. He had stability to potty and could hop forward afterwards without falling. Plus, he needed to stand because he was lying down a lot. Did you know dogs (or any pet) can get bedsores? It's important for them to get up or be moved on a regular basis. Smedley's limbs were beginning to freeze from inactivity. This helped with that problem, too. (If
your business or organization assists disabled dogs and you could
use this fully adjustable cart, email
us!) |
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Here
Smedley models one of his booties. Initially we used the booties to
prevent him from wearing his toenails down to the quick, because he
dragged his feet when he walked. It can be very painful for dogs to
have worn toenails. Now the booties seem to help him lift his foot
properly, rather than drag it. We aren't sure why, but apparently
this reaction is common in dogs when they wear booties in the snow.
He wears his bootie when we go for walks. Some brands are: Therapaws,
Walkabouts, and Guardian Gear, but just go to Google and search "dog
booties" for a lot of options. Or ask your vet to recommend a
brand. Go back to top of page |
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| Ortho Vet |  |
As Smedley's tumor grew, he went from walking to limping to being paralyzed on his right side. He could drag his right legs, but his paws were upside down. At that point, Bob drove to Orthovets with Smedley to get these custom braces fit. When Smedley could no longer walk, he could at least still stand for a time wearing these braces. Eventually, however, he could not even stand, which is when we ordered the wheelchair. Ortho Vet also sells booties. |