If ever you’re worried about your older dog trying something new, such as hydrotherapy, take inspiration from Snoopy. She’s 15 years old and tried her hand at her first hydrotherapy session this week. Perhaps it was the mermaid outfit that gave her extra confidence or maybe it was her strong nature.
Snoopy has been coming for laser therapy for a couple of months now to help with hind limb weakness that had been developing over the past year. Her mum noticed a vast improvement and noted she could even stand on her back legs on a wobble board after a number of sessions. This confidence around the equipment at home planted the first seed of hope for her mum that she might be ok with swimming. Although she never goes into the sea to swim or has shown interest before, often dogs can surprise up by their ability to adapt, so it was worth a try.
The Mack’s are known at the practice and you can see Daisy’s blog on her rehabilitation and often you’ll see them dressed to impress on a Monday. Rose Mack has tried physiotherapy, laser, treadmill and the pool with her dogs and it was only Snoopy left to try the pool.
She was nice and secure is a buoyancy aid and had our physiotherapist Gwenan with her in the pool for the entirety of the session to manage how much she was doing and how long she should rest for. Even if Snoopy didn’t manage to swim you have the added benefits of hydrotherapy such as:
- Heat
- Buoyancy
- Hydrostatic pressure
- Viscosity
Initially we performed a small lap to allow Snoopy to come back to the resting ramp and let her know that she was safe and secure within the pool environment. Snoopy efficiently used all her legs and didn’t seem phased by the whole concept of swimming. Before you know it she was able to swim laps in the pool with only support needed around the corners.
“Thank you Sarah for Snoopy’s trial swim. I was 95/5% against her getting in the pool. To be fare auntie Gwenan wasn’t so sure as well. What a moment after a little paddle she was off. Aged 15, how wrong was I! Auntie Gwenan’s face says it all & it brought a little tear to my eye as well. The old saying you are never too old, my little mermaid!”
Rose Mack