• DVM360_Conference_Charlotte,NC_banner
  • ACVCACVC
  • DVM 360
  • Fetch DVM 360Fetch DVM 360
DVM 360
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care
By Role
AssociatesOwnersPractice ManagerStudentsTechnicians
Subscriptions
dvm360 Newsletterdvm360 Magazine
News
All News
Association
Breaking News
Education
Equine
FDA
Law & Ethics
Market Trends
Medical
Politics
Products
Recalls
Regulatory
Media
dvm360 LIVE!™
Expert Interviews
The Vet Blast Podcast
Medical World News
Pet Connections
The Dilemma Live
Vet Perspectives™
Weekly Newscast
dvm360 Insights™
Publications
All Publications
dvm360
Firstline
Supplements
Vetted
Clinical
All Clinical
Anesthesia
Animal Welfare
Behavior
Cardiology
CBD in Pets
Dentistry
Dermatology
Diabetes
Emergency & Critical Care
Endocrinology
Equine Medicine
Exotic Animal Medicine
Feline Medicine
Gastroenterology
Imaging
Infectious Diseases
Integrative Medicine
Nutrition
Oncology
Ophthalmology
Orthopedics
Pain Management
Parasitology
Surgery
Toxicology
Urology & Nephrology
Virtual Care
Business
All Business
Business & Personal Finance
Hospital Design
Personnel Management
Practice Finances
Practice Operations
Wellbeing & Lifestyle
Continuing Education
Conferences
Conference Listing
Conference Proceedings
Upcoming dvm360 Conferences
Resources
CBD in Pets
CE Requirements by State
Contests
Partners
Spotlight Series
Team Meeting in a Box
Toolkit
Top Recommended Veterinary Products
Vet to Vet
Veterinary Heroes
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Advertisement
By Role
  • Associates
  • Owners
  • Practice Manager
  • Students
  • Technicians
Subscriptions
  • dvm360 Newsletter
  • dvm360 Magazine
  • Contact Us
  • Fetch DVM360 Conference
  • Terms and Conditions
  • Privacy
  • Do Not Sell My Information
  • About Us
  • MJHLS Brand Logo

© 2023 MJH Life Sciences™ and dvm360 | Veterinary News, Veterinarian Insights, Medicine, Pet Care. All rights reserved.

Rehabilitation prognosis positive after TPLO surgery in an agility dog

April 1, 2003
Connie Schulte, PT

Editor's Note:Physical therapy and rehabilitation training techniques for dogs is the topic of a new column making its debut this month. DVM Newsmagazine and the American Canine Sports Medicine Association have developed this series to offer practical information for veterinarians when providing rehabilitation services for patients.

Editor's Note:Physical therapy and rehabilitation training techniques for dogs is the topic of a new column making its debut this month. DVM Newsmagazine and the American Canine Sports Medicine Association have developed this series to offer practical information for veterinarians when providing rehabilitation services for patients.

Connie Schulte, PT

Signalment

Kahlar, 8-year-old, spayed female, mixed breed weighing approximately 40 pounds.

History

Kahlar began training agility at the age of 7. She competed in North American Dog Agility Council (NADAC) Veteran's classes. This is a class for dogs 7 years and older. The dog is allowed to jump 4 inches lower and is given an additional 10 percent time allowance to complete the course. She was awarded with the Superior Novice Agility Certificate, Superior Novice Gambler Certificate and the Superior Novice Jumpers Certificate.

Injury

Advertisement

On Sept. 13, 2001, Kahlar came up lame after chasing a ball in the back- yard six days before NADAC Agility Championships for which she had qualified. She was diagnosed with a right craninal cruciate ligament injury and severe bilateral hip dysplasia. She had functioned at a high level with the dysplasia prior to the acute right pelvic limb lameness.

Medical treatment

She was placed on Rimadyl® for two weeks. A tibial plateau leveling osteotomy (TPLO) was performed on Sept. 26. Physical therapy began two weeks later after suture removal.

Physical therapy assessment

Kahlar had significant rear limb atrophy. Left proximal thigh circumference was 36 cm, right 29 cm. She was about 70 percent weight bearing. The goals of physical therapy were to improve weight bearing to normalize gait and decrease atrophy. The ultimate goal was returning this animal to agility competition. Kahlar attended therapy once a week for five weeks, and her owner followed through with home exercises consistently.

Physical therapy treatment

Initial exercises included weight shifting, minitrampoline and rockerboard for proprioception and muscle contraction, stretching into hip extension and abduction, and swimming in a life vest for five minutes. Home exercises consisted of weight shifting, hip flexor and adductor stretching and frequent short walks.

Note lack of extension before injury.

On Kahlar's second visit, sit-to-stand and weight bearing on rear limbs using a 55 cm therapy ball were added. Swim time was increased to 10 minutes. Sit- to-stand was added to the dog's home exercise program (HEP).

During the third session, the stretches were discontinued. Walking in circles, high-stepping over obstacles, and crawling was added to the rest of the previous exercises. Swimming increased to 15 minutes. Dancing was added to HEP.

Inclines were added in the fourth session and swimming was increased to 20 minutes.

In the fifth and final treatment, swimming was increased to 25 minutes.

At discharge, after five visits, weight bearing on the right was 80 percent of the left and thigh atrophy had decreased to only a 2.5 cm. difference in circumference.

Radiographs on Nov. 19 showed bony healing was progressing, Kahlar had minimal to no lameness. In January 2002, Kahlar was released to increase exercise.

Rehabilitation after discharge

Kahlar's daily routine included walking in the morning, exercise in the afternoon and swimming in the evening. She swam in a 150- gallon Rubbermaid stock tank for 30 minutes five to six times per week, progressing from using a life vest to only a harness. She did "lateral" incline walking, i.e. walking back and forth across a hill, 200-600 yards, five to six days a week. Kahlar's owners also encouraged "plowing" when walking on a leash. The leash is held parallel to her body and she was encouraged to pull to strengthen her rear limbs.

Note improved jump position after rehabilitation.

Four months after surgery Kahlar returned to agility training. By late March 2002, she was competing. Since surgery, Kahlar has been awarded Outstanding Open Agility Certificate, Outstanding Open Gamblers Certificate, and Veteran's Open Jumpers. She also earned sufficient points to qualify for the 2002 NADAC Championships.

Kahlar's owners report that since physical therapy, Kahlar's unique rear movement, affectionately referred to as her "funky back end," has been significantly reduced. Her jumping and running ability is improved from the strength she has gained.


Advertisement

Latest News

The four-letter word to why you're burning out and feeling unproductive

Merck Manuals recognizes importance of One Health concept

Topical therapy and immunotherapy can save time and frustration with dermatology cases

Texas Tech appoints new faculty member with passion for animal agriculture

View More Latest News
Advertisement