Physiotherapy Success Stories
Name: Hobson
Age: 4 years
Condition: Cruciate Disease/Surgery
Hobson had surgery to repair cruciate ligaments in both hind legs. Although he made a reasonable recovery from both operations, he never had physiotherapy, and had stiffness and an inability to walk far. 
Our physiotherapist identified muscle weakness and reduced range-of-motion of stifle joints. His owners were provided with an exercise programme to help improve his strength, flexibility, balance and gait, and within a very short period of time, Hobson was showing good progress. He is now happily exercising more, is less stiff and more confident in his general movements and the ‘bounce’ has finally returned to his walking.
Name; Scamp
Age: 5 years
Condition: Brachial Plexus Injury
Scamp was referred following a road traffic accident, in which the nerves of his brachial plexus were injured. He was unable to place his left foreleg on the ground and constantly held it raised up by his shoulder. Rehabilitation was started to try and encourage Scamp to start using his foreleg normally again.
Initially Scamp was introduced to the hydrotherapy pool and after a few sessions, he had settled in well and was soon swimming twice weekly. Physiotherapy was also an important part of his rehab and included muscle stimulation, massage and exercises. Scamp now has much more movement in his leg, the strength is returning, and he is starting to use it more normally.
Name: Behr
Age: 5 years
Condition: Multiple Pelvic Fractures / Brachial Plexus Avulsion
As a result of a severe road traffic accident, with multiple fractures 
and an injury affecting the nerves to her left foreleg. Following extensive surgery, it was clear that because only one of her front legs was uninjured, to have a fighting chance of resuming a relatively normal life, it was essential to get her back legs functioning as normally as possible.
Physiotherapy was introduced quickly as Behr soon developed extreme tightness in the hip flexor muscles of her left hindleg, due to muscle spasm. Our physiotherapist, with help from the nurses, carried out gentle physiotherapy to help reduce this spasm and restore range-of-motion to the limb. This required a great deal of careful handling so as not to disrupt the repairing fractures.
Behr remained hospitalised for 5 weeks, and physiotherapy was gradually progressed. Gentle massage, stretches hydrotherapy, and muscle stimulation helped to improve things greatly, and soon the rehab included standing practices to help retrain her balance and walking. On discharge, Behr was making good progress, and physiotherapy was then continued regularly at home by her owner, and the help of a local animal physiotherapist.
Despite making excellent progress with her hindlegs, her left foreleg never recovered sufficiently 
despite our best efforts, and it was eventually amputated to prevent further damage.
A combination of meticulous surgery, and intensive early physiotherapy gave Behr the opportunity to make a good recovery from her accident. Continued rehabilitation following discharge then ensured a wonderful end result, and in the words of her owner:
"10 months after that devastating day back in late October 2005, Behr is now a normal, energetic, happy, three-legged dog, enjoying long hops across the Yorkshire Dales"