Dog Nursed Back To Health Using Hydrotherapy
Posted January 23, 2008 12:00 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Lucky the dog certainly didn’t appear to live up to his name. The adorable canine was the victim of abuse so serious, he was suffering from a broken neck in three places and spinal trauma. His back legs were paralyzed and there were fears he’d never be able to walk again. He was also dehydrated, malnourished and had bed sores all over his body.
But then the sad eyed pooch was turned over to the OSPCA. And that’s where Lucky’s luck changed. He wound up at the 404 Veterinary Clinic in Newmarket, a unique facility that specializes in new and unorthodox treatment for injured animals. That’s where the beautiful pup with the heart of gold received TLC from a staff determined to heal him. And they’re well on their way towards making it happen.
Lucky was put on an special device, designed to make it easier for him learn to use his back legs again. “This is an underwater treadmill (top left). It’s a device that utilizes both water as well as the treadmill,” explains the hospital’s Dr. Tara Edwards. “And when we first put them on the treadmill, he wasn’t able to move his back legs at all and that was just shy of two weeks ago.”
There’s also a rehab pool and exercise balls, all designed to work the precious pooch back into shape. The 404 is one of the few facilities like it in Ontario.”Five years ago it would be very difficult to find the rehabilitation that Lucky would need,” the doctor notes.
The OSPCA’s Kristin Williams is overjoyed to see the dog doing so well. “I’m thrilled at the therapy that he’s getting,” she beams. “His prognosis initially was so guarded that we were very concerned that he wouldn’t remain with us. It’s good news to have this kind of therapy to rely on.”
Lucky has four more weeks of therapy to go before experts reassess his progress. If all is well, he’ll be back to the kind of behaviour you’d expect to see in a creature of his size. And that’s the day when all those caring for him will feel lucky, too.
