DIY hydrotherapy for an old GSD

[Sunsets]

My old (~ 11 years) GSD is struggling with what the local vet suspects are complications due to hip dysplasia. She’s prescribed a 2 week course of tramadol and encouraged me to work on building up his back end with hill walking and swimming. Hill stuff is no problem - I live on a monster grade hill and we take daily walks.

I should note that I can’t get a more definitive diagnosis becasue I live on a volcano in the middle of the Caribbean. We don’t have a full-time vet, let alone access to x-rays.

I know what you are thinking, dear reader, and that is “she lives on a tropical island - her dog should be able to swim every day!” About that… the whole thing about living on a volcano is that we don’t really have any beaches. I can take him to the harbor to swim, and there’s a boat ramp that we can use to access the water (provided the waves aren’t too big)

The dog has a life vest, and he’s a good swimmer, but if left to his own devices will wade in just enough to get wet and then go back to shore. He won’t chase a ball, unfortunately. But I can encourage him into the water with me and sort of direct him as I swim alongside. So, how long should these swimming sessions be? Ideally, how many trips/week to the harbor should I be making?

[Magicboy]

When one of my Corgis was recovering from acl surgery, he swam for about 20 minutes every other day. Took lots of breaks, too and just did circles around me or along the edge of the pool. Did this for a month and it really helped him.

Id start slow with your guy and build up slowly. Every other day allows some re overly time, too

[S1969]

How did she determine the dysplasia then? (Assessing range of motion or laxity?) Or just a guess because it’s a GSD? Just curious more than anything…any sort of PT would probably be useful for arthritis or other joint problems.

When my dog had CCL surgery we made him do some swimming but it was tough. Basically I walked into the lake with him and put him on the lake side, and walked along on the beach side. I would put him in just deep enough to make it difficult for him to try to touch the bottom and he would just give up and swim.

He really hated it, though. He was a good swimmer but did not enjoy being forced to swim, especially with a shaved and sore knee.

You could give it a try, but if it’s a miserable experience I might stick to walking. I am not sure how much improvement you can expect without knowing the extent of the laxity. Definitely go easy.

[Where_sMyWhite]

Having nothing directly to do with canine hydrotherapy but when I’ve done hydrotherapy, the pool water is warm… not as warm as a hot tub but definitely warmer than most pools; just about body temperature. It helped because I was expending no energy staying warm, only energy doing therapy.

The lake might have been too cold and unappealing. Even the ocean might be too cold (high 80f’s?)

I suspect where you are located there may be none but I have seen facilities here on the mainland that offer canine hydrotherapy.

[S1969]

@Where'sMyWhite

Having nothing directly to do with canine hydrotherapy but when I’ve done hydrotherapy, the pool water is warm… not as warm as a hot tub but definitely warmer than most pools; just about body temperature. It helped because I was expending no energy staying warm, only energy doing therapy.

The lake might have been too cold and unappealing. Even the ocean might be too cold (high 80f’s?)

I suspect where you are located there may be none but I have seen facilities here on the mainland that offer canine hydrotherapy.

I agree 100%. I am sure that is one reason my dog was unhappy with forced swimming. The vet recommended it; and it was summer, but yes compared to real hydrotherapy with a painful injury, it was not great. We did it a couple of times while at the family camp that summer, and decided it was too cruel to do any more. He was a very compliant dog, but other dogs might not have been so compliant and could possibly have done damage trying to get out.

[Lizrd]

Not trying to discourage you because I think hydrotherapy is great however I have been on enough boat ramps to know that water is not something I’d want to spend much time in. Yes, it circulates and mixes in but between the fuel, exhaust and spilled fluids you might consider another location…I also think the temp of the water makes a big difference. Having participated in therapeutic hydrotherapy at a canine rehab facility they used water temp and bubble jets very purposefully. Know anyone with a jacuzzi?

As far as routine, they started my elderly Boxer with 2 minutes of water walking and increased by 30 seconds each week. We went three times a week. Slow and steady, just like rehabbing a horse. Eventually he was up to 20 minutes total of walking in water up to his undercarriage and then he ended with 3 minutes of standing in bubbles. That ol’ guy just loved it… some of the best time I ever spent with that dog…

[Sunsets]

Thanks for the replies. I really appreciate them.

To answer some questions:

1. Yeah, the diagnosis is a guess. Regardless, he’s sore and hurting and his back end is not as strong as it should be.

2. No, no chance at a commercially available hydro pool. Even if I could get into a hotel pool, they are generally colder than the ocean.
   2(a): Actually, I DO know someone with a jacuzzi. I might have to trade pool cleaning duties for that though. Hmmm…

3. The boat ramp/harbor: is remarkably clean. As in I can see to the bottom and watch the tropical fish swimming by.
   We’re a very diving-driven economy here and thus the reefs are protected as best they can be. I’d love to find another spot, but we’re really limited in terms of accessible beaches. Our only “swimming beach” is choked with rotting seaweed and unusable. And walking over lava rock to another water entry is not helpful for the dog.

4. This is a dog that will happily swim all day in fresh water. Unfortunately the salt water and the swells seem to freak him out. Though he willingly came in for a dip on Saturday and swam a bit, so I have hope.