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Jan 4, 2007 6:15 pm US/Central
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Canine Hydrotherapy Soothes Pained Paws
by Jeanette Trompeter
St. Louis Park, Minn. (WCCO) ―
Over the last few years, you have no doubt heard a lot about the benefits of exercising in water and hydrotherapy for aching joints and muscles. Now it seems the practice is going to the dogs ... literally.
Just ask Poo, a big lug of an animal who has been through a lot in his life. Rescued off the streets of New York City, N.Y., he had been shot in the back.
Because of Poo's injuries and advanced age, he is a quadriplegic. Luckily for him, he ended up at
Home for Life, a no kill shelter in Star Prairie, Wis.
Furthermore, he ended up finding treatment at
K9 Hydrotherapy in St. Louis Park, Minn., where he comes once a week.
"Because its warm water -- 90 degrees -- we're trying to get all his joints open, loosen him all up," said John Lambert, owner of K9 Hydrotherapy. "When a dog moves, it drains the toxins from body through the liver and the kidneys, but a quadriplegic can't do that."
Lambert opened the place last spring. Dogs come to the establishment because they need to lose weight, need more exercise, or need a little help just getting back on their feet.
An example of the latter is Moppet, who was hit by a car. Her spine and nerves have begun to heal, but she has to rebuild the muscles that weakened with no use.
"The only way she's going to rebuild muscle in her back end is by moving," said Lambert while working with Moppet on her first try with the underwater treadmill. "She went just over a half a mile."
While the warm water does feel good and takes weight off the dogs, they are also working their muscles, and are tired and exercised afterwards.
Moppet is expected to be walking on her own again soon.
Poo likely won't be so lucky, but he does demonstrate improved movement after his weekly dips. Lisa LaVerdiere brings Poo in from Home for Life every week.
"He will sit up to eat like a normal dog, eat and drink, he will walk in his cart, move forward," she said after Poo's session.
The ultimate hope is that the dog who has lived such a tough life can enjoy his golden years as much as possible.
"I keep telling him he's a rock star, this guy. He's got all these pretty women who kiss to his every need. He gets chauffeur-driven everywhere. The only thing he needs is sunglasses and jewelry," said Lambert. "This guy's a rock star."
(© MMVII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)