Any ideas peeps, what is best for keeping a dog fit after cruciate surery, now healed and not lame. Would swimming or the treadmill be best?
Aileen

With my old boy I found the water treadmill to work best, in the swimming pool he would just do tiny little circles but in the treadmill he had no choice and had to put the effort in, which paid off! He is so lazy lol

Hydrotherapy knowing the breed of the dog I think :-)

We used the Hydro treadmill. It is much better than just swimming as it makes them use all their legs, whereas sometimes they just use their front and dont use the back as much.

Mine went on the treadmill, we tried the pool but he realised he could just float in there and not move his legs at all.

Another who would say water treadmill. Ours soon sussed with swimming that will a buoyancy bag & attached by lines to the side keeping him in the middle against the flow, he didn't have to do anything other than the odd flip of a front paw to prevented him rolling over. Gave up after a couple of sessions nothing would induce him to swim, so he move to the treadmill where he had to work.

Without a shadow of a doubt I would opt for the swimming. Have tried both with same dog for different reasons and I have to say that I thought the under watwer treadmill to be useless and a complete waste of (the insurance company's )money.

I would say whatever he prefers!  Swimming is preferable generally I think but not all dogs take to it - Saffi won't swim.  At all.  It's not that she doesn't like it, she loves being in the pool with the heat and support - she just will. not. work. and just drifts, no matter what the guys there do to try and persuade her to swim.

So for her, it's the treadmill as she has to walk in there.  She's not distressed, I do make sure she has a halti harness on however (she snorts a lot when she breathes, they usually have dogs on a slip lead in there but it was totally distressing her as it was making breathing much harder for her when she was trying to keep up to stop it getting tight - with the halti harness she gets a bit of support with me having the lead clipped on the front and she works much better).

hydro treadmill.  It's more controlled than swimming and the dog has to use the affected joints whereas they can be lazy in the pool if they are so inclined. 

The hydro nurse will look at your notes from your vet,and advise whats best,treadmill worked wonders with our Sadie and gave her a extra couple of years,they did try her in the pool after a few sessions on the treadmill,she hated the pool and panicked,it was because she couldnt get out herself,but she loved swimming elsewhere as she was in control,the hydro tradmill is fantastic.

Sheila

Personally if there is a dilemma regarding this I'd be calling the Athertons as they have both. I've spent many a phone call to Mike about pools and treadmills in the past, he is fab and knows his trade :-)

Where are you thinking of taking her, Aileen? As far as I know, the place out at West Lydford, Aquapaws, has both, give Peninnah a call.

Its not for me. The dog is already swimming but the insurance have now said they will not pay for it anymore after 4 courses. They will however pay for "Physio" and class the water treadmill as Physio. So the owner asked me if I thought it would make any difference and I threw it open to your vast expierience, without a reason to gage your thoughts.
I can now tell him that if it is a case of treadmill or 'nowt the treadmill will be OK.
Thanks Aileen

> Personally if there is a dilemma regarding this I'd be calling the Athertons as they have both. I've spent many a phone call to Mike about pools and treadmills in the past, he is fab and knows his trade :-)

Definitely, they do know their stuff - that's where Saffi goes :-)

is there any in north west or north wales?

The best one is in the north west is K9 hydrotherapy Centre in old skelmersdale,staff are trained at hawksmore,big pool if needed and staff go in the pool with the dogs,Sadie loved going,they were so kind with her and gave me excellent support,owner even rang me up at midnight when sadie was near the end of her life,cant give them enough praise.

Sheila

If you need one with vet/physio Gable Cross Veterinary Rehabilitation (Tilston, Cheshire) are good. If you just want/need the hydro there are a fair few. But I found Annie and Sue (Gable Cross) were excellent and we have managed to rehabilitate without surgery.

Just to clarify, it was different conditions (hip displasia and luxating patella) that affected my girl I spoke of in the above post. It was hip replacement surgery that was looking like the only option for her for some time. Sorry for any confusion.

Another water treadmill vote here after using both that and hydro pool.