X ray taken pre-FHO

Hydrotherapy Case Study

The recent FHO case we worked with in the clinic belonged to a patient who was hit by a minivan and left in a state that can only be described as life-threatening. The patient was a standard breed Chihuahua and he arrived in our care approximately 2 weeks after his FHO surgery. He was, as you can probably expect, cautious of anyone moving or touching his injured leg and due to the nature of his injury, his other hind leg had also been fractured in the accident. A slow and steady initial consultation in the clinic allowed him to gain the trust of not only me as his hydrotherapist, but also allowed him to feel safe and secure in the clinic space. The initial gate assessment and palpation were different to a normal review because again, understandably, the cautious and pain alarm/reaction within this little fighter was well and truly ringing for all to hear.

With some careful placement of his family and the lure of some of our very own hydrotherapy treats, we were able to fit him with a Help ‘Em Up Harness to better control him in the tank space and from there, the trust between the patient and myself as the hydrotherapist began to grow. Prior to the filling of the tank, his LHL was held up in flexion and his balance was poor due to all of the weight being distributed through his other HL. Once the water level reached his mid-thigh, he began to shift his weight laterally onto the operated side and began toe touching. The session began with a slow roll of the treadmill and I allowed him to feel the belt moving under him prior to engaging a cycling of the LHL. At first, again, he was unsure of what was happening. Still, within a matter of 20 seconds, he relaxed his LHL fully and allowed me to cycle further than previous which also included a technique whereby I placed my index fingers to the planter side of his paws and shortened each step by allowing my fingertips to make contact to the belt. From there, the balance of the 2-minute set was spent slowly cycling his legs and for the first time in 2 weeks, he was actually back to walking with an altered gate using all four limbs.

The second set saw a similar result to the first and I made the decision that for his third set I would fill the tank further and allow him to independently swim, whilst being managed using the Help ‘Em Up Harness, to better feel how his operated leg was functioning. Without any hesitation, he freely paddled both FL’s and HL’s together and as the set and session closed, he was well and truly sold on the magic in the water that is hydrotherapy.

We would see this patient twice a week for further sessions and also included laser modalities and home weight-transferring exercises as prescribed by Jo, our physiotherapy guru. This dual approach saw the road map to recovery become all that much clearer for our patient as with each session and week that went by, his gate consistency and strength grew to a point where he was able to freely walk using all 4 limbs with little to no issue. Our session structure began to change approximately 6 weeks after our initial meeting with the focus moving towards gate pattern retraining and also further strengthening to his HL and back by adjusting each session's set time and speed. Utilising a fixed FL stand, we were also able to directly target only the HL in each 2nd set of each session which again helped our patient to grow not only in strength but also in confidence with each visit. We managed him further by spacing out his treatments to weekly, and as of today, he is still on the road to recovery but is a lot further down the track than when we first met. His owner’s initial goal was to have him back to full function, and with this continued hydrotherapy approach, he just might come back better than he ever was before.

Where to from here?

It's impressive to see the positive progress in the Chihuahua's recovery through hydrotherapy after such a traumatic incident. The careful approach, use of the Help 'Em Up Harness, and the gradual introduction of exercises seem to have played a crucial role in building trust and improving mobility. The collaboration with the physiotherapy plan and the integration of laser modalities highlight a comprehensive approach to rehabilitation.

To conclude, canine femoral head and neck excision surgery can significantly improve the quality of life for dogs suffering from hip joint issues. A thoughtful approach to post-surgery care, including rest, controlled exercise, and proper veterinary guidance, is key to a successful recovery. By understanding the procedure and actively participating in your dog's rehabilitation, you can help them regain mobility and enjoy a more comfortable, active life. As always consult with your Vet and canine specialist therapist to tailor the best plan forward to aid in the full recovery of your beloved four-legged doggo!