Buddy, Staffordshire Bull Terrier - 5 ans

Buddy a assisté à des sèances hebdomadaires de rééducation pendant 3 mois suite àune intervention chirurgicale (pour une rupture du ligament croisé niveau 3 (CCL). Un personnage adorable, il a fait une récupération complète et mène une vie active avec des séances d'entretiens mensuelles.

Buddy attended weekly sessions for 3 months of rehabilitation following surgery for a grade-3 cruciate ligament rupture (CCL). An adorable character, he made a full recovery and leads an active life with monthly maintenance sessions.

Ted et Percy , Cocker Spaniels (Agility)

Percy was my first agility partner and we made a great team, travelling the UK circuit and loving every minute. As a canine athlete, we were aware of the importance of keeping Percy fit and well, and started hydrotherapy exercise (swimming and water-treadmill) back in 2016 whilst we still lived in the UK. The main aims of this type of exercise were maintenance and injury prevention: increasing his fitness, stamina and muscular strength to help him with his agility. Within 3 months, I noticed a significant difference to his performance: he was faster over individual courses and able to successfully perform over consecutive days without problem. On moving to France in 2019 the first thing I did was look for a good hydro-therapist so that Percy could continue exercising in this way. Bernadette is very knowledgeable and has helped Percy along the way since his retirement from agility. Despite still being in very good health, he has started suffering from old-age problems, and the hydro-therapy keeps him comfortable and active. In 2021, Ted joined the family as my next ‘agility partner in crime’. Without hesitation, I knew that he needed to also partake in this type of exercise; having seen the difference it made to Percy - and having reading the results of scientific studies investigating the effect of water treadmill exercise in horses too. Both Percy and Ted still prefer the treadmill - even compared to their passion of ‘wild swimming’ after ducks in our local lake!

Cookie, Pointer x Collie - 3 ans

Âgée de 15 mois en octobre 2018, Cookie nous est parvenu au bout du premier stade de la guérison après avoir subi une intervention chirurgicale en urgence pour sauver son membre antérieur gauche suite à un accident de la route en juillet 2018. Conscient de la nécessité de soutenir sa réhabilitation, la propriétaire de Cookie a reçu une prescription vétérinaire pour l’ostéopathie et l’hydrothérapie canine. Au bout de 10 séances d'hydrothéapie et 3 d'ostéopathie Cookie montrait une forte amélioration de porteur de charge, du mouvement et du confort. Bien que ce soit un long chemin vers la récupération, Cookie n’a plus besoin que de se rendre au centre pour l'entretien bimensuelle et elle se présente aujourd’hui comme une jeune chienne active et en plein forme.

Age 15 months in October 2018, Cookie came to us following first stage recovery from emergency salvage surgery on the left forelimb after a road traffic accident in July 2018. Realising the need to support her rehabilitation, Cookies owners were given a veterinary prescription for osteopathic land based treatment and canine hydrotherapy. The initial 10 sessions of hydrotherapy and 3 osteopathy led to a significant improvement in load bearing, movement patterns and comfort. While it was a long road to recovery this 'Smart Cookie' now only attends the centre once every two months for maintenance and it's hard to see anything other than a fit energetic young dog.

Cerys, Bedlington Terrier - 13 ans

Un cas particulièrement difficile, Cerys a fait d'énormes progrès en l’espace de 8 semaines : de la « poupée de chiffon » - incapable de se tenir debout ou de marcher - à une chienne qui marchait et jouait avec de la confiance après 12 séances d'hydrothérapie (et 3 séances d'acupuncture). Le programme était axé sur les schémas d'extenseurs des membres antérieurs pour permettre un assis ; la stabilité des muscles de base pour l'équilibre, un travail de schéma d'extenseurs sur les membres postérieurs pour se tenir debout ; et enfin le passage au travail de séquençage de l’allure au pas pour permettre la marche. Nous étions tous ravis de voir Cerys reprendre le chemin en si peu de temps.

A particularly challenging case, Cerys made huge progress over a period of 8 weeks: from "rag doll" - unable to stand or walk - to confident walking and playing after 12 hydrotherapy sessions (and 3 acupuncture sessions with a veterinary osteopath). The programme focussed on forelimb extensor patterns to enable a sit, core stability work for balance, extensor pattern work on the hind limbs for standing; and finally moving to gait sequencing work to enable walking. We were all overjoyed to see Cerys back on track in such a relatively short time.

Binks - Weimaraner, aged 10

On the 10th January 2022 Binks went out for his after-dinner stroll. Usually, a short tour and he’s back in, I didn’t suspect him to be jumping around. Back in the house, his back legs gave way slightly, and to my horror, within in a couple of minutes, he could hardly stand. I rushed him to our local vets just 10 minutes away. Our vet, Barbara, suspected a slipped disc and kept him overnight to manage his pain. A CT scan the following day confirmed a slipped disc - and a blown disc. He could no longer stand and required emergency surgery. With the specialist vet away, and learning that the longer the injury is left untreated the less likelihood for recovery, we were on tenterhooks as the vets rang around for an emergency referral. The best option was a 6-hour round-trip to a vet in Bordeaux. After surgery, the prognosis was guarded as the vet couldn’t get at a part of the disc near his spinal cord due to the risk of paralysis and incontinence. Unlikely to make a full recovery, we were told that exercise might make a difference. We were referred to Bernadette for a course of hydrotherapy. Our first session was on 1st February and we had to carry him into the hydro-room. Although the water helped support his weight, he had lost so much muscle that I knew it was going to be a long journey. Plus, Binks never liked water so I thought Bernadette would have a battle on her hands! However, Bernadette reassured him and took things slowly; and I stayed close by to keep his stress levels down. At 28 kilos, carrying him everywhere, and holding him up to wee or a poo, led to me trapping a nerve in my back, but Bernadette was at hand to help with this too: suggesting equipment to get him more mobile and save my back. Over the course of 22 sessions, it was amazing to see his strength build. At session 6, we started to see a little improvement using the car ramp; although still wobbly and dragging his weaker foot, we felt we were on the right track. By session 11 he started to walk in the treadmill. By session 22 he got more strength, and under Bernadette’s guidance, was introduced to the ‘walking wheels’ cart I call his chariot. After 30 sessions and various other veterinary treatments, it was probably as good as we could get. All things considered; we are amazed at how well he has recovered. Binks is now chariot free and although a bit ‘drunk’ and wobbly at times, he is motivated to go out for small walks around the village, and gets himself up and off again if need be. Hydrotherapy was the absolute making of him. It wasn’t easy and there were lots of tears but I’ve got my old boy back - thanks to the vets and Bernadette.

Raanui - Chinois à crête - 19 mois

je viens de voir le Dr Sanspoux pour mon petit chien chinois à crête Raànui qui a 19 mois mâle castré réformé d'élevage de 1.750 kg, il est arrivé avec une stéréotypie de tournis toujours dans le même sens en appui sur le postérieur droit, quand il est arrivé il levait la patte de temps en temps il est arrivé en février 2021, puis en octobre, la boiterie s'est accentuée, jusqu'en décembre ou il ne posait plus la patte en balade, le 10 décembre il a été opéré de la rotule, mais très vite la boiterie est revenu et là elle s'accentue le Dr Bonnet ne comprenant pas, m'a envoyé au Dr Sanspoux qui pense à une rupture partiel du ligament croisé, opération compliqué sur un si petit chien, il souhaiterait que Raànui fasse du renforcement musculaire en espèrant que cela puisse lui éviter l'opération, prescription pour 12 séances si possible

Deisel, American Staff - 1 ans

Diesel nous est venu au moment de l'adolescence. Il croyait que c'était juste pour s’amuser mais ses maitres voulaient la familiariser très jeune à l'environnement d’hydrothérapie, à l'eau et a la natation afin qu’ils fassent partie de son dressage et de sa socialisation. Une introduction utile en cas de besoin futur de traitement.

Deisel came to us as an adolescent. He thought it was just for fun but his owners wanted to familiarise him at a young age to the hydrotherapy environment; water and swimming as part of his training and socialisation. A useful introduction in case of any future need for treatment.

Patch - Working Border Collie aged 6

Patch, our beloved working collie, was very active and never happier than when working our 250 flock of sheep. Aged x in 2021, he suffered two 2 herniated discs despite being fit and in good health. It was devastating; he was in a lot of pain and unable to move his hind legs. Following an operation in March 2021, we started multiple sessions of hydrotherapy to strengthen his muscles. Bernadette would first give him a warm shower with the massage head, and then got in the pool with him. She is very understanding and knowledgeable; helping him to be more confident in the water, and building ramps at different levels. She also supported us to find other ways to build strength and decrease pain – and eventually help us find a solution so he could get about once again with a canine kart. She also suggested acupuncture and laser treatment at La Licorne Clinic in La Souterraine (department 87) where he also did sessions of osteopathy. Thanks to all these treatments, Patch is now a lot stronger and, importantly, pain free. He is still unable to walk on his hindlegs, but he is now happy again living his sheepdog life with the help of his kart. It is quite a sight to see him rounding up sheep in his ‘running wheels’!

Spike - Berger Allemand, 1 ans

Re-education après chirurgie de la contraction de muscles pectines.

Sukey - Cocker

Re-education après RTCF Rehabilitation following femoral head removal

Bear - American Bulldog

Zeb - Springer anglais de 6 mois

Re-education apres résection tête-col fémoral (bilatérale)
Rehabilitation following bi-lateral hip remodelling

Rab, grand guardian x chien berger - 11 ans

Après un diagnostic d'hyperthyroïdie, l'ostéopathe vétérinaire a conseillé la gestion de cette affection avec des séances régulières d’hydrothérapie et des techniques manuelles (piscine et tapis roulant) ce qui contribue fortement à maintenir une qualité de vie; contrôler le surpoids; soutenir la forme physique ; améliorer son amplitude de mouvement ; et atténuer la raideur.

Diagnosed with hypothyroidism, Rabs veterinary osteopath recommended managing this condition with regular hydrotherapy and manual techniques (pool and treadmill) which continues to help maintain quality of life; aid weight control and overall fitness; improve his range of motion and alleviate stiffness.

Arffa, Border Collie - 14 ans

Déjà d’un certain âge, et jamais fan de la natation, lorsque notre Arffa a montré des signes d'arthrose, il fallait fabriquer une autre solution de traitement thermique en construisant un petit bain pour l'hydromassage aquatique. Cela a amélioré le confort et la qualité de vie - sans parler que cela nous permet maintenant de traiter les petits chiens de moins de 20 kilos avec incontinence qui ne peuvent pas profiter de la piscine principale et ni du tapis roulant - un gagnant-gagnant.

Reaching his twilight years and never a keen swimmer, when Arffa showed signs of osteoarthritis an alternative heat-treatment solution was found by building a small hydro-bath for underwater hydro-massage. This improved overall comfort and quality of life - not to mention enabling us to now treat those smaller dogs under 20 kilos with incontinence who can't use the main pool and treadmill - a win-win situation.

Belle, Springer Epagneul - 13 ans

Incapable de se tenir debout ou de marcher sans aide en raison d'un AVC soupçonné et de problèmes de bassin liés à l'âge et à l'arthrose, les séances d'hydrothérapie deux fois par semaine entrepris pour Belle pendant 2 mois ont mené à une chienne heureuse et indépendante qui pouvait se déplacer facilement à sa façon pour ce qui était les 6 derniers mois de sa vie.

Unable to stand or walk unaided due to a suspected stroke and aged-related hip issues linked to osteoarthritis, Belle’s twice-weekly hydrotherapy sessions over 2 months resulted in a happy, independent dog able to get around under her own steam in comfort for what was the last 6 months of her life.

Fabrizio -