Laurie's Blogs.

Hi Laurie,



Please don'f feel obligated to reply but I'd be grateful for advice. I'm treating a military Belgian shepherd with a nasty gracilis tear. This first happened in January. She was given 6 weeks rest, then straight into work, went lame immediately, and I've now seen her 3 times. So long time since initial injury. I'm lucky if I can get her in once or twice a week, but need results within a month. I'm estimating she's got about 25% muscle fibre disruption, still plenty of muscle belly that seems ok.Her fitness for work assessment isn't until September so provided she improves markedly in the next few weeks, the MoD may be prepared to cover treatment until then.  Failing which, her handler will keep her if she has to retire and will carry on with treatment. So, I've started her on gentle stretches, laser and us. Lots of scar tissue.  Had her in the pool a couple of times, but I think it's too much for her as she likes it way too much! She was very sore after her second swim (only a few minutes, but very wild). Have given handler cavaletti and squats ex's to do at home instead, as well as a little and often walking program.  Toying with ems, but grateful for any advice.  I know prognosis is guarded, but really want the dog to do well.
LK

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Hi LK,


So, you have to think of her as a high end athlete and push her progress a little faster than a normal dog.  I'd con't with UWT... but as an outlet for energy & a cardiovascular work out.  Speed will be determined by the QUALITY of her movement in the tank.  Try interval training - warm up, then higher speed for a minute, then slower for a minute, then higher for a minute (or min and 1/2 or 2 mins...).  Science shows this is better for cardiovascular work out.  A little soreness will be acceptable (same as if you worked out hard at the gym... thus soreness should dissipate within a day or two).  THEN, you also need to work on ECCENTRIC conditioning.  Walking backwards down a hill... and on that note, up hill walking will be okay concentric work as well.  Backwards on a land treadmill would work it as well.  Play bow for 'active stretching'.  If there is a lot of scar tissue... you may actually need to stretch it out more aggressively to stretch / break down the scar tissue (does she walk with a stilted / sudden stop to forwards movement of her leg?  i.e. like a fibrotic myopathy dog?  If yes, then you need to be more aggressive with the stretching.)  Hills, hills, hills.    Then in  a few weeks, start with things like tug of war, short retrieves, faster weave poles (following a treat)... agility type stuff - to condition her for her back to work duties.  You'll have to think less about this being something to baby and that time will heal it and more about what we would call "work hardening' for return to work.  So you'll add jumping and other burst activities eventually.  Slow and gentle won't get this dog back to duty at this point.  Squats are good... and cavaletti's is a start... work them up to being done at a trot - and perhaps double the width (i.e. two cavalettis side by side that the dog has to cross.)  Good luck...  these cases really require a change in thinking regarding how to progress! 

Cheers!  Laurie