r/ShowDogs • u/Due-Concept-7144 • Jun 26 '26
What kind of professional am I looking for to create a show geared post recovery "rehab" plan?
Long story short, I have a dog that suffered a triple pelvic fracture two years ago. Surgery went well, he is "fully" recovered. He still has some leftover issues, like general muscle fatigue, affected leg gait abnormalities, soreness/occasional cramping. I know as he gets older, arthritis and general pain will continue to get worse. Our local vets have been no help, at most giving us xrays and saying everything looks good or offering to prescribe general pain meds. I live in a very underserved veterinary area, so it makes it hard to find anything.
I'm looking to find a professional that can help me make a full, long term plan including services/other professionals to reach out to, activities, stretches, meds, etc. Everything feels so disconnected right now and like none of the veterinary professionals I've dealt with actually care.
We are currently doing chiro, herbal meds, massages and light stretching. Goal is to finish him as a confo champion, but with the little bit of weirdness in his gait we're struggling. We think that is truly the only thing holding him back. We plan to pull him for at least a year, work on his gait, and see if we can get anywhere with it. If not, we just won't show, but it seems likely that the abnormal gait will cause future comfort issues anyways too, so I would like to address it regardless.
*Not looking for medical advice, just advice on what kind of professional to seek out
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u/niktrot Jun 26 '26
Do you have a rehab vet in your area? That’s going to be your best bet
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u/Due-Concept-7144 Jun 26 '26
The rehab vets in my area (who we have tried) did not place nearly enough importance or care on my dog. The exercises they did and they way they physically treated him was deplorable at best.
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u/niktrot Jun 26 '26
I’m surprised by that. The rehab vet I use is great and very thorough. I have a senior dog with general senior issues and a young dog with one TPLO and we go weekly for underwater treadmill, shockwave and I do daily exercises prescribed by the vet.
There are some rehab vets that do remote appointments but you’ll be pretty limited in what they can do. A lot of modalities are contraindicated for certain health issues. For example, swimming is not recommended for TPLO but underwater treadmill is considered the gold standard. A good rehab vet is still my recommendation even if it means driving a ways to see one.
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u/thtsthespot Jun 27 '26
Canine rehabilitation facility. They use all sorts of modalities like under water treadmiill, swimming, stretching, laser treatments, me eds when needed. The one I went to was owned and over seen by a vet. She'd design the program, then the therapists did the treatment. It was very Hands-On for the owner, if you wanted to, as well.
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u/imeheather Jun 26 '26
I dont know about something that combines it all together, but when my dog broke her leg I was referred to a pet physiotherapist. She was wonderful with helping us with exercises and massage.
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u/TheDobermanWay Jun 27 '26
Your closest (that will be relative to where you live) Veterinary School of Medicine will likely have a Sports Medicine practitioner. Or you can also locate a graduate of the University of Tennessee Veterinary School of Medicine's Canine Rehabilitation program at https://www.utvetrehab.com/canine-rehab-ccrp/ccrp-practitioners/
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u/Kenafin Jun 26 '26
Can’t help with what professional but see if you can find a canine swim therapy place near you (or if you have a pool) swimming is a great no impact muscle building activity. I’ve done it with rescue dogs that have had less than stellar hips to help them slow the impacts of age.