My Dog Bessie by Natalie Chivers.

My Dog Bessie started going to Hydrotherapy early this year (2008) due to a recommendation from the vet due to a possible partially torn cruciate ligament, she needed the muscles in her leg to build up to strengthen the healing process. I had been looking for such a service for some weeks when i noticed Karen’s leaflet in the vets clinic. Karen was able to book Bessie in straight away when most places have had 2-3 months waiting list. Bessie was very nervous of the water at first but with a few weeks of encouragement and Karen showing her there was nothing to be afraid of she soon learned to love it - she now gets in the pool before karen does!!!

Sadly Bessie has now totally ruptured the ligament in her leg and is recovering from the operation to repair it, i have now started bessie back at Karen's hydrotherapy and is showing very good signs of the leg coming back to normal. The staff are very careful with her in and out of the pool and she always gets a treat afterwards!!!

I would like to thank Karen, Megan and all the staff at Four Paws Aqua for their continued support with Bessies rehabilitation before and after the operation and i will continue to Bring Bessie even after she has recovered.

The sessions have not only given me confidence Bessie will continue to improve but also make the experience far more fun especially as Bessie has suffered from bouts of depression after her treatment. It has given her something to look forward to as shes still not allowed any walks.

Case History of Jess by Mike and Helen Martin.

Jess is our 10 year old Labrador, who has got bad arthritis in her front and back legs. She found it very difficult to walk further than a few yards before she had to rest. Her back legs used to splay out and she would collapse. She would need to be carried up and down stairs etc. Our vet at Downlands recommended hydrotherapy and told us about Four Paws Aqua. We have been bringing Jess to Four Paws since the middle of May, one session per week.

On the first session Jess was hoisted into the pool and was helped around in the

This year did not start off too well, with my best girlfriend called Amber having a very bad accident in my home.

I have an environment control box which was pluged in to be recharged, when she must have caught the lead with her paw and it fell on her lower back, she was rushed to the vets and spent seven days and nights in hospital.

They put her in an oxygen tent and gave me very little hope of her regaining use of her back legs.

They recommended hydrotherapy so i contacted Karen.

For the last three months she has grown stronger every week after her swim and cuddle in the warm water with Karen. I can't thank her enough for the help she's given Amber and I'm sure Amber would join me in saying we hope that her business also goes from strength to strength.

Very best wishes from Jeff and Amber xxx

(5 Star Rating - 19th April 2008. See this review on The Disc Directory)

Hello, my name is Bella and I am a cute 6 year old black and white Shih Tzu (be careful how you pronounce that!) and thanks to Karen and her helper Jackie at Four Paws I am feeling much better than I did.

I used to love chasing birdies and I think that's how I must have ruptured my cruciate ligament in my back leg last summer.  My Mum took me to our Vet and at the end of August I had to have a big operation on my knee which was not fun as I couldn't do much walking and certainly couldn’t chase the birdies any more.

The specialist Vet then recommend that I have hydrotherapy to help build up and strengthen my leg muscles - and I HATE water!

My Mum took me to meet Karen at Four Paws Aqua and I was very brave. Karen was lovely and kind to me and put a harness and lead on me to make me feel secure and got in the water with me so I didn't get scared.

I had two swimming sessions a week in the warm pool and soon became very brave in the water. I didn't mind it too much at all in the end and had a shower and a treat after. So now, after gradually building up my walking time and with the gentle swimming exercise with Karen I am starting to walk much better now and even feel like running a little bit when Mum's not looking!

Many thanks Karen for being so kind.

Love from Bella, licks, woof!

Baxter, our 3 year old Beagle, tore his cruciate knee ligament in his left hind leg in February 2007. After an operation to replace one of the ligaments we had problems building up the muscle on this leg despite exercising him regularly.

We were afraid of over working his leg. He would occasionally limp and psychologically he was nervous of doing certain activities such as going up and down stairs and getting in and out of the car. It had also knocked his confidence in playing with other dogs especially bigger dogs and he would become nervous and aggressive with dogs that got too close to his leg. One of the vets we see with Baxter even suggested we may require a second operation to correct his stance.

Since the hydrotherapy sessions his leg has improved so much we can’t believe the difference. Muscle is building up, his confidence has improved dramatically and his limp has almost gone. He is now more confident with other dogs and enjoys himself again.

Baxter is not a natural in the water, preferring the mud of the forest, but with Karen in the pool with Baxter and slowly building up his confidence he can now swim unaided and appears to really enjoy the sessions.

Hello, my name is Jess and I am a Golden Retriever. I had an injury a while ago and my Dad had to take me to the vet. He said that I had injured my stifle muscle in my back leg. I could not run and walk very well, I felt very stiff when I woke up in the mornings. The vet suggested that I went for hydrotherapy, oh no I thought not water, I hate it!!

My Dad took me one week to see a lady called Karen, she is very nice, she gives me a shower and then takes me for a swim; I have to say at this point, that at first I hated water, but I was very brave and now after 4 weeks I love it!!

My Dad calls me in the pool, and I swim to him. Karen has been very patient as well, as I was a bit of a baby at first. I am thoroughly spoilt whilst I am there, having showers, and a shampoo and towel dry. Now I'm not stiff at all in the morning, and walking is much easier. The vet is pleased with me too.

I would like to say thank you to all the people that have helped me, hope to see each week for my treats.

Jess

I am a four year old Golden Retriever, my name is Hunter.

I was a bit of a handful and liked a good rough game with my friends, but one weekend I was silly and went too rough, I started limping badly on my left back leg. I went to the vet and he gave me painkillers but they did not suit me so they were changed I then had a course of injections. He thought it was soft tissue damage. I did not improve so I had x-rays taken of both legs and my back and hips. The vet could not see a problem so sent the pictures off to a specialist in Bristol. He said I had a ruptured cruciate ligament in my left  back knee. I had to go to Bristol for an operation, but I came home the same day.

It was a big operation needing the bone to be cut, a section removed, a plate put in with screws, the damaged ligament removed. It is going to take a long time getting better.

I have had to have short walks every day gradually building up to 6 x 10 minute walks daily.

After 5 weeks my vet said I could go for Hydrotherapy, I have now been to Four Paws Aqua weekly for three weeks, first of all I was frightened, now I sing all the way through, I really enjoy it. I have just seen, my vet again for a check up and he thinks it is good for me to have swimming exercises  as I am still in pain from the operation and limp when I am at home.