The senior German Shepherds of Woody's Place Senior German Shepherd Sanctuary have been extremely fortunate to receive high-quality laser and hydrotherapy with Petra Ford and her wonderful staff at Aqua Paws Rehabilitation in Flanders, New Jersey. We've taken our dogs for short-term treatment and long-term care, such as Brandi and Libby, who look forward to their bi-monthly "spa day."
Why is physical therapy important to our senior German Shepherds? Just like people, our senior dogs start to slow down as they age and lose mobility due to natural wear and tear of joints, or from sustaining an injury, and even from gaining weight. At this stage of their lives, it is essential to keep them as active as possible, even if it means taking short, frequent walks throughout the day, but sometimes that's easier said than done due to limitations such as pain or injury, and this is where physical therapy helps our dogs stay as comfortable and mobile as possible.
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Typically, when we have a resident senior German Shepherd who has mobility issues, we have them diagnosed with our veterinarian. In Libby's case, she has spinal stenosis, and Brandi has elbow dysplasia in her front left leg. Once they are diagnosed, we then come up with a treatment plan which includes physical therapy. That's where Aqua Paws Rehabilitation comes in.
During our first visit to Aqua Paws Rehabilitation, we had a consultation to discuss the diagnosis with owner Petra Ford, P.T., CCRT (Certified Canine Rehabilitation Therapist), and she put together a treatment plan for us, which includes massage, laser therapy, and hydrotherapy among other treatments, and then we get to work implementing the treatment plan.
The benefits of our senior German Shepherds receiving massage, laser, and hydrotherapy include but are not limited to:
Speedier recovery from injury
Reduced level of pain
Increased strength
Better muscle condition
Better range of motion
Improved balance
Weight loss
Better quality of life
The process, which is about an hour for each dog, starts with a massage, then laser therapy, followed by more massage, then hydrotherapy (with or without jets), and finally, a rub down to dry off. And, of course, we stop to get a yummy snack before making the hour-long trek back home.
Our overall goal is to keep our resident senior German Shepherds as happy and comfortable as possible for as long as possible, and Petra and her staff help us do just that. Our dogs always have a little more "pep in their step" after their visit. Aqua Paws Rehabilitation.
Aqua Paws Rehabilitation
5 River Rd Flanders, NJ 07836
973) 732-7085 Business
HOURS
MONDAY: 5:00PM TO 9:00PM TUESDAY: 11:00AM TO 9:00PM WEDNESDAY: 10:30AM TO 9:00PM THURSDAY: 2:00 PM TO 9:00 PM FRIDAY: 11:00AM TO 9:00PM SATURDAY & SUNDAY: CLOSED
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