If you have a downed doxie, hydrotherapy will undoubtedly become a big part of your life. This was definitely the case in our situation with Greta. At the recommendation of our vet, we began daily hydrotherapy sessions in our bathtub as soon as her sutures were removed two weeks post-surgery. In the beginning, the primary purpose was to take pressure off of Greta's spine. We also sat on the edge of the tub for endless repetitions of "bicycle legs" to help her maintain muscle tone in her back limbs.
After three months, we achieved a big breakthrough when she took her first wobbly steps in the bath! The buoyancy of the water allowed her to stand and walk long before she was able to regain her mobility outside the tub. From then on, we used treats to coax her into walking back and forth in the tub.
There are professional hydrotherapy / aquatic rehab centers for animals, but the expense of Greta's surgery left us with extremely limited resources. Fortunately, she's a small dog and our clawfoot tub was huge! Kiddie pools are also another option for people doing home hydrotherapy. Check out the following sites for more information about helping your doxie with home hydrotherapy:
http://www.dodgerslist.com/literature/watertherapy.htm
http://www.abledogs.net/poppy.html
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