13 years, 2009
9-20-22 Initial report
Background
SUPPLEMENTS: Omega oils, cosequin
FOOD: Purina senior
ACTIVITIES: walks
INJURIES: Left Tricep pulled June 2021
EQUIPMENT ACCESS: Low objects – dog bed, propel, foam pads,
Short term goals Laser & massage therapy to promote muscle circulation and pain control. Build core strength for balance and forelimb balance, lengthen stance about 1 cm. Build backend muscle and pelvic floor. Side step 3 steps in a row, currently 1 step
Checkpoint Posture Assessment
hold a stand for ten seconds without sitting or lying down? yes
shifting more weight onto their forelimbs? Shifts more weight on the right forelimb about 30%, wide stance, straight shoulders
shifting more weight onto their hindlimbs? yes, right back leg about 20%
Are they avoiding putting a good deal of weight on one of their limbs? Weak left forelimb
What does their topline look like? Mostly flat with slight dip
Checkpoint Exercise Assessment
Standing Still: Yes 1min+, short stance, left forearm will begin to rotate when fatigued
Stand with Head Tilt Up: yes
Backing Up: slow, but can only do a few steps
Sit to Stands: n/a
Elevated Sit: n/a
Down: n/a
Plank (duration & Equipment): Low equipment, 10-20 seconds
Walk: Slow gait, back right foot legs, front feet quick, short strides
SUMMARY:
OVERACTIVE MUSCLES: chest, shoulders, neck. Forearms much tighter on the right side. Very tight.
UNDERACTIVE MUSCLES: core and back legs/hamstrings
NOTES: Arthritis. Doesn’t like car rides, so limited to home and neighborhood
Primary – core & pelvic floor
Secondary – forelimb
Below are the progress photos. Weight shifts more to the right forelimb (left one was pulled), also shifting more weight in the backend, compensating.
Measurement Tracking
| Date | 9/20 | 10/31 | 12/22 | 1/23 |
| Weight | 47 | |||
| Chest | 66cm | 64 | 63.5 | 65 |
| Waist | 53 | 51 | 50.8 | 49.5 |
| Thigh R/L | 25.5/side | 26/25 | 24/s | 24 |
Warm Up & Cool Down Routine
Warm Up with side stepping, backing up, toss and run, walking, uphill walking, etc for 2-10 minutes
Cool Down with massage, high paws up on klimb, bow, cookies stretches for neck, quad stretches. 2-10 minutes
Red Light Laser Therapy when possible 2-3 times a week
Massage daily or as much as possible forearm, shoulder, chest area to break up scar tissue and promote circulation.
Session 1 Homework 9-20-22:
starting with building up core strength and form for the next 6 weeks. The core is the Powerhouse and will help alleviate with the tricep compensation weight shifting as it gets stronger. Massage in the chest, neck, shoulder areas to help break up scar tissue. Currently feels about 2 eggs shaped knotted, sensitive to touch.
Backing up one steps – 5-10
Paws up, 30 secs, 2 rounds
Stand with head tilt up & back, 5-10
Stand for 30 seconds, 2 rounds
2-4x/week
Hill walks 4x/week 20 minutes
Session 2 Homework:
starting with building up core strength and form for the next 6 weeks. The core is the Powerhouse and will help alleviate with the tricep compensation weight shifting as it gets stronger. Massage in the chest, neck, shoulder areas to help break up scar tissue. Currently feels about 2 eggs shaped knotted, sensitive to touch.
Side stepping, 1 each side, Goal is 2-3 per side
Paws up wobbleboard on dog bed, 4-10 times, 10 seconds
Stand with side to side head tilts, 4-10/side
Standing tummy tickles, 5 reps
2-4x/week
Hill walks 4x/week 20 minutes
Notes: Side steps easier to the left. Left forearm rotates on paws up on wobbleboard, stabilize on top of dog bed for security.
Session 3 Homework:
starting with building up core strength and form for the next 6 weeks. The core is the Powerhouse and will help alleviate with the tricep compensation weight shifting as it gets stronger. Massage in the chest, neck, shoulder areas to help break up scar tissue. Currently feels about 2 eggs shaped knotted, sensitive to touch.
Backing up one steps, 5-10 reps
Paws up head tilts up and down, 5-10 each
Standing weight shifts hips, 1 minute
Standing tummy tickles, 10 reps
2-4x/week
Notes: Took a longer walk in the evening to a neighborhood watch party at the park and started showing stiffness a couple of days later and tightness in triceps, so has been taking it easy as she was having trouble moving around. So far no accidents in the house though since beginning the program (3 weeks)
Session 4 Homework:
starting with building up core strength and form for the next 6 weeks. The core is the Powerhouse and will help alleviate with the tricep compensation weight shifting as it gets stronger. Massage in the chest, neck, shoulder areas to help break up scar tissue. Currently feels about 2 eggs shaped knotted, sensitive to touch.
Side Stepping, 1/side, building up 2 per side
Paws up head tilts up and down, 5-10 each
Standing weight shifts hips, 1 minute
Standing tummy tickles, 10 reps
2-4x/week
Notes: Repeating last week’s workout since she didn’t get a chance to do it. Had accident in house first time since starting program (3 weeks)
Session 5 Homework:
starting with building up core strength and form for the next 6 weeks. The core is the Powerhouse and will help alleviate with the tricep compensation weight shifting as it gets stronger. Massage in the chest, neck, shoulder areas to help break up scar tissue. Currently feels about 2 eggs shaped knotted, sensitive to touch.
Backing Up
Back feet paws up hold, 10 seconds
Standing weight shifts, hips & forelimbs, 30 seconds per section
2-4x/week
Standing tummy tickles, 20 reps (do throughout day)
Notes: Hard time backing up. Back legs staying stationary or hardly moving back and scrunches up. Mental & physical challenging. 1 Accident in house this week.
Session 6 Homework
starting with building up core strength and form for the next 6 weeks. The core is the Powerhouse and will help alleviate with the tricep compensation weight shifting as it gets stronger. Massages in the chest, neck, shoulder areas to help break up scar tissue. Currently feels about 2 eggs shaped knotted, sensitive to touch.
Toss & Throw Game, 2-4 minutes
Back feet paws up hold, 10 seconds
Standing weight shifts, hips & forelimbs, 1 minute per section
2-4x/week
Standing tummy tickles, 30 reps throughout day
Notes: core is starting to feel tighter!
Progress Check In 10-31-22:
Endurance has built up greatly, walking better and longer. About 10 minutes to 30 minutes longer. Not hearing the dragging of her back foot as much, less tripping. Left forearm is still weak with rotations. Will continue working on strength exercises within her limit. Has lost 2 cm around chest & waist. Still working on pelvic floor issues, and maybe seems to have a little less accidents. Worried about weight loss and don’t want her to get any skinnier, adding in another meal time and not as long of walks.
Measurements 10-31-22:
right back leg – 26cm
left back leg – 25cm
waist – 51cm
chest – 64cm
weight – 45lbs
Long term goals– Not lose muscle & mobility, strengthen pelvic floor. Make life more comfortable and not get worse. Help her maintain her strength so she can get up and down easier and strengthen the pelvic floor so less accidents. New goals – worried about weight loss and don’t want her to get any skinnier, adding in another meal time and not as long of walks. Continue working on core strength more before putting more focus on the forelimbs.
Short term goals Laser & massage therapy to promote muscle circulation and pain control. Build core strength for balance and forelimb balance, lengthen stance about 1 cm. Build backend muscle and pelvic floor. Side step 3 steps in a row, currently 2 steps New goals, side step 3 steps, currently 2. Getting her to take her joint supplement daily and massage daily or 4x per week. Even Up back legs, 1cm difference.
New Check in Date 12-12-22
Next 6 weeks - repeat sessions 1-6 (holiday season)
Holiday Season is coming up and owner will be working more. Since we want to see her core strength build up more before progressing onto the forelimbs let’s repeat the last 6 weeks from the top. Focusing more on form and duration.
Since it is colder out and worried about weight loss we want to focus more on completing the exercises 4 times per week and not as long of walks.
Need to add in massages DAILY even for short amount of time focusing on neck, chest and shoulder area to work on breaking up that scar tissue, currently about 2 eggs shapes, want to get down to 1 egg shape. We’ll check back in 12-12-22
Progress Check In 12-12-22:
Core feels much tighter! Back isn’t as arched. Has been moving a lot more, getting up easier. Not as much rotation in the left forelimb. Shifting about 20% of weight instead of 30% to the right forelimb. Going to start working more on strength exercises for the next 6 weeks more on the forelimbs now that core strength has built up to help stabilize the left forelimb. Scar tissue 2 egg shape seems to be about 1 egg shape now! Pelvic floor issues still ongoing though seems like she has a little more control to get closer to the door. Continue adding in extra meal time.
Measurements 12-12-22, skipped since we’re seeing progress in more movement and less tightness, will do next time!
Long term goals– Not lose muscle & mobility, strengthen pelvic floor. Make life more comfortable and not get worse. Help her maintain her strength so she can get up and down easier and strengthen the pelvic floor so less accidents. New Goals – Going to start working more on strength exercises for the next 6 weeks more on the forelimbs now that core strength has built up to help stabilize the left forelimb.
Short term goals Laser & massage therapy to promote muscle circulation and pain control. Build core strength for balance and forelimb balance, lengthen stance about 1 cm. Build backend muscle and pelvic floor. Side step 3 steps in a row, currently 2 steps. Side step 3 steps, currently 2. Getting her to take her joint supplement daily – found out she likes it better seperatly not in her food as has been taking it. and massage daily or 4x per week. 2 egg shape has went down to 1 egg shape – . New goals – lose 1 egg shape, Even Up back legs, 1cm difference, work on balancing on stance.
New Check in Date 1-23-23
session 7
- Spin/Turn, 1-2 each direction big circles
- One Step Back Ups to Target, 5 reps
- Stand, 30 second hold
- Paws Up, 30 second hold
Notes: backing up is still a challenge, left leg is slower
session 8
- Wrap Around Cone, 2 each direction
- Side Step, 3 reps
- Standing Tummy Tickles, 1 minute hold
- Paws Up look side to side, 1 minute hold
Notes: side stepping still challenging physically, but seems to be doing better mentally. Core is feeling much tighter with the tummy tickles! Thought she was constipated at first it seemed so much tighter then before!
session 9
- Toss and Run Game, 2 minutes
- Back Off of Target, 5 reps
- Back Paws Up Hold, 10 seconds
- Paws Up Neck Reaches Up, 10 reps
- Paws Up Neck Reaches Down, 5 reps
Notes: enjoyed the toss and run game a lot. Backing up off of yoga mat was challenging.
Session 10
- Figure 8 Wrap Around Cones, 2 minutes
- Side Step, 3 reps/side
- Standing Saws, 1 minute
- Paws Ups look side to side, 1 minute
Notes: more tightness looking to the right side or not as much range of motion.
Session 11
- Step Across Platform, 1 minute
- Back Feet Paws Up Hold, 20 Seconds
- Paws Up Look Up, 20 reps
- Half Pivots, 2 steps each way
Notes: struggled with half pivots, moving to the left was harder, did about 2 steps each way
Session 12
- Side Stepping to Backing Up Alternating, 2 minutes
- Back Paws Up Hold, 30 seconds
- Paws Up Wrap Around Cone, 2 minutes
- Plank, 30 seconds
Notes: the side step to back up drill was good mentally for her, back right leg still seems delayed.
Progress Check In 1-23-23:
Measurements 1-23-23
right back leg – 24cm
left back leg – 24cm
waist – 50.8
chest – 63.5
weight –
Long term goals– Not lose muscle & mobility, strengthen pelvic floor. Make life more comfortable and not get worse. Help her maintain her strength so she can get up and down easier and strengthen the pelvic floor so less accidents. worried about weight loss and don’t want her to get any skinnier, adding in another meal time and not as long of walks. Can no longer feel the egg shape scar tissue!! New goals – start focusing more on the forelimbs now that core strength has built up and scar tissue has gone away. Also work on neck mobility, feel tightness there.
Short term goals Laser & massage therapy to promote muscle circulation and pain control. Build core strength for balance and forelimb balance, lengthen stance about 1 cm. Build backend muscle and pelvic floor. Side step 3 steps in a row, currently 3 steps, but struggles. Getting her to take her joint supplement daily and massage daily or 4x per week. Even Up back legs, 1cm difference. New goals – focus on massage hip area now as well to help with the right back leg drag delay.
New Check in Date 3-14-23
session 13
walks, massages and quad stretches this week daily.
Notes: Slipped on step coming inside because she was running. Seems fine, no limping, but moving slowly.
session 14
- Step Across 2 Spaced Out Platforms, 2 minutes
- Side Stepping, 3/side
- Plank look side to side, 1 minute
- Standing Manual Leg Lifts, 5-10 seconds each
Notes: not able to pick up the front legs without losing control.
Disclaimer: Fitness with Fido only offers canine conditioning. Rehabilitation programs and the diagnosis and treatment of illness and disease are not provided. All participants of canine conditioning activities and programs should be cleared by their veterinarian before beginning. When/if concerns are noted during the course of conditioning, clients will be directed to seek care from the appropriate certified professional (Veterinarian, chiropractor, etc.) Results may vary dog to dog.
