• Everyday
    • Education
    • Neighborhood Notes
  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • Artist Profiles
    • Food Shopping
    • Local Farmers
    • Music
    • Restaurants
  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Thurston County Podcast
  • Featured Businesses
    • Around The House
    • Health Care
    • Local Retail Shops
    • Services
    • Women in Business
  • History
  • Photos
    • Community Events
    • Local Attractions
    • Sporting Events
  • Non-Profits
  • LocalTalk
  • Activities
    • Dogs & Pets
    • Family & Kids
    • Indoor
    • Outdoor
    • Gardening
    • Outdoor Recreation
    • Biking
    • Camping
    • Hiking
    • Running
    • Parks and Beaches
    • Thrifty Thurston
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
  • Podcast
Search
Friday, December 1, 2023
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
ThurstonTalk
  • Everyday
    • AllEducationNeighborhood Notes
      Policewoman kneeling a homeless camp with a person and lots of jugs of water around them.

      City of Lacey: Human Services and Homelessness Response

      people being served food at a food kitchen

      Where to Give Back for the Holidays: Thurston County Nonprofits

      kids on a beach looking at the sand with a square outline on it

      Community Partners Make Outdoor STEM Field Studies Possible for North Thurston…

      People in Public Service: Tumwater Middle School Teacher Tony Harris Keeps…

  • Sports
  • Food & Art
    • AllArtist ProfilesFood ShoppingLocal FarmersMusicRestaurants

      Authentic Italian Pizzeria in Olympia, Pizzeria La Gitana Invites you on…

      rows of wreaths with red bows hanging on hooks

      Deck Your Halls With Cheer From the Olympia Farmers Market

      aerial view of shoppers at Bayview for the Holiday Spirit Event

      Celebrate the Holidays at the Bayview and Ralph’s Thriftway Stores With…

      prime rib on a wooden board with a large cutting knife next to it

      Flaming Pig BBQ Brings the Holiday Fixings to You for a…

  • Community Channels
    • Around the House
      • Home Inspection Services
      • Insurance
        • Insurance Agent – Melanie Bakala
      • Real Estate Agents in Thurston County Covering Olympia Lacey Tumwater Yelm and beyond
    • Business Networking
      • Chamber
        • Chamber of Commerce
      • Economic Development Council
      • Rotary
        • Gateway Rotary
    • Community Talker
      • Instagram Article Feed
    • Health and Wellness
      • Hospital + Medical Center
      • Physical Therapy
    • Media Partners
      • Thurston Community Media
      • NorthAmericaTalk
    • Mentoring (Big Brothers Big Sisters)
    • Movies
    • Olympia Farmers Market
    • City, County and Government Information
      • People in Public Service
      • City of Lacey, Washington
      • City of Olympia, Washington
      • City of Tumwater, Washington
      • City of Yelm, Washington
      • City, County and Port Meetings
      • Port of Olympia
      • Thurston County Washington
    • Senior Life
      • Cemetery Products
      • In-Home Care
      • Senior Services for South Sound
    • Services
      • Auto Repair
      • Pet Emergency
    • South Puget Sound Community College
    • Thurston County Podcast
  • Featured Businesses
    • AllAround The HouseHealth CareLocal Retail ShopsServicesWomen in Business

      Find Last Minute Holiday Gifts at the Capital Mall

      . Mermaid Tails and Dolls

      Start and Finish Your Holiday Shopping at the International Mermaid Museum…

      N C Machinery's lacey branch building

      N C Machinery’s New Lacey Branch Will Make Getting Equipment for…

      a person dressed as Bigfoot kneeling by a house with a wrench on a spigot

      Olympic Plumbing Provides Free Water Heaters for Residents in Need

  • History
    • How Thurston County Celebrated Thanksgiving During the Great Depression

      Winged Victory Monument on Capitol Campus Honors World War I Veterans

      Celebrating a Baby Boomer’s Halloween in Olympia

      black-and-white photo of the Ray Theater in Olympia

      Thomas Bruce, Olympia Pipe Organist, Lived a Life of Music

      Thurston County Fair Became Harvest Festival During Great Depression

  • Photos
    • AllCommunity EventsLocal AttractionsSporting Events
      capital city pride

      Thousands Gather in Olympia to Celebrate Capital City Pride 2018

      procession species olympia

      Luminary Procession 2018: Lighting Up the Rainy Night in Downtown Olympia

      snowy winter scene

      ThurstonTalk Readers Capture Christmas Snow

      Twinklefest 2017

      Twinklefest 2017 Window Displays

  • Non-Profits
    • South Puget Sound Community College’s Clipper Athletic Events Offer Family-Friendly Opportunities…

      people being served food at a food kitchen

      Where to Give Back for the Holidays: Thurston County Nonprofits

      a group of people sitting cross legged on a wooden dock

      Support Local Nonprofits this November through the Annual Give Local Campaign

      Mission Nonprofit Spotlight: Three Little Pitties Rescue

      Mission Nonprofit Spotlight: Pierce County AIDS Foundation

  • LocalTalk
    • Jennifer Penrose headshot

      Penrose Physical Therapy in Lacey: ‘Eat for Joint Health & Lowering…

      Washington-Center-performing arts olympia

      The Washington Center for the Performing Arts Presents: ‘God Is a…

      Hood Canal

      Increased Outreach Efforts and Emergency Shelter Beds Offered November 24-29, 2023,…

      Razor clam

      Wdfw Approves Six Days of Coastal Razor Clam Digs Starting November…

      Westport Winery Earns Excellence in Business Award

  • Activities
    • AllDogs & PetsFamily & KidsIndoorOutdoorGardeningOutdoor RecreationBikingCampingHikingRunningParks and BeachesThrifty Thurston
      house covered in multicolored christmas lights with lots of Christmas displays in the yard.

      2023 Christmas Lights in Olympia and Throughout Thurston County

      close up of a group of skiers posing for the camera

      Olympia Ski Bus Provides Transportation for Thurston County Skiers

      people working on various weightlifting equipment at Steamboat Tennis and Athletic Club

      Steamboat Tennis & Athletic Club Expands Services to Include Massage, Peer…

      a bike rider on a paved trail surrounded by trees at The Evergreen State College

      Find Paved Walking Trails in Olympia at The Evergreen State College

  • Events
    • ground of people at a park with christmas lights and a mini horse

      City of Lacey Lights Up the Holidays With Annual Parade and…

      a person dressed as Bigfoot kneeling by a house with a wrench on a spigot

      Olympic Plumbing Provides Free Water Heaters for Residents in Need

      people taking horse drawn carriage rides in Downtown Olympia

      Downtown Olympia Is Your Home for the Holidays with LoveOly WinterFest

      young boy sitting on Santa's lap with a candy cane and a stuffed animal

      2023 Santa Photos Near Olympia and Throughout Thurston County

      smoked turkey on a plate

      Where to Get Thanksgiving Dinner in Olympia and Throughout Thurston County

    • Calendar
    • Post an Event
  • Calendar
  • Travel
    • Day Trips
    • Overnight Trips
  • Podcast
Home Dogs & Pets Shelby Walks On Water – Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation Helps Dogs Heal

Shelby Walks On Water – Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation Helps Dogs Heal

By
Doris Faltys
olympia hydrotherapy
Shelby exercises in the water therapy tank at Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation. The clinic is located inside Tumwater Veterinary Hospital.

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More
FacebookTweetPin

 

By Doris Faltys

olympia furniture“We tell people Shelby walks on water,” says owner Dennis King. “Shelby loves her hydrotherapy treatments.”

Dennis and his wife, Cheryl, bring Shelby, a golden retriever to Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation once a week for therapy that includes massage, cold laser, and hydrotherapy.

“She has had four surgeries,” says Cheryl. “The most recent operation added two plates and thirteen screws.”

“Shelby has multiple arthritic problems,” says Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation owner Dr. Gregg Bennett, DVM, of Tumwater Veterinary Hospital. “She literally does not have a good leg to stand on.”

dog hydrotherapy olympia
Dr. Gregg Bennett and Dana Gordon administer a range of motion exam on Shelby.

Dr. Bennett opened Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation within his Tumwater Veterinary Hospital in the fall of 2008. “It is common for dogs to develop arthritis as they get older,” Dr. Bennett explains. “For years, we have treated them with medications for pain and inflammation, but in many cases they reach a point where the medications no longer work and a pet begins to suffer. That often ends up with a dog being put to sleep. At some point I began to wonder what I could do differently – where alternative medicine can provide a choice.”

“The purpose of rehabilitation therapy is to help animals be more comfortable, recover from surgery, and improve quality of life,” continues Dr. Bennett.  “You cannot make a dog do something that hurts. You have to find ways to exercise that don’t involve more pain in the process and that is what water therapy does more than anything else. It gives us an ability to help strengthen their muscles when there is no other way to do it.”

Dr. Bennett first examines Shelby to determine and measure her range of motion improvement since last week. “Her range of motion has improved, and she is not reacting painfully with the knee joint,” he says.

hydrotherapy olympia
Dennis King and Dana Gordon watch Shelby complete her hydrotherapy at Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation.

The exam is over in a few minutes and Shelby is panting with excitement and eager to go into the water treatment room, pulling on her leash to lead the way.

“She is telling you what usually happens next,” Dennis tells me.

The water treatment chamber is a glass box with a treadmill floor. The chamber stands open at one end and Shelby walks in without any urging. Once the chamber door is closed, the treadmill floor begins to move and Shelby walks. Slowly, warm water begins to fill around her feet until it reaches a bit above hip height. Dana Gordon, Small Animal Massage Practitioner (SAMP) talks soothingly to Shelby and gives the dog a treat.

“Basically the primary idea is pain control. If you are recovering from surgery and you are in pain, the first thing is you stop using that part of the body. Less use means more atrophy – a vicious cycle. What water therapy provides is a way for a dog to exercise without stressing out their joints,” explains Dr. Bennett who once treated an African Clawed Frog that was having a hard time swimming.  The frog needed surgery to remove five large glass aquarium rocks it had swallowed.

olympia hydrotherapy
Dr. Bennett pets Shelby while discussing her care with owner, Cheryl King.

“We are looking at a way to maximize muscle use in relation to impact,” continues Dr. Bennett who has owned Tumwater Veterinary Hospital for 26 years. “Walking in water causes way less impact, because we can make an 80 pound dog, like Shelby, weigh 20 pounds in the water. She is actually putting a fraction of the weight on her legs. Twenty minutes of walking in the water is basically equivalent to two hours of walking. But, it is not even twenty minutes worth of impact. It is like five minutes of impact for two hours of walking.”

Dr. Bennett says that most dogs like water therapy as much as Shelby.  Many dogs are scared or confused in the beginning, as the floor starts moving and the water begins to fill the tank.  In the early stages, the dogs visit twice per week and then transition to a single weekly session to gain strength.  “It usually takes two or three visits to get to the point where they are pulling us into the treadmill like Shelby,” he adds.

“In some cases, it is not a pain issue, but a nerve damage issue. Dogs who have serious back problems, like a herniated disk, have been paralyzed and they have been dragging their back legs. Obviously some of them we can’t help because there has been too much damage. But some dogs, who are at that stage on dry land, we can take into the water and with the buoyancy of the water, they are able to take a step,” says Dr. Bennett, who has also treated wild animals including an albatross, bear cub and bat.

olympia hydrotherapy
Shelby exercises in the water therapy tank at Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation. The clinic is located inside Tumwater Veterinary Hospital.

Besides being fun, Dr. Bennett says that hydrotherapy is rewarding.  “I was looking at a dog walking in the water treadmill this morning, basically looking like a completely normal dog – legs moving, every step placed right where it should be.  Then, (the dog) gets out of the treadmill and can’t walk, but that is just a stage in the process. When we see that the signals are firing slowly but working, it is occupational therapy time. Dogs have to learn to walk again with what they’ve got. And the good news is that a lot of dogs can walk pretty well,” says Dr. Bennett, who knew in seventh grade that he wanted to work with animals.

“For most dogs there will be a little bit of a deficit, but they are happy and mobile and pain-free,” he summarizes.

Tumwater Veterinary Hospital also treats birds delivered to the practice by the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife.  Dr. Bennett provides free services to Raindancer Wild Bird Rescue.

To learn more about Four Paws Animal Rehabilitation, visit their website or call 360-753-7297.

 

Print Friendly, PDF & Email
FacebookTweetPin

Share via:

0 Shares
  • More
Previous articleFirstLight HomeCare Now Serving Clients of Olympic Home Care
Next articleOlympia Weekend Event Calendar
Doris Faltys

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

Policewoman kneeling a homeless camp with a person and lots of jugs of water around them.

City of Lacey: Human Services and Homelessness Response

people being served food at a food kitchen

Where to Give Back for the Holidays: Thurston County Nonprofits

kids on a beach looking at the sand with a square outline on it

Community Partners Make Outdoor STEM Field Studies Possible for North Thurston Public Schools Students

Upcoming Events

Dec
1
Fri
all-day Shelton Downtown Merchants PHOTO... @ Downtown Shelton
Shelton Downtown Merchants PHOTO... @ Downtown Shelton
Dec 1 all-day
Shelton Downtown Merchants PHOTO HUNT @ Downtown Shelton
📸 The Shelton Downtown Merchants’ holiday snapshot extravaganza returns! Don’t miss the SDM Photo Hunt! 🎉 Grab your camera, rally your crew, and join us for a weekend of photo fun that’s bound to capture[...]
View Calendar
Add
  • Add to Timely Calendar
  • Add to Google
  • Add to Outlook
  • Add to Apple Calendar
  • Add to other calendar
  • Export to XML

Local Community Sponsors

Local Community Sponsors

Business

Find Last Minute Holiday Gifts at the Capital Mall

During the holidays it’s easy to forget something. Maybe you forgot that White Elephant party at work or that your brother...
. Mermaid Tails and Dolls

Start and Finish Your Holiday Shopping at the International Mermaid Museum...

N C Machinery's lacey branch building

N C Machinery’s New Lacey Branch Will Make Getting Equipment for...

a person dressed as Bigfoot kneeling by a house with a wrench on a spigot

Olympic Plumbing Provides Free Water Heaters for Residents in Need

a warm-toned kitchen space.

Lifespan Construction’s Expertise and Smart Designs Make it Easy for Olympia...

Trending Now

house covered in multicolored christmas lights with lots of Christmas displays in the yard.

2023 Christmas Lights in Olympia and Throughout Thurston County

Policewoman kneeling a homeless camp with a person and lots of jugs of water around them.

City of Lacey: Human Services and Homelessness Response

ground of people at a park with christmas lights and a mini horse

City of Lacey Lights Up the Holidays With Annual Parade and...

Editor Picks

Find Last Minute Holiday Gifts at the Capital Mall

a person dressed as Bigfoot kneeling by a house with a wrench on a spigot

Olympic Plumbing Provides Free Water Heaters for Residents in Need

young boy sitting on Santa's lap with a candy cane and a stuffed animal

2023 Santa Photos Near Olympia and Throughout Thurston County

Recent Posts

  • Penrose Physical Therapy in Lacey: ‘Eat for Joint Health & Lowering Your Inflammation!’
  • Find Last Minute Holiday Gifts at the Capital Mall
  • South Puget Sound Community College’s Clipper Athletic Events Offer Family-Friendly Opportunities To Share Its Pride
  • Start and Finish Your Holiday Shopping at the International Mermaid Museum in Aberdeen
  • City of Lacey: Human Services and Homelessness Response
ABOUT US
ThurstonTalk is a community social network delivering positive stories about what it’s like to live, work and play in Thurston County Washington, including Olympia, Lacey, Tumwater, Yelm, Tenino and the surrounding area. Advertise with ThurstonTalk. Brand your business and tell your story to your target market.
Contact us: info@thurstontalk.com
FOLLOW US
  • About
    • Story
    • Team
    • Company News
    • Contact
    • Terms of Use
  • Advertise
    • How our Olympia advertising works
    • Launch a Campaign
    • Grow your Audience
    • Measure the Results
    • Company News
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Community Calendar
    • Articles
    • List an Event
  • I5 Traffic Cameras
© ThurstonTalk, Inc.
Share via
Facebook
X (Twitter)
LinkedIn
Mix
Email
Print
Copy Link
Powered by Social Snap
Copy link
CopyCopied
Powered by Social Snap
Edit with Live CSS
Save
Write CSS OR LESS and hit save. CTRL + SPACE for auto-complete.