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Southview Veterinary Hospital - Small Animal 052 6121429
Southview Veterinary Hospital - Farm 052 6121429

Molly

Molly was recently diagnosed with arthritis in both her left and right hip. She started to become stiff and sore, especially coming into the winter months. Molly was also struggling with her weight and her energy levels started to decrease.

She was started on a course of cartrophen injections and referred for physiotherapy and hydrotherapy. Molly’s starting weight was 18.7 kg, her ideal weight was 14kg. Molly was started on a special diet and exercise plan to help her manage her pain, build up strength and lose weight. Targets were set every week for Molly of appropriate weight loss which was monitored closely by our veterinary nurse along with weekly weigh ins and diet monitoring. Both the diet and exercise plan was adjusted accordingly as Molly progressed.

She started a six week course of hydrotherapy/ physiotherapy to help manage her arthritic pain, lose weight while building up strength, improving her mobility and exercise tolerance. Molly’s treatment consisted of soft tissue massage to address areas of compensation, laser therapy/ heat therapy to help manage her arthritis, strengthening and endurance exercises along with hydrotherapy which greatly assisted molly in her weight loss journey.

 

Hydrotherapy helped to manage Molly’s arthritic pain while improving her mobility and exercise tolerance. Molly’s weight was monitored on a regular basis. Over the course of six months Molly’s weight continued to decrease while she continued to build up strength.

Molly now weighs 14kg and is looking and feeling better than ever. Molly comes in for regular physiotherapy and hydrotherapy sessions to help control her arthritic pain and maintain her strength, which she worked hard to build over a number of weeks.

‘Molly attitude suddenly changed.  She couldn’t jump into the car anymore or even jump up onto the sofa onto my lap. She started to get slow and stiff when she was getting up first thing in the morning. The way she walked started to change and she began walking with her hind legs off to the side.  We then started physiotherapy and hydrotherapy at Southview with Leonie for a number of weeks. She is like a new pup now, full of life and attitude. Molly loves coming in for her regular swimming sessions.’

From Ruth and Molly

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