Canine Rehabilitation Exercises After Rear Leg Amputation & Back Surgery

It has become common practice for humans to do physical therapy after a surgery, injury or other procedure, and now the idea is spreading to veterinary care. Many veterinary hospitals offer physical therapy for dogs, and you can do some rehabilitation exercises at home with your pet. A dog that has undergone back surgery and a rear limb amputation can benefit from physical therapy. Usually a dog that has undergone back surgery needs cage rest for several days immediately after the surgery. Then the dog can benefit from at-home and in-hospital physical therapy exercises to regain range of motion in the remaining limbs, as well as learn to function without the amputated back leg.

  1. Range-of-Motion Exercises

    • The dog should be comfortable and relaxed.

      Range-of-motion exercises involve moving the dog's limbs for the animal, to lengthen the muscles and prevent atrophy. You can do these exercises at home or in the clinic. During range-of-motion exercises, the dog lays on its side while the therapist or owner moves each leg forward and back, left to right, and in gentle circles through the joint's range of motion. Repeat these exercises for each limb. Range-of-motion exercises are especially important while the animal is on cage rest. Maintaining range of motion also benefits a dog that has lost one leg, because of the extra strain placed on the remaining legs.

    Water Treadmill

    • Specially designed canine water treadmills are available at some pet physical therapy offices. Submerging the dog in water takes pressure off the animal's joints because the water makes it more buoyant. Submersion also helps to relieve some swelling in joints after surgery. A dog who has lost a leg can relearn to walk with the aid of the water's buoyancy. The water also relieves some of the pressure on the dog's back.

    Gait Training

    • During gait training, the canine rehabilitation therapist, or CRT, works with the dog to improve its movement while walking. This exercise is often done on a canine treadmill. The CRT helps the dog correct its gait through limb placement and balancing exercises. This is especially important for dogs that have lost a leg and need to re-learn how to walk with only three limbs. You can do gait training exercises after or at the same time as water treadmill exercises.

    Swimming

    • Only use swimming for rehabilitation if the dog is comfortable in water.

      Swimming can help the dog strengthen its limbs without the effort of supporting its own weight. For at-home swim therapy, put the dog in a bathtub filled with warm water. While the dog swims with its front legs, support the dog's weight with one hand under the abdomen and move the back leg gently in a swimming motion with the other hand. Use this therapy only with dogs that know how to swim and are comfortable in the water.

    Massage

    • The dog probably will enjoy its massage therapy the most.

      Massaging the dog's muscles after therapy exercises can help release tension in muscle and connective tissue. You can perform a massage at home, or a CRT can do it in a clinic. A dog that has lost a rear leg probably will develop extra tension in the remaining back limb because of the compensation in balance while walking. Massage also helps with any pain the dog is experiencing in relation to the back surgery. And regular massage sessions can help prevent future physical injuries.