This Christmas season, we’re celebrating a remarkable milestone with two of our superstar patients. Each of these beloved fur babies has recently completed 100 aqua treadmill sessions—a testament to their enthusiasm and their owners' dedication.
Both were born on different continents and have had very different lives leading up to them starting rehabilitation with us at Active Pet Rehabilitation.
Zach’s joy for life and adventurous spirit saw his hind legs in trouble from an early age—first with OCD, then gopher hunting. We first met Zach when he was 12 1/2 years old and a rehab veteran on two continents. He had recently torn a meniscus, and his folks were concerned that another surgery would be too much for him.
Yuki was diagnosed with hip dysplasia at 18 months of age and with her Arctic genes, she was always a determined distance hiker. One of the questions we ask every pet owner on their first visit is their goals for their furry family member. Yuki’s mum identified for her to be as pain-free as possible for as long as possible. Our aim for Yuki was to improve her muscle bulk over her hips to keep them secure in their sockets and allow more comfortable movement.
Zach recently celebrated his 14th Birthday, and Yuki will be 8 years
old at the end of December.
We spoke with Zach and Yuki’s owners to learn what motivated them to commit to this journey and how these sessions have transformed their pets' lives.
Read on to discover their inspiring stories!
On the Rehab Team
““Carmel and her team are truly caring and passionate about the wellbeing of the dogs they care for. Zach has always formed a special bond with his rehab team.””
““You guys are amazing! The social aspect and knowledge are the most rewarding. Each team member brings different ideas for her rehab, and we love that.””
On Milestones and Memories
““The Halloween and Christmas photos with Zach dressed up are beautiful. He has the biggest smile, and we’ll cherish those moments forever.””
““Seeing Yuki respond differently to each team member has been fascinating. She’ll lay down for dry therapies with Stef but prefers walking in the treadmill with Carmel.””
On Advice to Other Pet Owners
““Aqua treadmill is the gold standard for rehab after surgeries or injuries and for maintaining senior pets’ mobility. We’d never consider rehab without it.””
““If in doubt, just do it to see if it helps. It can only ever be good—it won’t make things worse.””
On Unexpected Benefits
““We weren’t sure if rehab would work after his meniscal tear, but the improvement in his mobility has been remarkable. Aqua treadmill was the key.””
““Rehab has helped Yuki stay active and enjoy outdoor activities, which wouldn’t have been possible otherwise. It’s been life-changing for her.””
To read Zach’s full story and learn more about how rehabilitation has transformed his life, click the link below.
Inspired by Zach and Yuki’s milestones? Discover how aqua treadmill therapy can make a difference for your pet. Contact us to learn more or book a consultation today!
Know someone who would like to read about these stellar pets and dedicated owners? Feel free to share their stories.