Tails of Rye Canine Physical Therapy

First visit here. Dimitra was enthusiastically recommended to me by two friends and our favorite vet tech (who also has a Rottie that has been through paralysis and ACL surgery the following year). We came for a consult, and she spent more than the originally scheduled hour with us. Oops, we didn’t mean to cut into the next client’s time space!
First greeted at the door by Bekah. She has a Rottie too. Argo is surrounded by lovers of the breed; he in turn greeted Bekah with his trademarked big smooches and Rottie lean when she rubbed near his nubby tail. Nearly knocked the poor woman over. LOL
We filled out the new client form while waiting for Dimitra. Really nice, easy going lady. Got right down on the floor with Argo, after laying down some cushy pads and started an extremely thorough exam. Had a long discussion about his past medical history, and current issues, which don’t just include the recent amputation. He’s got a lumbar spine problem (acupuncture and chiropractic last week helped) and the extra strain on the remaining front leg is exacerbating a previous injury. Dimitra found that he’s got a groin pull, which is making his back pain worse. We think it happened when he slipped at the top of the backyard ramp after a heavy rain — did a full on Bambi-​on-​ice spread eagle. My poor stoic beast!
Someone else was using the water treadmill, which is the goal, to try strengthen his back and foreleg without gravity making it more difficult. But Dimitra suggested some cold laser therapy in the interim, to try help with the pain and inflammation. He gets heat laser and massage at our vet clinic on Friday. Will go back next week for more cold laser and try the treadmill. Might take a few (okay a lot) treats and/​or tennis balls to get him in the tank. Hopefully I can get some video of that! ;)
As we were going out, Dimitra came out too. Her next client was waiting in the car — smallish chocolate Lab with hind end paralysis. She lifted the lovely creature out of the car, went down on one knee with the dog bent over the upright knee, squeezed on either size of the lumbar spine and got the dog to void her bladder. It was fascinating to see. You don’t think about having to do things like that for your pet, unless you see it, or are faced with the situation. Hope not to ever be in the situation (knock wood), but I said that about bone cancer too.