Harriet...
I’m doing PT on Willis, does that count. His left shoulder muscles have atrophied due to his Valley Fever and is extremely sunken in.
I’m trying very hard to build those muscles up but it’s very slow going. Vet says the more he uses it the stronger it will get, but at 114* here today and most other days with high temps walking him is impossible. I do swim him, but he lonely uses his 3 legs and just lets his left front leg drag. However he does have to use it to push off the steps to get out which the vet says is good for him.
Nutrition is important as my vet says protein and fat will help rebuild the muscle but Willis has become more finicky than a cat when eat!!!
However since February I’ve been able to get him to regain 6 lbs. We were at the vets on Tuesday and Kern, my vet, said Willis’ recovery is nothing but remarkable. I felt like a kid being praised by a parent because I have so much respect and admiration for her.
Now I am also putting a heating pad on Willis leg and shoulder for 15 minutes twice a day and then I massage it after that.
It will be interesting to see how close the PT is for humans and dogs.
When Norma contacted Valley Fever this past winter, both she and Willis were on the same meds