WatERPROOF: A case study about a black lab named Riley and his recovery from sudden paralysis. 

In April 2024, Riley, an energetic 11-year-old black Labrador Retriever, was diagnosed with Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD) after a sudden loss of use of his hind legs. Despite his veterinarian’s initial recommendation for euthanasia, Riley’s owner sought alternative treatments.  Not much, if any progress was made with massage, laser therapy, and acupuncture with a rehab veterinarian.

In July 2024, as a last resort, Riley began swimming sessions at MerMutts twice per week for 50 minute sessions.  The buoyancy of the water reduced the strain on his spine and joints, allowing for more effective and pain-free movement. Riley swam well and had great extension in his hind legs.  This aimed to strengthen his muscles and improve his overall mobility.

Riley’s recovery was tracked through several key milestones:

• Initial Strength Gains: Riley first demonstrated increased strength by pulling his front end up from a lying position.
• Walking Again: A few weeks into the therapy, Riley astounded his owner by getting up completely on his own and walking from the bedroom all the way to the kitchen.
• Independence: Riley’s progress continued, and he eventually walked out of the pool building unassisted, making his way to the grass to urinate.
• Normal Function: Riley can now get up, walk on his own, sit down in a more controlled fashion, and even have bowel movements independently.

Riley’s case demonstrates the potential benefits of warm water swimming for dogs in treating the symptoms of complex conditions like IVDD. Riley now enjoys a significantly improved quality of life, much to the delight and relief of his dedicated owner.

WatERPROOF: A case study about a maltese named Frosty and the strengthening of his hips and knees through swimming.

Frosty, an 11-year-old Maltese, was experiencing significant mobility and age 6, he was diagnosed with luxating patellas.  Surgery was recommended, but the owner wanted to take a conservative approach. They also noticed his hips started to weaken and one would even dislocate occasionally, causing him to stop abruptly until his owner could manually reposition it. These conditions had severely impacted his quality of life, making it difficult for him to walk and to navigate stairs. His condition was further complicated by muscle loss in his hind legs and slight weight gain.

In January 2024, Frosty was introduced to swimming with a swim vest to provide buoyancy and build his confidence. Initially, he was apprehensive and could only manage a few laps before becoming breathless.  While not super enthusiastic about swimming, he did well enough that his owner felt confident that this would benefit him over time.

Frosty’s swim time was gradually increased during each 25 minute session. The swim vest was eventually removed as he became more confident and exhibited improved swimming abilities. Initially weak in his hind end, Frosty’s strength and stamina progressively improved with consistent weekly swims.

 After many months of regular warm water swimming, Frosty showed remarkable improvement:

• He improved the number of laps he could swim with each weekly session.
• Currently, he is swimming for almost the entire duration of his sessions.
• He displays strong and confident swimming abilities.
• He has built confidence and strength in order to navigate stairs on his own.
• He lost weight and gained considerable muscle tone in his hind legs.
• Notably, his hip has not dislocated since his first swim session.

 Frosty’s case highlights the efficacy of warm water swimming in treating mobility issues related to hip dysplasia and luxating patellas. While neither condition will be healed, the muscle and strength built through swimming have allowed for improved quality of life where surgery was not a desired treatment plan.