We got the suggestion, that the movement of our Ali is not correct, already during the youth presentation happening during the summer wolfdog camp in Lazne Belohrad, Czech republic. I had already my doubts about her wavy movement, but the cruel truth was fully revealed after first set of X-rays in her 9 months of age. Ali had rather strong hip dysplasia. We made new X-rays in her 11 months of age at the University Veterinary clinic in Liége, Belgium and the result was shocking. According to the Belgian veterinarians, during the two months since the first x-rays were taken, Ali´s dysplasia worsened for one full degree! I did not think that possible, however it was clear fact, that she had severe hip dysplasia and there was already arthrosis seen on the bones.
Now what? The veterinarians excluded the possibility of corrective operation; they said that would have been possible in Ali´s eight, maybe nine months of age. But not anymore. Now we have two options – either to preserve the dog, make short walks only, give all the chondroprotectives for the joints and make sure the dog does not do anything exhaustive. Or, on the contrary, we can work with the dog, train his muscles well, so that they can carry him around without problems. And support the joints with the chondroprotectives. However, possibly the problems with the hips will come back, and the more active the dog is, the sooner. It was clear to me, that to keep a one year old wolfdog in calm and peaceful state adequate to 11 years old dog is practically impossible. So we chose the other variant – train the dog so much, that it can live full, but perhaps shorter life. (Shorter because according to the veterinarians, the time when the dysplasia will worsen so much, that Ali might have problems to walk or get up, might come faster, than if the spent her life just walking round the block.)

In Liége they also suggested us to visit hydrotherapeutic centre for dogs. By moving in the water and by swimming the dog can perfectly train its muscles, without having to carry his own weight and put effort on his joints. We checked all the informations, asked our veterinarian for necessary permissions and went on to visit the centre.
The new hydroterapeuthical centre is located in small Belgian village Chaumont-Gistoux not far from Bruxelles. It is equipped by pool, Jacuzzi and other tools and ready to help dogs (and cats) from their pains, over weight and to build muscles that the animal had lost after operation, illness or movement troubles. Dozens of animals already went through the hands of Paola Zappa, the lady who owns and runs the centre. "I co-operate with the veterinarians, before the hydrotherapy the owner must bring a certificate, that the veterinarian had seen the animal and agreed with the hydrotherapy as treatment," explains Zappa. „It is necessary to know exactly, what kind of problems the animal has and to set the therapy treatment according to it. Sometimes we also add acupuncture treatment." The size, breed or sex of the animals is irrelevant. Hydrotherapy helps to all of them.

Hydrotherapy is a form of training, when the animal is carried by the water while it works, and therefore works out its muscles, without having to carry his own weight. One training lasts normally about one hour, it is usually advised to train twice a week. The presence of the owner is more than welcome, because who else should support and calm the dog in his efforts! Especially during the first session, the dog can be nervous or stressed, he does not know what it is all about, what is expected of him and needs to feel the support of his owner. The session starts usually in the Jacuzzi with water about 40°C warm, where the dog warms up his muscles and relaxes. After this he continues his training in the pool all in the water treadmill. The training ends again in the Jacuzzi, where the animal has chance to relax. The pool with temperature of 30°C is equipped with two streams, which allow training in various levels. The dogs are swimming, but at the same time they build muscles, depending on their handicap. Not every dog is excellent swimmer and some of them have to learn first. The water treadmill is great beginning for them. The dog is walking through the water on a treadmill, he carries then only a small part of his weight and it supports his rehabilitation and preserves his joints.

Ali decided the whole hydrotherapy is a great fun. The first session was rather demanding, because neither us, neither the dog knew, what will be going on. Ali had met Paola, the hydrotherapeut, she looked around all the rooms and then she waited, what will happen next. She started her training on the water treadmill. Ali boarded the treadmill, we closed the doors behind her and warm water started to flow in from the bottom of the tank. Ali was rather surprised, but we were with her and we praised her a lot, so she decided this was going to be some kind of new funny game. The therapist filled the tank to height of Ali´s elbows and then she started the treadmill. Ali had to walk in the water. At the beginning, she was not sure about the whole thing, but after few minutes she got the right rhythm and she pretended it was all a "normal thing"  to her. She stayed in the tank for about 20 minutes, then the water was released and smiling Ali run out of the tank. After a moment we catched her, showered her, Paola put on her the swimming west (not really to keep Ali floating, but to be able to hold her in the pool) and we threw dear Ali right in the pool. Paola´s pool is about 2x4 m large, 1,20 m deep and warmed up to nice 30°C. The first ten minutes Ali spent trying to get out of the water, in any direction. But she never thought of such a thing, as to turn against Paola. So Paola always turned her back inside the pool, and we, her people, were showing her all sorts of funny dog toys and tried to entertain her to stay in the water. Finally, Ali gave up and started to swim nicely. During the first lesson, she did not have any endurance, so she needed a break almost every 5 minutes to stop and breathe. And then back into the pool, and swim again. After about 20 minutes in the pool, Ali was very tired. We had to help her get out of the pool and then Paola took her to the Jacuzzi. I almost regretted I cannot join Ali in the Jacuzzi! Next five minutes Ali spent relaxing in the Jacuzzi at the temperature of 40°C. Then we took her out, dried her with towels, then again with a fan for dogs, Ali was praised again by us and Paola, got some dog cookies and we went home. And next week back again.

To see any effect on the weak muscles of hind legs of our dog, Paola suggested at least 10 sessions were needed, one per week. So we went to Chaumont-Gistoux every week (takes about 30 min on the highway). Already after five sessions, we started to notice small improvements. Before we started the therapy, Ali refused to walk on the leash, often I had to almost drag her behind me. In the forest she was running, but never as much as other dogs in her age. She used to be tired already after half one hour, and sometimes she even laid down for a bit. She was never able to hop into the car, she was always climbing inside. In the forest she was not able to jump over a fallen tree (well, nothing thicker than 50 cm in diameter). And the movement – she was always waving like after having five beers, her butt swaying into sides and her elbows sticking to the sides. That's how she was moving herself, mostly with the front legs doing all the effort, helping the weak back legs. But that was soon to be over now. Already after few lessons we have seen, that the dog is running more and gets less tired. After ten lessons, we have seen huge difference. Ali got muscles on her back legs, her movement was better. She started to run around the forest like crazy and to jump over some tree, while playing with Cira, was no more a problem. She was ready to jump head first into the car, if she got a cookie. We were so happy! After discussing with Paola, we decided to add 10 more sessions for Ali, so that the training does not stop abruptly. This time, we were going only once per 14 days, sometimes even once per 3 weeks. Ali soon got such a strength and muscles, that we stopped the training in the water treadmill and changed it for classical treadmill. There she walked about 20 min, slightly up-hill and in speed of about 4 km per hour. Then she went into the pool with the stream. We finished with the hydrotherapy some time in October 2006. At that time, Ali had such a training, that she could walk on the treadmill in speed of 5 km/h and then immediately to go swim in the pool against the streams for another 20 minutes, without a break. And then after the hydrotherapy, she was ready to go to the forest and run around at least for one hour (if we would let her).
To finish this long story, I have to say that hydrotherapy really helped a lot to our dog (and to many others that I've seen at Paola's centre). Ali can now run and jump, she can go with us to long walks or treks. While playing with Ali, she can jump over ditches, tree trunks and all by herself she can jump up on a 1 m thick tree trunk that we sometimes pass in the forest. She is still climbing into the car, but we know, that if she wants, she can jump inside. The negative side of the thing (from my point of view) is that after all the active training Ali got muscles and strength of a rottweiler, so when she starts pulling on the leash, it is really worth it. But hell with it, what is important is that now she can live full life of a normal, active dog. We keep giving the joint protective medicaments and we count with the possibility, that should the troubles come back, we will return to the pool.

P.S. We are very, very happy. Ali is jumping over 1 m high obstacle at the training! Of course, we will not let her jump all the time, but the fact, that she CAN jump it, is worth it, no?