A pit bull mix is receiving incredible rehabilitation and a second chance at life thanks to a few kind volunteers.
At first, Nokia was taken to the Cincinnati Animal CARE shelter. After being struck by a car, he was left without the use of his back legs. While his overall health improved, the shelter gave him a set of doggie wheels so he could move around because his back legs were still largely non-functional.
People in Florence became interested in Nokia’s tale after seeing the shelter’s post about him following his accident. Philip Roe, who owns Doggie Paddles with his wife Jennifer Weber-Roe, donated their services for free in the form of 10 hydrotherapy sessions on their underwater treadmill.
Because it offers support and enables dogs to use their muscles while nerve regeneration or muscular healing is taking place, hydrotherapy is an effective treatment for hip and spinal injuries. Hydrotherapy can be used in these situations to enable the dog to exercise in a setting where there is little strain on the affected areas because these types of injuries can make weight-bearing exercise challenging and pressure on joints and limbs may aggravate some disorders.
According to Jenna Stregowski, RVT and Daily Paws’ pet health and behavior editor, “Underwater treadmills are frequently utilized in canine rehabilitation treatment as a sort of hydrotherapy.” “Water lessens the amount of weight put on the joints so they don’t have to support their own weight, but it also provides resistance to create muscle, so they can assist dogs to enhance range of motion and build muscle tone.”
Weber-Roe confesses that during their initial meeting, she didn’t hold out much hope.
I was worried, she admits. Nokia didn’t seem to respond at all, in contrast to other paralyzed dogs I’d dealt with in the past that would at least make some movement.
But she persisted in working beside him. And after his third session, they began to notice some development. After Christmas, according to Weber-Roe, Nokia started to turn a corner.
Nokia is now a contented, energetic dog who can move independently, run, and play fetch without the need of a wheelchair owing to the persistence and assistance of Doggy Paddles, Cincinnati Animal CARE, and its network of foster homes and volunteers. He’s on the right path to living a happy, healthy life, according to Weber-Roe.
We’re only developing that muscle, she claims. But he will reach a stage when he won’t require our assistance any longer.
Now that Nokia’s physical recuperation is almost complete, the next hurdle is to find this sweet boy a forever home. While he now has the use of his legs, he will still require some extra care and patience when it comes to walking, using stairs, and getting on and off of beds. He is, nevertheless, a sweet, content youngster who is eager to find his own family.
He’s really useful, says Weber-Roe. “He requires a little assistance keeping his balance when he uses the restroom, but he has a regular life ahead of him.”
