Peer-reviewed veterinary case report
Is early hydrotherapy safe after back surgery in dogs
By Mojarradi, A et al.·Published in The Journal of small animal practice·2021·The IVC Evidensia Referral Hospital·View original on PubMed →
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Original publication title: Safety of early postoperative hydrotherapy in dogs undergoing thoracolumbar hemilaminectomy.
- Species:
- dog
Plain-English summary
A group of 83 dogs that had surgery for a slipped disc in their back started hydrotherapy within five days after their operation. While most dogs did well, some experienced complications, including a surgical site infection and a recurrence of the disc problem. These issues may be linked to starting hydrotherapy too soon after surgery. The findings suggest that while hydrotherapy can be beneficial, it might also pose risks if done too early, so more research is needed before making recommendations about when to start.
People also search for: dog slipped disc surgery recovery · hydrotherapy after dog back surgery · dog surgical site infection treatment
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Hydrotherapy is a common part of the postoperative care after surgical treatment of thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion in dogs. There are currently no guidelines on when to commence hydrotherapy after surgery. Early hydrotherapy may be associated with an increased risk of postoperative complications including surgical site infection and neurological deterioration. The goal of this study was to report the prevalence and types of postoperative complications in dogs receiving early hydrotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighty-three dogs commencing hydrotherapy within 5 days after surgical treatment for thoracolumbar intervertebral disc extrusion were included in a retrospective descriptive study. All postoperative complications were recorded. RESULTS: Ten minor and 16 major complications were recorded in a total of 26 dogs. The majority of recorded complications were unlikely, but not excluded to be, caused by the initiation time of hydrotherapy. One dog developed a surgical site infection and one dog had a confirmed further extrusion of the originally operated intervertebral disc, which may have been influenced by early initiation of hydrotherapy. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Early hydrotherapy is possibly associated with occurrence of postoperative complications. Associations between the reported complications and early hydrotherapy, and possible benefits of early hydrotherapy, need to be further investigated before early initiation of hydrotherapy can be recommended.
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Search related cases →Original publication on PubMed: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34423457/