Theo came to Countryside in September 2009. About 9 months before he first came to us he had disc surgery. The surgery went well, but Theo never fully regained use of his back legs. As the months went on, and testing was performed upon him and he began range of motion physical therapy techniques, he just wasn't regaining the use of his legs. His owner had to carry him up and down the stairs. And at his great German Shephard size and his owners senior age this was not an easy task. His owner, however, was willing to do anything for him. This dog is his life. Theo was then referred to Countryside when all other techniques had not had any success. Dr. Jacobs set up a PT treatment plan which included water treadmill therapy, every day, twice a day Monday through Friday. There was no guarantee that Theo would regain use of his back legs, but his owner would not give up and we would not give up. Day after day the technicians would get in the treadmill with him and encouragingly coax him to use his back legs. After about a month of water treadmill therapy, Theo started showing some signs of regaining the use of his back legs. The technicians reported that when walking him back to his kennel they were not having to hold his back end up as much and that Theo was trying to support himself outside of the treadmill. Then, one fine day, when the technicians went out back to retrieve him from his kennel run for the first of his two daily sessions that day, Theo was miracously standing on his own, waiting for them and excited about his upcoming session. The staff was in amazement. Theo then started walking on his own, slowly at first and for only small anounts at a time. But now in December 2009 Theo, who came to us in September 2009 and who was not using his hind limbs to walk or even support himself, is fully walking on his own and tries to drag us down the hall to his next water treadmill session. Finishing his therapy with great success on Monday December 14, 2009, Theo has become a staple at Countryside, a friend and "everyone's" dog. We all love him so very much and he will forever be a part of our family.

To learn more about Countryside Canine Rehabilitation follow this link: www.countrysidek9rehab.com.