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Swim Therapy
as dictated to her Hooman
by HRH Poppy:  

You will need:

	one Kiddies pool
	lots of very warm water (comfortable enough for a hooman to sit in)
	baby oil (optional)
	floating toys (sponges, rubber duckkies etc from any good hooman kids store)
	something small but good to eat (wafer thin ham works well)
	one disabled furkid
	one hooman, prepared to get wet, with a strong back
	thick towels
	one (?) bottle of good wine

Method:

1. if you need to express your furkid - do it now!
2. fill pool with warm water (the depth will depend on how happy your furkid is with water, HRH wouldn't swim, only panicked, so we took it only to mid-shoulder level - enough to give her support - when she improved we lowered the water level)
3. add a drop or two - no more - of baby oil to help skin, if dry or flaky
4. add floating toys
5. make furkid watch where you put the treats (on top of every 3rd or 4th toy)
6. wind your furkid up with helpful phrases like "Ummmmm wouldn't you like some of this?"
7. add furkid to water
8. allow them to 'settle in'
9. always use lots of voice encouragement
10. do the 'bicycle' exercise with back legs to help warm up muscles
11. allow furkid to explore pool and find treats, support underbelly if needed
12. remember to re-fill toys with treats
13. early sessions should only be approx. 15-20 mins
14. check water temp, as it cools, bale out and add more hot
15. take furkid out before the novelty has worn off
16. wrap well in towels and hug and praise until dry
17. sip/gulp wine carefully while hooman back groans in pain  

Helpful hints

• always deduct treats given in pool therapy from daily total
• let them sample the treat as you load up the toys - then they know what's in there for them!
• have the  other furkids in the family come and watch - that way your 'special needs' feels very special - especially when it comes to the treats (you can always slip the furkids a treat when the special needs is not looking!)
• it is important that your furkid always feels safe in the pool.  It may help if you can get in there with them!  (HRH would never stand this one, she prefers to bathe alone or with rubber duckkie Sir Bernard!)
• if your furkid doesn't seem to be using their back legs - lower the water level and allow them to 'feel' the bottom of the pool
• its OK if they just shuffle around in the beginning - watch those back legs start a walking motion!
• make it a game, wind your furkid up as your pool fills so they know something good is going to happen
• if your furkid is happy - use a Jacuzzi attachment to the pool
• Last but MOST importantly your furkid will take in water orally, express as soon as practicable on taking out of pool or suffer the consequences!

This therapy should be done on a daily basis if possible and once muscles and furkid are happy should be about an hour long.

Liz

liz@kypn.freeserve.co.uk

For MORE Information:  http://www.crosswinds.net/members/~placido/mimi.htm

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