Physiotherapy in the French Bulldog

Before building a rehabilitation programme, it is necessary to understand how the dog moves, what limitations it presents, and which goals are realistic for its individual case.

The physiotherapy assessment does not replace the veterinary diagnosis. Instead, it starts from the available clinical information and observes the way in which a given condition affects posture, movement, and function.

Depending on the patient, the professional may observe gait, assess joint mobility, examine muscle mass and tone, identify any differences between the two sides of the body, and consider the dog's response to movement and handling.

In neurological patients or after surgical procedures, the assessment must also take into account the recommendations of the veterinarian or surgeon and the dog's current clinical status.

This information is used to define concrete functional goals and to select a programme that can be adapted as the course of rehabilitation progresses.

The underwater treadmill allows the dog to walk on a moving belt inside a tank in which the water level can be adjusted.

Its distinctive feature does not simply depend on the fact that the dog walks in water. Buoyancy, hydrostatic pressure, and water resistance modify the conditions in which movement takes place.

The way it is used must be adapted to the individual patient. Water level, belt speed, session duration, and other variables can significantly alter the work required of the dog.

Walking in water is not simply the same as walking on land with less weight.

Water simultaneously alters multiple aspects of exercise: buoyancy influences the apparent load, while water resistance modifies the demand during limb movement.

This means that two sessions carried out with different settings can represent different activities for the same dog. The variables must be chosen based on the programme's goals and the patient's response.

The underwater treadmill may be included in some orthopaedic or neurological rehabilitation programmes and in certain post-operative pathways, when the patient's condition and rehabilitation goals make it appropriate.

The presence of a specific diagnosis, however, does not automatically mean that aquatic work is indicated. The decision must take into account the clinical status, the stage of recovery, functional capabilities, any precautions, and the individual dog's response.

After an orthopaedic or neurological procedure, rehabilitation may become part of the recovery pathway when it is appropriate for the individual patient.

However, the programme must be built taking into account the procedure performed, the tissues involved, the dog's clinical condition, and the guidance of the surgeon or veterinarian.

Two dogs that have undergone the same type of surgery may also recover differently. Pain, ability to use the limb, strength, mobility, motor control, and response to proposed activities can all evolve at different rates.

For this reason, the post-operative pathway should not be seen as a rigid sequence of exercises, but as a progressive process that is adapted on the basis of healing and ongoing reassessments.

A dog's needs in the early phases after surgery can be very different from those that emerge later on.

Initially, the focus may be primarily on protecting the operated area, ensuring comfort, managing movement safely, and maintaining capabilities that are compatible with any restrictions in place.

As healing progresses and the clinical situation allows, goals may gradually shift towards mobility, limb use, strength, motor control, and the recovery of functional activities.

The transition from one objective to the next should not depend solely on time elapsed since the procedure, but also on the patient's condition and clinical guidance.

Healing timescales are important, but they do not alone describe the patient's functional capacity.

A dog may be at a particular time point after surgery and still present limitations that require a more cautious progression. In other cases, evolution may be favourable, but any surgical restrictions must still be respected.

For this reason, decisions on pathway progression should integrate biological healing time, surgeon's guidance, functional assessment, and the dog's individual response.

In post-operative recovery, communication between the professional who performed or manages the surgery and the rehabilitation professional can be particularly important.

The surgeon or veterinarian defines the medical aspects and any restrictions related to the procedure. The rehabilitation professional uses this information alongside functional assessment to adapt the pathway to the patient's capabilities.

When progress is not as expected or new problems arise, a further veterinary assessment may be needed before continuing or modifying the programme.

A session with the professional represents only part of the dog's daily life. Between one assessment and the next, the home environment, daily activities, and adherence to the guidance received can influence how the rehabilitation pathway is managed.

However, the owner's role does not consist of independently creating new exercises or making an activity harder because the dog appears to be doing better.

It primarily means applying correctly what has been agreed, respecting any restrictions, observing how the dog responds to activities, and communicating any changes to the professional or veterinarian.

In this way, what happens at home becomes part of a coordinated pathway rather than a programme running parallel to professional rehabilitation.

Home is not a neutral environment: floors, stairs, sofas, beds, and other elements of daily life may require different considerations depending on the dog's capabilities and the stage of the pathway.

However, there is no universal rule stating that every dog in rehabilitation must always avoid stairs, jumping, or certain surfaces. Limitations depend on the condition, any surgery performed, and the guidance received.

When restrictions have been prescribed, the environment can be organised to make it easier to comply with them.

Guidance regarding stairs, jumping, sofas, or beds depends on the clinical situation.

After some surgical procedures or in certain stages of recovery, specific restrictions may be in place. In other patients, the guidance may differ.

For this reason, it is not appropriate to establish a single rule for all dogs in physiotherapy. When restrictions exist, they must be respected until the veterinarian or qualified professional indicates otherwise.

An owner's observations can provide valuable information, but they do not replace a professional assessment.

It can be useful to report what has changed compared to previous days, in which situations a difficulty appears, and whether a prescribed activity seems to be tolerated differently.

It is not necessary, however, to try to independently attribute every change to a muscle, a joint, or a neurological problem.

When requested by the professional, brief videos taken in the usual environment can help document how the dog performs a particular activity or moves in a situation that cannot be observed during the session.

Video should be considered an additional communication tool and not a substitute for clinical examination or functional assessment.

Managing a rehabilitation pathway in daily life may require organisation. If a prescribed activity is difficult to perform correctly, the owner should communicate this rather than improvising a variation.

A genuinely individualised programme must also be able to take into account the home environment, the dog's capabilities, and the owner's practical ability to follow the guidance received.