25/03/2026
River is a perfect example of how pain, symptoms, and X-rays don’t always tell the same story.
When River first came to us, she showed weakness in her hindquarters compared to her front end. She had a stiff gait in both hind limbs and would occasionally “bunny hop.” We were concerned that the lack of muscle in her glutes and hamstrings could be linked to hip pain, so we referred her back to her vet for further investigation.
Her initial X-rays came back as normal, so we began a tailored rehabilitation programme combining physiotherapy and hydrotherapy to build strength in her hind limbs. River made fantastic progress, gaining muscle mass and improving her overall tone.
However, both we and her owner had a lingering feeling that something wasn’t quite right. River began experiencing flare-ups and showing signs of pain-related behaviour.
She was then referred to a specialist veterinary team for further investigation, where it was confirmed that she did have mild hip dysplasia. With the right pain management in place, we adapted her rehabilitation programme to support her through these flare-ups.
And now… River is thriving 💙
She’s back to enjoying her walks and, most importantly, looking happy and comfortable again.
A huge well done to her incredibly dedicated mum—your commitment has made all your difference 😍❤️😍
Chewing with River
