case study: Logan

Name: Logan
Age: 5 years
Breed: West Highland Terrier
Issue: Conditioning/p>

After Chadwick, a 13-year-old West Highland Terrier had back surgery, his owner turned to Natural Healing to see if swim therapy could alleviate his difficulties walking. Chadwick stayed for three years – not because he failed to improve, but because his improvement was so visible the owner wanted to maintain the benefits.

He lived to be a stately 16 years old. Her other Westie, Chloe, who was perfectly healthy beyond a touch of arthritis, began the therapy routine earlier to prepare for her elder years because her owner wholeheartedly believed swimming extended her beloved Chadwick’s life. Chloe lived to be 17 and swam throughout her Golden Years, though it became more challenging for her after her 15th birthday.

It’s hardly surprising, then, that her current Westie, Logan, is continuing the family tradition. Though he’s presently five, he started swimming as soon as he passed the minimum age requirement: three months. “I feel like I can extend his life, whatever it is to be,” she said. “I feel like maybe the arthritis won’t come on as strongly since he started swimming at such an earlier age.”

Because he’s youthful, exuberant, and healthy, the staff at Natural Healing can offer different challenges to him during his sessions for conditioning purposes. “There is a time during the swimming where they take his lifejacket off – it really makes him work.” And Logan clearly enjoys it, as does she.

“I love going there because of owner Lee Deaton, and because of her staff. The people are very caring.”