Police Drug Dog Participates in UT Rehabilitation Program

K-9 Garth, a commissioned Tennessee State Trooper and a valued member of its criminal interdiction team, faced early retirement when he tore a ligament in his left knee. After all, a drug dog has to be agile. It's his job to jump on moving baggage conveyor belts in airports, on top of commercial shipping containers and to actively investigate buildings and vehicles.

Garth's handler, Trooper James M. Grant, didn't want to give up on the black Labrador who had been his partner in sniffing out drug smugglers, money couriers and other felons for more than five years. The Tennessee Highway Patrol decided to send Garth to the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee for surgery and for a follow-up physical therapy program for dogs that is believed to be the most comprehensive in the nation.

"This dog has participated in raids and apprehensions worth about $500,000. We wanted him returned to maximum potential. If we just did the bare minimum to repair the leg, we would have to retire him," Grant said. "That would be like junking a luxury automobile because of a flat tire."

Garth underwent surgery to repair his cruciate ligament. The day after the operation, Garth's leg was iced down to reduce pain and swelling and he began taking slow walks. Mild electrical stimulation was used to contract his leg muscles and minimize loss of muscle mass until he could use it again. Gentle range-of-motion manipulation and ultrasound massage were also part of his therapy. When Garth's incision was sealed and he started touching his toe to the ground, he began work on a special piece of equipment the Veterinary College acquired in June.

Associate professor and surgeon Dr. Darryl Millis worked with a company that builds aquatic therapy units for humans to design the College's new underwater treadmill machine for dogs. It is the first one of its type in the country and is part of a comprehensive physical therapy program for dogs that offers an array of board-certified specialists such as surgeons, internists, anesthesiologists, radiologists and nutritionists, and a licensed physical therapist, to help manage the dog's care.

The underwater treadmill looks like a Plexiglas box roughly 5 ½ feet wide, 6 ½ feet long and 4 feet deep with a treadmill in the bottom. Beside it are a water storage tank, heavy-duty water filters, and controls for the water level and the treadmill speed. The treadmill box was made of clear material so dogs get a sense that they can see where they're going.

"They won't walk into a wall—they're smarter than that," Millis said.

The dog is placed in the box on the treadmill and the box is filled with water to the dog's chest. When the treadmill starts, the water provides both support and resistance.

"It's really interesting to see how the dogs walk in it," Millis said. "They don't panic because the water comes in gradually. The water is comfortably warm — 85 degrees or more. The machine gives them cardiovascular workout, plus it works the joints. Because the dog's motions are accentuated by the water, it helps with muscle development."

Labradors are known to like water, and Garth was no exception. He splashed happily on the underwater treadmill and displayed the personality that has made him a favorite with schoolchildren.

Trooper Grant and Garth often do talks and obedience demonstrations at elementary schools. Grant illustrates topics such as staying in school and not running across the street by using Garth's obedience to commands. For example, Grant might show children how to refuse to go away with strangers by giving Garth a "sit and stay" command and enlisting a teacher to try to tempt the dog to move.

Garth returned to work in late November.

During his recovery, Garth had a lot of support from his partner. Trooper Grant drove to Knoxville from Nashville to visit him twice a week. They took walks together and played with a ball on the veterinary college lawn.

"It kept up our bond up to see him frequently. And it helped my state of mind," Grant said. "On a routine day we work together full time. We're practically inseparable." Garth lives in a kennel at Grant's home in Nashville.