Rehab advice

My three-year-old black Labrador, Pepper has had an accident and severed her tendon on her right front leg. The tendon had to be retrieved from further up the leg and was reattached. Her paw is slightly floppy. I am looking for advice on what physio and exercise she should be having. She has the physique of a working Lab, very slim and active.
Anita Doyle, by email

Hydrotherapy – supervised swimming exercise - instantly springs to my mind as being ideal because it is non-weight-bearing and will help build up the muscles. Referral is often required via your vet to ensure that there are no reasons why Pepper might not be a good candidate for hydrotherapy.
As a side issue, do make sure Pepper does not gain bodyweight during her enforced restricted exercise. She may be slim at the moment, which will all help with the healing process, but a Labrador often only has to look at food to gain weight, especially if she has been neutered! Pepper needs a good plane of nutrition for tissue healing, but her joints do not need to be overloaded with excess weight.
I do hope Pepper makes a good recovery, especially as she is so used to being active.
Alison Logan, vet