Hydrotherapy

The Benefits of Hydrotherapy

The benefits of swimming have long been appreciated for humans in both terms of health and fitness, as almost every muscle of the anatomy is exercised whilst avoiding impact to joints and bones. Likewise with our canine friends, a suitable course of hydrotherapy treatment encourages joint movement in reduced weight conditions, improving muscle tone, promoting tendon repair without imposing undue stress on damaged tissues and improving cardiovascular stamina.

Hydrotherapy can be used for the treatment and rehabilitation of Arthritis, orthopedic conditions, muscle, ligament and many other types of injury. It can also help with general convalescence, obesity and fitness training.

Muscle wastage often occurs with any lameness, it begins within 3 days of any immobilisation
so to prevent further weakness or injury it is important to rebuild, through safe exercise, any muscles that have deteriorated. Swimming is ideal for rebuilding the muscle both prior to an operation and after the stitches have been removed and the skin healed.

Walking is often painful and too strenuous for the dog, on land, each footfall creates a shock wave which travels up the limb and is absorbed by bones, tendons and joints.

While these stresses are necessary to maintain healthy, strong bone, if severe, or repetitive, the shock waves can actually damage or weaken the limb, particularly an arthritic joint or one recovering from an injury or surgery.

Swimming allows the "working out" and strengthening of the muscles while avoiding this potentially damaging concussion. Also, because of the increased resistance to movement, the muscles have to work harder than they would do on land.

Hydrostatic pressure applied by the water can assist in reducing swelling by causing a body fluid movement away from the affected area instead of to it. This is increased with exercising the limb to enhance the circulation.

Simply standing a dog in warm water has a beneficial effect - the pressure of the water on the
chest makes breathing more difficult, the lungs have to work harder, and therefore there is improvement to the respiratory system. The heart has to work harder in order to meet the increased demand for nutrients by all the muscles which are being worked.

If all this sounds like hard work - it is - that's the idea! For a dog, a 5 minute swim is equivalent to about a 5 mile run, but the natural buoyancy of the water and the fact that sudden twists and falls are impossible makes hydrotherapy a safe and effective form of exercise for a dog. It's also very enjoyable for most animals

Why not the local pond?
Our British climate does not allow for us to swim our dogs in open lakes and ponds. In the winter they are freezing cold It is better to swim dogs in heated water since cold water causes constriction of the blood vessels near the skin and to the superficial muscles (those just under the skin) which restricts the flow of blood making the muscles less efficient.

In the summer they often contain dangerous algae that can be toxic to our dogs.
Swimming in a controlled environment is an answer, The water can be monitored, the temperature kept constant, and the water filtered and treated to make swimming as safe as possible.

There are no muddy slippery banks for the dog to scramble up - risking injury by doing so, and then you have the added benefit of a warm shower and a towel or blow dry before climbing into the back of the car

Enjoyment in the pool can be increased with the use of toys, this can also encourage further use of the limbs in a bid to reach their favourite toy