Dog Hydrotherapy: What Conditions Can It Help With?

2nd May 2024 by Sarah

As dog owners, we all want the best for our four-legged friends. So if our dogs are ever struck down by injury or illness, naturally we’ll want to do all we can to help them get better.

Luckily, these days there are various treatments that can help our poorly pooches get back on their feet. One of them that’s becoming increasingly popular is hydrotherapy, but what is it, how does it work and what conditions is it most effective for? Here, we answer all of these questions and more.

What Is Dog Hydrotherapy?

Dog hydrotherapy is a therapeutic treatment that involves the use of water. This treatment option is used to aid in the rehabilitation and conditioning of dogs.

During hydrotherapy sessions, a dog will be placed in a specially designed pool or treadmill that’s submerged in water. The dog will then perform movements or exercises such as walking on the treadmill or swimming, under the supervision of trained professionals.

When the exercises are performed, the buoyancy of the water reduces weight on the dog's joints, allowing for low-impact exercise and improved mobility.

Additionally, the resistance of the water provides a gentle form of resistance training which helps to strengthen muscles and improves cardiovascular fitness.

Conditions Hydrotherapy Can Treat

These are some of the conditions hydrotherapy is effective in treating:

ACL Injuries

ACL damage, or anterior cruciate ligament injury, is a common injury among dogs, largely due to the running, twisting and turning they frequently do while they’re out exercising.

Whether your dog has undergone surgery or you’re just looking for a therapeutic treatment, hydrotherapy can help by providing low-impact exercise that improves joint stability and promotes healing without placing excessive strain on the compromised ligament.

Arthritis

Arthritis is a degenerative autoimmune disease in the joints which can cause pain, stiffness and reduced mobility in dogs.

Hydrotherapy provides a therapeutic environment where dogs can exercise and strengthen muscles without the worry of them exacerbating the issue or suffering from pain.

Hip Dysplasia

Hip dysplasia is a hereditary condition that’s characterised by abnormal development of the hip joint. Sadly for dogs, this can lead to joint laxity, pain and reduced mobility, especially as they age.

Hydrotherapy can be extremely beneficial for dogs suffering from hip dysplasia as it provides a non-weight-bearing form of exercise that not only strengthens muscles around the hips, but also improves range of motion.

Cardiovascular Health

Just like us humans, cardiovascular fitness is essential for overall health and well-being in dogs as it helps to maintain a healthy weight, improves endurance while they’re out exercising and reduces the risk of cardiovascular disease, which is one of the biggest killers of our beloved pets.

Hydrotherapy offers a safe and effective way to improve cardiovascular fitness in dogs by providing aerobic exercise in a manageable form. It will also engage multiple muscle groups, without putting too much strain on the cardiovascular system, and the intensity can be gradually increased as your dog’s fitness improves.

We offer hydrotherapy for dogs so if you’re looking for a therapeutic treatment for your pooch then we’ll be happy to assist.