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Canine Hydrotherapy is an intensive form of exercise carried out in a calm, controlled, virtually non-weight bearing environment using the properties of water, which makes it less painful and more comfortable than land-based exercise.

By utilising the properties of water, canine hydrotherapy together with veterinary treatment can increase the range of movement in limbs in dogs.  The warm water increases circulation which in turn reduces pain, inflammation and stiffness in joints. 

When a dog has suffered an injury or had an operation, muscle atrophy (wastage) can start as soon as 3 days of the dog being immobile.  Canine Hydrotherapy helps re-build muscle to support joints.

During swimming, a dog’s endorphins are released aiding in the control of pain and helping relieve any tension.  Therefore, the amount of exercise needed in the water is less than on land. 

Canine Hydrotherapy benefits lame, arthritic, injured or over-weight dogs, as well as helping pre and post-operative clients and is also a good form of maintenance for agility and performance dogs.

• orthopaedic conditions such as hip/elbow dysplasia;
• neurological conditions such as epilepsy;
• cardiovascular fitness;
• increased range of motion in joints ;
• reduction of stiffness and swelling;
• older dogs with reduced mobility who are stiff and whose muscles have become weak;
• conditioning pre and post-operative;
• cruciate ligament injuries;
• increasing the recovery process;
• back and neck pain;
• help to maintain muscle strength and mass;
• general maintenance and performance improvement in agility or working dogs;
• relaxes muscle spasm;
• pain reduction;
• spinal injury problems;
• weight loss (alongside a specific diet programme);
• a feeling of mental wellbeing.

There are many causes for the problems that occur in dogs such as:

• traumas and accidents from falls, collisions, slipping and fighting;
• repetitive activities such as jumping on and off objects (or fly ball with agility dogs);
• breed related issues, such as long backed dogs who suffer from disc problems typically found in Dachshunds.  Hip dysplasia common in German Shepherds.  Cervical Vertebral Instability causing pain and incoordination common to Great Danes or Dalmatians;

• Osteochondritis Dissecans (O.C.D.) is a musculoskeletal disease, which affects shoulder and elbow joints and causes pain, stiffness and lameness in larger breeds such as Labradors, Rottweilers and Retrievers;
• lameness is caused by arthritic pain, hip dysplasia making the dog favour one limb from the other and compensate their gait, this can then lead on to secondary problems.

• pain relief and management
• encourage the healing process as much as possible
• keeping the heart healthy
• maintaining the performance of agility and working dogs
• enabling your dog to make the best of its life enabling it to carry on with every day activities without discomfort
• maintaining core stability
• minimise scar tissue formation
• reducing stiffness, improving muscle strength and increasing limb function.