Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy literally means therapy in water. The sanitised water is heated to 30 degrees and our qualified hydrotherapist works in the water with your dog. We design an individual rehabilitation plan, liaising with your vet and any other therapists who are providing treatment. Hydrotherapy is a complementary therapy which is relatively low cost and usually covered by your pet insurance. Sessions can be in our pool, one of the largest in the UK or in the under water tread mill. (UWTM)
Conditions which benefit from hydrotherapy include:
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Aging – general loss of mobility
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Ataxia
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CDRM/DM
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Cruciate ligament
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Elbow dysplasia
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Hip dysplasia
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Injury to ligaments, muscles or tendons.
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Lameness
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Loss of limb
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Obesity/weight reduction
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Osteoarthritis
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Paralysis
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Paresis
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Patella luxation
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Spinal Conditions
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Spondylosis
How to Arrange Hydrotherapy
You can either contact us and we will arrange a vet referral form from your vet. This tells us about your dog's condition and says he/she is well enough to swim. Or you can download a form and ask your vet to sign it. Then bring the form with you to your first appointment.
What to Expect
Before swimming your dog needs to have not eaten for four hours and to have been to the toilet. Please bring a towel with you to dry your dog and to wrap around him/her on the way home. Wear non-slip foot wear, (trainers are fine) and be aware that the pool room is hot and you may well get wet. The first session takes up to an hour and includes health checks including a gait assessment and paper work, induction to the shower and pool or UWTM. All sessions are exclusive one dog at a time in the pool with a qualified, registered hydrotherapist. Subsequent sessions are half an hour appointments. A one minute swim is equivalent to a one mile walk, so total swim time is built up gradually of short swims with rests between each swim on a platform in the pool or by stopping the UWTM. After swimming your dog has a shower to rinse the bromine from his/ her coat and then a towel dry.