Hydrotherapy – Underwater Treadmill and Swimming
HYDROTHERAPY PROMOTES HEALING. At Healing Care Animal Hospital we offer Salt Water Hydro Therapy Swimming Pool. The salt is far gentler to skin, hair and eyes and provides an experience that’s more like swimming in a lake than a chlorinated pool Our full service pool provides for a very relaxing and therapeutic experience. Swimming is one of the best total body exercises for us and our pets.
Hydrotherapy provides the ability to strengthen the patient’s muscles in an environment of little to no pressure on the joints, due to the buoyancy of the water. The warm water helps increase blood circulation, increases flexibility of muscles, joints and relieves pain. Water resistance helps to build muscle mass, strengthen limbs, and provide a cardiovascular workout.
Muscle atrophy begins within 24-48 hours following injury/surgery. When rehabilitation is delayed, there is increased swelling due to lack of movement, loss of muscle control and joint stability and increased stiffness of muscles and tendons. Full weight-bearing activities are often limited following surgery, which extends the patient’s recovery time. Hydrotherapy allows rehabilitation to begin immediately or very soon post-surgery/injury.
Geriatric, post-surgical and obese animals can exercise without injury for longer periods of time in water than they can on land. The geriatric patient can rebuild muscle mass and prevent muscle atrophy, the post-surgical patient can have an earlier return to exercise and thus full function, and an overweight animal will experience a decrease in weight and an increase in overall fitness. Most patients, even if uncertain about being in water, typically accept hydrotherapy after 1-2 sessions without any problem. We are always in the water with your pet regardless.
Advantages of Hydrotherapy:
- Working more muscle groups simultaneously
- Decreases post-surgery/injury recovery time and minimizes post-exercise muscle soreness
- Water provides resistance throughout the range of motion, providing a closed chain, hydrokinetic exercise
- Permitting longer than normal training periods
- Water buoyancy reduces gravity, diminishing concussive forces, thus reducing stress on joints
- Allows early intervention and quicker recovery times
- Warm water assists in pain reduction
- Geriatric patients can exercise effectively
- Decreases the risk of overheating
Water therapy is excellent for senior dogs that suffer from stiffness and arthritis to increase flexibility. The water allows your pet to feel weightless and places less strain on their joints and muscles, helping to alleviate pain and inflammation while going through a full range of motion in their joints and hips. Our new hydro therapy pool is an excellent form of physical therapy for rehabilitation from an array of surgeries (Knee, Hip and Back surgeries etc.). In addition, we offer swimming sessions for our day care and longer term boarding pets for some fun and exercise. Dogs from the same household may swim together and have a great time in our pool.
Post-op Evaluation
Our rehabilitation specialist will evaluate your dog’s post surgical condition, including a thorough analysis of your pet’s gait, limb circumference, range of motion, and balance testing, to prepare a customized treatment plan for your dog
Hydrotherapy / Underwater Treadmill for Canine Rehabilitation
Hydrotherapy using an underwater treadmill utilizes buoyancy and resistance to help dogs increase or re-gain muscle strength and increase range of motion in joints.
- If a dog has had an orthopedic injury or surgery, if they have osteoarthritis or need additional conditioning for performance activities, hydrotherapy using a canine underwater treadmill is an excellent way to enable strengthening and conditioning, without impact to their joints With the Underwater Treadmill, water height is regulated to accommodate different sized animals and adjusted for weight bearing. Water buoyancy reduces gravity, diminishing concussive forces, thus reducing stress on the joints
- Allows early intervention and quicker recovery times
- Warm water assists in pain reduction
- Geriatric patients can exercise effectively
- Decreases the risk of overheating
- With the Underwater Treadmill, water height is regulated to accommodate different sized animals and adjusted for weight bearing.
At Healing Care Animal Hospital we use Hydrotherapy for the following:
- Rehabilitation for dogs recovering from TPLO, Total Hip Replacement, and other canine orthopedic surgeries.
- Rehabilitation for dogs recovering from a fracture.
- Gait retraining for dogs with neurological conditions.
- Therapy for dogs with arthritis due to age or injury.
- Therapy for dogs who participate in sporting or performance activities that result in high impact on their joints.
- Exercise for overweight dogs and fitness club for healthy active pets.