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Canine Hydrotherapy
Coming to Echuca in 2024!

What is Hydrotherapy?

Walking and moving around on land can be painful or strenuous for your dog due to the concussive forces placed through the joints. Moving in water provides a low-resistance and low-impact way to exercise safely and can decrease pain and swelling, increase function, strength, range of motion and blood flow as well as contribute to weight loss. 
An Underwater Treadmill (UWTM) is often recommended by a vet after an injury or surgery to aim in recovery of affected muscles and joints. It can also be used for conditioning in sporting and working dogs as well as weight management efforts in over or under weight dogs. 
Hydrotherapy uses the unique properties of warm water (33-36ºC), including the decreased effects of gravity, the effects of buoyancy and hydrostatic pressure to enable exercise to be performed comfortably and safely to achieve muscle building, strengthening, and overall improvement in comfort levels. The UWTM benefits include:

  • The warmth of the water allows the dogs muscles to relax and eases the pain in their joints, enabling them to exercise easier than on dry land. With the water temperature comfortably regulated, your dog can enjoy the underwater treadmill workouts year round

  • The buoyancy of water can support up to 62% of the dogs body weight, which helps to relieve pain and increase the range of motion in their joints. By reducing the dogs body weight, we can work on muscle re-education, balance and coordination without fear of falling. This helps dogs feel more successful. 

  • The pressure of water can stimulate blood circulation, leading to re-oxygenated, nutrient rich blood to be delivered to muscles. This promotes faster recovery and reduces inflammation. 

  • Water is denser than air, offering natural resistance against movement with a reduced risk of injury during exercise. When walking or running on an underwater treadmill, the dogs muscles must work against this resistance, resulting in increased muscle engagement compared to exercising on land. The resistance provided by water helps strengthen muscles, improve endurance, and boost overall fitness levels.

  • ​An UWTM provides a controlled environment where we can alter the speed, duration, incline, and water level to target different areas.  This means that exercise can be tailored to suit each dog. 

How it works

Your dog walks into the empty treadmill. The low entry door threshold allows for easy access into the treadmill for dogs with mobility issues. Gates at either end are closed before warm, salt chlorinated water slowly fills from the bottom of the machine. When the water reaches the required level, the treadmill begins and your dog is encouraged to walk.  Once your dogs' session has finished, the water is drained from the machine and your dog walks out of the machine. 
The duration and frequency of treatment will be determined by the goal (rehab or fitness) and the physical state and limitations of the dog.  Generally, you will first come in with your dog for an assessment and discussion about goals so that a customized treatment plan can be created.

What to expect in your Appointments

Prior to the first Appointment

Dogs that have had surgery or have a degenerative disease will require a Vet referral that needs to reach us at least 24 hours prior to your appointment. When booking your first appointment, please contact us so that we can arrange a referral. A referral does not require you to book an appointment – it is a form that is emailed to your vet clinic. 

Assessments

At the first appointment, we will conduct an assessment prior to treatment. We also recommend regular assessments to be conducted on a regular basis to measure improvement and function. Assessments are split into three sections:

  1. Subjective assessment – this is an interview where we discuss why the dog has been brought to us, what we are hoping to achieve through rehabilitation and what their daily lives look like. 

  2. Physical assessment – this is where we view the dog and assess their conformation and posture, we assess their body for areas of tension, any joint thickening and any muscle atrophy

  3. Functional assessment – this is where we put the dog through activities to assess treatments that can assist. This includes looking at them walking and trotting, sitting, lying down, stairs etc. 

We recommend on the day of your Appointment

  • Give your dog a brush and avoid grooming sprays, oils or chalks before coming for your session.  We understand that dogs malt, however a quick brush to remove excess hair will be greatly appreciated. 

  • Bring a towel. We do supply towels for immediately after the session, however an extra towel for the drive home can prevent wet seats and keep your dog warm. We also suggest wearing "dog" clothes as you may get wet (dogs can shake or rub up against you after their session). 

  • We will put our own harness or collar and lead on your dog. This means that your harness or collar and lead will go home dry. Note that we do not use lifejackets in an underwater treadmill.

  • Bring something to encourage your dog to walk in the treadmill. This could be treats or a toy. If treats, please avoid crumbly or dehydrated hard treats. 

  • Walk your dog 10-15 minutes before leaving your home. This will encourage them to toilet prior to their session. If you have an incontinent dog, please touch base with us before booking if you're unsure of how to proceed.
     

The Appointment

Every dog starts off with three repetitions of one or two minutes in their first session. This is to ensure the dog is comfortable with the UWTM. Following sessions will increase until the dog can complete 20 minutes with no breaks. When this protocol is no longer a challenge, other variables are changed including speed, water depth, and incline.
An additional feature of the Underwater Treadmill that will increase the turbulence of the water, and therefore the exertion level required by the dog, are jets. Jets are only used for dogs that can walk unassisted for 20 minutes on the UWTM without becoming fatigued. 

Post Appointment

After the appointment, we will offer some exercises that can be completed at home. We also send through a “report card” to yourself and your preferred vet clinic. 
In the days following the hydrotherapy session, the dog can be expected to experience some stiffness or soreness. If the pain doesn’t naturally fade away, then please contact us to talk it through. 
 

Why Hydrotherapy may not be for your dog

There are times when hydrotherapy is not recommended including:

  • Open, infected or draining wounds. 

  • Bone or joint injuries / fractures 

  • Fleas or Bacterial and Fungal Infections - to contain the spread of transferrable conditions, any condition where the skin is inflamed, red, hot, itchy or irritated we will not treat. Please contact us if you are unsure. 

  • Dog is unwell - if your dog has an elevated temperature or is unwell (shock, flat or depressed, has diarrhoea or vomitting etc) we will not treat. Please contact us if you are unsure. 

  • Extreme distress or anxiety - We will not force a dog to have a session and will end an appointment if the dog is showing signs of distress. 

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There are times when we will continue with a hydrotherapy session, however will take precautions. Please contact us if you are unsure. These situations include:

  • Fecal incontinence or urinary tract infections

  • Wounds that have been given the "ok" by a vet - this requires written permission

  • Dogs that are in season

  • Dogs that are pregnant - written permission from a vet is required

  • Dogs that have external fixators - written permission from a vet is required

  • Aggressive dogs

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