Many pet owners assume that regular swimming is equivalent to canine hydrotherapy.
However, while both involve water-based activities, they serve distinct purposes and offer different benefits for dogs.
At Aldgate Vets, we’re here to clarify these differences and help you make informed decisions about your dog’s health and well-being.
Canine hydrotherapy
Canine hydrotherapy is a controlled therapeutic exercise conducted in a specialised environment, often involving an underwater treadmill or hydrotherapy pool for dogs.
This method is designed to aid in rehabilitation, improve mobility, and enhance overall fitness, under the supervision of trained professionals.
What does the hydrotherapy pool involve?
A hydrotherapy pool for dogs is a purpose-built, temperature-controlled aquatic environment designed to support rehabilitation, recovery, and overall canine fitness.
Heated to a comfortable 28–32°C, the warm water helps to relax muscles, reduce stiffness, and improve circulation. For safety and ease of access, we use a non-slip ramp to guide dogs gently in and out of the pool.
Treatment in the hydrotherapy pool is a form of weightless exercise that focuses on using the unique properties of water to support recovery and enhance overall well-being. This is because completely removing any load through a joint reduces joint stress and impact, allows for a much larger joint range of motion, alleviates pressure from the joint and in turn reduces pain.
It is a safe form of resistance training to aid in muscle strengthening and is great for promoting blood flow around the body. There are also so many more ways that the hydrotherapy pool is a great, safe option for treating our patients.
Each hydrotherapy session is tailored to the individual dog, with activities and exercises based on a prior consultation. This ensures a personalised approach that supports their specific health and mobility needs.
What does the water treadmill involve?
The underwater treadmill allows the patient to walk or trot, whilst in a controlled and low-impact environment.
The underwater treadmill is a sealed tank that can be filled to very specific levels, chosen with the individual dog and condition in mind. The treadmill speed can also be widely adjusted to suit the dog’s specific needs, providing a tailored exercise programme.
The buoyancy of water reduces the amount of weight-bearing load on your dog’s joints, but not completely. A small amount of weight bearing on the underwater treadmill allows for increasing joint stability and function, bone and muscle strength, proprioceptive and neural feedback, and much more.
It can make movement less painful and more manageable for dogs with various conditions, such as arthritis and hip dysplasia, as well as holding a crucial role in post-surgical recoveries.
Benefits of canine hydrotherapy
- Canine hydrotherapy sessions are conducted in a controlled setting, enabling precise adjustments to water temperature, depth, and treadmill speed to match the therapeutic goals.
- The sessions are particularly beneficial for post-operative orthopaedic and neurological recovery, conservative management, and arthritis management.
- The unique properties of water are harnessed to aid recovery, promote balanced muscle development, improve mobility, and enhance overall well-being.
Eleanor, the Hydrotherapist Coordinator here at Aldgate Vet’s, commented, “It is amazing to be able to provide hydrotherapy at the Practice to our patients here at Aldgate, as well as those from the local area.
Hydrotherapy is such an important form of exercise and form of recovery for so many pets, offering gentle support for their bodies and helping to build strength and confidence to allow them to live a more comfortable life.
It is so rewarding to see so many of our patients gain a new lease of life through hydrotherapy and know that you were a part of that journey to help them get there.”
Weaknesses of canine hydrotherapy
- Specialised equipment and trained personnel are required, which may limit availability in certain areas.
- Due to the specialised nature of the therapy, sessions can be more expensive than regular swimming activities.
Taking your dog swimming
Regular swimming involves allowing your dog to swim freely in a pool, lake, or other bodies of water.
While it can be a fun and effective form of exercise, it differs significantly from structured hydrotherapy.
What does it involve?
Dogs engage in free swimming without the constraints of equipment like treadmills or controlled movement.
This activity can take place in natural bodies of water or designated dog swimming pools.
Benefits of swimming for dogs
- Dog swimming provides an excellent cardiovascular workout, helping to improve heart and lung health.
- Regular swimming can assist in burning calories, making it a useful activity for canine weight control.
- It’s a low-impact exercise that makes it a suitable exercise for dogs with arthritis or those recovering from certain injuries.
Weaknesses of dog swimming
- Unlike canine hydrotherapy, swimming doesn’t allow for precise control over the dog’s movements, which can be less effective for targeted rehabilitation.
- Not all dogs are natural swimmers, and some may be fearful of water. Swimming in uncontrolled environments can also pose risks such as strong currents or contaminants.
- Dogs often use primarily their front limbs when swimming, which may not provide balanced muscle development.
- Natural bodies of water can vary in temperature, however, they average at 12C in the summer and 4C in the winter, sometimes even dropping below 0C! Compared to hydrotherapy where the water is averaged at 30C, water temperatures can pose a high risk to dogs due to hypothermia risk, cold shock response which can have an impact on their cardiovascular function, reduced muscle function and for those with arthritic joints or recovering from surgery, this can lead to severe joint stiffness and pain.
Case study: Meet Rusti, who attends sessions in our canine hydrotherapy pool in Bridlington
At Aldgate Vets, we have witnessed many success stories through our canine hydrotherapy services.
One notable example is Rusti, the 9-year-old Hungarian Vizsla. Rusti was referred to Aldgate’s rehabilitation department from an external Veterinary Practice in the local area to help with some chronic pain management for her recent arthritis diagnosis.
During our initial assessment with Rusti and her owners, it was clear that there were quite a few areas of her body that were uncomfortable and needed some attention. Rusti’s owners explained that she was unable to go on her favourite walks as she would become lame and visibly painful, and she had begun to struggle with things around the house. As a team and in discussion with the owners, we created a tailored plan for Rusti’s ongoing care.
Rusti began underwater treadmill hydrotherapy sessions weekly, as well as completing prescribed exercises at home. Rusti responded very well to the treatment and we continued to assess and monitor her progress every week.
As a result, Rusti was able to get back into her favourite beach walks and enjoy some time off the lead, as well as being able to get back into her favourite spot
on the sofa! A year later, Rusti has a completely new lease of life, and her owners know exactly how to manage any flare-ups she may have. We are so pleased with how Rusti responded to the treatment and that she is back to living life to the fullest.
Rusti’s owner also commented, “Our experience with hydrotherapy at Aldgate has always been nothing but positive. Rusti’s hydrotherapy sessions have transformed her life and she is more physically agile and capable at almost 10 years old than she was at 5.
The team at Aldgate have helped us understand her condition and how to adapt her lifestyle and environment to suit her needs. Rusti can also be an anxious dog and everyone has always taken the time to make her feel comfortable with all aspects of the sessions. Rusti thoroughly enjoys her hydrotherapy sessions and her quality of life is greatly improved because of them”. Big thanks to Rusti’s owners for such a lovely review!
This case study highlights the targeted benefits of hydrotherapy and how it can be tailored to address specific health challenges in dogs.
When it comes to dog rehabilitation, hydrotherapy leads the way
While both regular swimming and hydrotherapy offer water-based exercise opportunities for dogs, they serve very different purposes.
Canine hydrotherapy, particularly involving an underwater treadmill, provides a controlled, therapeutic environment ideal for rehabilitation and managing specific health conditions.
Regular dog swimming can be a fun and beneficial activity for general fitness but lacks the precision and targeted benefits of structured hydrotherapy.
At Aldgate Vets, we’re committed to offering specialised dog hydrotherapy services to support the health and well-being of your canine companions.
If you’d like more information on this service, enquire today.
