The name hydrotherapy is derived from Latin, hydor stands for water and therapia stands for treatment / healing. Hydrotherapy therefore stands for treatment in water. Just like humans, dogs can also suffer from osteoarthritis or other ailments and dogs also need to rehabilitate after surgery. Hydrotherapy or water therapy can be used for these dogs.
What is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy is a form of physiotherapy that uses a water bowl containing a treadmill. Warm water is used for this, which is nice for the dog but it is also good for blood flow. The stress on the muscles and joints under water is also less compared to a walk through the street. This makes it a lot less painful for the dog to walk. In this way the muscles are made stronger again in an effective way without the dog too much trouble. Sometimes it can happen that the dog has muscle pain after a session, but this should last for a maximum of three days.
When is hydrotherapy used?
Hydrotherapy is used both preventively and in rehabilitation. Preventive hydrotherapy mainly involves dogs with orthopedic conditions such as osteoarthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia. Hydrotherapy can also be used for weight loss, fitness training and the older dog. In addition to preventive reasons, hydrotherapy is also often used as a form of rehabilitation. Dogs who have had surgery can receive hydrotherapy as an aftercare to promote healing and muscle building. Certain dogs, for example, are afraid to use their paw when they have had an operation because this can be painful. These dogs often dare to use their paw in hydrotherapy. There can also be muscle atrophy, when the muscles become thinner and weaker because the muscles are not used. After a period of bench rest, the muscles are often significantly weaker. During hydrotherapy, muscle building is stimulated without overloading.
What does a session look like?
The hydrotherapy session starts with an introduction, after which the dog takes place in the bowl. When the dog is in the bowl, warm water is pumped into the bowl. This can be a strange sensation for the dog. Dogs react very differently to this. Some dogs just pull their paws when the water flows into the bowl, but other dogs may find it very interesting again. When the dog’s paws are completely submerged, the treadmill is turned on. The therapist will start at a certain speed. The first session often lasts a few minutes.
Some dogs do not run properly on the treadmill the first time. For example, small dogs can stand on the edge of the treadmill that is not moving, while larger dogs can try to jump out of the box. For the dog it is also getting used to but most dogs walk along nicely when they realize what the intention is. The height of the water, the speed of the treadmill and the length of time the dog walks are then recorded for the next session.
Ask your vet
Hydrotherapy is not recommended for every dog, so hydrotherapy is not suitable for dogs with heart or lung complaints. Ask your vet if hydrotherapy is right for your dog. Hydrotherapy is often covered by the reimbursement of physiotherapy, but physiotherapy is not covered by every insurance.