by Brenna Fender

Hydrotherapy is the treatment of injury and disease using water. It may be the oldest form of medical treatment in history, having its roots in ancient civilization. This method of healing is becoming more popular for dogs as owners look for safer and more effective ways to help their pets regain and maintain fitness. Hydrotherapy comes in the form of swimming, walking, or otherwise exercising in the water, sometimes using an underwater treadmill.

“Swimming has long been recognized as a beneficial form of non weight-bearing exercise,” says Dr. Andrew E. Sams, DVM. “Due to the buoyancy of the water, patients in initial stages of rehabilitation can begin therapy much sooner. The hydrotherapy rehabilitation pool is a safe and effective way for dogs to get fit by exercising after surgery or injury,” he says. The Andrew Sams Clinic in Mill Valley, California offers hydrotherapy and other forms of orthopedic care to animals. The clinic has a small heated pool that offers water resistance at up to 4.5 miles per hour. Dogs swim either against the current or across it depending on the therapy needed.

There are other forms of hydrotherapy. Margaret Rudoy-Resnik, a registered veterinary technician and canine rehabilitation therapist at Dog Paddle in Pasadena, California, uses an underwater treadmill and other treatments for orthopedic ailments. She says, “I have seen amazing results by using the underwater treadmill.” Melanie Behrens, who is a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner and a licensed veterinary technician at Flannery Hospital in New Windsor, New York, says that even standing or walking along the water’s edge can be beneficial depending on the kind of injury.

Who benefits?

Hydrotherapy can be prescribed for many injuries or illnesses. Soft tissue injuries, arthritis, muscle loss, neurological disorders, immobility, paralysis, certain kinds of surgery, obesity, and orthopedic problems are some of the conditions that can be improved by supervised, targeted water exercise. Hydrotherapy can also help your pet or canine athlete become better conditioned and fit. Behrens says, “Another less obvious but very real benefit is that many dogs experience a psychological well-being improvement from being able to move and stand when they have been unable to do so.” Carol Dunton from Milford, Ohio witnessed this type of improvement with her Golden Retriever/Collie mix, Tawny. After Tawny’s back surgery she had hydrotherapy at Canine Underwater Treadmill in Centerville, Ohio. Dunton says, “It gave Tawny the strength and confidence to try climbing the stairs again and doing other things that she was unable to do before the surgery.”

Of course, hydrotherapy is not a cure-all. Dogs with certain disorders that include seizures, respiratory problems and heart conditions, for example, need to be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. Some dogs may not be candidates for water exercise. Like any form of medical treatment hydrotherapy done incorrectly can do damage. Channan Fosty who took her Boxer for hydrotherapy twice after surgeries for knee injuries says that her first experience with the treatment was negative. “I believe that due to lack of experience of the person doing the physical therapy it actually harmed my dog by doing too much too soon on the hydrotherapy treadmill.” Fosty’s second attempt at hydrotherapy was done at a different facility, the Andrew Sams Clinic, and was much more successful. “I believe it helped a lot with regaining his flexibility and fitness level,” she says.

Which facility is the best?

For those of you who have dogs who can be helped by water-related treatments, you should choose a hydrotherapy facility carefully. Ask about the people who will be treating your dog. “The staff should be trained veterinary technicians and physical rehabilitation specialists,” says Dr. Sams. Ask about the treatment plan for your dog’s particular condition. Obtain references from current or former patients. Find out whether the water is heated. Also, consider what type of hydrotherapy is offered at the facility. Behrens says, “Not every facility has all types of hydrotherapy available. One might have an underwater treadmill and another might have a pool. Depending on which therapy is recommended for the dog’s specific problem, one of these might be better than the other for a particular dog’s condition.” Dr. Antke Messmer-Kratzsch, a veterinarian who is pending certification as a canine rehabilitation therapist suggests making sure the dog feels comfortable in the facility and that there are plenty of non-slip surfaces around the pool.

What about cost?

Fees for hydrotherapy vary widely depending on the facility and services offered. Some sessions include office visits and chiropractics. Facilities often offer a volume discount, usually for the purchase of a set of 10 sessions. Costs for visits can range from $25 (with discounts) to $100, and vary from 15 minutes to one hour in length. Many facilities have a longer and more expensive first visit during which a staff member evaluates the dog and makes plans for future sessions.

Despite the expense, most owners of dogs who have used hydrotherapy seem very happy with the results. Genevieve Deltieure, owner of a Samoyed with a torn tendon in her shoulder that required surgery, says, “I saw improved range of motion; plus she built muscle strength and mass.” Some owners find that hydrotherapy can work as an alternative to surgery. Anne Ujczo who owns a Shetland Sheepdog with a luxating patella says, “With the hydrotherapy, the muscles on either side of the knee were strengthened to keep it in place so that the knee was no longer loose and ability to slip out was reduced.” Jayne Poyer’s Labrador Retriever had back problems that were improved by hydrotherapy. She says, “His rear end was strengthened and he was able to be comfortable again.” Poyer has found that her dog’s back adjustments last longer because of his improved strength.

Hydrotherapy allows dog owners to have another option to help their pets heal from injury or disease. Many dogs enjoy the process as well. Dunton says, “I feel that [hydrotherapy] keeps my dog’s mind as well as her body active. She visits the underwater treadmill once a week and she enjoys the visit. The treadmill helped give her the confidence and strength to run and climb (as well as a 13-year-old dog can) by herself again. It gave her back her independence.”