Hydrotherapy | Service/Charges | Canine Wellness Rehab Centre
Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is one of the simplest and most effective type of natural therapies. It is a form of water therapy directed at the treatment of chronic conditions, post-operative recovery, and pre-operative or general fitness in dogs. It can also help to relieve discomfort and pain and promote their physical well-being.
Our policy is to treat one dog in the pool at a time, thus providing full concentration and safety for the animal at all times.
Just like their human counterparts, swimming is one of the best form of exercise for the dogs. The buoyancy of water reduces the pressure put on weight bearing joints, thus allowing easier and more range of movements. Plus, the warm water enhances blood circulation to the muscles and hence relaxes muscle spasms, reducing pain, inflammation and stiffness.
As gravity pulls, every foot landing will have an impact on the joints and as time passes, it can slowly weaken or damage the limbs. With resistance in the water, the muscles will have to work extra hard but yet offers a safe and effective way to strengthen the muscles without stressing the joints.
Hydrostatic pressure occurs when it is exerted by water on a immersed body. With greater depth, it gives greater pressure. This can assist in reducing swelling by forcing body fluid (oedema) away from affected areas. It also decreases pain perception and allows the dogs to perform a variety of movements with less pain. It is very beneficial to swim dogs in heated water as warm water expands the blood vessels and thus allows better blood circulation around the body, and hence the muscles are able to stretch giving a greater flexibility of limb movement.
While swimming is beneficial to dogs, normal exercise on land like walking, running on padded ground and a healthy diet must not be ignored, so the overall well being of your beloved pooch will not be compromised.
Each hydrotherapy session is of 30mins duration which includes physical therapy and light massage. Each treatment plan is tailored to each individual dog's medical condition which can range from moderate to serious. Therefore, a detailed medical history from its owner and vet is necessary for us to better manage the dog's existing condition and wellbeing. After every swim, a record will be taken to monitor its progress, condition and any improvements.
The hydrotherapist will gently introduce the dog into the pool by carrying it, and going around the pool slowly to ease any nervousness. The dog will be closely monitored and supervised at all times. It will be guided throughout the session and making sure that the right parts of its body are exercised and with ample rest in between.
It is necessary for all dogs to wear a life jacket as this will allow the handler to pull the dog out of the water without endangering themselves or putting the dog at risk.
This water exercise helps to retrain weak muscles and improve strength and fitness. The number of treatments needed depend on the dog and its problem. If hydrotherapy is recommended for short term condition like rebuilding strength or recovering from a minor surgery, it can be as few as six sessions. For a dog with chronic illness, hydrotherapy can be long-term, or even ongoing for the rest of its life.
Our pool comes with a heating feature that heats water to a nice warm temperature between the range of 28-30°C. This helps to expand the blood vessels to allow better blood circulation and increases blood flow throughout the body and thus relieves pain, reduces inflammation and swelling and relaxes stiff joints.
Swimming in cold water on the other hand, will cause blood vessels to constrict and hence result in a decrease in blood flow. If a dog laps in too much sea water, it may feel sick due to the high salt content which will cause diarrhea and induce vomiting.
