Hydrotherapy for dogs has gained a lot of popularity recently. It is an effective tool used for canine rehabilitation. However, there are several benefits of doing hydrotherapy. This article will discuss the importance of water therapy for your four-legged friends and see how it can prove to be an effective option for them.
Hydrotherapy is a medical procedure that can help your dog get some relief from various health conditions, like orthopaedic issues, neurological problems, and soft tissue injuries. You might have noticed that your furry baby finds it difficult to run or even walk on the ground. If they have orthopaedic issues, pressing their feet on land creates a concussive force on the joints. This is a very painful experience for them, and you would not want your canine child to suffer. In such cases, hydrotherapy can offer a lot of help.
Hydrotherapy involves using water at a therapeutic temperature (approx 30-32 degrees C) so that its warmth, along with the weightless feature, allows your dog to exercise comfortably and safely. When you take your canine baby to a dog hydrotherapy pool, they can build and strengthen their muscles. It helps in their overall health improvement while staying in a comfortable zone.
The properties of water that help in hydrotherapy are:-
- Buoyancy- It creates that weightless environment that takes off all the pressure from the joint and helps them to exercise comfortably.
- Resistance- It helps in muscle building and improves your dog’s cardiovascular fitness.
- Hydrostatic Pressure- It basically creates pressure points on the body to reduce pain and inflammation.
- Temperature- The temperature inside the hydrotherapy pool must remain within the given range. This is because warm water has loads of benefits for your dog’s health. Apart from alleviating pain, it can also help to improve their movements.
The dog hydrotherapy pool helps your dog to do completely non-weight-bearing exercises. It encourages them to perform various motions in a controlled and comfortable environment, which they will otherwise not do on land. When in water, no concussive forces will impact their joints, and hence they will be able to perform all the exercises easily.
These pools are extremely useful when your furry baby suffers from orthopaedic issues, like dysplasia or osteoarthritis. The buoyancy in water helps create that weightless environment, taking all the pressure off your dog’s joint. They will be able to do optimum functions when in hydrotherapy, and thus their strength will be restored. This water-based therapy is more effective and comfortable compared to any other therapies done on land, as it does not hurt your dogs in the process.
So, if your dog is suffering from any health conditions, hydrotherapy might become a good option for them. Talk to the vet and book a session.