Dog Hydrotherapy Services, Dog Hydrotherapy Pool & Canine Hydrotherapy Pool in the UK

Hydrotherapy Pool

The Hydrotherapy Pool

Aquatic exercise programmes have been well documented to have benefits in human patient. The support provided by the water allows impact exercise, whilst reducing the likelihood of injury to muscles, tendons and ligaments. Hydrotherapy involves the use of therapeutic exercise in warm water - a combination of warmth and hydrostatic pressure reduces pain and swelling, promotes muscle relaxation and improves circulation and healing. Hydrotherapy may thus be used as an aid to rehabilitation of musculoskeletal function, allowing muscle strengthening and progression to land based exercise.

The pool has a number of features to aid our hydrotherapy clients:

Adjustable strength water jets are available to give a variety of currents for the strengthening swimmer to work against.
A hoist with a sling is available for dogs after injury or surgery to gently lift them into the pool. This enables the hydrotherapist to securely support the patient whilst exercising and assessing limb locomotion. Buoyancy aids are available for all sizes of dogs. These are used to aid the weaker swimmers before they can exercise unaided.
A submerged ramp is permanently positioned in the pool to allow for frequent rest stops, and for dogs to support themselves in the water.
Hydrotherapy nurses are available to assist during extensive physiotherapy sessions.
Fun swims are supervised by hydroptherapists to ensure safety at all times.
Dogs are encouraged to swim for toys, or the owners can walk around the pool so the dog can follow.
The water jets are also used in these swims to give the healthy dog a thorough cardio-vascular work out.
To dry the dog after a swim, an air dryer is available. Along with the dog’s own towel, all dogs leave reasonably dry to allow for travel in all weathers.

recently refurbished dog hydrotherapy pool The hydrotherapy pool has proven to be very popular and successful with both rehabilitation cases and fun/fitness ones too, all under the watchful eey of registered veterinary Nurse Alison Coxon. The popularity of the pool increased so much that we extended our opening hours into late evenings on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and later opening on Saturdays. With these extra hours, we needed an extra pair of hands, so Bev Beacham joined as our new Canine Hydrotherapy Assistant, in 2006 who is extensively experienced in dogs. In 2010, Tristan Smith, another one of our Registered Veterinary Nurses underwent further professional training in Hydroptherapy and now supervises swimmers on Tuesdays and Fridays

hydrotherapy pools can help with arthritis and fitness of dogs The latest addition to our hydroptherapy facilities is the water walker treadmill. This is especially useful for the following: cruciate disease/injury (pre and post surgery), Hip Dysplasia (pre and post surgery), fracture repairs, arthritis, weight loss, for fitness and nervous and very large dogs that may be difficult to introduce to the pool. Dog's gain access to the treadmill by the use of a ramp and once in, the treadmill gradually fills up with warm water (27-32°c) to the desired height.

By initially having the water levels high the dog's weight bearing is reduced by up to 40% enabling walking exercise but reducing concussive stress to the joints. As the dog improves, the water level can be reduced so the dog takes more weight back on to the affected limb. The treadmill can be set to a speed from as little as 0.5 mph up to 8 mph, it will be set at the speed that your dog finds most comfortable.

All our hydrotherapy sessions last for 30 minutes.

Please contact our Leamington surgery to speak to one of our Hydotherapists for more details and to book in for your first session. Brochures are available from the surgery or they can be downloaded from the link below

You do not need to be a Rainsbrook client in order to benefit from our hydrotherapy facilities. All you need to do is have your primary vet complete the Vet Registration Form which is available in our Pool Brochure and bring this along with you to your first session.