Hydrotherapy
Hydrotherapy is an ideal form of therapy for a number of orthopaedic, post operative and spinal conditions. It works by allowing the patient to exercise in a non-weight bearing environment. The water fully supports your pets weight combined with the range of buoyancy supports or spinal slings we have available. This removes pressure from the joints and spine and therefore allows easier movement in a fuller range of motion. In turn this enables the patient to build up muscle and soft tissue strength in the correct places instead of in places forced to work un-naturally as part of an altered gait or stance, commonly seen in injured or post operative pets.

Our pool is a large hydrotherapy pool, designed specifically for hydrotherapy rehabilitation. We do not recommend trying to swim injured or elderly patients in open water due to the risk of cold and bacteria and also because free swimming can allow a pet to ‘save’a limb by not moving it correctly or at all while swimming along. Our hydrotherapy pool is filtered 24 hours a day and we use and ozonator to kill bacteria. All pets using our pool have been referred or had a pre-swim assessment to ensure they are healthy enough to proceed with hydrotherapy. This ensures ruling out ear / eye and skin infections and checks the heart and lung sounds. The pool is also heated to between 28 and 30 degrees, which assists blood flow and helps keep muscle comfortable while exercising.  We have a range of buoyancy aids, harnesses and spinal slings, all specific for different injuries and abilities. Entry to the pool can be assisted from the side or by using the silent power lift, which is an exceptional piece of equipment for very disabled or heavy patients. 

All patients start their sessions on flat water, which is easiest for them.  The very first session is kept short, only 1-2 minutes. This is important both psychologically for your pet, who may feel worried about the new environment and also physically, because moving any injury in a full range of motion can be tiring, even for a short time. We will monitor your pet carefully and assess fully at each new appointment to ensure increases in time and effort and made at appropriate stages. After a good flat water time has been established, the work load can be increased by using a range of anti-swim jets and these create the effect of swimming up-stream.

Each hydrotherapy session is monitored by a fully qualified member of staff and every program is tailored to your pets specific needs. Sessions can be either post operative / spinal and orthopaedic level or at maintenance level depending on the needs and progression of the patient. We also cater for fun and fitness swims.

After hydrotherapy each pet is carefully washed and dried onsite by our staff. We use a range of professional groomers shampoos, a warm shower and a warm air dryer. Please feel free to bring towels if your pet is afraid of dryers! Every session is fully recorded and we send regular reports to your vet.

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