Arthritis

• Arthritis is one of the most common conditions affecting dogs.

   

•  Dogs of any age can be affected. It can be caused by injury, following surgery of just by the natural changes of ageing.

   

• Some breeds of dog are more prone to osteoarthritis in later life for example Labradors , Retrievers and German Shepard Dogs with hip dysplasia.

   

• Arthritis causes pain and reduced movement of the limb and consequently muscle wastage.

   

• These dogs tend to gain weight as they are unable to exercise normally as it is painful and difficult. Hydrotherapy allow the dog to exercise and regain muscle strength, improve range of motion and to reduce pain in the joints.

   

• It can reduce the need for painkiller drugs.

   

• These dogs  maintain a normal body weight due to the ability to exercise in this way.

   

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After Surgery

• It is common for surgery to be done on joints, bones and ligaments. As a result of this the dog uses the affected limb less and muscle wastage and joint stiffness can develop. This slows the healing and  can give poor overall results and recovery.

   

• Hydrotherapy can be used to prevent this and give a faster recovery with optimum results at the end.

   

•  Common examples include fracture repairs, cruciate surgery, hip surgery, tendon repairs.

   

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Back Pain Or Spinal Disease

•  It is very common for dogs to suffer with back pain.

   

•  Back pain may be graded from mild muscle spasm to severe and life threatening spinal injury/disease.

   

• Hydrotherapy markedly benefits dogs that have mild back pain and spasm and reduces the need to use drugs like painkillers.

   

•  More severe cases occur when dogs suffer prolapsed discs. Here the spinal cord is compressed and the dogs may become paralysed. These dogs need surgery to remove the prolapsed disc material.

   

• It is following spinal surgery that the hard work of rehabilitation begins. It can take weeks to months to regain the use of the limbs.

   

•  Hydrotherapy has been shown to significantly speed up their recovery and return to normal limb function. This is achieved by stimulating the nerves to aid their recovery and to maintain limb muscle mass.

   

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Obesity Or Overweight

• It is now very common for us to see overweight dogs.

   

• We can adjust their diets to help but for absolute success in weight reduction these dogs need to have plenty of exercise.

   

•  Normal exercise can be difficult as often these dogs have joint disease already due to their obesity.

   

•  Hydrotherapy is a safe and effective way for dogs to be exercised in order to loose weight.

   

• Success rates are far better using hydrotherapy and weight reduction diets than just diets alone.

   

• You will have a happier, livelier dog that will live longer and be significantly healthier.

   

• Once weight reduction has been achieved dog owners always comment that the dog is like a puppy again . And always they say that they wish they had done it years ago.

   

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General Fitness And Recreation

• Many dogs like to swim for fun. In the clinic this can be done in a safe environment.

   

•  Some need help in regaining fitness and condition.

   

• Hydrotherapy is an ideal safe, supervised environment for this.

   

• Sometimes owners are not able to exercise their  dogs. The hydrotherapy clinic can be used to exercise the dogs instead.

   

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Ongoing treatment of chronic conditions

As dogs age they suffer from a range of ageing changes:

•   Weight gain

   

•  Stiffness, unable to climb up steps, difficulty jumping into the car

   

•   Muscle wastage

   

•   Loss of fitness and slowing down with reduced activity levels

   

•   Often on long term painkillers for arthritis

   

This is a very common range of symptoms. Hydrotherapy can be used to improve this dramatically. Dogs that have a hydrotherapy session once a fortnight show massive improvement of these conditions. The hydrotherapy acts to improve fitness, loose excess weight, increase muscle mass and strength and increase the range of movement in the joints. The effect of this is to provide support and stability to the joints so improve joint function whilst reducing pain experienced from the joints and hence the need for painkiller drugs. In summary you have a dog with a new lease of life, improved function and prolonged quality of life.

We have numerous cases that we treat every day to illustrate how beneficial this kind of therapy is. It has spectacular results

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