Hydrotherapy for dogs has become quite common in veterinary use.
Once something that only a few vets recommended, hydrotherapy has become a modern, mainstream way of improving the health of dogs with many different ailments.
Today we’ll talk a bit about what it is and how it could work for your dog.
Related: Helping a Dog that is Afraid of Going to the Vet
What is Hydrotherapy for Dogs?
As its name implies, hydrotherapy is the use of water in a therapeutic setting.
Hydrotherapy for dogs can be used to help increase blood flow, range of motion, reduce inflammation, and more, and it is commonly used in veterinary practices around the country.
How Does Hydrotherapy Work?
Hydrotherapy uses water temperature and hydro-static pressure to help relieve a variety of symptoms.
Depending upon the temperature of the water, it can relieve swelling and increase blood flow when used in a bath setting.
It can also be used in a hydrotherapy pool to promote range of motion and ease pain from arthritis.
Related: Super Products For Dogs With Arthritis
What is Hydrotherapy Used For?
Hydrotherapy for dogs is used in a wide variety of clinical settings.
When I worked at the vet, we used hydrotherapy for several different things. One of the most unique cases we ever used hydrotherapy for was a cat that had developed MRSA and was not brought to us until the infection had gotten completely out of control.
The cat’s flesh was actually sloughing off of its body on its back end.
We used hard core antibiotics in conjunction with hydrotherapy to increase blood flow and promote healing.
Everyday, we used warm water and sprayed down the cat’s rump for about 10 minutes to increase blood flow and wash off the sloughing skin and flesh.
It was highly effective, and the cat survived.
Uses for Hydrotherapy for dogs
- Increasing blood flow
- Reducing inflammation
- Increasing joint range of motion
- Decreasing arthritic symptoms and pain
- Promoting healing
- Muscle stimulation and strengthening
- Reducing symptoms and pain from hip dysplasia
- Spinal injuries
- Recovering from soft tissue, neurological, and fracture injuries
- Relief of swelling and stiffness
- Exercise for obese animals
- Pre and post operative conditioning
As you can see, hydrotherapy has a wide variety of uses in a wide variety of clinical settings. In my 7 years at the vet, I saw animals make amazing recoveries, and this therapy was almost always a component of their recuperative process. With hydrotherapy, all sorts of conditions can be managed or remedied far more easily and quickly than they could before.
Hydrotherapy for Better Health
Hydrotherapy has become a major tool in veterinary practices nationwide because of its many uses and benefits.
When I worked at the vet, our doctor used it in many cases, and it was always a big help.
Just like with people, dogs can benefit greatly from hydrotherapy. It’s just one more component in the veterinary arsenal to improve the health of dogs and the outcomes of their diagnoses.
Have you ever tried hydrotherapy for dogs with your canine pal? What benefits did you see?
