Hydrotherapy

Newcastle K9 Hydrotherapy offers a professional service with highly qualified canine hydrotherapists having achieved the ABC accredited Level 3 Certificate in Hydrotherapy for Small Animals.

We work on a veterinary referral basis only so that we can ensure that your dog is suitable for treatment and that the treatment plan is designed in specifically for your dog’s conditions and in conjunction with any other existing medical conditions. If you would like to know if your dog would benefit from hydrotherapy please feel free to contact us or speak with your vet.

What Is Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a controlled aquatic exercise in sanitised and heated water and in conjunction with veterinary treatment can significantly improve the rate and quality of healing following traumatic injury or surgery. This increases the chance of your dog returning to full fitness. It is also of benefit to young developing dogs that have been diagnosed with developmental conditions.

The main therapeutic effects include:

  • Non or reduced weight bearing exercise
  • Relief from pain, swelling and stiffness
  • Improved circulation
  • Muscle strengthening, maintenance and rehabilitation.
  • Promotion of relaxation and alleviation of muscle spasm
  • Increased range of motion in joints
  • Gait modification
  • Increased proprioception
  • Cardiovascular fitness
  • Increased tissue healing
  • Increased speed of recovery
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Conditions That Benefit From Hydrotherapy

Hydrotherapy is an excellent form of exercise for most animals and helps to improve cardiovascular endurance, gait modification, proprioception, flexion and extensions of joints, muscle bulk, and core strength. Specific conditions that benefit greatly from hydrotherapy include but are not limited to:

How Does Hydrotherapy Work?

The properties of heated water each exert different effects on the body, enabling safe controlled exercise which encourages an increase in range motion, muscle tone, cardiovascular fitness and tissue repair.

Water Management

For the safety of all of our clients correct management of the levels of chemicals used in the water must be maintained. In order to accomplish this, the water quality is read three times a day using a photometer. The temperature of the water is also of vital importance and at Newcastle K9 Hydrotherapy the water is maintained between 30 – 320c.