What is hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is the application of warm water and its properties from hydrostatic pressure to resistance. It is performed in water heated between 28 to 32 degrees celsius. On land, each paw placement creates a shockwave which travels up the limb and is absorbed through bones and tendons and joints. These stresses are necessary to maintain healthy, strong bones but if severe or repetitive, these shockwaves can damage or weaken the limb. This is especially the case for an arthritic joint or one recovering from injury or surgery.

Hydrotherapy allows "a safe workout" whilst strengthening all of the muscles and avoiding the land stresses which encourages muscles to work harder than they're required to on land.

Benefits of Hydrotherapy

Increases joint range of movement improving mobility
Relief from pain, stiffness and swelling
Relaxes muscle spasms and tension
Reduces oedema (swelling)
Improves muscle patterning and recruitment important for dogs post op (neurological and orthopaedic)
Increases the sensory perception
Improves circulation in the body (Blood flow & Lymphatic Drainage)
Increases and maintains muscle strength
Increases cardiovascular fitness and promotes weight loss
Helps improve mental well being through the release of endorphins

Conditions that benefit from hydrotherapy:

Osteoarthritis (OA)
Hip & Elbow Dysplasia
Luxating Patella
Cardiovascular Fitness and Weight Management
Cruciate Ligament Injuries and Repairs
Pre and Post Operative
Amputation
Mental Stimulation
Fractures - Helps healing and new bone growth
Spinal Conditions (IVDD, IVDE, IVDP, IVDH, FCE, DM etc)
Fitness / Puppy swims (familiarisation to water)
+ Many more

Pre & Post Operative

Pre operative conditioning- Helps build up muscle mass and strength prior to surgical intervention which aids a faster recovery time.
Post operative Conditioning- Helps to aid with pain relief, increases range of motion, builds muscle mass. It further improves recovery time and helps to alleviate the stress from crate rest.

Orthopaedic Conditions

Canine hydrotherapy supports orthopaedic conditions by reducing pressure on painful joints while allowing safe, controlled exercise. The buoyancy and warmth of the water help ease discomfort, improve mobility, and strengthen the muscles that support the joints. It’s especially helpful for conditions like hip dysplasia, arthritis, and post-surgical recovery, as it builds strength without stressing the affected areas.

Neurological Conditions

For neurological conditions such as IVDD, canine hydrotherapy helps by providing safe, supported movement that encourages nerve recovery and improves coordination. The buoyancy of the water reduces strain on weak limbs, while gentle resistance helps rebuild muscle strength and stability. This controlled environment allows dogs to relearn movement patterns, improve balance, and regain mobility with minimal risk.

Fun and Fitness

Hydrotherapy helps improve fitness by providing low impact exercise that builds muscle strength, supports joint health, and boosts cardiovascular endurance. The resistance of water helps dogs burn energy safely, making it ideal for weight management and overall conditioning especially for active, ageing, or less mobile dogs.

Case Studies

Poppy - Cervical Ischaemic Myelopathy

Poppy came to us at HS Canine Hydrotherapy following a diagnosis of Cervical Ischaemic Myelopathy. At the time, she was tetraplegic (paralysed in all four limbs) and had no bladder or bowel control. Poppy initially began her rehabilitation with intensive physiotherapy with Laura at Paddock & Paws, focusing on encouraging movement through all four limbs, improving strength and coordination. She also focussed on proprioception (awareness of limb position), weight shifting and functional movement.

As Poppy progressed, she then started intensive hydrotherapy with us at HS Canine Hydrotherapy, undertaking two UWTM sessions every week. The UWTM (Underwater Treadmill) provides Poppy with a controlled and supported environment to encourage movement through all four limbs. The buoyancy of the water helps reduce weight-bearing, allowing her to practise movement more easily, while the resistance of the water encourages muscle activation and controlled movement.

Our sessions have focused on repetitive movement, paw placement, coordination, weight shifting and gait pattern. This helps Poppy practise movements that were initially extremely difficult for her on land. Poppy’s left forelimb has been the slowest limb to regain movement and function. More recently, she has also started acupuncture with Shelley, with particular focus on this limb, as another part of her ongoing rehabilitation.

Although her left forelimb has been the slowest to come back, Poppy has made progress! We’re continuing to work with her and adapt her rehabilitation programme as she develops, celebrating every improvement along the way. By combining physiotherapy with Laura, hydrotherapy with us and acupuncture with Shelley, Poppy is receiving a multi disciplinary approach to her rehabilitation.

Hydrotherapy is not just for dogs with conditions!

At HS Canine Hydrotherapy we treat a range of working dogs, sport dogs, fun and fitness as well as helping with confidence and puppy swims. Doing hydrotherapy with your dog in its first year is brilliant as it helps protect the joints from over loading whilst increasing muscle to support their joints as they grow. Puppy owners have to be careful when it comes to walking and over doing it too early as the growth plates are not fully formed until they reach adolescence. Typically around 1 year to 18 months. It is a safe way to tire them out both physically and mentally during their early stages.

Hydrotherapy is great for all dogs as it helps improve their joint function, strength and stamina which can overall help them perform better as well as improving their quality of life.

Water Properties used in hydrotherapy

Buoyancy

Buoyancy is the upward thrust of water on a patient’s body which creates a weightless environment helping support weak muscles and reduce pressure on the joints. It means the dog is not fighting gravity when exercising speeding up recovery. Essential for dogs that have had surgery, arthritic patients and orthopaedic conditions, as it can ease pain allowing an easier movement.

Hydrostatic Pressure

Hydrostatic pressure is known as the pressure exerted by the water on a patient’s body. It creates pressure to decrease pain and swelling. This is done by providing a phasic stimulus to the sensory skin receptors causing a decrease in hypersensitivity. This allows the patients to move with greater confidence due to pain perception being reduced. It further helps to improve lymphatic drainage, increase blood circulation, help facilitate the removal of metabolic waste products and promote a healthier tissue healing. Lastly it has the benefits of increasing proprioceptive awareness by helping increasing feedback to the patients nervous system.

Surface Tension

Surface tension is greater at the surface of the water therefore there is a higher resistance. Surface tension is not an issue if the dog is submerged but it becomes significant when a limb moves over the water or breaks the level. Hydrotherapy should always start at a high water to avoid this.

Viscosity & Resistance

Viscosity is the measurements of frictional resistance caused by attractive forces between molecules of a liquid. Resistance and viscosity in water is significantly greater than walking on land making it more harder to move through the water. This overall increases the resistance which improves cardiovascular fitness and strengthens muscles. Viscosity further helps increase sensory awareness as it can help stabilise the patients joints in the water this is why a dog with paraparesis are able to stand and move easier.

Turbulence

Turbulence is the disruption of the natural flow of the water which can improve balance, muscle strength and circulation. On the other hand, it can be detrimental as it can cause fatigue and loss of balance.

Temperature Regulation

Hydrotherapy is performed in 28 – 32 degrees Celsius which gives a therapeutic effect on the patient. This allows the muscle tissue to increase elasticity, increase cell metabolism, increase blood flow and relaxation. This helps provide pain relief. This is because the warmth stimulates the dilation of the blood vessels which can be referred to as vasodilation which helps with blood flow to an infected area. This helps healing as essential nutrients are brought to the affected area as well as potential waste products to be removed from the area to prevent further damage.