Hydrotherapy, also known as aquatic therapy, uses water in order to help support your dog during their rehabilitation treatments while recovering from an injury or procedure.
Using our hydrotherapy treadmill, we can allow your dog to gradually resume exercise while minimizing weight-bearing stress to the joints. This helps prevent tissue injuries, inflammation, and pain during the healing process.
Conditions such as cruciate injuries, an injury involving a ruptured ligament in the knee, and osteoarthritis are often treated with the hydrotherapy treadmill in conjunction with other therapies.
Hydrotherapy is a great option for pets that are experiencing muscle, bone and joint conditions as the buoyancy of the water helps to support the weight of your pet. It allows them to exercise without putting strain on their body and potentially causing more damage.
Hydrotherapy provides many potential benefits for your dog, including:
A hydrotherapy treadmill provides our vets with the opportunity to help exercise your dog in a safe environment. By utilizing controlled levels of water to adjust the amount of weight, your pet will bear for the duration of their rehabilitation therapy.
During treatment, your pet will enter the treadmill using a small incline ramp. Once on the treadmill, warm water will fill the chamber to the desired level for your pet's current health concern and treatment plan, and your pet will begin to use the treadmill.
Your pet will begin by using the treadmill for shorter periods of time, then gradually increasing the length of time as the exercise becomes easier for your dog.
The length of time that your pet will require hydrotherapy will depend on their individual injuries as well as the treatment plan that your vet has put together for your pet's unique needs.
At Mountain View Veterinary Hospital, we provide comprehensive, compassionate veterinary care for Vancouver pets 6 days a week.
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