Veterinary Physiotherapy & Hydrotherapy

What is Veterinary Physiotherapy?

Veterinary physiotherapy is integral in the conservative and pre/post-operative management of many conditions, particularly dogs with orthopaedic, neurological, and soft tissue issues. Its purpose is to aid rehabilitation, reduce pain, promote healing and recovery, improve movement, and restore normal muscle control and function. Our bespoke veterinary physiotherapy treatments can also be highly beneficial for canine athletes and working dogs, helping to minimise the risk of injury whilst optimising performance.

A range of soft tissue techniques, joint techniques, electrotherapy treatments and land-based exercises are incorporated into veterinary physiotherapy treatments. At the Company of Animals Pet Centre, we combine physiotherapy with our hydrotherapy treatments, meaning we can provide optimal benefits for your pet. Advice on aftercare, home treatment plans, and exercise, as well as information/education on conditions and management are also provided.

What is Canine Hydrotherapy?

Hydrotherapy is a water based therapy that uses key water properties to help facilitate rehabilitation and conditioning. These include:

Buoyancy: reduces the weight and concussion going through the limbs and makes movement easier

Hydrostatic Pressure: increases circulation and reduces inflammation, swelling and pain

Resistance: assists in restoring muscle strength, endurance, and cardiovascular fitness

Turbulence: the movement of the water which can create a more challenging environment – ideal for fitness patients.

Specific gravity: The ratio of body weight compared to the ratio of water; this helps with buoyancy.

Temperature: The warmth of the water helps in reducing swelling, inflammation, and pain, increasing blood flow, reducing muscle tension and spasms, increasing tissue extensibility, and promoting relaxation

Advantages of the Underwater Treadmill

• Earlier rehabilitation following injury or surgery
• Ideal for gait training and speeding up gait retraining
• More suitable for certain clinical conditions and injuries that require more controlled movement
• Ideal for dogs that are nervous about swimming – dogs often feel more relaxed when they can touch the floor so are less likely to panic
• More natural gait pattern
• Encourages equal weight bearing
• Functional carry over to land is quicker
• Water height can be adjusted to decrease/increase weight bearing and achieve movements we are targeting
• Allows observation from all sides
• We can be hands on to aid the dog’s gait and movement patterns
• Speed, incline, and duration can be adjusted to suit the dog
• More targeted muscle development

Benefits of Veterinary Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy

• Reducing pain, and discomfort
• Stimulating healing and aiding recovery post-surgery/injury
• Reducing inflammation and swelling
• Helping to increase blood circulation
• Relaxing muscle tension or spasms
• Improving joint range of motion/movement
• Improving flexibility and suppleness
• Reducing stiffness
• Improving muscle mass, strength, and tone
• Improving proprioception balance, and coordination
• Improving gait/gait training – especially important for spinal injuries and teaching dogs to walk again
• Minimising the progression of degenerative conditions such as osteoarthritis and chronic degenerative myelopathy
• Improving core strength
• Weight loss
• Providing mental stimulation
• Improving quality of life
• Improving behaviour
• Optimising athletic performance and fitness
• Helping to prevent injury
• Early detection of lameness using our Stance Analyser

Multi-Disciplinary Approach: We also work alongside our on-site behavioural consultants to provide a multi-disciplinary approach in helping to address pain related behavioural problems or alongside our dog trainers in improving condition, fitness, and performance for working/athletic dogs.