Hydrotherapy has been used to aid humans for many years. Its benefits are widely acknowledged and its use is commonplace for treatment of numerous ailments. Veterinary medicine adopted hydrotherapy for use with horses, but until a few years ago it was not often used for dogs.
That’s all changing with the development of specialized hydrotherapy centers for dogs and better understanding among veterinary practitioners of the benefits of hydrotherapy.
Hydrotherapy for dogs, also known as swim therapy, uses the buoyancy of water to support your dog’s weight so that he can exercise without impact to his joints. Many veterinarians are now recommending swim therapy as a way to help dogs with hip dysplasia, arthritis, knee injuries, elbow dysplasia, or range of motion problems. Other conditions that may improve through the use of swim therapy are growth problems, muscle degeneration, paralysis and stroke.
