Swimming as Therapy For Dogs

Aquatic therapy has been proven to help strength, endurance, fitness, range of motion, agility and general health of pets. The buoyancy of the water decreases the body weight of the pet, reducing the stress on the joints and reducing any pain through movement.

Pets that suffer from long term joint problems such as arthritis, often do well with swimming as a form of exercise rather than walking, as it is less stressful on the joints.

Aquatic therapy in swimming pools, whirlpools or underwater treadmills, has been used for rehabilitation for many years. Pets have benefited from aquatic therapy following:
• Fracture repair
• Cruciate ligament repair
• Tendon injury
• Nerve damage
• Muscle weakness

Speak to your veterinarian or specialist if you think your pet may benefit from this. Known contraindications for aquatic therapy include those dogs that fear water, certain fractures, and open wounds.

Article Topic Suggested by Cathy at The Rex Center