Dog Playtime – Therapy For Dogs – Hydrotherapy vs Land-Based
Rehabilitation with dogs is a key part of veterinary aftercare for those recovering from injuries, an operation, or even chronic conditions. Two of the most effective forms of rehabilitation are hydrotherapy and land-based therapy for dogs. Both of these types of therapy provide different benefits which we are going to explore in this blog. Remember to think about your dog’s specific condition, needs and goals before choosing either hydrotherapy or land-based therapy. If you aren’t sure, then get in touch with experts like us at Witsend.
Land-Based Therapy For Dogs
Land-based therapy is fairly self-explanatory and involves treating dogs on solid ground. It includes various techniques like manual palpitation, therapeutic exercises and external apparatus like balance boards are often used.
There are three main types of land-based therapy:
- Physiotherapy
Physiotherapy can help in a number of ways and is also a good starting block to build up to hydrotherapy treatment.
Physiotherapy focuses on stretching, joint mobilisation and flexibility. Strengthening exercises are used which are aimed at improving mobility, along with reducing the risk of muscle loss in dogs with mobility issues. It is also an effective way to help reduce pain from chronic conditions, post-surgery and injuries.
Laser therapy can also be used as part of physiotherapy treatment and is a non-invasive treatment using wavelengths of light applied to inflamed tissues/joints to stimulate the body’s natural healing processes.
- Treadmill walking
Treadmill work with dogs helps with regulating their gait and rhythm, as well as helping to build stamina and endurance.
- Proprioceptive training
This is where tools like wobble boards or raised poles are used to help improve coordination, balance and stability.
Hydrotherapy For Dogs
Hydrotherapy is a form of non-weight bearing exercise, carried out in either a swimming pool or an underwater treadmill. Water is used to help dogs improve their strength, range of motion and endurance.
The main benefits of hydrotherapy include:
- Low-impact exercise – the buoyancy of water helps to reduce the weight placed on joints, making hydrotherapy ideal for dogs that have hip dysplasia or arthritis. It helps reduce pain whilst dogs are exercising.
- Improved muscle strength – the resistance of water helps provide a fairly intense workout and can help build muscle in dogs that are a little weaker.
- Greater range of motion – water helps to reduce stiffness and helps with smoother joint movements, helping improve the range of motion.
- Cardiovascular health – swimming is a great cardiovascular workout for dogs, just like with humans as it improves heart and lung function without overloading the body.
- Reduced stress – water can actually be quite soothing for dogs, helping to reduce stress and anxiety which is key to help with recovery.
Choosing The Right Therapy For Your Dog
There are lots of different reasons for choosing either hydrotherapy or land-based therapy or a combination of both and while we always recommend seeking expert advice, we have put together some key factors to consider when choosing the right therapy for your dog:
- Condition and diagnosis: with most joint conditions and pre-and post-medical conditions muscles will have reduced in size and become very tight. It is important before beginning any form of exercise (even in water) that the muscles are relaxed and stretched as even stretching a tight shortened muscle can be painful for dogs even in the water. Massage and stretching is a pre-requisite before any form of physical exercise.
- Age and fitness level: older dogs are better-suited to lower impact exercise, whereas younger dogs may improve more with land-based therapy.
- Therapy goals: if the main goal is pain relief or improving the range of motion, laser therapy combined with massage and stretching followed a few weeks later with hydrotherapy is definitely the solution. However, if your dog needs strength building, then land-based therapy is best.
Combining Hydrotherapy & Land-Based Therapy
In many rehabilitation cases, a combination of land-based therapy and hydrotherapy works best, and we recommend starting with physiotherapy and then incorporating the hydrotherapy. Initially, laser therapy combined massage and stretching helps with pain relief and stretching shortened muscles. Hydrotherapy is then incorporated to help build strength and mobility without the added pressure on the dog’s joints. Land-based therapy can be used to restore full functionality. Using a combined approach provides a more holistic approach to rehabilitation and can give better results than individual approaches alone.
Ultimately, when choosing the right therapy for dogs it all depends on the dog’s overall condition, needs and recovery goals. Consulting with a professional ensures the most effective treatment plan, tailored to the individual needs of your dog.
If you are looking for regular physiotherapy for your dog, you have come to the right place. Our expert team at WitsEnd are on hand. Working with people from all over the country, we have had over 2000 success stories! To book an appointment or for more information, please call us on 0116 244 2455.