How Can My Dog Benefit from Warm Water Therapy?

Aquatic bodywork provided by Doggone Day Spaw, LLC offers pets a therapeutic and nurturing environment to assist in rehabilitation from injury, illness or surgery, as well as maintaining their overall health and wellness. Warm water therapy can greatly enhance your older dog’s quality of life by providing him with relief from arthritis, hip dysplasia, nerve sensitivity, etc. And it’s also wonderful for your healthy “performance” animal! (Keep them in shape for those agility trials or shows!) In addition to massage, stretching and exercise, aquatic bodywork uses the buoyancy, resistance, and warmth of the water to benefit your special companion animals.

Buoyancy is the “upward” force on the body when it is in water – as opposed to the “downward” force of gravity when on land. This reduces the pressure on weight-bearing joints by a great deal, making a full range of motion possible. The natural support of the joints provided by movement in the water gives protection from injury and often eases pain from injury or chronic conditions such as arthritis.

Resistance on the muscles in water is many times that of movement in air. Just simple walking through the water can help to build greater strength than walking on land, as well as providing important aerobic benefits. Swimming combines an increased resistance on the muscles with a fuller range of motion, making it an excellent form of exercise, as well as therapy. Companion animals recovering from injury or surgery, or those preparing to undergo a surgical procedure, are excellent candidates for warm water therapy.

Warmth can assist in improving circulation, increasing flexibility and promoting relaxation. This aids in achieving greater relief of muscle tension and increased range of motion.

When the benefits of warm water are combined with massage, the results are remarkable. Massage and swimming are especially good for: