Hydrotheraphy & Rehabilitation

Hydrotherapy can aid recovery and rehabilitation

We are very pleased to announce that since our hydrotherapy unit at Oakwood Vet Surgery in Radlett has proven so popular, we have now extended the hours and days available- please ring or email us for more details.

Hydrotherapy uses physical movement through water to promote recovery and rehabilitation. It can also aid weight loss, gain muscle mass, and support the well-being of your canine companion. 

The primary aim is to improve mobility. By having a tailored exercise plan for your pet, hydrotherapy can enable recovery from a wide range of conditions, improving muscle tone and  tissue repair without imposing undue stress on damaged tissues.

We have a team of hydrotherapists, three of whom who are also veterinary nurses, available to treat dogs from our own veterinary surgeries as well as those patients referred to us here. After a prolonged search for the best and most appropriate unit, we settled on a waterwalker.

When your pet is first referred for hydrotherapy, they will have a consultation with one of our hydrotherapists; they will examine your dog and decide on the most appropriate treatment regime for their specific needs. 

Do please contact the team if you have any queries - you can email us using reception@oakwoodvetsurgery.co.uk or hydro@woodstreetvethospital.co.uk

Your Pet's Hydrotherapy Session

It’s really important that the patient feels calm and relaxed for therapy, so the hydrotherapist will usually allow them to roam freely around the area for a few minutes. This allows her to assess both gait and mobility, and discuss some relevant questions with the owners, such as the times of day when problems are most evident, or whether they have appeared to become nervous going up or down stairs.

We  keep an orthopaedic mattress in the area so the dog can lie comfortably if they need a rest during this time, and sometimes we can also perform some physiotherapy or a laser treatment here. Diet will also be discussed, and then all this information allows us to tailor the hydrotherapy plan precisely to suit your dog’s need. 

After the questions and assessment, it’s time to see how your dog will take to being in the tank. We usually go into the treadmill with them for their initial treatment, to help them feel more supported and less worried, and we encourage you to  stand where they can see you, to cheer them on and offer them more support. We use lots of toys and treats to help motivate them as well. The water is heated which helps increase blood flow, and we have doggy life jackets for when a dog requires additional support. After the session we help dry your dog & usually suggest you avoid going for a walk immediately after the session as a warm environment helps the muscles recover.
 
Your dog will be weighed at each visit and we also take muscle measurements. In most cases dogs come back every 7-10days, although some clients feel every 2 weeks is better for their pet, and we will make a suitable plan together.  

In many cases an initial course of 10 sessions (one each week) for 10 weeks followed by 1 session every month to maintain movement/flexibility is appropriate.