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Humans have relied on the healing properties of water for thousands of years, and dogs are now benefiting from many of the same advantages. Hydrotherapy for dogs uses water-based exercise, including swimming and underwater treadmills, to support rehabilitation, improve fitness, and aid recovery from certain injuries and medical conditions.
In This Article
What Is Hydrotherapy?
Hydrotherapy literally means water therapy and refers to the therapeutic use of water to improve health and aid in recovery. In humans, hydrotherapy can include swimming and water aerobics, as well as more sedentary activities like saunas, whirlpool baths, and mineral baths.
For exercise, water offers two key benefits: buoyancy and resistance. Buoyancy reduces stress on joints, while resistance helps strengthen muscles and improve endurance. Warm water may also help relax muscles and joints while promoting circulation, making movement more comfortable during recovery.
How Hydrotherapy Works for Dogs
While humans have practiced water therapy since before the Roman Empire, canine hydrotherapy developed much more recently. The concept emerged from the horse-racing industry after trainers recognized the conditioning and recovery benefits of walking racehorses in water. The practice was later adapted for racing Greyhounds and eventually expanded to dogs in general, including the development of underwater treadmills for dogs.
Today, hydrotherapy for dogs typically involves swimming or walking in water. Depending on the dog’s condition and goals, sessions may take place in a pool, a shallow body of water, or on an underwater treadmill.
“Exercising in water can be recreational, like what many people may do with their pets in their pool or at a beach,” says Dr. Tari Kern, DVM, a certified canine rehabilitation practitioner at Pawsitive Steps Rehabilitation and Sports Medicine. “However, hydrotherapy can also be used as part of a very specific, structured program with the goal of easing arthritis discomfort in pets, improving function after injury or surgical procedures, and even for optimizing conditioning of animal athletes.”
Is Hydrotherapy Right for Your Dog?
Because hydrotherapy is a low impact activity, it can benefit dogs across many life stages and physical conditions.
“The low-impact nature of hydrotherapy exercise allows for its use in patients of all ages, including geriatric patients with arthritis and muscle atrophy or wasting,” says Dr. Kern.
Veterinarians may recommend hydrotherapy as part of treatment or recovery plans for:
- Neurological problems
- Orthopedic injuries or conditions, such as ACL injuries
- Post-surgical healing and recovery
- Weight loss
- Metabolic conditions, such as Cushing’s Disease and diabetes, which can cause muscles to atrophy
Swimming vs. Underwater Treadmills
The type of hydrotherapy recommended depends on the dog’s diagnosis, fitness level, and treatment goals.
“Swimming provides a good cardiovascular workout, works the core musculature and can help to increase the overall burn of calories. However, it is very difficult to modify swimming as an exercise in general. As a result, it’s challenging to use swimming for broad-scale rehabilitation,” Dr. Kern explains.
“[An] underwater treadmill offers better ‘on-demand’ control of an exercise program and allows modifications to be made more specific. The depth of the water and speed of the treadmill can be quickly adjusted to provide different experiences for the pet. This allows the effects of the exercise to be tailored more specifically to the overall goal of hydrotherapy and each pet’s unique needs and possible limitations.”
Hydrotherapy Isn’t a Standalone Treatment
While hydrotherapy can support recovery and conditioning, it’s not a cure-all.
“Hydrotherapy is a great tool to use, but it is simply one treatment modality. Water-based exercises can help to rebuild muscle mass, promote cardiovascular output and improve stamina. However, it cannot target specific individual muscles for strengthening or reduce local inflammation or pain,” says Dr. Kern. “The best rehabilitation plan should be individualized for each pet and incorporate a combination of modalities that best help to address all of the problems that need to be corrected.”
Hydrotherapy for Physical Conditioning and Injury Prevention
Hydrotherapy isn’t only for injured dogs. Sporting dogs and highly active breeds can also benefit from water-based exercise as part of a conditioning program.
“Positive results can often be seen quickly when incorporating hydrotherapy into athletic conditioning programs, as exercise in water can accelerate results when compared to similar land-based exercises,” says Dr. Kern. “For example, trotting in the underwater treadmill with the water at elbow height for 2 miles would be approximately the equivalent amount of exercise as running 4 to 5 miles on land with less concussive forces on the joints.”
However, hydrotherapy should complement, not replace, sport-specific training.
“An athlete needs exercises that mirror their sport and should not exclusively do hydrotherapy when training,” Dr. Kern warns. “It should be considered as an addition to the athlete’s regular exercise program to help diversify and challenge their muscles, similar to cross-training. Working with a rehabilitation and sports medicine veterinarian and their team can significantly up the level of the program also, compared to trying to go it alone.”
Can You Do Dog Hydrotherapy at Home?
Not all hydrotherapy requires a clinical setting. Healthy dogs can enjoy recreational hydrotherapy through swimming or walking in water at home, in a swimming pool, or in a larger body of water. Small dogs may even benefit from supervised activity in a backyard dog pool.
Water Safety Tips for Dogs
Safety should always come first. Not every dog is a natural swimmer, and even experienced dogs can become fatigued over time.
“We recommend always using a correctly fitting flotation or buoyancy jacket with pets while in the water, in case they get tired or need assistance,” says Dr. Kern. “If the pet is otherwise healthy and swimming for basic exercise and fun, toys that float, and controlled fetch games can be used to mix things up a bit.”
If your dog dislikes water, it’s important not to force them into swimming or participating in water activities.
“It may result in injury for the pet or the person or both. If your veterinarian believes that swimming would benefit your pet, but they are anxious about water, it’s best to seek professional guidance to help teach them,” says Dr. Kern. “The goal of hydrotherapy is gentle exercise and anything that is observed contrary to this plan means the activity must stop immediately.”
Importance of Professional Guidance
Not all dogs are good candidates for hydrotherapy. Before beginning any water-exercise program, consult your veterinarian to make sure it’s appropriate for your dog.
“If the pet has medical conditions, attempting hydrotherapy at home is not advised. For those pets, using an underwater treadmill in a professional setting would be best, so that the exercises and the height of the water can be adjusted by the veterinary rehabilitation team based on the pet’s abilities,” says Dr. Kern.
Finding Hydrotherapy Services for Your Dog
As hydrotherapy continues to become more popular, more clinics are offering aquatic therapy services throughout the United States.
If you think your dog could benefit from hydrotherapy, speak with your veterinarian first. They can help you look for trained and certified rehabilitation specialists in your area. It can also be helpful to visit a facility before booking a session for your dog. This allows you to meet the providers, evaluate their equipment, and better understand the process.
Costs vary by location and provider. On average, owners can expect to pay approximately $75 to $300 for an initial consultation. Follow-up sessions typically range from $30 to $80 for swim therapy and $35 to $95 for underwater treadmill therapy.
Key Takeaways
- Hydrotherapy uses water-based exercise to support rehabilitation, mobility, conditioning, and recovery in dogs.
- Swimming and underwater treadmills are the most common forms of canine hydrotherapy.
- Hydrotherapy may benefit dogs with arthritis, orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, muscle loss, and weight challenges.
- Water-based exercise can also help athletic dogs improve conditioning while minimizing stress on joints.
- Veterinary guidance is important when hydrotherapy is being used to manage injuries or medical conditions.
Frequently Asked Questions
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What is hydrotherapy for dogs?
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Hydrotherapy for dogs is a form of rehabilitation and exercise that uses water to help improve strength, mobility, conditioning, and recovery. Common methods include swimming and walking on an underwater treadmill.
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What conditions can hydrotherapy help treat in dogs?
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Hydrotherapy may help dogs recovering from orthopedic injuries, neurological conditions, surgery, arthritis, muscle loss, obesity, and certain metabolic diseases that affect muscle strength and mobility.
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Is swimming or an underwater treadmill better for dog hydrotherapy?
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Both can be beneficial, but underwater treadmills allow more precise control of water depth, pace, and exercise intensity. Swimming provides excellent cardiovascular conditioning but is more difficult to customize for rehabilitation purposes.
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Can dog hydrotherapy be done safely at home?
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Healthy dogs may safely enjoy recreational swimming under supervision. However, dogs with injuries, mobility limitations, or medical conditions should only begin hydrotherapy after consultation with a veterinarian and may require professional supervision.
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What should dogs wear during hydrotherapy sessions?
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Dogs participating in hydrotherapy should typically wear a properly fitted flotation or buoyancy jacket, especially when swimming, to provide safety and support if they become tired during exercise.
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How much does hydrotherapy for dogs typically cost?
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Dog hydrotherapy costs vary by region and provider. Initial veterinary rehabilitation consultations often range from about $75 to $300, while follow-up swim or underwater treadmill sessions commonly range from approximately $30 to $95 per visit.
This article is intended solely as general guidance, and does not constitute health or other professional advice. Individual situations and applicable laws vary by jurisdiction, and you are encouraged to obtain appropriate advice from qualified professionals in the applicable jurisdictions. We make no representations or warranties concerning any course of action taken by any person following or otherwise using the information offered or provided in this article, including any such information associated with and provided in connection with third-party products, and we will not be liable for any direct, indirect, consequential, special, exemplary or other damages that may result, including but not limited to economic loss, injury, illness or death.