Canine Hydrotherapy

Canine hydrotherapy is a form of non-weight bearing exercise, in either a swimming pool or underwater treadmill. Here at Nell’s we offer the underwater treadmill. It is a gentler alternative to regular exercise, so can be helpful for dogs who struggle with their mobility or are recovering from injury, it can also be used just for fun and fitness too!

First Consultation

1 Hour – £45

Return Visit

Medical Treatment 30-45 minutes – £35

Fun & Fitness 20-30 minutes – £30

PHYSIOTHERAPY PRICES BELOW.

To discuss claiming the cost of hydrotherapy treatment as part of your pets health insurance please get in touch.

Pets will require a signed referral from their own Vet.

This is a simple process – you can download a form here or pop in to Store and request a referral form. Ask your vet to sign it and drop it back in to us! We can then start your pet’s rehabilitation.

Our state of the art, underwater treadmill is perfect for canine hydrotherapy. Dogs often feel more relaxed when they can touch the nonslip rubber floor so are less likely to panic on the treadmill than if they were in a hydrotherapy pool. The water temperature being set to 28-32 degrees Celsius helps to reduce swelling and inflammation, increase blood flow, and increases muscle relaxation.

What are the Benefits

Hydrotherapy has specific therapeutic effects on body tissues.

Relief of pain, swelling & stiffness
Muscle strengthening and maintenance
Alleviating muscle spasm
Increased range of motion in joints
Improved circulation
Cardiovascular fitness
Increased tissue healing
Increased speed of recovery
Gait modification
Increased proprioception

Conditions that benefit from hydrotherapy

Most dogs will benefit greatly from hydrotherapy as a form of exercise. However, it is essential to get advice from your Veterinary Surgeon beforehand. For the welfare and safety of your dog we will need a veterinary surgeon to complete a referral form, more information below.

Any animal that requires improvements in: Core strength, proprioception, gait modification, flexion, extension, muscle bulk, cardiovascular and muscle endurance will benefit from hydrotherapy including those with:

Developmental Conditions

• Hip and Elbow dysplasia – especially useful for young dogs who are restricted to lead exercise

• OCD

• Patella Luxation

Degenerative Conditions

• Osteoarthritis (DJD) primary and secondary to developmental conditions

• Spondylosis

Pre and Post Surgical cases

• Total Hip Replacement

• Femoral Head and Neck Excision (FHNE)

• Arthroscopy

• Cranial Cruciate Rupture- TPLO/TTA/Lateral Suture

• Patella Luxation

Neurological Conditions

• Degenerative Myelopathy (DM)
• Spinal Stenosis
• Intervertebral Disc Disease

• Fibro-Cartilaginous Embolism
• Cervical Vertebral
• Malformation
• Spinal Injury/Trauma/Shock
• Discospondylitis
• Neuromuscular Disease
• Peripheral Neuropathies

Soft Tissue Injuries

• Tendinitis
• Ligament strain
• Tendinopathies
• Muscle strains/sprains

Obesity

• Weight loss in conjunction with diet
• Increased core strength

Fun & Fitness

An alternative fun exercise for your dog to enjoy all year round.

Please Note

All pets will require a signed referral from their own Vet.

Please do not book an initial hydrotherapy appointment without a referral form and confirmation from us. If you arrive for an initial consultation without the referral form, your appointment will not be allowed to go ahead, however you will still be charged. By law we must have the signed referral form. Thank you for your understanding.

Features of our Hydro Underwater Treadmill

Our walk-through design, with patented twin opening doors, keeps stress to an absolute minimum as it eliminates the need to turn patients around whilst on the treadmill.

The ability to precisely alter system settings (water depth, speed, and temperature) mean that we can adjust the treadmill to meet your dog’s individual requirements, throughout their entire hydrotherapy journey.

The 360° viewing angle offers a spacious feel for the patient and ease of analysis for our therapists.

Side platforms allow the therapist to easily work with each dog within the treadmill, from either side. This provides essential interaction for advanced hydrotherapy and always enables close and consistent contact with the patient.

Fast fill and empty times of heated and sanitised water, making this system the cleanest and most comfortable rehabilitation program available.

Canine Physiotherapy

We treat a variety of canine patients with physiotherapy, from the much loved family pets to working and sporting dogs for a variety of conditions.

Your dog will benefit from our holistic approach receiving a full assessment prior to treatment. We use a range of manual techniques, such as massage and stretches, electrotherapies and remedial exercises tailored to your dog. Your dog’s treatment is individual and bespoke to you.

We base all our treatments and techniques on the latest research and use our knowledge and expertise to clinically evaluate the best possible techniques for each dog.

Your dog may benefit from regular physiotherapy if they have osteoarthritis, hip or elbow dysplasia or have been diagnosed with a neurological issue (such as degenerative myelopathy).

Performance dogs such as agility, fly ball, gun or sheepdogs all benefit from regular physiotherapy. Programmes tailored to their sport/work and your goals will support and enhance their performance and longevity, reducing the likelihood of injury.

Post-operative physiotherapy is valuable to your dog’s rehabilitation after surgery, encouraging healing, reducing complications and increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome.

Initial Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy Combined Appointment

Up to 90 mins – £65

Return Physiotherapy and Hydrotherapy Combined Appointment

Up to 60 mins – £59

Physiotherapy Session

Up to 1 hr – £40

Say hello to our Physio, Ephie

Ephie from NW Vet Physio is our resident physiotherapist.

We offer individual, or combined hydrotherapy and physiotherapy appointments, tailored to each patient.